L-Għanja Tal-Poplu 2012: who’s singing what?

Blackjack/Ittra Ta’ Omm

Blackjack is a jazz quartet featuring musicians with a background in various other bands and musical genres, which probably explains why their sound is rather versatile and unique. Having already participated in L-Ghanja tal-Poplu with different bands in previous years, the band’s members are back with a song inspired by a more social theme as opposed to the socio-religious slant of their previous entries. Accompanying the band to perform the song Ittra Ta’ Omm will be vocalist Jeanine Galea, who has in the past formed part of the Amadeus Chamber Choir and Voices.

Blackjack is Marco Vella, Kris Domancich, Dion Galea and Mark Agius with special guest Jeanine Galea on vocals.

Charlie Dalli u L-Ħbieb/Faċli

Better known as the frontman with X-TEND, Charles Dalli first participated in L-Ghanja tal-Poplu in 1979. Ever since he has maintained a steady connection with the festival, drawn to the space it provides for artists to convey relevant messages through music and the fact that it’s probably the only music festival featuring entirely live performances.

Dalli’s 2008 entry Aħwa Lkoll was awarded the prize for Best Social Theme while a year later, Viva l-Festa Tagħna (with X-TEND) was awarded the Best Interpretation prize. This year’s entry is a personal, heartfelt prayer for forgiveness.

Charles Dalli will be accompanied by Kyle Farrugia and Eric Ace on guitars, Godwin Debono on bass, Daniel Dalli on drums, Paul Camilleri on piano, Chris Role on keyboards and Therese Briffa on violin.

Christabelle Curmi/Il-Kappar

Christabelle Curmi has been singing since she was seven years old, starting out as a member of the St Publius Church Choir.

Since the mid-1990s, she has been a vocalist with the Paul Curmi Dancers, with whom she has had the opportunity to perform at folk festivals abroad several times.

She has also sung in other festivals, but singing in Maltese remains very dear to her heart. Her song Il-Kappar, written by Renato Briffa and Alfred Baldacchino, explains in a simple way the lack of appreciation of the natural environment. It imagines a scenario where capers, distressed at the destruction of our rich natural environment through development, decide to up and leave, relocating to the safety of the high bastion walls, indirectly addressing the all too familiar situation of letting the damage be done before realise what has been lost, perhaps forever.

Clive Muscat/Umani

Active on the music scene for the past 12 years, mostly as a singer, Clive Muscat is also a talented dancer and actor.

To date he has participated in various festivals, among them L-Għanja tal-Poplu and Konkors Kanzunetta Indipendenza and has also appeared in various TV programmes.

In 2008, he performed at London’s Shafetsbury Theatre along with other British artists and last year, he attended a three-month course at Stranmillis University in Belfast. Written by Paul Attard and Anthony Camilleri, the song Umani questions our society’s tolerance towards anyone or anything that is different.

What use is it to embrace freedom of expression if it isn’t applied in everyday life? Why is it so hard for people to respect each other unconditionally? When will we realise that no matter how different each one of us is, we are all human?

Corinne Caruana/Barnuża Bajda

Corinne Caruana took her first singing lessons when she was six. Trained in classical music, the young singer went on to join a choir and take part in various festivals.

Last year she placed third in the TV talent show Don’t Stop Me Now. Her song Barnuza Bajda, written by Rita Pace, deals with the issue of child abuse, and aims to raise awareness of the various aspects related to this serious problem that continues to affect the lives of so many vulnerable children.

Grecia Bezzina/Tal-Komma Twila

An upcoming artist with a deep-set love for singing, Grecia Bezzina started out as a student of Doreen Galea. Since then, she has participated in several musicals and festivals, reaching the finals of L-Għanja tal-Poplu - Żgħazagħ three times.

In 2009, she made it to the semi-finals of the Malta Eurovision song contest and the finals of the Konkors Kanzunetta Indipendenza, on both occasions accompanied by her brother Dario. The following year, she made it to the finals of the Malta Hit Song Contest.

The song Tal-Komma Twila, penned by Emil Calleja Bayliss and Dario Bezzina, deals with the theme of abuse within our society. Grecia Bezzina will be accompanied by her brother Dario on piano and Therese Briffa on violin.

Janice Mangion/Irrid Ngħix

Twenty-two-year old Janice Mangion’s musical journey started 10 years ago, during which time she has participated in the TV talent show L-Isfida and various festivals, among them the Malta Hit Song Festival, Konkors Kanzunetta Indipendenza and earlier this year, the Malta Eurovision Song Contest, where she sang the Elton Zarb/Rita Pace composition While Her Eyes Still Glow.

Mangion’s entry Irrid Nghix, written by Heathcliffe Balzan and Deo Grech is an emotional story of hope, told through the eyes of someone fighting to overcome a terminal illness, and summoning strength from the love and support of her family and friends. Janice Mangion will be accompanied by Heathcliffe Balzan on piano.

Jeff Scicluna/Ħsad Qabel Iż-Żmien

Vocalist Jeff Scicluna is a familiar face within the L-Għanja tal-Poplu circles. Further to his participation in the 1998 and 1999 editions, with Nadine Axisa and Mariosa Xuereb respectively, Scicluna is back with a new song and a new band in tow.

He started singing in his teens and cites rock, ballads and musicals – of which he’s been in several – among his preferred genres. The song Ħsad Qabel Iż-Żmien was written by Paul Callus and John David Zammit and focuses on a very difficult and sadly all-too-common issue nowadays in Malta, namely traffic accidents and is dedicated to all those who have suffered this kind of trauma. Jeff Scicluna will be accompanied by the rock band Sidewalk.

Kantilena/Baħħâr

Kantilena is a contemporary Maltese folk band influenced by traditional Maltese music and folklore as it is by modern local and international folk artists.

Set up in 2009 to express its members’ interest in music and the Maltese language, the band took its name from the oldest-known poem in our native tongue. The band released its debut single X’Ubidu’ earlier this year and is looking forward to performing Baħħâr at L-Għanja tal-Poplu, a festival they hold in high regard for its work in campaigning for music with a local identity.

Kantilena is Drinu Camilleri, Alessandro Lia, James Baldacchino, Manuel Pulis and Debbie Axisa Farrell.

Kultural/Malta Tiegħi

One of Malta’s most unique acts, Kultural’s strength lies both in their ability to create engaging music by mixing various styles, genres and instruments as well as the diversity of their individual musical backgrounds, namely a blend of classical music, hiphop, world music and a distinct percussive guitar style.

Malta Tiegħi marks Kultural’s first experience in L-Għanja tal-Poplu. The band is looking forward primarily because of the festival’s focus on Maltese music and artists and the fact that it is a ‘live’ festival. The song addresses the typical Maltese mentality, particularly those people who blatantly put down their own country but defend it if outsiders dare to criticise us. Describing an extreme version of this kind of character, the song also highlights our failure to appreciate the good things around us.

Maria Carabott/Kemm Aħna Kbar

Interested in sport and music from a young age, Maria Carabott’s connection with Maltese songs started a long way back. Apart from appearing in various school concerts, last year she was a finalist in the youth section of the Konkors Kanzunetta Indipendenza. Her entry Kemm Aħna Kbar was written by Paul Callus and Conrad Briffa, and looks at the village feast, an intrinsic part of Maltese culture, from a different perspective.

There’s nothing wrong with the fervour that grips a village as the feast approaches, but how many actually bother to embrace the spiritual aspect that lies at the core of this Maltese tradition?

Maria Debono/Mhux Illum

Gozitan vocalist Maria Debono has been singing since childhood, taking a break only to focus on her academic studies. This year marks her return to the stage, and what better place to do it than at L-Għanja tal-Poplu?

The festival has been on her mind for some time, and the song Mhux Illum, written by Rita Pace and Mark Laurence Zammit, had been on the shelf for two years, waiting for this special occasion.

The song is about courtship and the temptations romance brings with it. Its message is aimed at underlining the importance of maturity and commitment as the basis of a solid relationship that eventually becomes a lasting marriage.

Mistura/Isma’ Bilfors

A combination of blues influences, verses that have been unused for a while and two friends with a fanatical interest in Pink Floyd. Antonio Olivari loves to write songs, Malcolm Bonnici probably knows the words to almost every Maltese song ever written. This is how Mistura came to be.

After 25 tentative titles, it was decided that Mistura’s entry, written by Antonio Olivari, would be called Isma’ Bilfors. Primarily about what people expect to happen to them when they leave this life, the song also ponders on how everyone’s perception of the afterlife conditions the way we live. Mistura will be accompanied by Matthew Agius on bass and Francesco Sultana on drums.

Rita Pace/Kwadru Jew Tond

Classically trained singer-songwriter Rita Pace likes to venture into many musical genres and is particularly enamoured of Maltese folksong (ghana) and ethnic music. She has participated in various contests locally and abroad, often placing in the top positions and even winning some of them. To date, Pace has won L-Għanja tal-Poplu’s prize for Best Lyric with a Social Theme three times, placing third in last year’s edition with her self-penned song Indunajt.

Her entry this year is Kwadru Jew Tond, the story of someone raised in unfortunate circumstances seeking to overcome her troubles and integrate into society. Pace will be accompanied by Clifford Borg on piano, Paul Attard on guitar and Marie-Claire Attard Bason on backing vocals.

Tale Kwali/Blokk Appartamenti

Tale Kwali is a musical project featuring Antonio Olivari and Stephen Ferrito. The two have collaborated on other projects such as the Strummin’ Home concerts and the Symphonik choir, of which Ferrito is the director.

Tale Kwali debuted at the 2010’s L-Għanja tal-Poplu and are currently working on new material.

Their entry this year, written by Olivari, examines the diversity that exists among us by looking at the families living in an apartment block. Tale Kwali will be accompanied by Sean Borg on violin, Francesco Sultana on percussion and Daniel Borg on backing vocals.