After yesterday’s Junior Eurovision, it’s time to gear up for the real deal. Mark Xuereb rounds up this year’s hopefuls ahead of the local finals.
In Malta the selection which precedes the Eurovision Song Contest is considered to be one of the main social events of the season, with the public either rushing to purchase tickets or ready to spend the evening inside, watching the show at the comfort of their own sofa, alongside family and friends.
From a professional standpoint, it is worth pointing out that artists, songwriters and producers view this as a great opportunity to showcase their product and talent.
Nevertheless, the announcement of the 2014-2015 edition of the Malta Eurovision Song Contest came as a total surprise.
Vocalists, songwriters and producers normally use the summer months as basis for planning, rather than actually finalising tracks which would ultimately be in the running to represent Malta at the largest competition in Europe.
Initially, there was worry that the drop in quantity would lead to inferior quality, but this did not happen.
Critics of the event, local and foreign, have in fact stated that the selection of songs is one of the strongest ever.
Many will agree that this is extremely positive, considering the heavy investment put in by the Public Broadcasting Services in creating a spectacular stage, initially planned for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.
Set for the coming weekend, this edition will feature 20 participants, 15 of whom have already been to this stage of the competition in the past and five who will be making their debut.
The list of debutants features Dominic with Once In a While composed by Elton Zarb and penned by Rita Pace; Eklessia Sisters with Love and Let Go, written by Philip Vella; Iona Dalli with Could Have Been Me, written by Philip Vella; Karen DeBattista with 12, Baker Street, composed by Jan Van Dijck and penned by Emil Calleja Bayliss; and Lyndsay with Home written by Boris Cezek.
While the list of participants who have already been to the Eurovision Song Contest is relatively low, it is still very present.
The list features: Glen Vella with Breakaway , written by Kevin Borg and Simon Gribbe; Gianluca Bezzina as part of L-Aħwa, with the song Beautiful to Me, written by Erik Anjou; and Ludwig Galea as part of Trilogy with the track Chasing a Dream, composed by Paul Abela and penned by Joe Julian Farrugia.
All three have been to the international competition already, reeling off positive experiences, despite mixed results.
The only participant considered to be a veteran at this stage is Lawrence Gray, a male singer/ songwriter who has been through to the final stages of the national final on nine occasions, finishing in second place twice, in 1999 with The Right Time composed by Ray Agius to the lyrics of Philip Vella, and in 2003 with Why Not, written by Ray Agius.
This year he presents his own lyrics to a composition by Elton Zarb, which bears the title The One That You Love. Nevertheless, several artists have been on the main stage on at least two or three previous occasions.
No vocalist is competing with more than one song
While no vocalist is competing with more than one song in the competition, Elton Zarb, the composer who brought the Junior Eurovision Song Contest to Malta, made it through to the semi-final stage with seven songs, featuring a handful of lyricists, proving that variety is possible.
He is credited on Warrior, sung by Amber, It’s Ok, sung by Deborah C, Stop Haunting Me sung by Raquel Galdes, Rush sung by Christabelle, Close Your Eyes sung by Danica Muscat, Once in a While sung by Dominic and The One That You Love sung by Lawrence. The first four songs are penned by Matthew Mercieca (Muxu), while the rest are penned by Emil Calleja Bayliss, Rita Pace and Lawrence Gray, in that order.
Daniel Chircop and Lyona Xuereb Gatt have been tapped by the Public Broadcasting Services to greet the public on the night of the semi-final and the final, hoping to add a pinch of youth and enthusiasm to a competition which has at times been called archaic.
Relative newcomers to the world of television, the male counterpart was one of the commentators for the 2013 edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, while the hostess is a dancer and an actress, whose presentation skills are yet untested.
On Saturday, apart from the competition, the public will have the opportunity to enjoy a guest performance from Conchita Wurst, the winner of the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest, whose latest single Heroes is already receiving rave reviews, for being the perfect follow-up to Rise Like a Phoenix.
This is the ideal follow-up to a remarkable performance by Emmelie de Forest earlier this year, whose hit tracks Only Teardrops and Rainmaker went down extremely well in the arena, adding a sense of exuberance.
The 20 songs competing in the first night of the competition will be whittled down to 14.
A panel of professionals, and the public vote, will be responsible for the selection. The same process will be used when deciding on the act that should represent Malta in Vienna.
The Eurovision Song Contest semi-finals and finals take place on Friday and Saturday at Malta Shipbuilding, Marsa.