Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja believes the day will come when a Maltese will lift the Eurovision trophy.
Writing in his blog, Malta's most successful singer, Calleja said that Malta had a brilliant song yesterday, and it was delivered impeccably, yet Malta did not win.
"No doubt there will be many who will cry foul, bring up the unfair issue of neighbourly cross voting and insist on having Malta withdraw from future contests."
Whether it is in the office or on stage cross voting is a common and normal factor that has to catered for and dealt with in the long road of realising one's goal, he said.
The road to success will be constantly besieged by factions, jealousy, envy, loyalties, nepotism or downright corruption.
"Multiple spokes in the wheels are not only the norm but they are to be expected and dealt with. Indeed I view these acts of cheekiness as adding to one's achievement and a sad reminder that human nature can sometimes be petty and small minded."
To those who felt that Malta should stop competing in the Eurovision, Mr Calleja said his reply was that form of “tomfoolery” would always be present and could really be avoided.
It was the marking of true, real talent to triumph despite and against the odds!
"What we really need to do in Malta is to see the Eurovision for what it is; great, silly fun and just another way to remind our European neighbours what a great destination and fun Malta is.
"Life ain’t perfect and it certainly isn’t fair, but fate is inexorable and the day will come when someone from these shores will lift the trophy… in the meantime a big BRAVO to Gianluca and all the Maltese team who went there to have fun and fun they had!"
http://josephcalleja.com/category/blog/
PN CONGRATULATIONS
Meanwhile, the PN congratulated Gianluca Bezzina for his result yesterday.
Culture spokesman Francis Zammit Dimech said the Eurovision Song Contest should continue to be seen as a showcase for Maltese talent.
It was a happy coincidence, he said, that Malta yesterday achieved its best Eurovision result in years, a day after Valletta was confirmed at the European Capital of Culture in 2018.
He augured that work on the promotion of Malta abroad would continue, and it would be strengthened.
MINISTER CONGRATULATES GIANLUCA
A congratulatory statement was also issued by Home Affairs Minister Emmanuel Mallia, who is responsible for PBS and who was present for the show in Malmo.
He said that Gianluca Bezzina, thanks to his cheerful character and simplicity, had managed to win over the hearts of the Maltese and of those countries that voted for Malta.
Malta should be proud to have achieved eighth place out of 39 countries. This was the fruit of the hard work put in by Gianluca and his band, as well as the PBS delegation headed by chairman Tonio Portughese and CEO Anton Attard, the minister said.
The minister said he had personally conveyed Malta’s congratulations to Gianluca.