Eurovision hopeful Ira Losco yesterday said she was open to the idea of singing a completely different song for her performance in Sweden.
Speaking to the Times of Malta following a courtesy visit with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat yesterday, Ira said the choice of song she performed in the final competition was not hers to make. The Eurovision Song Contest regulations were amended last year to allow participants to alter the song chosen during national competitions. It could be a slight change, such as a shorter introduction or longer chorus, or a complete overhaul – with countries free to go for a totally different song.
Asked how she felt about this possibility, Ira said that she would be on board with this as long as it had a positive impact on her chances.
“If changing the song means we have a better chance in the competition then why not,” she said, adding that she knew some fans and members of the public could be against this.
The final decision is not Ira’s to take, however,as it lies with PBS
The final decision is not Ira’s to take, however, as it lies with Public Broadcasting Services as the entity responsible for the Maltese entry. Attempts to contact PBS chief executive Anton Attard yesterday proved unsuccessful by the time of writing.
Ira will take the stage in the second half of the first semi-final of the competition in Stockholm in May.
The allocation of countries for the two semi-finals was drawn yesterday morning at Stockholm’s City Hall, but the order of participation still has to be decided.
The first semi-final will be held on May 10 and the second on May 12.
A total of 43 countries are taking part in this year’s contest, of which 37 contest the semi-finals. The others are hosts Sweden and the “big five” countries that sponsor most of the show: France; Germany; Italy; the United Kingdom; and Spain. Eighteen countries will perform in the first semi-final and 19 in the second. The 10 countries that qualify from each semi-final proceed to the final on May 14.
Ira was greeted by Dr Muscat at Castille with open arms. While congratulating her for her triumph at the Malta Eurovision Song Contest last Saturday, he said his children had voted for her and quipped that she had, not for the first time, knocked him off the front pages.