UPDATED: A decision to contemplate changing Malta's Eurovision song has prompted such a nationwide discussion that Ira Losco's manager has urged the public to try to understand that Malta intends competing in Sweden with the best possible product.
Losco's winning song Chameleon will have to face stiff competition from nine other tracks performed by the artist herself if it is to be selected as Malta's official entry to the Eurovision Song Contest in May, it was learnt last night.
The song Chameleon - which won last month's Malta Eurovision contest - has been revamped, while nine other submissions have been made before the final entry is submitted in the next three weeks.
The news triggered off wide discussion on social media and online comments boards, many of whom questioned why the public bothered to vote for a winning song last month.
It solidifies the reasoning why these last 10 years have reflected disappointing results for Malta
But in a message on Facebook, manager Howard Keith Debono said: "You can lead the horse to water but you can't make it drink. Don't think for a minute that the lack of understanding, online bickering and comments is lessening our spirit. On the contrary - it solidifies the reasoning why these last 10 years have reflected disappointing results for Malta. Maybe this will be year 11. So what if it is but at least let us try something different. Logic no? Ira has always been a trend setter, inspiring to others, unpredictable."
He revealed that five new tracks have been recorded in these last 15 days, of which 10 have been shortlisted from international music industry experts, including two new different revamped versions of Chameleon .
"It takes courage and resilience to change a mentality but it takes a lot of time and patience to explain strategies, how the music industry works, what is factual and 100% according to rules - regardless of results."
"I'm very confident that this courageous stand will help fight a small-minded mentality that has handicapped our progress on this island as well as turn online bickering into something which is actually less important than we actually think it is," Mr Debono said.
During a visit to Malta last week, European Broadcasting Unit supervisor Jan Ola Sand confirmed that this year the festival gave the right to the winning artist to change the song.
PBS said different juries would be analysing 10 of Losco's songs, including Chameleon, before a final track is chosen to represent Malta in Stockholm. The juries would be made up of local and foreign "experts".
Insiders said PBS is pulling all the stops to make sure Losco will have a good chance of placing among the top in a festival lauded in Malta, but derided by millions in Europe.
Losco's winning song earned 40 per cent of the popular vote and the majority of votes from the judges.
Losco will perform in the first semi-final on May 10, with the final taking place in the Swedish capital four days later. The singer had placed second in the 2002 Eurovision Song Contest with Seventh Wonder.