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2. How different is the Eurovision Song
Contest today from its early years?
There is a big difference between my first
experience with singers Paul Giordimaina and
Georgina, and the way the Festival is being
held today. Although we obtained good
results for Malta we had poor facilities
when compared to today’s modern technology.
3. Do you still feel that 'lobbying' is
the key to a good result at the Eurovison
Song Contest?
Yes lobbying is in my opinion a key factor
towards achieving good results. I must
however confess that the style of lobbying
has changed over the years.
4. You were the executive producer of the
Malta International TV Song Festival in 2006
and 2007. Why do you feel that this song
contest should continue to exist?
The winners of such Festival (and maybe
others as well) find this Festival a
stepping stone enabling them to participate
in various International Festivals abroad
This experience helps them in no small way
to further their singing career
5. Why did Malta quit taking part in the
Eurovision Song Contest between 1976 and
1990? Do you feel that it was a bad decision
to pull out from such a song contest?
I was not involved when the decision was
taken in 1976 i.e. not to keep on
participating in the Eurovision Song
Contest. My opinion is that no matter what
the reason was for this absence, it was
however a regrettable decision.
6. You were a member of the committee
during the 90's. Can you recall each and
every Eurovision experience you were
involved in:
1991:
What was the reaction of the other countries
to the fact that Malta returned to the
Eurovision Song Contest?
On re applying to participate in the 1991
Festival, the initial response was that for
the time being no other country was to be
accepted. The date of the Eurovision
coincided with Holland’s National day. For
this reason Holland withdrew from the
competition for that specific year only. We
grabbed this opportunity to take part
instead of Holland but it was made clear to
us that this is just for one year only.
The following year we applied again but
during the EBU Meeting we were reminded
about the previous year’s agreement. The
chairman at that time Mr.Gaetano Abela,
exerted pressure for us to be included
especially after the good placing (sixth) in
ROME.
A motion was presented from our part, and
the majority of the members voted in our
favour. Since than along the years, we were
always were present in the Eurovision Song
Contest.
1992:
Were you convinced that Malta could strike
gold with 'Little Child'? Do you feel that
Malta was 'robbed' from the first place?
Malta was definitely robbed from placing
first with Mary Spiter’s “Little Child”
because all indications had pointed towards
Mary Spiteri placing first place.
1993:
What happened during the voting when Malta
couldn't be reached by telephone?
This was due to a misunderstanding in the
procedure between the EBU scrutineer and
Malta’s spokesperson.
1994:
Many feel that it should have been Ray
Caruana's 'Scarlet Song' to represent Malta
ithis year. Do you agree?
This was not the only year when songs not
placing first were considered by many as
songs which had the potential of obtaining
good results for Malta. The choice of songs
is always subjective.
1995:
Mike Spiteri complained of bad staging and
bad lightening which, according to the
singer, ruined his chances at Eurovision. Do
you agree?
Although I do not deny that we had some
problems with stage and lights as well, I do
not agree that these ruined the chances of a
better placing.
1996:
Miriam Christine complained several times
that she was given bad directions by the
Italian producer who was responsible of her
'image' on stage. Do you agree?
No I do not agree at all.
1997:
Debbie Scerri was tipped as a hot favourite
to win the Eurovision 1997. However many
believe that her performance on stage lacked
the 'winning spark'. What went wrong?
Debbie Scerri was not feeling well on the on
the day of the festival. Although she gave a
good performance in the afternoon rehearsal
prior to the Festival, with her health
deteriorating by the evening, I am sure this
conditioned for her not giving the best
performance possible.
1998:
No one truly believed that Chiara could do
it, except Katrina (winner of Eurovision
1997). She was proved right as Chiara almost
took the first prize in Birmingham. However,
Macedonia didn't award us any points. Do you
feel that there were political maneuvers
behind the scenes which robbed us from that
first place?
Until we arrived in Birmingham and Chiara
started her rehearsals it was true that few
people believed she could emerge as the
winner. With the voting system being as it
is, Macedonia did in fact usurp the first
place from us.
1999:
Do you feel that Lawrence Gray should have
represented Malta in 1999 with "The Right
Time" instead of Times Three?
My reply is the same as I replied for the
1994 question.
2000:
Claudette Pace was confident on stage
but failed to reach the top-5. Why?
Claudette Pace was confident and gave a good
performance. The voting system at the
Eurovision Song Contest leaves much to be
desired.
2001:
Many felt that Fabrizio Faniello could
easily win the Eurovision Song Contest in
2001. He failed to reach the top-5. Why?
Before leaving Malta, each year the
participant and the Maltese public feel that
we can easily win the Eurovision, one finds
a totally different story when we meet the
other foreign participants.
2002:
Ira Losco almost did it in 2002 with her
"7th Wonder". Were you all expecting such a
positive result?
With IRA LOSCO, our feedback was that we
were to achieve a very positive result. It’s
a pity that we only placed second.
7. What is your opinion of Morena's
'Vodka'? Do you feel that she can win it?
I already stated in other media that Morena,
with Vodka, will
be well received in this year’s Festival. To
be honest I have to hear all the other songs
participating this year to be able to
comment further
8. Do you believe that Malta can ever win
this contest? If so, why did we fail to win
it in all these years?
Yes of course, our local talent is capable
of competing against the other European
countries and emerge as winners. However I
think that the jury as it is at present is a
handicap for us, but I do not rule out that
we can win the Festival.
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