Replay: Seventh semi final in Malta

by Marcus Klier 85 views

The seventh semi final of Malta Song for Europe 2009, the Maltese selection for the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow, is about to take place. Another seven acts will compete to be one of the 20 acts who are going to reach in the national final.

Webcast

The webcast can be found here.

Participants:

  1. Alison EllulTypical me – Alison Ellul(Philip Vella, Gerard J. Borg)
  2. Daniela VellaSoulmate (Ray Agius, Alfred C. Sant)
  3. Eleanor CassarThis is our life(Paul Giordimaina, Fleur Balzan)
  4. Georgina & Ruth CasingenaAvalon (Paul Abela, Joe Julian Farrugia)
  5. Claudia FanielloBlue Sonata(Ray Agius)
  6. ChiaraWhat if we (Marc Paelinck, Gregory Bilsen)
  7. Christine BarbaraVisions of you

LIVE

The show will start at 21:15 CET.

The show has started. As always, Valerie Vella welcomes the audience before we go straight to the first song.

1. Alison Ellul – Typical me

Alison Ellul is no stranger to the Maltese selection: she has already taken part in 1999, 2004 (when she achieved her highest place so far reaching 5th), 2005 and 2006. Her entry is yet another one this year written by Philip Vella and Gerard James Borg, who wrote the Maltese entries in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2007 and 2008.

In devilish red and black, Alison performs a classic Eurovision Song Contest ballad. The vocals are rather strong compared to others heard in this year's Maltese selection. However, with so many ballads in this competition, she can probably not seen as a definite qualifier.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD5qaXOzvWM&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0

2. Daniela Vella – Soulmate

This is Daniela Vella's second participation after her semi final attempt last year, which did not lead to a qualification. Ray Agius has composed the Maltese entries in 1995 in 1997, which finished 10th and 9th respectively. He also served as conductor on both occasions.

Soulmate is another ballad (and not a Natasha Bedingfield cover). While it is musically more interesting than the first one tonight, it lacks a strong and memorable chorus which could make it hard for this entry to qualify. The beige dress makes the performer look a bit pale which somehow fits in the overall performance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfAVZWynTuM&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0

3. Eleanor Cassar – This is our life

Eleanor Cassar has taken part in MSfE in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008. Last year, she achieved her highest place so far finishing 4th in the final. Composer Paul Giordimaina has represented Malta as a singer in 1991 and takes part in this year's Maltese selection with an impressive number of entries.

We are in for yet another ballad. As expected, the vocals are flawless but very over-the-top regarding the rather straightformward and simple melody, just like with her first entry. Generally one of the entries that do not really stand out but could benefit from the singer's popularity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be3bjKDgHA4&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0

4. Georgina & Ruth Casingena – Avalon

Georgina represented Malta in 1991 with Paul Giordimaina and finished 6th and was a backing singer for Miriam Christine in 1996. She also tried to represent Malta every year between 1993 and 1999 as well as in 2004. As the composer of Little child in 1992, she gave the country one of its best placings in the competition (3rd) and she was also the lyricist of the 2001 entry Another summer night. The song she presents tonight was composed by Paul Abela, who composed the Maltese entries in 1991, 1996 andd 2001 and conducted the Maltese entries in 1991, 1992 and 1996.

This would not be Euro Showbox without at least one song in a operatic style – and this is tonight's one. The entry is definitely interesting (which can be either good or bad) and sounds as if Sarah Brightman had decided to make a disco/trance record. The vocals work with the song but the stage performance is very sallow and needs improvement to suit this kind of music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bFMCaNUSVU&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0

An impressive interval act now by a ballroom female dancer accompanied by a male one in a wheelchair.

5. Claudia Faniello – Blue Sonata

Claudia Faniello is back in this competition having already taken part in the 2007 semi final and finished both second and third last year. She has also song the entry Midas touch in the 4th semi final this year. Her second entry is another one tonight written by Ray Agius.

While her first entry this year was in the style of Caravaggio, this one is in the style of Sunrise. With an Italian title, which seems to be a bit out-of-place, the team behind this entry obviously seems to try too hard to chum up tp the average Eurovision fan. The ballad is not outstanding, but the stage and vocal performance are rather strong, even if it is not sure why Claudia chose a dress inspired by 1970s wallpapers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFxHfK4ACBM&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0

6. Chiara – What if we

Chiara has already given Malta two of it's best placings finishing third in 1998 with The one that I love and second in 2005 with her own composition Angel. This year, she presents a song compsed by Marc Paelinck, who wrote the Belgian entries in 2002 and 2004 that finished 13th and 22nd respectively.

The song is in the same style as her 2005 entry Angel, but it is somewhat less catchy and not the instant earworm most people have expected. Nevertheless, Chiara manages to balance the weaknesses of the song with a charismatic performance and strong vocals.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpgISr5_nxA&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0

7. Christine Barbara – Visions of you

Surprisingly, the last song tonight is a ballad. It is one of the more complex compositions tonight and a pleasant variety. The overall performance works on stage even if the singer gets a bit lost in the high notes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZxdWbphYx8&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0