The MaltaSong committee has decided to devide their selection method for Malta Song For Europe 2003 into two independent parts: The song and performer being selected the traditional way, while the choice of backing singers will get a new twist by introducing a talent search broadcasted as the reality TV programme called Pop In.
Pop In, planned to start in January, will be broadcasted by TVM, the main channel provided by PBS. Deadline for submitting the application form to the production company was set to Thursday this week, while the actual auditions will start in the following weeks. All of the 24 songs making it into the semi final of Malta Song For Europe 2003, will be presented to the televiewers for the very first time during the Pop In series.
The question arose concerning what would happen in the case the winning act of the Maltese national final wouldn't require backing vocalists on the stage of Skonto Hall. To this the head of MaltaSong, Charlò Bonnici, replied that if so happened, the chosen singers would still get their trip to Riga fully financed and would still be a part of the Maltese delegation, although their formal task would evaporate.
To the news paper The Times of Malta, Charlò Bonnici underscored that the backing singers would get the needed support to be able to pull their weight in Latvia: “Participants who make it to the final stages will be trained by professionals as backing vocalists. Whatever the outcome, through this initiative it is hoped Malta will also have a group of trained singers who will be able to perform as backing singers in events of such high calibre.”
