The fourth 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 which are going to reach in the national final.

The WEBCAST can befound here, here and here. (The webcast IS working tonight. It depends on your computer and your internet connection, which link works the best for you.)

Participants

1. Ruth Portelli – Innocent heart(Ralph Siegel, Bernd Meinunger as 'John O'Flynn')
2. Eleanor Cassar – Someday (Paul Giordimaina, Fleur Balzan)
3. Dario & Grecia Bezzina – Fjamma tas-Sliem (Philip Vella)
4. Harmony – Claire Caruana – (Augusto Cardinali, Giovann Attard)
5. Maria Mallia – Love in the Sahara (Charlene Grech, Clinton Paul)
6. Natasha & Charlene – Alchemy (Charlene Grech, John A. Agius)
7. Claudia Faniello – Midas touch (Sean Vella, Philip Vella)

LIVE

The show has started!

1. Ruth Portelli – Innocent heart(Ralph Siegel, Bernd Meinunger as 'John O'Flynn')

Ralph Siegel keeps the record for having composed the most entries in the Eurovision Song Contest – no less than 18. Bernd Meinunger keeps the record as most frequent lyricist with 17 participations. They have taken part previously in MSFE and Siegel also produced (but did not write) the 2004 entry On again… off again and this is their second song in MSFE 2008.

Ruth performs a customary ballad that is not particularly old-fashioned but could still have taken part in any national final of the last 30 years. The song is slightly catchy but probably not very memorable. The singer is very nervous and the vocals are definitely not flawless although some emotions seem to be shining through.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mi-sGchdLUw&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0

2. Eleanor Cassar – Someday (Paul Giordimaina, Fleur Balzan)

Composer Paul Giordimaina has represented Malta as a singer in Rome in 1991. Eleanor Cassar previously took part in MSFE in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008, when she achieved her best result so far finishing fourth.

Someday is a typical national final entry with a catchy but uninspired pop melody that could be used on the soundtrack of any Disney film. Eleanor's vocals are strong but completely over-the-top regarding the rather simple tune.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMoEEWn7elk&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0

3. Dario & Grecia Bezzina – Fjamma tas-Sliem (Philip Vella)

Philip Vella has already composed five Maltese entries in the contest (2000, 2002, 2004, 2007 and 2008) and was also taking part as a backing singer in 1997. This time, the lyrics were written by himself instead of his frequent writing partner Gerard James Borg.

The couple performs the first MSFE 2009 entry in Maltese and they bring some ethnic flavour on stage. Somehow, they remind of Helen & Joseph, who represented Malta in 1972 and finished last. Generally this entry might not have the biggest chances of winning the national final but it will probably attract some attention because of the choice of language.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvCJh4Hzsvo&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0

4. Harmony – Claire Caruana – (Augusto Cardinali, Giovann Attard)

This entry is obviously supposed to be operatic. However, the vocal performance is rather weak, especially at the beginning, and the song lacks a strong chorus and hook line. With more and more operatic entries in Eurovision national selections, this style might be going earlier out-of-style than expected…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkMuZOd7RhM&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0

5. Maria Mallia – Love in the Sahara (Charlene Grech, Clinton Paul)

This is the first entry in MSFE this year with the music written by a female composer: Charlene Grech, who took part in the national selection with her sister Natasha various times – and they are also going to sing the following entry. It is a coincidence that the two entries are performed back-to-back, as this spot was orginally supposed to be taken by Chiara.

Love in the Sahara has rather strange lyrics but a catchy melody that suffers from a rather hecticand yet quiet arrangement. Generally one of the stronger(even if not most progessive)entries that might still need some work. The performance could be more eye-catching and the vocalscould be improved.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFOFBNTYYDU&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0

6. Natasha & Charlene – Alchemy (Charlene Grech, John A. Agius)

Natasha & Charlene are no strangers to the Maltese selection having taken part in 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. In 2007 they took part in the semi final in Bulgaria but did not make it to the final. Their entry is again composed by Charlene, who also composed song #5 tonight.

The sisters stick to their style and present a ballad with ethnictunes.The vocals are not perfect andthe stage performance could be morememorable, despite the conspicuos black gloves. Do they really consider their song that much of a crime that they want to make sure not to leave any fingerprints?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbBWGTuK9IE&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0

7. Claudia Faniello – Midas touch (Sean Vella, Philip Vella)

Claudia Faniello took part in the 2007 Maltese semi final with out reaching the final just to return in 2008 and finishing both second and third behind Morena. Philip Vella (see above) also wrote the lyrics to this entry.

While Natasha & Charlene are still busy with Alchemy, Claudia has already found her way of turning things into gold: Midas' touch. The song starts off as a ballad butlater turns into a catchy (yet somewhat predictable) up-tempo song. The vocals are definitely among the strongest ones tonight and Claudia's charismatic performance works pretty well with the entry.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omxnnjsthjM&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0

No results will be revealed tonight.