The Maltese entry for the 2003 Junior Eurovision Song Contest is selected by 6th September. Maltasong very distinctly states that it will have a say in what the participants wear on stage.
Speaking to The Malta Independent on Sunday, Maltasong member Romina Libreri said the board is still working on the competition. “We will hold a meeting next week and all the details will be announced to the press,” Ms Libreri said. Asked what budget Maltasong will allot to this festival, Ms Libreri said this were details which will be made public later on.
The elimination phase will take place on 1 August when the jury, chosen by Maltasong, will listen to all the songs submitted on CD. The ten finalists will be announced on 8th August and the final ten songs will compete half-live, half-playback in a televised festival on 6th September.
The lyrics have to be in English but some lyrics in Maltese may be included, Maltasong rules say. The songs will be chosen by a jury. The composers, authors and singers of the winning song will sign a contract with the Maltasong committee that they will participate in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.
One particular condition for participation is very clear. Maltasong very distinctly states that it will have a say in what the participants wear on stage both in Malta and in Denmark, possibly to eliminate the risk of having children wearing gaudy or trashy dresses, which are so popular with Maltese parents.
This festival is Malta’s chance to come round following the disappointing result in Riga. Most of all, it will be an occasion to “compare young local talent with the rest of Europe’s”.
