“Change the style of your Eurovision,” an expert told Malta
An academic known as the ‘Professor Song Contest’ has advised Malta to change its style at Eurovision and try to compete with a more authentic Maltese song that reflects what Europe is going through.
“You have to understand that Eurovision has changed and that typical Eurovision pop songs don’t work anymore,” said Dean Vuletic, a lecturer and researcher of contemporary European history at the University of Vienna who wrote a book called Postwar. Europe and the Eurovision. Song Contest.
“These songs went very well in the early 2000’s, and maybe that’s why you feel that Malta did better in the past.
“But today, the winning songs are the ones that stand out. Maneskin’s victory last year clearly showed this, and Malta’s entry did not stand out this year. “
The 44-year-old Croatian-Australian, who is arguably the world’s leading academic on the social and cultural impact of Eurovision, attended Emma Muscat’s performances last week.
‘A catchy song and a compelling performance’
The atmosphere was great, he said. The song was catchy and the performance forced everyone in the arena to get up and dance. But the style of music was outdated and needed to be more diverse.
“Singers and bands who write their own songs, in their own language, talk about related personal experiences, are currently flourishing.
“Europeans voted for artists who reflected the current social and political context – they voted for those who wrote about the suffering that Europe is currently going through. Malta’s income does not reflect that time. “
‘A topic of self-acceptance a few years ago’
Emma Muscat’s theme of social diversity and the idea of loving and accepting oneself was stronger a few years ago, he said. This culminated in Conchita Wurst’s victory in 2014.
But this has been done and Eurovision has continued to experiment with other musical themes and styles – and recommends that Malta seriously consider doing the same.
“Most of the songs that were not written in English went to the finals. Malta should consider competing with a Maltese song, as that is another growing trend at Eurovision.
“Standing out doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be superior to colors and special effects. The Portuguese winner of Eurovision 2017 is an example of how to stand out simply but effectively.
‘Just think of the singing doctor. Spikka ‘
“Just think of the singing doctor, Gianluca Bezzina. It went well because it stood out. ”
While Malta’s chances of winning may seem more daunting than ever, Vuletic is convinced that one day it has a good chance. Victory seemed equally impossible for Latvia and Estonia before they won, he remarked.
“Don’t underestimate yourself and never think you’re insignificant. I was in Malta when I hosted Junior Eurovision for the first time in 2014, and I was impressed. The atmosphere and organization were incredible, and you have what it takes to host it. ”
He also argues that the benefits of participating in Eurovision extend far beyond winning, but if Malta continues to measure success if it wins, it will always feel like a failure.
‘Emma is an extraordinary actress’
“The truth is that Malta is not doing badly in Eurovision. You’re doing pretty well. Emma is an extraordinary actress and this week electrified audiences. Last year went well with Destiny and you had a strong income in previous years. ”
However, Malta alone is spreading its name across Europe with a strong audience of 200 million. “Rarely, if ever, does any country have that opportunity.”
While acknowledging the tendency of neighboring countries to vote for each other, he refuses to blame Malta’s results on this phenomenon.
“The winner will always have a strong vote from all over Europe.”
He also rejects the idea that Malta should take Eurovision lightly: just because it sounds silly, doesn’t mean it’s a joke.
‘The biggest single event in the world’
“Eurovision is the biggest event in the world that brings Europeans together, so much so that when the European Commission began to develop the idea of a European identity, it looked at the cultural and social history of Eurovision, and even sponsored it for some. time, ”he said.
“There is something special about the way small nations live Eurovision, and in Malta it captures its spirit in such a way as to create an extraordinary sense of community.
“It is so important for you that sometimes you even vote for politicians in parliament who were on the stage of Eurovision, and continue to be very successful policy makers. Don’t take it lightly. “
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