The general feeling amongst Maltese Eurovision fans is that it was high time that Olivia Lewis represented Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC). Olivia has participated in the Malta Song For Europe for many years and made it to second place during the past three editions of the local contest.

Public comment on Sunday echoed the opinion that Olivia is an excellent singer, Vertigo a powerful song and the whole performance package excellent. The team behind the song is led by lyricist Gerard James Borg, composer Philip Vella, violinist Joseph Chetcuti and dancer Jes Sciberras.

“My feeling is that this is a really good time for Olivia to sing Malta’s Eurovision entry. Last year's dismal result needs to be followed by the sort of performance package that Vertigo has. I'd be very surprised if it doesn't make it through the May 10 semi-final to the May 12 final in Finland,” MaltaMedia’s own Toni Sant said.

During the performance of her west-asian-flamenco tinged pop song, Olivia wore a kimono-like dress with stripes.  This consume was also selected by a public vote through the singer's website. Hundreds voted during a five-day long poll to decide which of two dresses Olivia should wear.

A number of viewers who called in during various televised programmes on Sunday said that the staged performance should not be changed for the show in Helsinki.   Some suggested that the performance could be enhanced by more dancers on stage. ESC regulations limit the number of persons on stage for any one song to six, so three other dancers and/or backing vocalists can still be added to Olivia's team.

During the same post-contest television programmes, Pamela and her backing vocalists, who sang All About a Life, complained that monitors on stage were low for the first minute of their song.   Not being able to hear each other well, their performance initially lacked.   Lyricist Fleur Balzan and composer Paul Giordamaina who was also one of the backing vocalists, logged an official complaint with the MaltaSong board.   According to the organisers, the sound was fine in the auditorium at the Ta' Qali Convention Centre as well as on TV.   

Last year, Fabrizio Faniello was given the possibility to sing his song a second time due to technical hitches. Pamela and her team were not afforded this courtesy on Saturday evening.

The full televoting results are as follows:

1. Olivia Lewis - Vertigo: 30,977 votes
2. Trilogy - Starlight: 7,647 votes
3. Klinsmann Coleiro - SheGives Me Wings: 7,550 votes
4. Kevin Borg - Whenever: 4,365 votes
5. Pamela-  All about a Life – 3,047 votes
6. SCAR - As Long as You Know: 2,103 votes

The names of the international jury and their voting results during Thursday’s semi-final will be published at a later date, a MaltaSong board member stated on Sunday.

For more detailed information about Malta's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest see EurovisionMalta.com.

See also:

At Last: initial thoughts about Olivia Lewis' triumph
from Toni Sant's Blog - Sunday, 4 February 2007

Abracadabra: comments on Malta Song for Europe 2007
from Toni Sant's Blog - Saturday, 3 February 2007

Muzika Mod Iehor - Special Edition:Malta Song for Europe 2007
an audio podcast by Toni Sant