Yes, it is that time of the year again! The big event is only a few days away, and the build-up has been extensive and intense, especially here, where the Eurovision Song Contest is regarded as something of a Red Letter day in the Maltese calendar. The public has been kept well-informed of Fabrizio Faniello’s preparations ahead of his second appearance in the notorious music festival but, this year, he won’t be the only Maltese artist taking the stage on the night!
Switzerland will be fielding a pop sextet – three boys, three girls – all good-looking, all talented and all from different countries! Put together by composer/producer Ralph Siegel, the group, imaginatively called Six4One, features leading Swiss vocalist Claudia D’Addio; Marco Matias from Portugal; blonde bombshell Tinka from Bosnia; Liel, a German girl of Israeli origin; Swedish Europop star Andreas Lundstedt and, last but not least, Malta’s own Keith Camilleri. Already an established singer in local circles, Keith’s fourth placing in two consecutive editions of the Maltasong Festival (with Tango For Two and Sunshine In Your Eyes) caught Siegel’s attention. Keith’s Latin looks and silky voice must have proved too ideal a combination to pass up in Siegel’s “star search” and, on Keith’s part, such an opportunity was certainly not to be overlooked!
The experience to be gained from his participation in Six4One would definitely be a step forward in Keith’s career. Besides bringing with it the benefit of international exposure on the night of the festival, there is also the chance to network with foreign counterparts, develop important contacts abroad and sample a bit of the high life that comes with the obligatory promo commitments synonymous with the job of being a Eurovision participant! While there is no denying that, for the pop singer, a place in the Eurovision Song Contest is a dream come true, being part of Six4One could prove to be a more vital step for Keith. Working alongside someone like Andreas Lundstedt who, as Alcazar’s frontman has already tasted widespread success and fame with the smash hit 80s-sampling single Crying At The Discotheque, will definitely attract the media’s attention – and exposure, as we all know, is an essential factor in any pop star’s rise to fame!
Aside from all the glitz, however, there is the understated but ultimately, more significant element that ties it all together – the music! The song, If We All Give A Little, is what counts (or at least it should be!) and yet, surprisingly, it isn’t what can be termed an instant hit. It is a predictable pop song, strongly reminiscent of the We Are The World hit of yesteryear and it hasn’t got the upbeat punch that the winning entries of recent editions have openly thrown in our faces. But – it is a grower! And since these days the participating songs receive a great deal of international airplay before the actual final night, this could be an effective element in the public response to the song when it comes to voting.
Aside from the competitive aspect of it all, Six4One’s entry has another role to fulfil – one that aims to affect the listener’s emotions more than his or her musical fancy. In fact, the motive behind the Swiss entry goes a little deeper than simply contending for the title. Written by Siegel and Bernd Meinunger, If We All Give A Little has been chosen as the official song of the “We Are What We Do” movement, the UK-based organisation behind the “Change The World For A Fiver” campaign whose objectives include the promotion and implementation of a wide range of educational and philanthropic projects with a global perspective. The song is in fact We Are What We Do’s latest project, and it is only natural that it reflects the movement’s philosophy and conveys its universal message. Now there’s something to really think about – instead of eyeing the Greek entry’s sassy clothing or the Belgian entry’s sexy moves!