Although every Maltese is disappointed following the bad result obtained by Fabrizio Faniello at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, we must not get keep looking at the past and we have to face the future to work for a much better result next time round, Tourism and Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech told The Malta Independent yesterday.
“We were all disappointed at placing last but we really have to start working from now to achieve a better result next time. What is certain is that we will have to compete in the semi-final and we have to hope that we can make it but this has happened to other countries before, so we shouldn’t be so dramatic about it”.
Asked on the type of song that Malta should present at the contest, the minister said that times were changing and we have to address this issue properly if we are to succeed.
“This year’s contest shows that we have to change gear and be in step with the times. On a positive note, it provides a challenge for songwriters, lyricists and singers to come up with a product that fits in with the sign of the times and, hopefully, produce a better result”.
The minister was also adamant that the board worked extremely hard and this was the largest promotional campaign ever made for Malta’s Eurovision entry.
“Ironically, after such a campaign, we came last. But that’s life and it has happened to other much larger countries before, so I don’t think that we cannot bounce back”.
Asked whether he still had confidence in the board, Minister Zammit Dimech said that he only had words of praise for the outstanding job that the members carried out in Athens.
“It is normal procedure that the board resigns at the end of June but this does not mean that the current board has not worked well. I would like to express my thanks and congratulations to the chairman and his team for their unstinting dedication to the cause and one can definitely not blame them for the bad result”.
Asked on what he would like to see for the future, the minister said that the level of preparation right up to the final night has to improve “considerably”.
Fabrizio Faniello arrived in Malta early yesterday morning at around 2 am where he found a number of fans ready to greet him notwithstanding the disappointing result achieved.