So Fabrizio Faniello is the singer who fell from grace, the Eurovision representative who had the audacity to humiliate the Maltese with his I do, I do because in the end, according to the Eurovision results on 20 May, he came last.

These are certainly not my interpretations of what Fabrizio Faniello did and didn’t do. I could never in a million years literally stab somebody who is already wounded. These are statements made from the public and the press.

There were once “devoted Faniello fans”, those who clapped so hard and smiled so lovingly at the good looking male singer when he was high up on the popularity stakes, before his poor result made them metaphorise into hard-hearted critics.

Lou Bondi on his Bondi Plus on 23 May was one minute the “tactful” presenter saying Faniello’s performance was disastrous, and the next he was thinking out loud why the Maltese made such a huge fuss and a big issue out of the Eurovision.

Couldn’t Lou Bondi make up his mind what to ask or did he seek a standing ovation from couch potatoes who were glued to the TV screen watching his show? Couldn’t Mr Bondi and other critics realise that sometimes, though we do our best in what we try and our expectations are high, other people somehow don’t see it the way we do?

Has anybody out there lost endless sleep over a certain examination to continue studying, only to fail on the actual day? Haven’t certain foreign football teams been predicted to win an important game, only to lose despite endless training?

Fabrizio Faniello fairly and squarely was chosen to represent Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest. Fabrizio Faniello placed last. So what? Is the second or third place reserved for the Maltese? Who do we think we are? Why one post mortem after another?

First, his interpretation of the song was not good, then his hair was not done properly, then his pair of jeans that were never worn, then the fault lay with the promotion of the song. Oh God, why are we such hopeless bad losers?

A final message to Fabrizio Faniello. Do not apologise for not doing well. Hold your head up high. Ignore all those who criticise you. You did your best.

I’d rather be you Fabrizio Faniello placing last than that Finnish group called Lordi who placed first.

Valerie Borg

VALLETTA