Eurovision 2015: Amber to Represent Malta With Warrior

Amber Bondin : Source YouTube

Amber and her Warrior stomped all over the competition on Saturday evening at the national selection of Malta's song for the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. She not only received full marks from the five-person jury, but also topped the public televote.

She and thirteen other finalists took to the stage at a converted shipyard in Marsa in a three hour extravaganza to choose the song that will represent Malta. It was like a practice run of one of the actual Eurovision semi-finals, with all the glitz and drama only this competition can offer.

Amber probably won it on passion and perseverance alone: passion in her live vocals and perseverance because this was her fifth straight attempt in Malta's national final. But what about the song?

Composed by Elton Zarb and Matt 'Muxu' Mercieca, Warrior is a power ballad from the Undo/Rise Like A Phoenix songbook, with a generous helping of Sia's Chandelier thrown in.

Amber handles the vocals very well even if, in places, elements of the song are screamed rather than sung. Hopefully, she will work on that, together with her diction, between now and next May. Unfortunately, for the most part, I really could not understand what she was singing about.

Nevertheless, the chorus packs a dramatic punch and the melody is almost instantly memorable. That's always a good thing for a Eurovision song.

Its qualification odds? As it's only the second finalist to be chosen, it's tough to offer an opinion on its chances in Vienna. Given the right staging and some much-needed tweaks, Warrior could fight its way into the final. There is, of course, the new rule in Malta's selection process for the artist to reject their chosen song and substitute it for another. In view of the overwhelming support for Warrior on the island, it's unlikely that this will happen. However, I'm sure that won't stop any modifications that are deemed necessary.

What are your thoughts about the Maltese selection? Did they get it right?

View the full Maltese Eurovision national final result.

Eurovision 2015: Malta: Dominic: Once in a While

Dominic Cini Minik - Source: Facebook

Dominic has been trying his luck in the Malta Eurovision Song Contest for the past few years. Even though he has never quite made it to the semi-finals he has, however, taken part as a backing vocalist on a number of occasions.

Aside from his attempts at Eurovision, Dominic's day job is in a recording studio on Malta, where he produces and records local talent. He can also be seen on stage, regularly performing in musicals and pantomimes

This year, however, he has been picked as one of the Eurovision semi-finalists with the song Once in a While, composed by Elton Zarb and penned by Rita Pace. The styling of his song is Pop/Rock and is quite different to what he his used to singing. However, Dominic believes that this approach enhances his vocal skills for the better.

With its rock backing sounding like a watered-down Queen track from the 1980s, Once in a While is really like no other song in this year's Maltese semi-final. That's not a put-down because it's cool to see a band on stage playing their own instruments, rather than the singer accompanied by an obligatory playback. It's just that it feels as if I have heard the song somewhere before.

That aside, Dominic's somewhat edgy vocals push the song further into the soft rock genre, while his backing group help to power this effort towards a memorable chorus.

Thankfully, they all give a polished performance but, in view of the nature of the track and the prospect of a larger stage in Vienna, it could be bolder and more animated.

Nevertheless, this one has become one of my favourites for the 2015 ticket. Soft rock is something of a different sound for Eurovision which, given half a chance, could do well for the island. Its penultimate position in the 20-strong semi-final should help its prospects too.

There's a message in the song as well: No-one should give up on their dreams. I don't think Dominic should in this case, but what odds do you give him at representing Malta in Austria?




+ Read more reviews here of the songs participating at the Maltese semi-final.