Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

You may know Gerard James Borg as the Maltese songwriter (six entries to date plus one Russian and countless national final entries) but he's a lot more; concept creator, reviewer, writer.... He has written two novels so far: Sliema Wifes and Madliena married men , both overnight successes and with titles like that this blogger thinks I need to get them! Unputdownable (sounds like an entry he might have written) as described by popular local online magazine. But now folks, it's going to get even saucier. #Morethanyouimagine . Behind the scenes drama of Malta's most popular song contest, drugs, sex, drama, scandals - more than you imagine! Being published in October! Santa, hello? Check out the preview video here and some of my favourite Borg songs below

Claudia Faniello was... err... 9th time lucky when she finally won the ticket to Eurovision with Breathlessly , following her brother Fabrizio's footsteps, but this blogger thinks she will outshadow his performances in the contest and finally step out to the spotlight big time! It's also a return to the contest for songwriting team Philip Vella and Gerard James Borg, with added Sean Vella.  Claudia (29) needs no presentation. This was already her 9th Malta Eurovision entry and 8th year she was taking part. Previously she has scored two second places and one third so it was about the time, too! She has released one album so far and a string of singles since 2006, when she won Festival Kanzunetta Indipendenza.  Just for the fun here's Claudia's Eurovision journey to this point: 2007 L-imhabba ghamja (7th) 2008 Caravaggio (2nd)           Sunrise (3rd) 2009 Blue sonata (4th) 2010 Samsara (8th) 2011 Movie in my mind (9th) ...

Russia was the last one to reveal their entry and in the current political situation one can only wonder how and if it will effect the outcome. The Tolmachevy sisters took the ungrateful job and their song Shine is penned by the usual names who are willing to enter whichever country takes them every year. The twin sisters Anastasiya and Maria have already won the Junior Eurovision song contest in 2006 and now at the age of 17 give it a try among the adults. They have performed in a few high scale productions (like Eurovision 2009 in Moscow) as guests but as for recording songs and having hits they are totally unknown. Robert : After all the political turmoil of recent weeks around Russia, the Russian entry, to most, is the song to dislike but I must admit I like it very much. Whenever it passes by on my ipod, it catches my attention and i want to turn up the volume. Since Eurovision is bringing people together and that the message is to keep politics out of the contest, the Tolmac...

The Greek songs are out and I wish I could say it's all Greek to me but it isn't. The songs are a far cry for any national identity from foreign songwriters from places like Sweden, Finland and Malta - yes, Gerard James Borg is here, too. Who else? Surprisingly Martti Vuorinen, co-writer of Leave me alone is there, too. The only one that sounds a bit Greek is Hamogela (or is it only because it's in Greek?) Listen to the songs here .  Quite frankly none of the songs particularly excite me but I guess it's a safe bet to assume It's all Greek to me (for the title alone which is great!) or I don't wanna dance will win. Kokkina Halia - Come with me (Kokkina Halia, Andreas Galanopoulos) Valanto Trifonos - The time is now (Ramström, Magnusson, Vuorinen) Trihmitonio - Hamogela  (Terzis, Konstandinidis) Antigoni Psichramis – It’s all Greek to me (Psichramis, Dimitris, Borg) Loukas Yorkas feat. Stereo Mike  Watch my dance (Chris...

We have known already some time Yohanna will return to the Icelandic national selection this year but now another big name has been revealed: Magni Áskeirsson. For years one of the leading Icelandic stars he shot to the fame in the States as participant of CBS talent hunt Rockstar Supernova in 2006. In 2007 he sung with Birgitta Haukdal the fantastic Núna veit ég in the Icelandic final but they didn't win (but I loved the song). With his band À Móti sól he has released already 8 albums plus some solo stuff. Will this be his definatele solo break through? And Yohanna of course scored a solid 2nd place in Eurovision 2009 with Is it true? for Iceland, "the best placing we could afford" as they said propably being rather happy Norway won instead. Has the economical crisis ended and can Iceland host this time if she takes the revenge? And guess what? Magni's song is co-written by certain Maltese Gerard James Borg....

Malta started its semifinals last night with the first six songs. Televoters have all week to vote for them. Nothing extraordinary and fabulous came out yet but I did like Richard Edward's piano driven Change . The other songs were Raquela's Here I am , Ally's Curiosity , Foxy Federation's Fired up , Klinsmann's Her name was Anne and J.Anvil's very Joksimovic inspired Mirage . Philip Vella penned two of these songs, and Gerard James Borg three... .

Malta will wrap up their long semifinal circle by presenting the last 7 songs and announcing the 20 finalists. Tonight's heat includes Natasha & Charlene, J.Anvil, Christina Barbara and Klinsmann who all have also another song in the running plus last year's fan favourite Annabelle Debono. Claudia Faniello is in as a songwriter, so is Rita Pace and Gerard J. Borg. Natasha & Charlene - King Annabelle Debono - Army of lovers J. Anvil - Love me or leave me Christina Barbara - Life is an opera Klinsmann - Butterfly sky The Elements - Ha hi hu Wayne Micallef - Where you belong

Malta is the second country after Bulgaria to start its lenghty process to find the winner for Moscow 2009. Ludwig Galea, who already represanted the island with Julie back in 2004 has the honor to open the contest and familiar faces Klinsmann and Rosman Pace are there as well, along with even more familiar song writers Philip Vella, Gerard James Borg and Ralph Siegel. 01. Ludwig Galea ft. Fidela tal-Bambinu - Lament (Philip Vella) 02. Dominic Cini - I'm in heaven (Elton Zarb/Rita Pace) 03. Classic Rebels - Tonight at the opera (Ralph Siegel/Bernd Meinunger as 'John O'Flynn') 04. Klinsmann - Rock & rise (Philip Vella/Gerard J. Borg) 05. Talitha Dimech - Earth & sky (Philip Vella/Gerard J. Borg) 06. Rosman Pace - One million ways (Rosman Pace) 07. Francesca Borg - Falling in love (Jason Paul Cassar/Mario J. Farrugia)

The 56 songs in the Maltese selection have been made public and the list is filled with the usual familiar names: Ray Agius, Paul Giordimaina, Paul Abela, Rita Pace and so on and it's nice to see even Claudia Faniello has got two songs in as a writer! Also Eurovision veteran, Mr Schlager from Germany, uncle Ralph Siegel is in the running with three entries at this point. Then the usual, multi winning couple Gerard James Borg-Philip Vella: Gerard with 9 entries and Philip.... 16 entries!! That's 28,6% folks! Here are the Vella-Borg-Faniello-Siegel entries - 22 in total: Smoke-screen - Jessica Muscat - (Philip Vella, Gerard J. Borg) Midas Touch - Claudia Faniello - (Sean Vella, Philip Vella) For a moment - Derrick Schembri & Yanika Fava - (Philip Vella, Rita Pace) Crossroads - Raquela - (Philip Vella, Gerard J. Borg) Typical Me - Alison Ellul - (Philip Vella, Gerard J. Borg) Earth & Sky - Talitha Dimech - (Philip Vella, Gerard J. Borg) Another side of me - Corazon Mizzi -...

Judging the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qa1TRRuc5g the welcoming party was a success and was it free vodka that got most everyone so crazy? It was nice to see some familiar faces in the crowd (hello Gerard! hello Grietje!) and so many artists in the good mood. Also Jaana Pelkonen was there, pretty & wonderful as always!

Malta has something else to offer this year: Vodka! Malta has quite a different Eurovision history. They took part already in 1971 and 1972, coming last on both occasion singing in maltese. They returned in 1975 in english but still came only 12th and left the contest. In the 1980's they are rumoured to have shown some interest but as the maximum limit of countries back then was set to 22 they didn't fit in until 1991 and scored 6th place right away. The year after they were 3rd. A very good trend followed with high places with a very few exceptions (15th in 1999 and 25th in 2003). After a 2nd place in 2005 they went to another extreme and came last in 2006 and lost the plot when also 2007 they failed to make the final coming 25th in semifinal.... This year... well... we will see! Morena (23) from the island of Gozo is described as Mediterranean vulcano and she surely won't pass by unnoticed. Pretty with impressive dark voice she's like a hurricane all over the stage ...