News - Malta: I turned down sponsorship offers from alcohol companies | Eurovision Song Contest News - 2008 Belgrade, Serbia 

At last Friday night’s UK Eurovision Preview Party in London, esctoday’s Russell Davies meet with Morena, this singer representing Malta in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. During the interview they discussed Morena’s views on vodka, here love for the contest and her plans for Belgrade.

Hello Morena and welcome to London.
Thank you so much.  It is a true pleasure to be here and thank you for inviting us to this wonderful party.

What have you been doing since you arrived in London?

We are only here for a very short time. Yesterday, we did a little bit of sightseeing, today we will be in the party and tomorrow we do some shopping before we fly away. 

How do you feel about representing Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest? 

I feel really proud and happy to be representing Malta.  My head is still in the air and I can’t believe it’s me this year – wow! I am a Eurovision fan myself and I can really say it’s a dream – wow!  A dream come true for me and I am so honoured. 

As you are in the UK, have you had a chance to meet with your greatest fans – The Schlagerboys? 

Not yet, but Gerard (Gerard James Borg) told me that The Schlagerboys are coming to the party tonight. So I will need to find The Schlagerboys and Vodka, Vodka together with them. 

Last year was a big disappointment for Malta in the ESC with Olivia Lewis failing to reach the final despite having such high hopes.  Do you feel extra pressure because of this? 

No, because I don’t want to feel that.  I’m not going to feel anything from last year. My song is very different – my song is about – let’s party all together, let’s have fun, let’s live the party and Vodka, Vodka with me. 

Speaking of vodka, have you been approached by alcohol companies interested in sponsoring your song? 

Yes, I have.  I’ve have been approached by several alcohol companies, but I said no. This is because I am not in favour of alcohol or anything like this.  I think you should have fun, but not to get too drunk or anything like that. 

Moving on to Belgrade, how do you plan to present Vodka on the Eurovision stage? 

You want to know what I have planned for the stage.  OK, I will tell you.  I will have four male, Swedish dancers – they are very hot! As for me well, I will be myself, what you see is what you get.  That is what I will be on the stage – happy go lucky – that is who I am. 

Have you had a chance to record the Vodka cd and will there be an album after Eurovision? 

The single is coming out soon, but I have not had any time to record any other songs; we are working on them.  Gerald James Borg and Philip Vella are working on my new album.  Hopefully, it will be ready by the end of the year and I will send a copy to you. 

Thanks, that is very kind of you.  Another Eurovision question - what is your favourite ever Eurovision song?

As I told you, I have been a Eurovision fan since I was a little girl.  I used to sing in front of the mirror with a hair brush as a microphone.  I used to have my own little Eurovision festival, with all of my girlfriends and I would sing for them. I am really a big fan, but let me tell you who I like.  I like Dana International – Diva!  I love Lordi –they are wow – just out there. I like them very much.  Perhaps who knows, one day we will do a duet together.  I would like that very much.  Maybe they would like to sing with me. 

I’m sure Lordi would love to sing with you. 

That would be really great for me and it would be fun. 

Finally, Morena, do you have a message your esctoday readers? 

First of all I would like to thank you for inviting me.  It was very nice of you and the organisers. On behalf of all of the performers I would like to thank the organisers for inviting us to London.   I hope to meet all of the esctoday readers in Belgrade and I hope you will come to talk to me, because I like to talk a lot, as you can tell - I think I have shown that!  If I win, I want all of the fans to come on to the stage to Vodka, Vodka with me.  I would love to have everybody on the stage with me. Thank you.