Special - Chiara represents Malta for the second time | Eurovision Song Contest News - Azerbaijan 2012 

Several familiar faces will be taking part in the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest. One of them is Chiara. Chiara represented Malta once before at the 1998 Eurovision Song Contest. With the ballad The one that I love she finished third. Seven years later Chiara is back on stage of the international song festival. With the song Angel she will be taking part in the final in Kyiv. Esctoday.com had an interview with the Maltese representative for Kyiv.

It is now seven years ago since you represented Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song The one that I love. How do you look back at your third place?

It was an experience that I will never forget. I remember prior to the festival there were some negative comments about me that really hurt and coming back to Malta with the third place under my belt was the biggest triumph ever.


Do you think Dana International was the deserved winner in 1998?

I think the Eurovision Song Contest has come a long way since the very first edition and every year there are different factors which might make a song 'the' potential winner that particular year. These last few years after televoting was introduced, I guess the winner is determined by how much that song or artist draws the audience towards him/her. I am extremely happy with my third place and it is not up to me to determine whether or not Dana International deserved to win or not.

What have you been doing since 1998?

I have actually been doing quite a lot! Some people think that you've stopped being a singer just because you're not in the public eye as often. After I signed to Bridge Productions, I was encouraged to write my own songs and I started working on my first original album, so let's just say that during these past seven years I've been doing some very good prep-work.

Why did you decide to participate in the Malta Song for Europe again?

After I finished recording my album, I felt that I had finally found my musical direction and felt comfortable with submitting Angel as I thought it reflected me in the most honest and sincere way. Performing in front of an audience of millions will only help promote my music and I am also proud to be representing Malta again.

How many songs did you subscribe with in Malta?

I subscribed with two songs, but having written Angel myself it was my favourite.


And then a problem occurred. You had two songs selected for the festival and had to drop the one that got the least points in the internal preliminary round. Was it hard to withdraw Sail away from the contest?

Like I said, it was not really a problem, I believe in both songs, but Angel held a special place in my heart so I was glad when it was announced that I was singing that song on the final night.

You wrote Angel yourself. What inspired you to write the song?

I wrote Angel about my husband. To me, anyone who comforts us, stands by us and loves us through thick or thin is our Angel. Ultimately everyone is an angel.

If you had been given the opportunity to decide yourself which song to withdraw, would you have preferred your self written song Angel above the Paelinck song Sail away too?

As already said Angel has a special place in my heart.

Did you ever expect to be able to win Malta Song for Europe again?

Having any kind of expectations would have been pretentious, however I felt prepared and confident with my performance. I believed in my song and I think the audience saw and appreciated that.

Although it was a close run with Olivia Lewis, you won the Maltese final. What's the secret of your victory (or of Chiara's performances)?

There is no secret. I enjoy and give my utmost during every performance like it was my last! I sing from the heart and I think people feel that.

Will anything be changed for Kyiv, compared to the performance in the Maltese national final?

As always I will give my utmost. As for visuals, I guess you'll just have to wait for the night. That's part of the excitement no?

Have you watched the Eurovision Song Contest the previous years? How much do you think the contest has evolved?

It has become somewhat of an annual tradition. Obviously the Eurovision Song Contest offers something new every edition. Every year there are more outrageous stage acts than the last. Some festivals boast 24 brilliant songs, others maybe less. The element of surprise is one that remains essential to the Eurovision Song Contest.

You finished third in 1998. Do you feel a pressure to have to score at least as well as you did back then or to do even better this year?

There is an element of added personal pressure. Reaching a higher placing than the third place is something I would be pleased with, however what is important to me is knowing that I have the support of the Maltese people and no matter what the result will be I will be proud to have participated for Malta again.

Have you learned from your first participation? Are there things you know that you have to do differently this time?

They say If it's not broke, don't fix it. I don't think I'd change anything. I strive to improve myself everyday, so I can only give my very best.

What's your main ambition in Kyiv?

My main ambition is to make my country proud and to enjoy my performance and transmit that emotion.

What can you tell us about your promotion tour?

In fact the promotion has been great. Angel did very well in the countries I visited. I have been to Cyprus, Greece, Belarus, Lithuania, England, Brussels, Croatia. The response I got was very encouraging.

You'll be releasing a new album too. What kind of songs can we expect on it and when can we expect the album in the music shops?

The album with the working title Here I am will be released in the near future, after the Eurovision Song Contest. The songs have been written by international writers namely Diane Warren, Gordon Pagoda, Marc Paelinck and myself. The album is dominated by ballads and also some up-tempo songs.

Esctoday.com kindly thanks Chiara for this interview and wishes her good luck in the final of the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest!