Of Eurovisions and Boycotts!

Its Eurovision Day again but unlike usual discussion on the local media is not centering on Malta's performance in the Eurovision or for that matter the whole glitz and glamor of the Eurovision. Instead the local focus is about the concept of boycotting the televote which will occur right after all the songs are performed.

First of all for those who are perhaps less avid followers of the Eurovision Song Contest but who nonetheless are still reading this blog it would be worth giving a brief resume as to whats going on. On Tuesday Malta represented by Thea Garett performed in the first Semi Final of the Eurovision. It must be said that Thea's performance was immensly positive and Thea defenitely deserves words of praise for her rendition of the song "My Dream". This performance and what was assumed to be a low level of songs competing against Malta made many people think that indeed Malta was in with a chance to qualify; alas however Malta failed to make it. And here's where pathetic got an all new meaning!

No sooner had Thea failed to qualify that Facebook wasn't riddled with local groups calling for a boycott of the televote in Saturday's final. Within hours membership swelled to over 7,000 members. The situation reached a level of pure sadness when Maltese bloggers started blogging slogans such "No Thea No Vote" on any Eurovision fan website they could get their laptop hooked to. Even a poll on popular talkshow Xarabank revealed a stunningly huge majority in favor of boycotting the televote.

The obvious begging question would be; why? The claim being put forward is that Malta deserved to qualify and that Malta was the victim of a neighbours vote situation.

Malta Deserved to Qualify

Lets be honest with ourselves; whilst Thea's performance was good all along from her victory at Maltasong to her performance in Oslo on Tuesday night; the bookies had been predicting all along that the result was a cliffhanger for Malta. No single poll gave Malta any clear cut victory and all polls indicated that Malta would struggle. The obvious question thus is; why this utter surprise that Malta failed to make it? Bookies and polls had been indicating it all along and we knew it because it had been a long published fact in the Maltese media.

Secondly we must also accept that Europeans never quite got the song. Online sites reveal that the song was criticized from day one. Whilst Thea received praise for her voice and for her charming personality the only source of positive comments was indeed Thea herself but never her song "My Dream".

Neighbours....everybody needs good neighbours

The second and perhaps more laughable claim is that Malta did not qualify because of neighbour voting. Honestly this excuse has grown so lame that its now making me laugh as opposed to anything else. And if its sheer level of lameness needed any confirming this was confirmed in the second semi final on Thursday. Cyprus was competing on a night where none of the traditional Greek-Cypriotic friendly states where voting, yet Cyprus made it to the final. Sweden on the other hand had its entire land border voting on the night and yet failed to make the final. Neighbour voting?

Bad losers?

What has happened since Tuesday evening makes me almost ashamed to call myself Maltese. This country has shown itself to be a country riddled with bad losers. Even if, even if, theoretically Malta was cheated of a place in the final; surely this stamping of the feet is nothing short of downright sad, pathetic and I dare say disgusting. If our level of maturity is that low than perhaps we belong in no form of competition whatsoever as we seem to be only good at winning and not at doing any of the losing. Did anyone hear any Dutch person yell "No Holland, No Vote" or any Polish person yell "No Poland, No Vote" or any Swedish person yell "No Sweden, No Vote". No! Maturity calls for a country to accept a result.

And let us put things into context here; this is just a song contest; its not do or die. Its not an event of major importance. Its just some harmless entertainment meant to send a message of a united Europe through music. So lets take it for what it is...harmless fun. Perhaps we need a few lessons about taking the Eurovision as harmless fun as opposed to nuclear tragedy from former BBC pundit Terry Wowgan.

Boycotting the televote!!

What will happen if Maltese viewers live up to their promise and boycott the televote? Will the EBU go into a sudden crises? Will Malta announce to Europe that it has no votes to give out? Will the Eurovision shut its doors in shock? None of that dearest boycott followers; every country has an emergency jury which votes just in case there is such a happening or in case of any other difficulties and their points will be given out instead! The EBU will live to tell the tale and quite frankly would not give hooters and the Eurovision would progressively as if nothing ever happened because in reality NOTHING WOULD HAVE HAPPENED!

Missna naghmlu bhat-Taljani....

My last comment goes to those who have lately been saying that we should mank like the Italians and abandon the Eurovision. Sorry to burst your bubble ladies and gentleman but Italy is going to be back in the Eurovision come 2011 so I'll guess you'll have to find a new "stamb your foot if you lose the Eurovision" country to name as an example.