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Special  Feature       
Song for Europe Festival 2003            
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Lynn Chircop with her To Dream Again is the surprise winner of this year's Malta Song for Europe Festival and, by right, will represent Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest that will be held in the Latvian capital, Riga on 24th May 2003. [ click here to download an MP3 of the song ]

23-year-old Chircop - a television programme presenter on Channel 22 - topped the list of the 16 finalists that performed during the final night with 150 points. Lawrence Gray lagged behind by three points, placing second with Why Not. He was, however the public's favourite and was awarded 100 points in the televoting. Gunther Chetcuti placed third with Light of My Life.

To dream again, composed by Alfred Zammit and written by Cynthia Sammut, is probably the most unexpected winner of the Malta Song for Europe Festival of the past few years. The writer and composer are also relative newcomers to the local music scene.

The song will now be re-produced, ahead of the extensive touring and promotion that Lynn Chircop will be required to make ahead of the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest.

This year the challenge was even tougher as the Festival which took place on the 7th and 8th of February brought a few important changes.

For the first time, the Malta Song for Europe Festival abandoned its usual venue at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta and moved to Ta' Qali, under the largest tent that money can buy (in Malta).

Secondly, the number of contestants was increased to 24, eight of whom were eliminated on the first night of the festival on Friday.

The most important change was effected in the weighing of the votes. This was split equally between the voting of five judges on one side and the televoting vote on the other.

The two nights were captained by popular TV and radio presenter Gianni Zammit and rising starlet Mireille Bonello.

See Darrell's Pace's review of the final night.

 

Special thanks to aboutmalta.com

 

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