Despite a slight time delay due to the late arrival of a few key people (Valletta streets are not built for heavy traffic and delegation buses), the classy event showed that Malta are carrying on the tradition of taking this contest seriously with its second hosting in 3 years, and have embraced it not just as a one day show but rather a week-long event for the delegations and community. Over the coming days, all the entrants will not only be busy rehearsing, but taking in the sights across the Island and on the water.
The red-carpet opened with a live interview from the appointed Junior Eurovision Executive Supervisor Jon Ola Sand, and invited all 17 entries to take the walk up a short red carpet in alphabetical order to introduce themselves to the audiences directly for the first time.
Delegations arrive for the red carpet
Most of the artists despite having not having English as their first language came well-prepared with their speeches professing their love of the city, what their songs mean, and their hopes for the future. We were regaled with stories of how Zena from Ireland performed live on stage with Whitney Houston at the age of 7, to how Macedonias’ Martija is waiting for Justin Beibers’ call when she wins this Saturday night.
Joining the artists on the red carpet were the last 3 Maltese entries from the Junior Contest: Gaia Cauci, Federica Falzon, and last years winner, Destiny. Their appearances also turned what is normally a smaller and behind closed doors activity or simple one-camera streamed press conference into a 1.5 hour live music spectacle inside the theatre, with performances of new songs and cover versions of popular chart tunes.
Following the last of the delegations doing the obligatory press photo call and interview for TV, the second-half of the show moved inside the theatre and turned to the more important element for the delegations and media proper – the draw for positioning on the Sunday afternoon show. In a rather inventive and historic nod to the location, the entrants each were invited to choose a ball featuring a number, and then medieval costumed extras on the above levels revealed their random positions of either ‘1st half’, ‘2nd half’, ‘first place’ and ‘last place’ via paper scrolls.
The medieval draw fate makers take their positions
For those who follow the Contest in-depth and the press in attendance, it was noted that the host nation did not undertake a specific draw for its position in the show. This appeared to be a mistake in the programming of the Opening Ceremony. The normal procedure usually is for the local entry to publicly draw its own specific position number from the total places to start, and the rest of the entries are programmed around it according to their ballot placement of either first and second half. Malta having drawn first half last night, therefore had to undertake a secondary draw behind closed doors following the broadcast, and now is specified to run in 5th with its uptempo number ‘Parachute’ from Christina Magrin located between the midtempo entries of Russia and Bulgaria.
The full running order has now been revealed as follows:
- Ireland
- Armenia
- Albania
- Russia
- Malta
- Bulgaria
- Macedonia
- Poland
- Belarus
- Ukraine
- Italy
- Serbia
- Israel
- Australia
- The Netherlands
- Cyprus
- Georgia
Executive Supervisor Jon Ola Sand shows his appreciation at the celebrations
Once the cameras disappeared from the theatre, it was time for everyone to let their hair down, with the broadcast podium then becoming the main dancefloor for the kids to take centre-stage and dance to their favourite songs, whilst others were powered through the evening with a sugary mix of Kinnie, sliders and mini hotdogs. The celebrations continued back at the official delegation hotel where even some of the quieter entrants could be found sipping mocktails with their delegations, Zena from Ireland leading her pack of new friends across the room for a gossip in the corner lounge area, and Belarus practicing their hoverboard moves in the foyer till the wee hours.
Whilst its early, for now, the long-hours of rehearsing lies ahead and the pressures of performing to millions of people worldwide are yet to show amongst any of these kids. Instead, what we see are many close bonds being forged, cultural barriers broken, and potential life-long friendships being forged here in Malta. The element of competition at Junior Eurovision doesn’t appear (and shouldn’t be) to be front and centre as the main aim; rather this Opening Ceremony evening celebrates for some in attendance will be the start and a highlight of flourishing musical careers.
To re-watch the events unfold, don’t forget you can tune into streamed footage here thanks to Junioreurovision.tv.