Get Ready to Embrace
You will need stamina and very long arms to embrace everything that Malta throws at you during its postcards. From creation to tradition, fashion to talent, our host nation wants everyone to know it has a lot to offer. Combined with those picture postcard locations on land and sea, our entrants sing a different genre version of our theme tune in the lead in to their entries. Our personal favourite are the 4 girls from Russia going a bit Sum-41 punk rock stylee in an art class, and Malta going a tad Meghan Trainor sounding on the beach.
Who Are We Targeting?
With thanks to the changes in format, and the younger range in contestants in particular, the production feels a bit lost in who it’s actual target market is. In the opening sequence and breaks, we are consistently seeing older teens partying, images of nightclubs, pubs, romantic adults. This seems at odds with the more family-friendly timeslot. The most stark observation is that the adult Maltese dancers tower over many of the artists.
Props and Gimmicks
It’s been raining in Malta, but Ukraine takes the joke too far
If you’ve come to the contest hoping for a bit of Junior fun and giggles, you won’t be disappointed in what 2016 has to offer. Ukraine brings along its giant umbrella prop, but it comes in conjunction with a pair of disturbing child mines. What either has to do with the actual entry still eludes us.
For the youth, we have last years hot Christmas list item – hoverboards – with many thanks to Belarus and Serbia demonstrating their wheel skills on stage.
And what would this show be without a big costume reveal? Armenia seamless, blink and you’ll miss it change, will startle some viewers.
Producer-led Running Order Comes Into Its Own
The 2016 show demonstrates a how producer can best showcase and influence. Songs can draw either the first or second half (except for the opening and closing song) and from there the producers choose the order for the best quality show. Towards the end of both the first and second half we find strong runs of songs – Bulgaria, Macedonia and Poland – then the likes of Cyprus and Georgia – all highly different and showing strength in their own ways. Watch these for top 3 placings.
The Callback To The Adult Contest
Poli Genova, Relegated to Ad Break
For those who are strong adult Eurovision fans looking for touchstones to connect to Junior show, they have them in abundance (as well as building a bridge between the brands). Bulgarian JESC Host 2015 and obviously our Bulgarian entry of ESC 2016, Poli Genova is here to perform ‘If Love Was A Crime‘. She was originally announced as the interval act, but has since been relegated to half-time entertainment ad break with Jedward jettinsoned in as both the new interval act performing their new single ‘Hologram‘, and guest expert judges.
In terms of entries, Israel screams adult Eurovision typical duet that all fanboys will get. Think Chanee and N’evergreen. Sharleen has taken a bet of a drink at the bar against Ben that expert judge Christer Bjorkman will give this points after his regret for ignoring ‘In A Moment Like This‘ for years in the Melfest jury process.
Cypriot Manboy
Cyprus in comparison gives us a much more adult high-energy burst that wouldn’t feel out of place on a Euroclub dancefloor. Our entry George from Cyprus and his ‘Dancefloor‘ is JESCs’ answer to Eric Saade’s ‘Manboy‘ (complete with rainshower visuals in the vocal break). Its a burst of adult-high-energy dance music that wouldn’t feel out of place on a Euroclub dancefloor. Now if Cyprus could take this and transplant something similar come 4 years time (with possible help from their usual G:Son)…
A Whole Different Show
Malta after hosting a big spectacular just 2 years ago have pared back the size to a manageable 1500-seater theatre and concentrated on the staging and ensuring we get to know the artist intimately. The EBU believe this is the best way forward and also ensures the artists can feel embraced by the warmth of a smaller audience and a less terrifying experience. And the much-promised ‘outdoor elements’ have been dumped without reference from the show. It has been raining all week in Malta, but this seems a much more deliberate production choice taken far earlier. Instead you’ll see a bundle of pre-recorded elements in picturesque parts of Valletta with introductions of the entries from local young talents.
This Is Destiny
Queen of Malta, Its Destiny
If there was any doubt why we are in Malta, you’ll soon be reminded. Destiny overtakes the show with no less than 4 appearances. Her new single ‘Fast Life (La Di Da Di)‘, performed from the Green Room truly shows Poland 2016 national final favourite Margaret how to do a sassy r’n’b number. This is our new jam.
And the reprise of her 2015 winner ‘Not My Soul‘ with an epic instrumental opening lays down a solid foundation for the title of the queen of Maltese Soul. If anyone wants to do a movie remake of Blues Brothers, watch this. Destiny is a shoe-in to take over Aretha’s place.
We Are!
2016 also sees the return of the common group song. You know, the element where we see all the contestants have a big love-in singalong? The title escapes us, but we know two things – there is a epic rap breakdown by Destiny (don’t forget why we are here!), and the chorus has all the entrants chanting “We Are! We Are! We Are!”. You may have heard that phrase earlier in the show though… So are we giving the juries instructions for the song to vote for? C’mon Australia!
Eurovison Voting Changes Have Nothing On This!
Epic Voting at Junior Eurovision
Strap yourselves in for the explanation of how the end of the show goes down. By the time you read or watch the show, 34 of the 37 juries will have already decided their results based on the Saturday 2nd dress rehearsal, but they won’t be watching and submitting their results till Sunday morning (European time). Only 12 points read out by the kids (but represent the individual country adult juries). There is no more reading of full scores, or even 8-10-12. This follows the pattern we saw in Stockholm in May to speed up the proceedings. Then we have the industry jury points given to us by our 3 experts – Mads the Universal Record Exceutive, Christer Bjorkman – Swedish Head of Delegation, Melodifestivalen head honcho and hairdresser (again 12 points read out only) and Jedward the one and only. Then finally we will see a combination of whole kids votes ala ESC. All the points will be read out from this, which means more tension, and particular in the Junior environment where it tends to be a far closer contest with less scores given.
There are no more automatic 12s’ to play fair, and no more 2nd and 3rd place. So come Sunday afternoon there will be only 1 winner – who that is though, it’s hard to predict!
Let the show begin!