The whole country is behind Malta Eurovision Song winners Firelight – except the finance minister, Joseph Muscat quipped when he met the band yesterday.
If Malta wins the Eurovision, the following year’s contest would have to be held here, at great expense.
Lead singer Richard Micallef and his sister Michelle Mifsud performed their winning entry, Coming Home, in front of the Prime Minister at a reception at Auberge de Castille.
The band also consists of Tony Polidano who plays the bass, Matthew Ellul on guitar and Leslie Decesare on drums.
Mr Micallef, 31, replied that the band would try to represent Malta in the best possible way and would transmit nothing but “pure energy” on stage.
Speaking to Times of Malta, Mr Micallef said he wrote the song three years ago. He was inspired by a female friend who had battled – and overcame – leukaemia twice.
“The song is all about overcoming a struggle, finding your way and getting back on your feet. I was very much inspired by my friend,” Mr Micallef said.
“She was truly a sight to behold,” Ms Mifsud added. “She was so brave and she never complained or made a fuss about her illness.”
The song was rearranged this year and submitted for the competition as one of two songs by Firelight.
It was originally meant to be on an upcoming album.
Mr Micallef describes his style as “folk/rock with an element of pop”.
He is an accomplished musician, playing the acoustic guitar, the bass guitar, the piano and the Appalachian mountain dulcimer – the ‘strange’ instrument so typical of Eurovision entries.
So what is next in the run-up to the Eurovision Song Contest, which will be held in Denmark?
“Now we should be in the process of planning it all out. PBS and [CEO] Anton Attard are preparing everything for us. We’ll be doing everything they tell us – we believe we’re in very good hands.
“There will be our own input as well, naturally. However, we’re really focused on the element of energy, of really giving it our all.”
Will he be taking a lucky charm?
“Yes,” Mr Micallef smiles. “I’ll be taking a holy picture of Christ along with me – I very much believe in it.”