Song for Europe Festival this Saturday

The Mediterranean Conference Centre, in Valletta, is a hive of activity as a team of workmen and the Maltasong organising committee carry out last minute preparations for Saturday's Song for Europe Festival.

Adrenaline is also kicking in for the 16 finalists who are vying to represent Malta in the 49th Eurovision Song Contest being held in Istanbul, Turkey, in May.

It will not be an easy ride for the winner, who will this year have to take part in a round of eliminations, with just 10 songs making it to the final night.

New regulations issued by the European Broadcasting Union automatically guarantee the participation of the "big four group" - Germany, the UK, Spain and France - and the best 10 countries of last year's Eurovision contest.

The 10 best entries from the eliminatory phase will round off the entries for the final night.

Maltasong is calling on the public to vote for the best package to ensure Malta will have what it takes to overcome the hurdles.

This year's voting system for the local contest has remained 50 per cent jury and 50 per cent televoting. The public has the chance to vote via a fixed line telephone or by sending an SMS.

So as to ensure fair representation only three calls from the same line will count towards the final vote. Lines will only be open for 15 minutes. There will be no voting on Friday's show.

All those who vote will automatically participate in a lottery, with the first prize being a Peugeot 206 sponsored by Michael Attard Ltd.

The second prize is a Mediterranean Cruise by Hamilton Travel and the third prize is a piece of jewellery from Classic Jewellers.

Those who wish to hear the 16 songs prior to Saturday's festival can tune in to the different talk shows on the radio throughout this week.

Four songs will be played each day on Radju Malta between 7.30 and 8 a.m., Radio 101's breakfast show, on Super 1 between 8.30 and 10.30 a.m., on RTK after the eight o'clock news, 89.7 Bay Radio's breakfast show and on Calypso Radio between 9 a.m. and noon.

The local festival is being compèred by Ray Calleja and Andrea Cassar.

Number: 1
Name of Song: Love Moves The World
Composer: Eugenio Schembri
Author: Doris Chetcuti
Singers: Leontine
Televoting: 50043901
SMS Televoting: 50614001

Number: 2
Name of Song: 24/7
Composer: Mark Spiteri Lucas
Author: Deo Grech
Singers: Andreana
Televoting: 50043902
SMS Televoting: 50614002

Number: 3
Name of Song: Dying To Be Free
Composer: Rita Pace
Author: Rita Pace
Singers: Rita Pace
Televoting: 50043903
SMS Televoting: 50614003

Number: 4
Name of Song: Give Me One More Night
Composer: Paul Abela
Author: Roger Tirazona
Singers: Roger Tirazona
Televoting: 50043904
SMS Televoting: 50614004

Number: 5
Name of Song: One-Way Love
Composer: Rene' Mamo
Author: Joe Julian Farrugia
Singers: Fiona
Televoting: 50043905
SMS Televoting: 50614005

Number: 6
Name of Song: A Simple Wish
Composer: Charlene Grima
Author: Deo Grech
Singers: Natasha & Charlene
Televoting: 50043906
SMS Televoting: 50614006

Number: 7
Name of Song: On Again... Off Again
Composer: Philip Vella
Author: Gerard James Borg
Singers: Ludwig/Julie
Televoting: 50043907
SMS Televoting: 50614007

Number: 8
Name of Song: Through All My Life
Composer: Paul Giordimaina
Author: Fleur Balzan
Singers: Eleonor Cassar
Televoting: 50043908
SMS Televoting: 50614008

Number: 9
Name of Song: Tango 4 Two
Composer: Philip Vella
Author: Gerald James Borg
Singers: Keith Camilleri
Televoting: 50043909
SMS Televoting: 50614009

Number: 10
Name of Song: Close To My Heart
Composer: Paul Abela
Author: Roger Tirazona
Singers: Georgina Abela
Televoting: 55043910
SMS Televoting: 50614010

Number: 11
Name of Song: Get Free
Composer: Andrew Zammit
Author: Prodigal Sons & Debbie Scerri
Singers: Prodigal Sons & Debbie Scerri
Televoting: 50043911
SMS Televoting: 50614011

Number: 12
Name of Song: It's A Wonderful Life
Composer: Ralph Siegel
Author: John O'Flynn
Singers: ali & lis
Televoting: 50043912
SMS Televoting: 50614012

Number: 13
Name of Song: Take A Look
Composer: Paul Giordimaina
Author: Fleur Balzan
Singers: Olivia Lewis
Televoting: 50043913
SMS Televoting: 50614013

Number: 14
Name of Song: Can't Give My Love
Composer: Paul Abela
Author: Georgina Abela
Singers: Marvic Lewis
Televoting: 50043914
SMS Televoting: 50614014

Number: 15
Name of Song: You're On My Mind
Composer: Philip Vella
Author: Joe Chircop
Singers: Lawrence Gray
Televoting: 50043915
SMS Televoting: 50614015

Number: 16
Name of Song: Did I Ever Tell You
Composer: Paul Abela
Author: Georgina Abela
Singers: Fabrizio Faniello
Televoting: 50043916
SMS Televoting: 50614016