Opinion: It’s Time To Stop Playing It Safe – Why Malta Should Bet On Kant
Miriana Conte will have to break longstanding Eurovision voting records if she is to win tonight’s final.
Her playful song Kant will open the show, but history suggests this could work against her. Data from past Maltese Eurovision contests since 2000 reveals that no song performing within the first five slots of the final has ever won—except in 2007, when only six songs competed.
This trend may be due to viewers tuning in late or remembering later performances more clearly when it’s time to vote.
Three other fan favourites – Victoria’s Juno, Dario Bezzina and Żeppi l-Muni’s Għażliet, and JVF’s Festa (No Time for Siesta) – face the same challenge, all performing within the first four acts of the night.
Make no mistake about it – it will take a monumental achievement for Miriana to triumph when all these odds are stacked against her.
However, on a personal note, I hope Miriana manages to buck the trend.
Originality is the only ‘recipe’ to Eurovision success, and although I think there are many technically better songs than Kant it is obviously the one with the best chance of standing out in a crowded field of songs come May.
The numbers don’t lie. YouTube views show that Kant is far and away the most popular Maltese Eurovision song this year.
Miriana’s music video has been seen over 186,000 times; it’s closest competitors in terms of views are Kristy Spiteri and Kantera with 95K and 94K apiece.
Her live semi-final performance has also been seen 74,000 times, making it once again the most viewed, ahead of Kristy Spiteri (57K) and Kantera and JVF (both 24K).
It is obvious why this is the case. Kant is controversial in a cheeky way, it will definitely attract eyeballs, and it will get people talking about us.
Besides, the Eurovision isn’t meant to be a serious song contest but a fun competition.
I know Maltese singers are disadvantaged in terms of the platforms available to them, but as a nation we really need to stop taking this competition too seriously.
If Malta wants to make a statement in May, it’s time to embrace the fun, the bold, and the unexpected.
Will history repeat itself, or will Miriana and her fellow early performers defy the odds?
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