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We have a duo for you today. And not just any duo, but a Maltese duo from the early 1970s, when Eurovision was still largely the preserve of the solo singer standing resolutely in front of an orchestra.
Today’s birthday girl Helen Micallef was paired with her pal Joseph Cutajar for Malta at the 1972 Eurovision Song Contest. Together they performed L-imħabba, and despite having the option of singing in English, they stuck with Maltese. They also went for matching outfits, because if you’re going to Eurovision as a duo, you might as well look like one.
The result needs a little explanation, because Eurovision scoring in 1972 wasn’t quite the system we know today. Every country was effectively guaranteed a minimum of 34 points. Helen and Joseph finished with 48, meaning only 14 points separated them from that minimum – and four of those came from a single country.
It wasn’t exactly a Maltese triumph, but it did leave us with a little piece of Eurovision history. After Helen and Joseph, another 28 years would pass before the Maltese language was heard again in our favourite television show.
And today the birthday honours belong to Helen herself.
Helen is 75 today.
It-Tajjeb/Happy birthday, Helen!
