On Europe has been granted an interview with Maltese winner Fabrizio Faniello. Enjoy :o)
1) How does it feel to represent Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest at your fourth attempt?
Winning the Festival was something that I care very much about. It is a chance to go abroad and perform in front of millions of people. I have experience of TV; I am a co-presenter of a show in Malta, so that will give me some experience.
2) How did you get to work with Georgina and Paul Abela?
Georgina is my cousin, so it is a bit of a family thing, really. They have past Eurovision experience; they have competed four times for Malta, so it is really helping me.
3) Is the song in the same style that you usually sing in?
No, this is really a big move away for me. The other three times that I sang in the Festival, I sang songs in a “boyband” style, like the BackStreet Boys. I used to sing ballads and songs like that. People would tell me it was good, but not right for the Eurovision, so this time I sat down and said that I had to change style. People really seem surprised by this song, as it is more “latino” than usual for me.
4) Has the recording of the single gone well in Germany?
Yes, we flew out last week and re-recorded the single. It is different from the song that won at the Festival; it is stronger and has a better guitar section.
5) What has the public reaction been like to you winning?
It has been tremendous, just like a dream. The phone has not stopped ringing, with people wishing me luck and saying, “We will win this year.” I say, “Hold on, it is really difficult to win the Eurovision. Let’s just get to Copenhagen and see what I can do.”
6) Have you always been a fan of the Eurovision?
No, not while I was young. I originally wanted to be a footballer. I used to play left-back and was in the national team, but I had a passion for singing too. In 1998, my mother rang me and said, “Fabrizio, Paul Abela has written you a song and you should sing it.” I was underage then, so I had no choice. It was a good job that I did!!! In the four years that I have been singing in the Festival, I have started to watch the Eurovision more and more.
7) What was it like to be at the Danish National Final?
That was really great. The people seemed to like my song, which was great. I had the chance to speak to the Olsen Brothers. They are really nice people. They told me that I have to give a good performance first, and the song will come naturally. I also spoke to Johnny Logan; he is really nice. I had a cough in the week leading up to the Danish performance and he said, “Here, have this medicine,” and he gave me a bottle. So now I have medicine from Johnny Logan. Perhaps I can win the Eurovision!!!
8) Do you think that you can win in Copenhagen?
I don’t know; it is really difficult to win the Eurovision. All I want to do is have a good performance and do well. To be in the top five is good; to win the Eurovision would be a dream.
9) What do you want to do after the Eurovision?
Well, I will be launching a CD album in Copenhagen, so I hope that is the start of things for me. After the Eurovision, I hope it starts my career. It would be a dream to win the Eurovision, but if I do not, that is my hope.
10) What is it like to be touted as a potential winner?
I don’t know about being a winner. It is very funny when I see things about me on the internet and in the papers saying things like, “He’s a cute guy,” and saying things about the song. It makes me laugh.
