Desire (Eurovision song)
Encyclopedia
"Desire" was the Maltese
entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2000
, performed predominantly in English
but with a bridge in Maltese
by Claudette Pace
.
The song is an up-tempo ballad, with Pace explaining the depth of her feelings to her lover. She tells him that "I've desired to hold you/Have you and make you mine" from their first meeting onwards, and that when he turns her away, her "fire" turns to "smoke". She also tells him that she believes that "Deep in your smile is desire for more".
Composer-lyricist combination Philip Vella and Gerard James Borg
would go on to provide the Maltese entry at the 2002
, 2004
, 2007
and 2008
Contests. Additionally, two of Pace's backing singers were also solo entrants in their own right - Sahlene
, performing under her real name, would go on to represent Estonia
with "Runaway" and Gabriel Forss had previously represented Sweden
as a member of Blond
with "Bara hon älskar mig
".
The appearance of the Maltese language is also of note, as it was the first time since Malta's return to the Eurovision stage in 1991
that this language had been heard, a break of 28 years and thus the longest break between two appearances of a language in Contest history. Translated into English, the phrase is "I have always wanted you / I have always desired you / You, I have loved".
The song was performed seventh on the night, following Romania
's Taxi
with "The Moon
" and preceding Norway
's Charmed
with "My Heart Goes Boom
". At the close of voting, it had received 73 points, placing 8th in a field of 24.
It was succeeded as Maltese representative
at the 2001 Contest
by Fabrizio Faniello
with "Another Summer Night
".
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2000
Eurovision Song Contest 2000
The Eurovision Song Contest 2000 was the 45th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 13 May 2000 at the Ericsson Globe in Stockholm, Sweden, following Charlotte Nilsson's victory in Jerusalem the previous year. It was the first time since 1996 that the contest was held on mainland Europe. The...
, performed predominantly in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
but with a bridge in Maltese
Maltese language
Maltese is the national language of Malta, and a co-official language of the country alongside English,while also serving as an official language of the European Union, the only Semitic language so distinguished. Maltese is descended from Siculo-Arabic...
by Claudette Pace
Claudette Pace
Claudette Pace is a Maltese singer born in Naxxar in 1968.Claudette Pace has participated in many local and international song festivals, and won several prestigious awards. In 1995, Claudette won the Best female artist award at the Malta Music Awards, an award she has been nominated for almost...
.
The song is an up-tempo ballad, with Pace explaining the depth of her feelings to her lover. She tells him that "I've desired to hold you/Have you and make you mine" from their first meeting onwards, and that when he turns her away, her "fire" turns to "smoke". She also tells him that she believes that "Deep in your smile is desire for more".
Composer-lyricist combination Philip Vella and Gerard James Borg
Gerard James Borg
Gerard James Borg is one of Malta's most successful song writers and concept creators for the last decades. Borg has penned five of the Maltese entries for the annual Eurovision Song Contest with Philip Vella, besides several Eurovision national final entries....
would go on to provide the Maltese entry at the 2002
Eurovision Song Contest 2002
The Eurovision Song Contest 2002 was the 47th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place on 25 May 2002 at the Saku Suurhall Arena in Tallinn, Estonia....
, 2004
Eurovision Song Contest 2004
The Eurovision Song Contest 2004, was the 49th Contest and it was held in the Abdi İpekçi Arena in Istanbul, Turkey. This was the first occasion in which the contest was held in Turkey after they had won the competition in 2003 with Sertab Erener singing "Everyway That I Can"...
, 2007
Eurovision Song Contest 2007
The Eurovision Song Contest 2007 was the 52nd edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It was won by first-time appearance as an independent country Serbia and was held at the Hartwall Areena in Helsinki, Finland from 10 May to 12 May. The host broadcaster was YLE.Finland earned the right to host...
and 2008
Eurovision Song Contest 2008
The Eurovision Song Contest 2008 was the 53rd edition of the Contest. It was hosted in Belgrade, Serbia after Marija Šerifović won the 2007 Contest in Helsinki, Finland. This year was the first contest to have two semi-finals which were held on 20 and 22 May, and the final held on 24 May 2008...
Contests. Additionally, two of Pace's backing singers were also solo entrants in their own right - Sahlene
Sahlene
Anna Cecilia Sahlin, commonly known as Sahlene, Anna Sahlin or Anna Sahlene, is a singer from Sweden. She was born in the Swedish town of Söderhamn on 11 May 1976. She began her career at the young age of eleven when she had a role in the TV-series The Children of Noisy Village, based on a story by...
, performing under her real name, would go on to represent Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
with "Runaway" and Gabriel Forss had previously represented Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
as a member of Blond
Blond (band)
Blond was the Swedish boy band that has represented Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 1997. In Dublin the band performed the entry "Bara hon älskar mig" which finished in 14th place.-External links:...
with "Bara hon älskar mig
Bara hon älskar mig
"Bara hon älskar mig" was the Swedish entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 1997 held in Dublin, ireland. The song was written by Stephan Berg and was performed by the band Blond.Performed at the Eurovision Song Contest 1997 in the 16th position,following Portugal's Célia Lawson with "Antes do...
".
The appearance of the Maltese language is also of note, as it was the first time since Malta's return to the Eurovision stage in 1991
Eurovision Song Contest 1991
The Eurovision Song Contest 1991 was the 36th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 4 May 1991 in Rome. Due to the Gulf War and mounting tensions in Yugoslavia, RAI decided to move the contest from Sanremo to Rome, which was perceived to be more secure....
that this language had been heard, a break of 28 years and thus the longest break between two appearances of a language in Contest history. Translated into English, the phrase is "I have always wanted you / I have always desired you / You, I have loved".
The song was performed seventh on the night, following Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
's Taxi
Taxi (band)
----Taxi are a Romanian pop-rock band. Their sound is an eclectic mix of rock and contemporary pop, occasionally introducing other influences such as hot Nashville-style guitar licks.The band was founded March 13, 1999 in Bucharest...
with "The Moon
The Moon (song)
"The Moon" was the Romanian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2000, performed in English by Taxi. This was the first Romanian entry not to feature any lyrics in Romanian....
" and preceding Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
's Charmed
Charmed (group)
-Overview:The group Charmed made their debut in the Norwegian national final of the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "My Heart Goes Boom". Charmed were three girls in their mid-twenties....
with "My Heart Goes Boom
My Heart Goes Boom
"My Heart Goes Boom" was the Norwegian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2000, performed in English by Charmed.The song is an up-tempo number, with the lyrics describing the first time a young woman saw her lover. Attracting most attention, however, were the lines "You were standing in the...
". At the close of voting, it had received 73 points, placing 8th in a field of 24.
It was succeeded as Maltese representative
Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest
Malta has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest since 1971. At first the island state sent songs in its native language, Maltese, but it failed to rank highly, and withdrew after the 1975 contest. Since its return in 1991, however, it has achieved eight top ten placings in a row, including...
at the 2001 Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 2001
The Eurovision Song Contest 2001 was the 46th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 12 May 2001 in the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was the first time in 36 years that Denmark hosted the Eurovision Song Contest, thanks to the Olsen Brothers' win the previous year in Stockholm...
by Fabrizio Faniello
Fabrizio Faniello
Fabrizio Faniello is a Maltese pop singer. He represented Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2001 and 2006. He is seen by many as Malta's hope in its fledgling experimental electronica scene, contributing to many international compilations and collaborating with well known artists as diverse...
with "Another Summer Night
Another Summer Night
"Another Summer Night" was the Maltese entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2001, performed in English by Fabrizio Faniello.The song is a moderately up-tempo number, with Faniello describing an idyllic summer night "by the ocean/Under the palm trees, you and I". He sings that this is "magic" and...
".