Valletta, Malta Comino Gozo
The Arena is pitch black. We cut to the opening video. A black screen waves crashing against a shore. the words "MCG 1 presents" fade in as more waves crash against the shore, with a gentle swoosh as the waves roll back out to sea over a rocky coastline. The words fade out, as the black fades to the waves crashing against a sun kissed coast. The camera is pointed downwards. Its just past sunrise. A flock of seagull swoops in left to right. The camera pulls out further to sea picking up speed and, bang, fades to black, and cuts to a full back of the camera rising from the ground pulling out showing a sunrise over the capital of Malta Comino Gozo, Valletta.
The sky is littered with clouds glowing from the sun lit sky. Church bells echo in the background. The rays from the sun shoot out from 6 angles penetrating the clouds. As this happens we cut to a shot of the arena currently in complete darkness apart from a hot fireball sun that takes up the main LED at the back of the main stage, and a few phone torches from eager spectators obsessed with capturing everything on film. As each sun ray shoots out at 5 second intervals, huge thin spotlights shoots out from the top of the stage into the arena, each one shoots of at an angle bathing several parts of the arena in a soothing yellow glow. The crowd erupts into cheers. Flag silhouettes can be seen punching against the light glow creating an almost wavy skyline. Each line of light gets wider and wider until the entire arena is washed in a beautiful, morning sunny glow. A soft twinkly bell chime can be hear gradually getting louder and louder. The camera cuts back to video as the introduction to the kingdom begins. The music is simple and elegant to fit the theme of the contest. The words Simplicity and elegance appear at the start. The video ends with no place like Malta Comino Gozo.
We cut back to the arena as the lights dim. The sun rises from the middle of the stage upwards glowing brighter and brighter. A camera angle shot downwards from the ceiling reveals 12 dancers each curled up in a ball holding white LED cubes. The huge LED catwalks and the rest of the stage twinkle in a sea of blue. The mood quickly changes from simple and relaxing to upbeat as a sudden beat kicks in and the arena is plunged into black( not a powercut MCG is famous for) and spotlights flash from the ceiling sporadically. Crowd cheers loudly with excitement as the music begins to start.
Malla can be heard singing but cant been, the LED at the back of the stage opens and she struts onto stage as the chorus kicks in. The dancers prance around the stage with their LED cubes. They change colour to red and white as the throw them to each other. The choreography is energetic and almost ballet like, with twirls, and throwing the dancers in the air and catching them. (During rehearsals 2 cubes were smashed, thankfully this performance goes off with out a hitch). By the end of the performance the 12 cubes are stacked in a grid and the LEDS form the logo of the 78 WV contest.
"Oh darling no
This heart is free
A brand new day
Is at my feet
And I'm singing low
Low and sweet
Giving more soul
Give it all to me
She grabs the mic from the stand
It all feels like gold
Gold to me
Might not be diamonds
But it shines for me
It all feels like gold
Gold to me
It will last in silence
Welcome to MCG
Singing yeah yeah yeah yeah
Malla struts across the stage in front of the dancers to the right hand side of the stage and bends down and sings to the nearest audience members.
Simple things
That light me up
What a beautiful world
And I see the love
In everything
And everyone
When I'm digging softly
Ooh the tide will come
It all feels like gold
Gold to me
Might not be diamonds
But it shines for me
It all feels like gold
Gold to me
It will last in silence
It's MCG!
Singing yeah yeah yeah yeah
Camera pans around the arena, the 19,000 strong audience can be seen singing along to the Yeah Yeah Yeah. Malla walks down the right catwalk a huge smile across her face right hand out touching the audience outstretched hands amongst a sea of flags. She stays on this catwalk for the rest of the song.
Open my eyes
I see there's so much beauty
There's is so much more than I ever believed
High touching the sky
Where the angels keep falling
It's all good to me, it's all good to me
It all feels like gold
Gold to me
Might not be diamonds
But it shines for me
It all feels like gold
Gold to me
It will last in silence
This is MCG!
Singing yeah yeah yeah yeah
Malla points her mic at the audience as they sing along enthusiastically "Sing with me!!!!"
It all feels like gold
Gold to me
It will last in silence
It's all good to me
It all feels like gold
Gold to me
It will last in silence
It's all good to me
It's all good to me
All good to me
All good to me
So good to me"
She bows to the audience, not quite believing she has just performed at Worldvision!
The lights fade up, the logo appears on the back wall, and the camera zooms out.
A voice from the heavens bellows out amongst a excited audience! "Ladies and Gentlemen please give a huge warm welcome to your hosts for tonight.... Michela and Ian!
Michela: Hello, hello, Lejla tajba, and welcome to Valletta Arena.
The crowd cheers
Ian: We are honoured to welcome you to the Kingdom of Malta Comino Gozo. To think... we have only participated twice and ALREADY we are hosting this spectacular show. We are truly humbled and eternally grateful.
Michela: Eternally grateful (in a weird high pitched voice, almost alien like)
She gets a large laugh from the audience
Ian: Sounds familiar... not sure where from
Ian and Michela: This is the 78th WorldVision Song Contest, coming to you live from Valletta Arena, Malta Comino Gozo!
Large cheers.
Michela: We have a SELL OUT, there's actually 19,000 people in here tonight, all ready to party, sing and enjoy what this stunning country has to offer. And I've heard the King ...
She's interrupted by a huge cheer she smiles at Ian
Michela: The King is actually watching tonight!
The camera zooms into Michela and Ian's faces they have a cheeky smile
Michela and and Ian: Evening King Will
They give a cheeky wink to the camera
Michela: Again from everyone here in MCG, thank you and lets get this Worldvision off to a start! OK, are we
ready?
The crowd cheers in a very affirmative way.
Ian and Michela: May the best song win, and let the WorldVision Song Contest 78 begin!
Audience cheers with excitement.
An overview of the songs appears on screen.
Participating Countries
1 Greater Korean Juche Republic
2 Spiritual Republic of Caryton
3 Amuaplye
4 Lons
5 Talvezout
6 Todlichebujoku
7 Peoples Republic of Joyea
8 Diarcesia
9 Zamboodle
10 Polkopia
11 Ruritane
12 The Hlhata States
13 Scotatrova
14 Ertzei Kishim
15 Nekoni
16 Malta Comino Gozo
17 Voxija
18 Elejamie
19 The Micronation of Oceanland
20 HUElavia
21 Achaean Republic
22 Natanya
23 Nahlcomo
24 Saviera
25 Vartugia
26 Lactatia
27 Yvesia
28 Estogium
29 Mister X
30 Kalosia
31 Izmedu
32 Teesdexxia