On the 31st January, the organising committee of L-Għanja tal-Poplu was receiving entries for the 38th edition of the illustrious competition, in hope of finding a track to succeed Hawn Siġġu Nieqes composed by Mark Spiteri Lucas to the lyrics of Paul Ellul, with vocals provided by Cherise Attard, as the winner. The organising committee of L-Għanja tal-Poplu has decided to introduce a number of brand new regulations including a financial reward for the winner of the singer/songwriter accolade as well as the top three (3) as chosen by a panel of judges.
The list of sixteen (16) participants was selected from a total of seventy-one (71) submissions, which means that L-Għanja tal-Poplu practically doubled the amount of submissions from the previous year when almost forty (40) tracks were sent in. The organising committee appointed five (5) professional judges to review the songs and spoke highly of each of the respective submissions, finally reaching the below verdict. The Committee will be confirming the names of the finalists in due course, as songwriters confirm the demo artist to be the final artist.
Bħal Għasfura (Mario Debono)
Djarju ta' Tifkiriet - Simone Gauci (Emil Calleja Bayliss, Mark Spiteri Lucas)
Fejn Huma? - Daniel Borg (George Cassar, Daniel Borg)
Il-Bamboċċu, Il-Bambinu u l-Budaj (Frans Casha)
Il-Karba tal-Mument - Christian Arding (Kevin Tanti, Chan Vella)
Il-Quċċata - Jeffrey Scicluna (Rita Pace, Jeffrey Scicluna)
Immigrant Regolari - Teddie Zammit (Rita Pace, Teddie Zammit)
Insellmulkom - Domenique (Joe Chircop, Philip Vella)
Jien Ma Naħdimx - Karen DeBattista (Rita Pace, Mark Scicluna)
Kif Xrobbtuli l-Menti - Frank O'Neill (Frank O'Neill)
Liberat (George Cassar, Teddie Zammit)
Mara - Marie Claire Attard Bason (Emil Calleja Bayliss, Andrew Zammit)
Numri - Estelle Fenech Imbroll (Paul Attard, Mark Scicluna)
Pupa - Denise Spiteri (Mark Laurence Zammit)
Rutina (Jonathan Laferla, Charlie Bonnici)
Wara l-Kanċell - Miriam Christine u Olivia Lewis (J J Farrugia, Miriam Christine)
The 38th edition of L-Għanja tal-Poplu is being organised with the help of the Malta Arts Fund and in collaboration with Studio 7. Authors, composers, singers and musical groups wishing to participation can find all the required information through the Official Website, or the Official Facebook Page. The renowned local competition which has been given a true facelift in recent years is also being given a brand new visual identity in 2014 with emerging artist Darren Tanti responsible for a new logo, one which encompases the idea of live music and singing, elements of L-Għanja tal-Poplu.
http://www.ghanjafest.com/