Vodka (song)

Infobox ESC entry
song = flagicon|Malta "Vodka"


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year = 2008
country = Malta
artist = Morena
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languages = English, Russian
composer = Philip Vella
lyricist = Gerard James Borg
conductor =
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points =
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lyrics =
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prev = "Vertigo"
prev_link = Vertigo (Eurovision song)
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next_link = "Vodka" was the song that represented Malta at Eurovision Song Contest 2008, in Belgrade, Serbia. It was sung by Gozitan singer Morena. [ [http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news/belgrade-2008?id=422 "Malta to Belgrade with Vodka!"] ] The authors of the song, Gerard James Borg (lyrics) and Philip Vella (music) have had songs in Eurovision five times (2000, 2002, 2004, 2007 & 2008). [http://www.eurovision.tv/page/interviews-2008?id=468 Interview: Eurovision.tv speaks to Vella & Borg] 15 February 2008]

"Vodka" won the Malta Song for Europe 2008 with total 78 points (49 votes from the jury and 16,979 from the public). [ [http://www.maltasong.com/page.asp?n=newsdetails&i=10940 The Go Malta Song for Europe 2008 - Finalists Official Results] ] The jury gave the same (not maximal) number of points to two other songs, but public sympathies were on the side of "Vodka" to beat the runner-up by a wide margin. [http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080130/local/the-dark-one-relishes-the-limelight "The dark one relishes the limelight"] , "Times of Malta", January 30, 2008]

The song speaks of a spy in Gorky Park in Moscow, "in a danger zone" where everywhere is "pitch dark". She is being chased because she deciphered the code which everyone wants so badly, and the word is "Vodka". [ [http://www.maltasong.com/page.asp?n=newsdetails&i=10910 Go Malta Song 2008: Semifinalist Lyrics] ]

"Vodka" is sung in English, but starts with the word "Na Zdarovye", a supposedly Russian word for "Cheers!" toast. [In fact, the toast similar to this one is Polish "" (literally "to health"). The similarly sounding Russian "на здоровье" ("na zdorovye", "for health", in the meaning "to aid health", is used, e.g., as a polite reply in the following situation: someone treats you with food or drink, you say your thanks, and the treating person responds "for your health" ("na zdorovye"), i.e., "enjoy your meal/drink!" (other usages exist). The Russian toast is "За здоровье" ("za zdorovye", "to health"), wishing health to someone and accordingly it always mentions whose health is being cheered, e.g., "to your health" or "to the health of the newlywed".]

The song sparkled comments that it was crafted to attract Eastern Europeans' votes, but the authors denied the accusations saying that the song was not even intended to enter the competition.

The song title is a source of numerous puns in newspaper titles, but Morena in her interview says she does not like vodka and in fact rarely drinks alcohol. [http://www.manicmalta.com/20080216-morena-vodka-malta.htm Interview with Morena and song authors] ]

In the Eurovision Song Contest 2008, "Vodka" was sung in the 2nd semifinal on Thursday 22 May 2008, and competed against Croatia, Denmark, Bulgaria, Portugal, Ukraine, Switzerland, FYR Macedonia, Iceland, Cyprus, Latvia, Belarus, Hungary, Albania, Sweden, Turkey, Lithuania, Georgia and the Czech Republic.

The song received 38 points and placed 14th in the semifinal and so Malta failed to qualify for the final for the second time.

References

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmEB9wN84pM "Vodka"] on YouTube
* [http://www.morenaofficial.com/ Morena's Official Website]
* [http://blog.morenaofficial.com/ Morena's blog]