Malta MALTA 2025 - Miriana Conte - Serving

[ESC United Mod Team]

 

[njdevils94]

I don't think it is fair to point at BBC, they have no authority to "decide". There are regulations they have to follow afterall.

This is more about Ofcom than the BBC to be honest.

 

[Ted Talks]

And let’s not forget, we are just taking Miriana’s word it’s been ‘banned’ today. Probably been a few days in the offing from the EBU and maybe only officially ratified today. I imagine they’ll have had some notice though.

Could it have been handled better? Yes. But could Malta have avoided all this. 100% yes.

She and Malta will try and spin this into them being the victims no doubt and their fans will blame the BBC etc for daring to abide by broadcasting rules. Terrible really…

 

[Truskawka]

Well „ich komme“ is not understood by everyone, unline the c-word. Secondly, it is falsly pronounced so for non native speakers it‘s even harder to understand and thridly anyone can take the non-sexual meaning, whereas in „serving c…“ you don‘t have the option instantly - cuz nearly no one would be that fluent in maltese to swith mentally to the alledged harmless meaning.

i get what ur trying to say here but serving cant does not mean the same thing as when you use the swear word against someone so you would have to actually misunderstand the english saying that's being sung using a maltese word wrong for you to think she's swearing.

 

[njdevils94]

I find it very hard to believe TVM didn't have some kind of a back-up plan the moment Miriana won the Natonal Final.

 

[Ted Talks]

i get what ur trying to say here but serving cant does not mean the same thing as when you use the swear word against someone so you would have to actually misunderstand the english saying that's being sung using a maltese word wrong for you to think she's swearing.

They want us to think she’s swearing though - that was point of Kant. A not so clever play on the C-word.

I’ve seen the song’s defenders elsewhere try and say she’s doing the RuPaul thing of saying Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerves and Talent in place of the C-word but using Kant as a cover.

If only they’d been that clever when writing it. I think if they done that instead, they’d have got round it.

I have no sympathy for Miriana or Malta. Their gamble failed. And rightly so!

 

[Mainshow]

They will change this to "I'm serving KWEEN", won't they?

Or they will just make Miriana sing "I'm serving...." and they will project "KANT" in capitalised/big letters on screen for the audience to sing it - (showing all the ghey middle aged men in the audience mouthing that word). OMG - this whole thing will be iconic, camp and absolutely embarrassing at the same time.
Now I'm really looking forward to watching her semi final performance.

 

[EscGeek]

Devastating news.

This is you, @ EBU

 

[Truskawka]

They want us to think she’s swearing though - that was point of Kant. A not so clever play on the C-word.

I’ve seen the song’s defenders elsewhere try and say she’s doing the RuPaul thing of saying Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerves and Talent in place of the C-word but using Kant as a cover.

If only they’d been that clever when writing it. I think if they done that instead, they’d have got round it.

I have no sympathy for Miriana or Malta. Their gamble failed. And rightly so!

i really don't care enough about this entry to write paragraphs on this but the way you frame this makes it seems as if you really don't even understand what that saying that's implied with the title means lol.

this is just an embarrassing decision on the ebu's half who accepted this entry just for this to unfold now. they rarely show a backbone and sorry as others have said the ebu is not responsible for how the broadcasters handle whatever they deem unacceptable or whatever within the show when the ebu has previously ruled it as acceptable. as others have pointed out there were numerous ways for the uk voice over commentary to introduce this song and song title without making it too awkward and clearly stating that the title of the song is the maltese word for singing.

i really don't get what weird schadenfreude this unleashes in some, yes the song's attentions seeking but you're tuning into eurovision, half of the show consists of attention seeking camp humour. my feeling would be completely different if this song had been rejected from the get go but it wasn't; and this decision being made close to the deadline leaves an even bigger sour taste to it.

 

[RainyWoods]

Or they will just make Miriana sing "I'm serving...." and they will project "KANT" in capitalised/big letters on screen for the audience to sing it - (showing all the ghey middle aged men in the audience mouthing that word). OMG - this whole thing will be iconic, camp and absolutely embarrassing at the same time.

This is exactly what I envision happening. They'll just have her say nothing in this new version. The audience will say the word for Miriana and there will be absolutely nothing anyone can do about it. They might add a sound effect in place of "kant" as well, perhaps even a censor beep.

I think it would be funnier though if they actually do add a new word. "Serving looks" would send me to an early grave. I'd wet myself laughing and would be forced to support the entry somewhat.

 

[Mainshow]

I honestly think that the EBU needs to give Malta some sort of discount regarding their participation fees.
Miriana was told that her song was passing the EBU rules, she took the time, effort and money to revamp the song and film a music video as we speak and now her team has been told to change it? - in the worst case scenario, they have to make her record the chorus again and maybe the lip-syncing/story-telling in the music video will be a bit off now.

They should have made that decision a month ago.

 

[Cathan]

I dont see the big issue.

KANT means "Singing" in Maltese.

Just sing "Serving singing" instead and then you don't need to worry about changing lyrics.

 

[Mainshow]

This is exactly what I envision happening. They'll just have her say nothing in this new version. The audience will say the word for Miriana and there will be absolutely nothing anyone can do about it. They might add a sound effect in place of "kant" as well, perhaps even a censor beep.

I think it would be funnier though if they actually do add a new word. "Serving looks" would send me to an early grave. I'd wet myself laughing and would be forced to support the entry somewhat.

Oh or what about "I'm serving CAT"? - She's already wearing a leopard print leotard.

The questions remains what studio version they will hand in? - I mean, they have to press the official ESC 2025 CD soon - so that they can be in stores in early May (the digital version will probably be avaialbe in late April and therefore, they don't have too much time on their hands).

Yeah, she will get more support now and all commentators will pick this mess up. If they mask the issue perfectly/cleverly, Miriana will maybe even get more televoting pts now

 

[Mainshow]

I dont see the big issue.

KANT means "Singing" in Maltese.

Just sing "Serving singing" instead and then you don't need to worry about changing lyrics.

It won't work. The pun is the whole core essence of the song (her serving attitude); also it would harm the "melody".
"Singing" consists of two syllables whilst "Kant" was one syllable followed by a beat drop/dance beat - and the whole phrase has been repeated several times throughout the song.

They need to replace it with a short word, imo - or change the song/arrangement event further - or it will sound clumsy.

 

[Ted Talks]

This is exactly what I envision happening. They'll just have her say nothing in this new version. The audience will say the word for Miriana and there will be absolutely nothing anyone can do about it. They might add a sound effect in place of "kant" as well, perhaps even a censor beep.

I think it would be funnier though if they actually do add a new word. "Serving looks" would send me to an early grave. I'd wet myself laughing and would be forced to support the entry somewhat.

I can see it being left intentionally blank too - or serving oops - something like that but the audience will fill in the gap (very loudly) for sure.

The EBU have definitely made the right decision but taken far too long to make it.

I’ve said before they should be more closely involved in approving what can/can’t take place in a national final. If they’d done this with Malta, the issue would have been avoided a long time ago.

 

[Ted Talks]

i really don't care enough about this entry to write paragraphs on this but the way you frame this makes it seems as if you really don't even understand what that saying that's implied with the title means lol.

this is just an embarrassing decision on the ebu's half who accepted this entry just for this to unfold now. they rarely show a backbone and sorry as others have said the ebu is not responsible for how the broadcasters handle whatever they deem unacceptable or whatever within the show when the ebu has previously ruled it as acceptable. as others have pointed out there were numerous ways for the uk voice over commentary to introduce this song and song title without making it too awkward and clearly stating that the title of the song is the maltese word for singing.

i really don't get what weird schadenfreude this unleashes in some, yes the song's attentions seeking but you're tuning into eurovision, half of the show consists of attention seeking camp humour. my feeling would be completely different if this song had been rejected from the get go but it wasn't; and this decision being made close to the deadline leaves an even bigger sour taste to it.

The EBU presides over the competition though and needs to ensure broadcasters are complying with their respective rules. I do think people are forgetting this.

Rules are in place. The broadcasters have to comply with them, but therein lies responsibility with the EBU for ensuring its product complies too.

And while you may take enjoyment from the Kant situation, I don’t personally think there’s camp humour associated with the C-word. It is a vile word that shouldn’t have been let anywhere near the competition.

Hopefully this means the EBU are more on it in future to prevent situations like this happening again.

 

[Jupiter]

i really don't care enough about this entry to write paragraphs on this but the way you frame this makes it seems as if you really don't even understand what that saying that's implied with the title means lol.

This.
The whole discussion here is bonkers to read. C*nt is first of all a female body part, and was than used as an insult to women. And there have been movements to reclaim the word for decades (similar to queer being reclaimed by the LGBTQ+ community). The expression serving c*nt is nothing else but that - using the term as something positive and fierce instead of degrading.

And this complain coming so late is ridiculous.

Either way, I think there are ways to change it that will not take away from the song. From having the audience fill in, to adding a sound effect, to maybe using her name instead (if Miriana can make that work). Conte is close enough after all. Or they could leave the word out and pretend there is something keeping her from singing it everytime, like her falling of her swiss Ball lol Given the entry is going for crazy and camp anyway, it's not as if they need to worry about the solution being elegant.

 

[Cathan]

It won't work. The pun is the whole core essence of the song (her serving attitude); also it would harm the "melody".
"Singing" consists of two syllables whilst "Kant" was one syllable followed by a beat drop/dance beat - and the whole phrase has been repeated several times throughout the song.

They need to replace it with a short word, imo - or change the song/arrangement event further - or it will sound clumsy.

It will work, just change the word.

 

[Ted Talks]

This.
The whole discussion here is bonkers to read. C*nt is first of all a female body part, and was than used as an insult to women. And there have been movements to reclaim the word for decades (similar to queer being reclaimed by the LGBTQ+ community). The expression serving c*nt is nothing else but that - using the term as something positive and fierce instead of degrading.

And this complain coming so late is ridiculous.

Either way, I think there are ways to change it that will not take away from the song. From having the audience fill in, to adding a sound effect, to maybe using her name instead (if Miriana can make that work). Conte is close enough after all. Or they could leave the word out and pretend there is something keeping her from singing it everytime, like her falling of her swiss Ball lol Given the entry is going for crazy and camp anyway, it's not as if they need to worry about the solution being elegant.

Do the wider general public know this though? Certainly from where I am the C-word is still highly offensive and used as an insult - not as something empowering.

There are plenty of people still uncomfortable with queer being reclaimed as a word given its previous (and sadly still current) use as a slur.

I think the C-word is still predominantly seen as an insult. I don’t think the reaction has been bonkers at all. It’s been fairly considered by all accounts from people voicing no concern (perfectly acceptable) to those who have been concerned (equally acceptable).

It will work, just change the word.

I don’t want to say your naive Cathan, but you’re coming across extremely naive if you think Kant was only used as a word for singing. That was never the intention and simply switching it to the English undoes the supposed ‘clever’ bit of songwriting Miriana and co developed.

 

[Looren]

The Kant/Cunt joke actually made me laugh and was the one thing I liked about this act (along with Miriana who is imo a talented singer and performer) so that's a shame, I hope she does find a solution quickly given the short amount of time she's given

 

[HarryUK]

Or they will just make Miriana sing "I'm serving...." and they will project "KANT" in capitalised/big letters on screen for the audience to sing it - (showing all the ghey middle aged men in the audience mouthing that word). OMG - this whole thing will be iconic, camp and absolutely embarrassing at the same time.
Now I'm really looking forward to watching her semi final performance.

Ofcom would go into meltdown but nobody could do anything about it