There is only a week and a half left until the Final of Malta Eurovision Song Contest is going to take place in Ta’Qali, and one of the acts was forced to re-arrange the song, due to breaking the rules of the competition – it’s none other than the act that is going to be opening the show, Aidan.
Aidan was drawn to open the show with his song “Dai Laga”, but it was discovered that the backing track used for the song was actually released long before the rules allow, and published on various media, including Beatstars.
PBS posted the following statement on their official website:
Following reports in local and international media alleging that the song “Dai Laga” may contain elements that breach European Broadcasting Union (EBU) Regulations, PBS, Eurovision Song Contest organisers, contacted EBU to ascertain whether the song breached its Regulations as is being alleged.
On advice and with the assistance of the EBU, PBS concluded the whole problem was not one of the originality of the melody but essentially on the use of a ‘stem’ or a particular ‘sample’ from the song, which stem may have been purchased by the composer and licenced by an internet site.
In consequence, PBS used its faculty as granted by the Festival Regulations and requested the composer to submit a new version of the song in the context that the melody and the rhythm should be identical and that the ‘stem’ or particular ‘sample’ be removed or given new instrumentalisation.
Now Aidan had to change the backing track of his entry to be fully compliant with the rules of the competition, and should he win, to be able to represent Malta in Lisbon. Give a listen to the new version of “Dai Laga” here:
What do you think of the new version of Aidan’s “Dai Laga”? Let us know in the comments below! And if you haven’t yet voted, you can still cast a vote for your personal favorite in the Maltese Eurovision selection in our poll right here:
