The video of 7th Wonder was launched on Tuesday
19/03. The first few clips I got to see were from the local news. I liked
what I saw. I only got the see the whole video without interruptions the
following day in the repeat of C’est La Vie on Max Plus.
Personally I liked it. For the first time, this year we have a video about
the song and "the singer", not about Malta - not that I minded the views and
shots about Malta in previous years’ videos but it is a pleasant difference.
Well, I was happy with it. It did leave me with a certain strange feeling
but I did not stop to think about it.
I got to hear the first not-so-positive comments that same evening, but since
they came from a part of the local media who do not particularly support
Ira, I dismissed the comments to pure envy. It did make me angry, as the
comments were not in any way professionally-made. I got some other comments
from other Eurovision fans online. Some of them did criticise the
video. I was looking forward for Friday’s C’est La Vie, as I was sure
that they would discuss it. Personally, I give great weight to what comes
out of that programme as they have been very supportive of Ira even before
the festival and usually have knowledgeable people discussing such issues,
along with Claudette Pace’s expertise and experience. I have to say I was a
bit surprised at their reaction. In summary these are some of the points
that came out: from Deo Grech - that it is a simple video; not something to
dislike but not something special; said it leaves him ‘cold’; Alfred Borg
said he liked it as it has a story and mentioned Ira’s versatility - the
possibilities for the video ranged from a total virtual reality one to a
traditional one; and Claudette Pace said that with Ira, visually, they could
have done a real 7th Wonder. They also took calls from people who expressed
basically the same feelings - could have been better. Many pointed out that
they expected something more, considering the crew had Ira to work with.
Hearing all this, I literally had to sit down and think about what had I
missed from the video - why are people not liking it that much.
I lost count of the number of times I saw the video after
that, I did manage to come to some personal conclusions - some things which
had not drawn my attention before. It is really difficult for me to
criticise anything with Ira in it, not to say impossible. In fact I do not
think the following is anywhere near criticism.
I still like the video; that has not changed. As I already pointed out, the
video is not centred on promoting scenes from Malta but around the song and
"the singer". Why in quotes? What there is in the video is Ira in the role
of a super successful singer. The video is not about the real Ira. In fact,
in my opinion it has nothing to do with who she really is and that
incongruence may be one of the reasons why the video has not gone down so
well with the public yet. It portrays more the incorrect image some might
have had of Ira, which I think should have been corrected by now from the
interviews one can read or hear. I cannot really say who the real Ira is but
I really do not think she is the same as the one in the video. For
instance, Ira is more determined and confident. In the video there are many
shots, the "mirror" close ups especially, in which she is presented as
vulnerable and maybe lost. I think she would have a different reaction to
the "7th wonder" crossing her path in the busy Valletta street - that
reaction would only be elicited from Ira if he managed to get her in a bad
mood or day; I do not think that Ira would be able to go through the airport
or out of a hotel like she does in the video, she would be noticed, maybe
even stopped and talked to and I think Ira would have personalised the
licence plates of her car!
The video relates quite a sad story. The video is going to tell "the story
of a lonely star, with secrets, beauty, success and dreams in search of the
seventh wonder" Michael Begasse had said before the shooting of the video.
Personally I think he brought out the lonely issue too much. The star in the
video is not only lonely in her personal life but she is also portrayed
lonely everywhere else. That was the initial feeling I had been left with
and it is a feeling which maybe is elicited in others who put it down to not
liking the video. Those who support Ira would not wish her such a life and
seeing her in that role might sadden them, as it did to me. In my opinion
the fact that a "star" would have followers and supporters was a bit
overlooked and there were instances where they could have included it - like
in the airport, in the hotel (it is nearly empty), when she gets out of the
hotel, in the Manuel Theatre (it is left in the dark and the people are
barely visible). Actually the part that is really touching is when she gets
out of the hotel after finishing her performance to an empty space and her
loneliness is really brought out here - she walks out, head down, walking
slowly, dragging her ‘shawl’. It is really very touching, really not Ira and
really something we hope Ira would never experience in real life. Ira is
loved. As many have said after the festival, she has won the hearts of the
Maltese people. So now, yes, I think I can see why people might not like the
video at first.
We are not accustomed to seeing Ira like that. Ira is lively, always happy,
very approachable, almost always surrounded by people, determined, with the
right amount of confidence, her sense of humour always just under the
surface, ready to pop up anytime and even her walk is cheerful. In the video
she is presented as almost the opposite. I am not in any way criticising
the way she is presented there; it is just not her. This also goes to show
Ira’s acting talents. Since I think that in the video, she is not presented
as she really is, then she had to act that way, and she is very convincing!
Above all, there is something I really missed in the video - her smile. It
is a characteristic of Ira - wherever she is, she smiles.
Again, I liked the video. The work put in it is visible. It is full of
details which match the lyrics of the song. A couple of excellent examples
include: in the airport scenes there’s a shot with "Gate 7" "Tallinn" and a
shot with "Spirits" as she sings, ‘my spirits high’. Ira herself was
satisfied with it, so, since she liked the image they portrayed of her, I do
not think we should worry about that. If one goes into the details, the
video is deep. It relates a touching story. Seeing the video from this
perspective might help those who are saying they do not like it. Maybe it is
not the video they do not like but the feelings that it elicits. It should
be given a chance and should not be judged after one or two viewings. It is
different, but it is good. It gives another side of the same song. The
video relates the song in a not-so-happy way while Ira will give an
impeccable performance, full of life and happiness as she is always doing.
Anyone who have seen her performances on Stedina on TVM or in
the Hair and Beauty Marathon on Channel 22 have seen that her
live performance has not changed in any way... still lively, happy and
accompanied with a smile which we hope will rob Europe’s heart as Chiara’s
wink has done before. So... we have nothing to worry about!
08/04/2002
Just a little clarification about my review on the video
7th Wonder (Also in reply to a Kate from St. Paul’s Bay).
I never said that song videos should portray the real life
of a singer. The video is the interpretation of a song. All I said was that
one of the reasons some people might feel ‘cold’ or something of the sort,
after watching the video for the first time - especially those who support
Ira - is that in the video there is a different Ira presented.
One last thing, for ANYONE who did not get what the scene in
Gozo is all about, before criticising watch out for the details: take a good
look at the guages in the car! The reason of why Ira is walking in the
countryside of lovely Gozo in a leopard-print suit is there.
Once again, I definitely like the video and was in no way
criticising it.
I got to hear the first not-so-positive comments that same evening, but since
they came from a part of the local media who do not particularly support
Ira, I dismissed the comments to pure envy. It did make me angry, as the
comments were not in any way professionally-made. I got some other comments
from other Eurovision fans online. Some of them did criticise the
video. I was looking forward for Friday’s C’est La Vie, as I was sure
that they would discuss it. Personally, I give great weight to what comes
out of that programme as they have been very supportive of Ira even before
the festival and usually have knowledgeable people discussing such issues,
along with Claudette Pace’s expertise and experience. I have to say I was a
bit surprised at their reaction. In summary these are some of the points
that came out: from Deo Grech - that it is a simple video; not something to
dislike but not something special; said it leaves him ‘cold’; Alfred Borg
said he liked it as it has a story and mentioned Ira’s versatility - the
possibilities for the video ranged from a total virtual reality one to a
traditional one; and Claudette Pace said that with Ira, visually, they could
have done a real 7th Wonder. They also took calls from people who expressed
basically the same feelings - could have been better. Many pointed out that
they expected something more, considering the crew had Ira to work with.
Hearing all this, I literally had to sit down and think about what had I
missed from the video - why are people not liking it that much.
I still like the video; that has not changed. As I already pointed out, the
video is not centred on promoting scenes from Malta but around the song and
"the singer". Why in quotes? What there is in the video is Ira in the role
of a super successful singer. The video is not about the real Ira. In fact,
in my opinion it has nothing to do with who she really is and that
incongruence may be one of the reasons why the video has not gone down so
well with the public yet. It portrays more the incorrect image some might
have had of Ira, which I think should have been corrected by now from the
interviews one can read or hear. I cannot really say who the real Ira is but
I really do not think she is the same as the one in the video. For
instance, Ira is more determined and confident. In the video there are many
shots, the "mirror" close ups especially, in which she is presented as
vulnerable and maybe lost. I think she would have a different reaction to
the "7th wonder" crossing her path in the busy Valletta street - that
reaction would only be elicited from Ira if he managed to get her in a bad
mood or day; I do not think that Ira would be able to go through the airport
or out of a hotel like she does in the video, she would be noticed, maybe
even stopped and talked to and I think Ira would have personalised the
licence plates of her car!
The video relates quite a sad story. The video is going to tell "the story
of a lonely star, with secrets, beauty, success and dreams in search of the
seventh wonder" Michael Begasse had said before the shooting of the video.
Personally I think he brought out the lonely issue too much. The star in the
video is not only lonely in her personal life but she is also portrayed
lonely everywhere else. That was the initial feeling I had been left with
and it is a feeling which maybe is elicited in others who put it down to not
liking the video. Those who support Ira would not wish her such a life and
seeing her in that role might sadden them, as it did to me. In my opinion
the fact that a "star" would have followers and supporters was a bit
overlooked and there were instances where they could have included it - like
in the airport, in the hotel (it is nearly empty), when she gets out of the
hotel, in the Manuel Theatre (it is left in the dark and the people are
barely visible). Actually the part that is really touching is when she gets
out of the hotel after finishing her performance to an empty space and her
loneliness is really brought out here - she walks out, head down, walking
slowly, dragging her ‘shawl’. It is really very touching, really not Ira and
really something we hope Ira would never experience in real life. Ira is
loved. As many have said after the festival, she has won the hearts of the
Maltese people. So now, yes, I think I can see why people might not like the
video at first.
We are not accustomed to seeing Ira like that. Ira is lively, always happy,
very approachable, almost always surrounded by people, determined, with the
right amount of confidence, her sense of humour always just under the
surface, ready to pop up anytime and even her walk is cheerful. In the video
she is presented as almost the opposite. I am not in any way criticising
the way she is presented there; it is just not her. This also goes to show
Ira’s acting talents. Since I think that in the video, she is not presented
as she really is, then she had to act that way, and she is very convincing!
Above all, there is something I really missed in the video - her smile. It
is a characteristic of Ira - wherever she is, she smiles.
Again, I liked the video. The work put in it is visible. It is full of
details which match the lyrics of the song. A couple of excellent examples
include: in the airport scenes there’s a shot with "Gate 7" "Tallinn" and a
shot with "Spirits" as she sings, ‘my spirits high’. Ira herself was
satisfied with it, so, since she liked the image they portrayed of her, I do
not think we should worry about that. If one goes into the details, the
video is deep. It relates a touching story. Seeing the video from this
perspective might help those who are saying they do not like it. Maybe it is
not the video they do not like but the feelings that it elicits. 
It should
be given a chance and should not be judged after one or two viewings. It is
different, but it is good. It gives another side of the same song. The
video relates the song in a not-so-happy way while Ira will give an
impeccable performance, full of life and happiness as she is always doing.
Anyone who have seen her performances on Stedina on TVM or in
the Hair and Beauty Marathon on Channel 22 have seen that her
live performance has not changed in any way... still lively, happy and
accompanied with a smile which we hope will rob Europe’s heart as Chiara’s
wink has done before. So... we have nothing to worry about!