|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has stirred up quite the debate by demanding that Malta’s Eurovision entry, Kant by Miriana Conte, change its title. The issue? The Maltese word kant (which means “singing”) apparently sounds a bit too similar to a well-known English swear word. The decision, made just six days before the submission deadline, has thrown a wrench into Conte’s plans, forcing her to make last-minute changes to the song’s lyrics and music video.
Last minute
The timing of the EBU’s call has raised a lot of eyebrows. Some fans think it’s a case of cultural censorship, while others argue it’s about keeping things family-friendly on TV. Reports suggest the BBC was behind the complaint, worried about how the word might come across to English-speaking audiences. Malta’s national broadcaster, PBS, isn’t happy either and is planning to appeal the decision. But with the deadline looming, they might have no choice but to go along with it.
Conte, clearly frustrated, called the decision “shocking and disappointing” but promised the show would go on. She even quipped, “the show will go on—Diva NOT down.” Her song’s title, Kant, was meant to celebrate the Maltese language, which hasn’t been used in the country’s Eurovision entries much since 1971. In fact, it’s only the fourth time Malta has picked a song in Maltese, making this whole situation even more of a sore spot.
Cantus
The word kant comes from the Latin cantus, meaning “song” or “chant,” and has no rude meaning in Maltese. In Conte’s lyrics, the phrase “serving kant” was a play on words, blending the literal meaning of “singing” with a nod to drag culture, where a similar-sounding English word has been reclaimed as a term of empowerment. Maltese fans saw it as a metaphor for amazing vocals, but the EBU was more concerned about how English speakers might hear it, especially with strict broadcasting rules in the UK.
This isn’t the first time Eurovision has run into trouble over language. Finland’s Cha Cha Cha in 2023 raised some eyebrows for its raunchy dance moves, and Latvia’s Eat Your Salad in 2022 got creative with audience chants to dodge a ban on certain lyrics. Even Sweden had to clean up its lyrics in 2017, swapping out a swear word for something more broadcast-friendly. What makes Malta’s case different is that it’s about a non-English word, which has sparked a bigger debate about multilingualism at Eurovision.
Rethink the system
A lot of people are now questioning the EBU’s decision-making process. Approving Kant initially and then backtracking weeks later looks pretty sloppy. Many think the EBU needs a better system for reviewing lyrics before national selections happen, to avoid these last-minute dramas.
For Malta, this whole mess feels like a setback for bringing Maltese back into the spotlight at Eurovision. It also raises bigger questions about whether Eurovision is really the celebration of different languages and cultures it claims to be—or if it’s becoming too focused on keeping things safe for English-speaking audiences.
As the deadline approaches, all eyes are on Malta to see how they’ll handle this unexpected twist. Whether or not Conte’s song makes it to the stage with its original title, one thing’s for sure: this controversy won’t be forgotten anytime soon.