Fabrizio Faniello
is not new to the Eurovision scene, this is the second time he represents
his country, Malta, in the Eurovision Song Contest. “The second
time feels even better…” was Fabrizio's very enthusiastic
comment shortly after he won this year's competition. He is determined
to give his all, to make Malta proud.
His real breakthrough in
the Eurovision scene was in 2001. That year he won the Malta Song for
Europe festival with the song Another Summer Night , written by Paul
Abela and Georgina. Winning this festival meant that Fabrizio represented
Malta for the first time in the 2001 Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen,
Denmark.
Millions of Eurovision fans watched this event. After this first, fantastic,
performance on the Eurovision stage, Fabrizio gained a huge fan-following
worldwide. Another Summer Night was added to a large number of radio-stations
playlists all over Europe. On his return home thousands of fans gathered
to give him the warmest welcome ever! This turned out to be a very good
year for Fabrizio, he was guest in practically every Maltese TV and
radio programme, and the local press gave him great reviews.
The Eurovision experience
was a launch-pad for Fabrizio's international success. On the 25th of
May 2001, Fabrizio, backed by the best artists in the local music scene,
launched his debut-album, While I´m Dreamin , with his first large
scale concert in Malta at the Luxol Stadium. This concert was a great
success. On the 15 th of June it was broadcast on TV and that week the
album reached the No. 1 position in the Maltese Album charts. It is,
to date, the best selling album of a Maltese artist, ever.
In Denmark, While I´m
Dreamin , was in the Top 100 Album charts for four weeks and the single
was in the Top 20 playlist for 5 weeks. In Germany the single was in
the top 100 playlist for 7 weeks. The release of this Album helped Fabrizio
gain a large number of performances on various European TV-Stations,
as well as extensive travelling throughout Europe for promotion &
live shows. In 2002, following the album's success, the Single Show
Me Now was released with a big budget video for MTV and VIVA. The track
was an immediate hit in Malta.
Fabrizio
was fast gaining international recognition. His increasing success led
to performances in prestigious festivals, namely the “Halberg-Festival”
in Saarbrücken, Germany, in front of 65.000 people, “GOLDEN
STAG Festival” in Brasov/Romania and the “MusicMania Festival”
in Malta. In December 2002, he was also invited to perform at the EU
Summit in Copenhagen.
When We Danced , Fabrizio's second album, was released in Malta late
in 2003. It immediately reached the No. 1 position in the Maltese Top
30 Charts! The first teaser single of this Album was the pop-dance-latin-song
of the same name, When We Danced , written by the top American writers
Anthony Little & Rick Kelly who wrote for N'Sync, Backstreet Boys.
The launch of this album in Malta was combined with the release of the
Single-hit I'm In Love (The Whistle Hit) and was held, at a sold-out
concert at the prestigious Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta.
The entire show was broadcast on local TV three times!
This album marked Fabrizio's real international success - the single,
I'm I n Love The Whistle Hit) and his album were released in more than
30 countries, namely; Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark,
Finland, Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg,
Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Hungary, Israel,
South Africa, Indonesia, The Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand,
Malaysia, China, Singapore, Japan & - of course - Malta. The song
became a big hit on radio & TV and went into the sales charts in
Sweden at #7 (and was in the Top 20 for 15 weeks) followed by # 11 in
Finland, Top 50 in Belgium and Germany.
Last year was the Eurovision Song Contest's 50 th anniversary, and Fabrizio
was invited to be part of the show Congratulations , held on the 22
nd October 2005 in Copenhagen, Denmark, to mark the 50 th jubilee of
the Eurovision Song Contest. During the show he performed his song Another
Summer Night in a medley with other Eurovision participants.
Recently, Fabrizio released his third album Believe , which went straight
to the number one position in the Maltese Album charts. The first single
release from this album - Love on the Radio - with lyrics by Mary Susan
Applegate, who also wrote The Power of Love - is already listed on the
radio charts in some countries.
Now, Fabrizio is once again geared up to give his utmost for Malta.
Since winning the Malta Song for Europe Festival he is focusing all
his energies to give his all for Malta. The song I Do will be released
in various countries before the Eurovision Song Contest, and will be
accompanied by a top quality video & major promotional activities.
The media and Eurovision fans are all very enthusiastic about Fabrizio
and are predicting very good results for him and Malta. His song is
very
upbeat and catchy, and although very young, he has the experience and,
of course, good looks, which will give him the confidence to shine on
the Eurovision stage.