Gianluca Bezzina

Gianluca Bezzina

Gianluca during a Eurovision 2013 press conference
Background information
Born (1989-11-09) 9 November 1989
Qrendi, Malta
Genres Pop
Occupation(s) Doctor, Singer
Associated acts Funk Initiative

Gianluca Bezzina (born 9 November 1989) is a Maltese medical doctor and part-time singer who represented Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö, Sweden.[1]

Biography

Gianluca Bezzina was born in 1989 in Qrendi, Malta. He is the third of seven siblings. He comes from a very musical family. His sister Dorothy was also a participant in the 2013 Malta Eurovision Song Contest "Starting From The End". She is a very popular singer at weddings in Malta.[2] Members of his family sang the song "Tomorrow" on TVM (Malta).[3] In 1989, his maternal aunt, Mary Anne Zammit, started publishing several audio cassettes of local songs in Maltese with themes dedicated to children and the family. These songs were very popular. Gianluca's maternal grandfather, the late Gaetano Buttigieg of Marsa, Malta, better known as Gaetano Kanta, was also a very well-known figure in Malta. He was one of the pioneers in the use of the Maltese Language in pop music. In the fifties, sixties and seventies Gaetano published Maltese lyrics adapted to international pop songs.[4]

Career

Bezzina started his musical career by studying the piano accordion at the age of seven, while simultaneously developing his singing skills with the Malta Children's Choir. His grandfather Gaetano, always encouraged Gianluca in his singing career,.[5] Gianluca was also deeply influenced by Roman Catholic youth organizations which he still frequents on a regular basis, especially the Youth Fellowship, where religious musical activities and celebrations are held.[5]

Bezzina was the front man of Funk Initiative, and has released three singles, including "The Liberators," and "Paris," which have been played on local radio stations and have even topped the local charts. On 19 June 2014 Funk Initiative were declared the winners of Isle Of MTV Battle Of The Bands Competition[6] and they opened the Isle of MTV concert held on the Granaries in Floriana on 25 July 2014.[7] They will be performing their track.[8] Gianluca is one of the three doctors forming part of this band. The other members are two engineers and an accounts teacher.[6]

Bezzina who has been practising as a medical doctor since July 2012,[1] together with Ira Losco and Moira Delia presented the semi-finals and finals of the Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2014 held on 7 and 8 February 2014.[9] Bezzina and Losco sang two duets, "Feeling Good"[10] and "Let Her Go".[11]

On 19 March 2014 Gianluca took part in a spectacular show held at the Salesian Theatre in Sliema. The show, produced and directed by his sister Dorothy, was a tribute to Gianluca's grandfather, Gaetano, on the tenth anniversary of his demise. Gianluca, together with other members of this closely knit and very talented family, sang 24 songs, all in Maltese, many of them cover versions of popular international songs. The lyrics of all these songs were written by their grandfather, "Nannu" Gaetano.[12]

On 3 October 2014 Gianluca, together with four of his sisters, qualified for the semi-final of Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015, with the song "Beautiful To Me". They are singing as a group called "L-Aħwa", the Maltese word for siblings.[13]

Eurovision Song Contest 2013

Bezzina at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest

Bezzina won the Maltese national final to represent Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö, Sweden with the song "Tomorrow."[14] In reality, he participated in the Malta national song contest just for fun. It was his first participation. After he won the contest, Gianluca stated that he was very surprised that he won the contest.[15]

Bezzina took 4th place in the Eurovision Song Contest Semi-Final on Thursday 16 May 2013 with 118 points. This qualified Bezzina for the final on Saturday 18 May 2013.[16] In the final, Bezzina finished in 8th place with a total score of 120. The Maltese entry received points from 22 of the 38 voting nations.[17]

When Gianluca arrived back in Malta on Sunday 19 May 2013 he was given a hero's welcome by fans, family, and friends.[18]

Bezzina's song "Tomorrow" became the first Maltese Eurovision Song Contest to enter the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 37,[19] for a week but dropping to number 66 the week after.

Eurovision Song Contest 2015

On 21 and 22 November 2014 Gianluca participated in the Maltese national semi-final, and even in the final of the Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2015 vying for another opportunity to represent Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015. He was part of the group L-Aħwa with the song "Beautiful to Me". The group was made up of Dorothy, Samaria, Gianluca, Paul, Vincienne and Francesca, all of them are members of the Bezzina family.

Value of Values

On 24 May 2015 Gianluca addressed the general council of the Nationalist Party (Malta). He stated: “It really bothers me that the values and morals that have been safeguarded for several years are now changing drastically. The mentality has become more liberal, and nowadays, whenever an individual feels something is right, he seeks to justify it by changing a law.” “Morals which have been enshrined in everyday life are being redefined and reinvented, and countries across the world are legislating in favour of these ‘rights’ to get more votes,” a nervous Bezzina said.The singing doctor urged political parties to do what was right, even if this meant losing votes.[20]

Wikipedia notability

The section Value of Values on the wikipedia page of Gianluca has been featured on the newspaper Times of Malta.[21]

Discography

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
GER IRE
[22]		 NL
[23]		 UK
[24]
2013 "Tomorrow" 70 69 32 37 Waiting For Tomorrow

References

  1. 1 2 another source on the web (2013-02-03). "Get to Know Gianluca Bezzina". Oiko Times. Malmö, Sweden. Retrieved 2013-02-17.
  2. ↑ http://www.theweddingsite.com/promisesmusic/
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECU0EkPOkTc
  4. ↑ L-Ghanja Tal-Poplu 2002, Teatru tal-Universita,19–2 April 2002, YTC Souvenir Publication
  5. 1 2 Rhythm of Youth, Gianluca Bezzina, Interview with Eric Montfort, Di-Ve.com, 08 Feb 2013
  6. 1 2 The Times 19Jun2014. On-Line: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140619/local/funk-initiative-wins-isle-of-mtv-battle-of-the-bands-competition.524110 Accessed 19June2014
  7. ↑ http://www.isleofmtv.com/tv/
  8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78DQ-TzG1gs#t=34 Paris
  9. ↑ http://www.tvm.com.mt/news/il-prezentaturi-tal-eurovision-song-contest-2014-huma/
  10. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2d4dCYLNUQ&list=UURgNRIafSq_aEP2OWV1kU3w&feature=c4-overview
  11. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqAnvUIM7t8&feature=youtu.be
  12. ↑ Gaetano Kanta, Mill-Balluta Sax-Chalet, Tejatru Salesjan, tas-Sliema, 19 ta' Marzu 2014, Produzzjoni u Direzzjoni : Dorothy Bezzina.
  13. ↑ Newsbook, On-Line: http://www.newsbook.com.mt/artikli/2014/10/3/aggornata-kontinwament:-issir-l-ghazla-tal-ghoxrin-finalista-tal-malta-eurovision-song-contest.22838 Accessed; 04Oct2014
  14. ↑ "Gianluca Bezzina wins Maltese final". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  15. ↑ http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=gianluca_bezzina_wins_maltese_final
  16. ↑ "Eurovision Song Contest Semi-Final(2)", Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  17. ↑ "Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final", Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  18. ↑ The Times of Malta on-line: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130519/local/large-crowd-waits-to-welcome-gianluca.470423 Accessed 19 May 2013
  19. ↑ BBC The Official Chart Update. On-Line: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/update/singles Accessed 26May2013
  20. ↑ Malta Today. 24 May 2015. On-Line : http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/53300/pn_ropes_in_singing_doctor_gianluca_bezzina_university_council_president#.VWGnrU-qqko
  21. ↑ http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150527/local/gianluca-i-was-not-talking-about-the-civil-unions-law.569848
  22. ↑ Peak positions in Ireland:
  23. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "Discografie Gianluca [MT]". Dutch Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  24. ↑ "Gianluca Bezzina > UK Charts". Official Charts Company.
Preceded by
Kurt Calleja
with "This is the Night"		 Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest
2013 		Succeeded by
Firelight
with "Coming Home"
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