This year’s Eurovision contestant representing Israel has admitted this particular Maltese song is what led him to the Eurovision stage. Chiara’s song, Angel, with which she represented Malta back in 2005, inspired a then-teenage Kobi Marimi to start his musical journey. Aww!
Marimi actually sang Chiara’s song at a press conference earlier this week and honestly, we got a little teary. You’ll understand our sentiments once you hear the angelic (no pun intended) sound that came out of his pipes!
The 27-year-old told Eurovoix that listening to the song in 2005 is his favourite Eurovision memory because the song made him feel validated in a very personal way. “It was Eurovision 2005. I watched Chiara who represented Malta. For me, as an overweight child, watching her on stage, getting so much love – she won second place! She gave me so much power. I still listen to the song today. I love it, I love her.”
And, it’s those feelings that he had as a child facing a lot of societal pressure, that he channels into his song, Home, for this year’s edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. Representing the host country, Kobi Marimi will be performing in the final on Saturday alongside the Big Five and the semi finalists of yesterday’s and Thursday’s performances.
Watch the short, and absolutely beautiful, impromptu performance here: