Gillian Attard
Encyclopedia
Gillian Attard is a Maltese
actress, singer and a famous personality on Maltese
television.
. Attard is able to sing in Maltese
, English
and Italian
. She has hosted a local popular make-over television show 'Cinderella'.
In 1994 she released her first album, entitled Messagg t'Imhabba, that included fourteen tracks, thirteen of which are in her native tongue.
The singer started her singing career at a very young age. Unluckily for her, she lost her mother very early in her childhood. A song was written in her mom's memory, Quddiem l-inkwatru tal-Madonna (In front of the Madonna
's picture), sung by the young Gillian herself. The song turned out to be a huge success. So much so that it seemed that it was going to be hard for Gillian to move on in her musical career. Long years of hard work paved Gillian's way into a new music
sphere.
Gillian took part of the first edition of "POPin" which promoted new local artists. She went from one phase of "POPin" into another performing Maltese
songs originally composed by Maestro
Dominic Galea. Eventually, Gillian Attard won the first edition of "POPin" and represented Malta
in a song contest held early that Summer in Belarus
, where she sang the English
version of the song representing Malta
in this year¹s OGAE contest, You touched my soul.
2002 seems to be one of Gillian's lucky years. She made her debut in the annual music
festival "L-Ghanja tal-Poplu
" (The people's ode). She performed Xi darba min jaf. The song placed a close second and was one of the hot favourites in the festival. Later in September 2002, Gillian took part in another song contest, "The Independence Song Contest", held annually as part of Malta
's Independence Day on 21 September celebrations
. On 3 August 2003, Gillian Attard will be of the acts in the "Summer Nights Festival" concert, starring also the Irish
Eurovision star, Johnny Logan
.
Xi darba min jaf was chosen by OGAE Malta following a pre-selection including 20 tracks. A jury made up of OGAE Malta
members voted for all entries and eventually Xi darba min jaf was declared as the winning song. First runner up was Georgina's Fomm il-vjolin (The violin
's hymn).
it.
offered Attard her first film role in the TV series Under Cover 4 (One TV).
2002 - Chiara & Friends
2003 - Ghal Kull Hadd
2003 - Summer Break
2006-2007 - Cinderella
2006 - Pumpkin
2007 - Cinderella Plus
2008 - Mamma Mia
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
actress, singer and a famous personality on Maltese
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
television.
Early years
She grew up in the southern town of ZejtunZejtun
Żejtun is a medium sized town in the south of Malta. Żejtun holds the title of Città Beland, which was bestowed by Ferdinand von Hompesch zu Bolheim, Grandmaster of Knights of Malta in 1797, Beland being his mother's surname....
. Attard is able to sing in Maltese
Maltese language
Maltese is the national language of Malta, and a co-official language of the country alongside English,while also serving as an official language of the European Union, the only Semitic language so distinguished. Maltese is descended from Siculo-Arabic...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
. She has hosted a local popular make-over television show 'Cinderella'.
In 1994 she released her first album, entitled Messagg t'Imhabba, that included fourteen tracks, thirteen of which are in her native tongue.
The singer started her singing career at a very young age. Unluckily for her, she lost her mother very early in her childhood. A song was written in her mom's memory, Quddiem l-inkwatru tal-Madonna (In front of the Madonna
Madonna (art)
Images of the Madonna and the Madonna and Child or Virgin and Child are pictorial or sculptured representations of Mary, Mother of Jesus, either alone, or more frequently, with the infant Jesus. These images are central icons of Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox Christianity where Mary remains...
's picture), sung by the young Gillian herself. The song turned out to be a huge success. So much so that it seemed that it was going to be hard for Gillian to move on in her musical career. Long years of hard work paved Gillian's way into a new music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
sphere.
Gillian took part of the first edition of "POPin" which promoted new local artists. She went from one phase of "POPin" into another performing Maltese
Maltese people
The Maltese are an ethnic group indigenous to the Southern European nation of Malta, and identified with the Maltese language. Malta is an island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea...
songs originally composed by Maestro
Maestro
Maestro is a title of extreme respect given to a master musician. The term is most commonly used in the context of Western classical music and opera. This is associated with the ubiquitous use of Italian vocabulary for classical music terms...
Dominic Galea. Eventually, Gillian Attard won the first edition of "POPin" and represented Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
in a song contest held early that Summer in Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
, where she sang the English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
version of the song representing Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
in this year¹s OGAE contest, You touched my soul.
2002 seems to be one of Gillian's lucky years. She made her debut in the annual music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
festival "L-Ghanja tal-Poplu
L-Ghanja tal-Poplu
L-Għanja tal-Poplu is a popular Maltese song festival organized since 1973 by Youth Travel Circle . For the first years, the Festival was held only for YTC members. Since 1987, the Festival was held on a national scale, allowing the participation of authors, composers, and singers from outside...
" (The people's ode). She performed Xi darba min jaf. The song placed a close second and was one of the hot favourites in the festival. Later in September 2002, Gillian took part in another song contest, "The Independence Song Contest", held annually as part of Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
's Independence Day on 21 September celebrations
Celebrations
Celebrations are a chocolate collection made by Mars, Incorporated, comprising miniature versions of Mars-produced chocolate bars. After the success of Celebrations, Cadbury UK released their own version, Miniature Heroes.-Contents:...
. On 3 August 2003, Gillian Attard will be of the acts in the "Summer Nights Festival" concert, starring also the Irish
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
Eurovision star, Johnny Logan
Johnny Logan (singer)
Johnny Logan , is an Australian-born Irish singer and composer. He is regarded as "Mister Eurovision", having participated in the Eurovision Song Contest many times since the 1970s, and, since 1992, has been the most successful artist in Eurovision history.Logan has won the international contest on...
.
Xi darba min jaf was chosen by OGAE Malta following a pre-selection including 20 tracks. A jury made up of OGAE Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
members voted for all entries and eventually Xi darba min jaf was declared as the winning song. First runner up was Georgina's Fomm il-vjolin (The violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
's hymn).
First TV-shows
In 2002, she co-hosted and produced the One TV-show Chiara & Friends with the famous Maltese singer Chiara. In Winter 2003 she presented the Sunday show Ghal Kull Hadd (One TV) Because of her popularity she hosted the make-over show Cinderella (One TV) in 2006 and on (Net TV) in 2007. At the same time she wanted to extend her artistic abilities. Therefore she presented the Tuesday prime-time show Pumpkin (One TV). Each episode consists of taking one car in poor condition and restoring it, as well as customizingCustom car
A custom car is a passenger vehicle that has been modified in either of the following two ways. First, a custom car may be altered to improve its performance, often by altering or replacing the engine and transmission. Second, a custom car may be a personal "styling" statement, making the car look...
it.
Current TV-show
In the new schedule on ONE TV, Gillian Attard, will be hosting the show called Mamma Mia. "IT'S PRIME TIME FOR MUM" Every Sunday at 11:00am.Actress
In 2002, the Maltese actress and TV presenter Eileen MontesinEileen Montesin
Eileen Montesin is a Maltese actor and television personality who appeared on Super One television's Undercover and KC....
offered Attard her first film role in the TV series Under Cover 4 (One TV).
TV Presenter
- Presenter
2002 - Chiara & Friends
2003 - Ghal Kull Hadd
2003 - Summer Break
2006-2007 - Cinderella
2006 - Pumpkin
2007 - Cinderella Plus
2008 - Mamma Mia