Naf f’qalbi x’hassejt
Minnek ‘il boghod tassew batejt
Naf minghajrek le
Din hajti zgur ma jkollix sens
Naf li rridek qrib fhimt sew
Naf sew qalbi xi trid
Tassew li tant nixtieq nimxu id f’id

Kliemek joffri l-wens
Joffri kuragg jaghtini l-kenn
Jibqa’ lil din hajti jaghti s-sens
Kliemek joffri l-farag
Joffri t-tama fil-gejjien
Sabiex nibnu il-futur taghna flimkien

Int nixxiegha ta’ ferh
Nixxiegha ta’ mhabba toffri s-serh
Int blanzun tant gmiel
Illi kapaci tfewwah gnien
Int il-holm sabih li jien
Hlomt bih ghal bosta snin
Fiducja ghandi fik
Qalbi naghtik

Kliemek joffri l-wens
Joffri kuragg jaghtini l-kenn
Jibqa’ lil din hajti jaghti s-sens
Kliemek joffri l-farag
Joffri t-tama fil-gejjien
Sabiex nibnu il-futur taghna flimkien

Naf
Naf sew x’irrid
Lilek dejjem ghandi qrib
Il-gejjien nibnu flimkien
Nghixu henjin

Kliemek joffri l-wens
Joffri kuragg jaghtini l-kenn
Jibqa’ lil din hajti jaghti s-sens
Stilel qed jistiednu lilna t-tnejn nghixu henjin
Sabiex nibnu il-futur taghna flimkien

I know what I felt deep inside my heart
I felt really bad when I was far from you
I know that without you
My life is meaningless
I know I need you next to me
I understand what my heart needs
I really wish to walk with you hand in hand

Your words sooth the pain
Give me courage, shelter me
Give a meaning to my life
Your words encourage me
Give me hope for a better future
Let’s build our future together

You’re a stream of joy
A stream of love and tranquility
You’re a bud of beauty
That fills a garden full of sweet scent
You’re the pleasant dreams
Which I have dreamt for many years
I have faith in you
I’ll give you my heart

Your words sooth the pain
Give me courage, shelter me
Give a meaning to my life
Your words encourage me
Give me hope for a better future
Let’s build our future together

I know
I know what I want
I want to have you next to me
Let’s build our future together
We’ll live in joy

Your words sooth the pain
Give me courage, shelter me
Give a meaning to my life
Stars are inviting the two of us to live in joy
So that we can build our future together

Leontine, now in her mid-20s, is a very popular singer in Malta. Apart from being a well established singer, taking part in various song contests held locally, she is also well known as a TV personality and presenter. Currently she is the co-host of a TV show aimed for the younger audience. She also forms part of an animation troupe and is also a full-time drama teacher. Leontine took part in leading roles in various musicals held in Malta by top local musicals’ producers.

Leontine took part in the Maltese national finals for Eurovision since the early nineties but is still in search for the winning entry which will add her to the list of the various established local singers who made their way all through to the Eurovision stage. Although, Leontine hasn’t made it to the final round of the Malta Song for Europe 2003, there’s still some hope for her and for us all to see her on the Eurovision stage in Riga, Latvia this May. This might be possible because she is one of the entrants for the POPin “Maltese Eurovision Backing Vocalists” competition. The winners (3-5) of this competition will accompany the Maltese Eurovision 2003 entry as the official backing vocalists. So there’s still hope to see Leontine and a couple of other well established singers at the Eurovision.

“Naf sew x’irrid” is taken from the Malta Independence Song Contest 2001. It is very much in style with the genre of music that Leontine enjoys singing and competing with in the various song contests held in Malta – that is, the upbeaty dance-pop style.