L'Imhabba (translation: Love) was the Maltese entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1972 in Edinburgh performed by Helen & Joseph.
The song is a mid-tempo duet with the singers describing a search to find the answer to the question of "What is youth's big love?" Initially, they ask this of "wise men, philosophers and poets" and receive the answer that "Love is a kiss" - a word present in Maltese, Italian, Spanish, English and German (in the plural) in the lyrics. Subsequently, the pair asks "freaks, Hells Angels and hippies" the same question and receives the same answer, with the unusual image of a notorious motorcycle gang answering the question in such a way being remarked upon by Des Mangan in his study of the Contest.
It was performed 9th on the night following Switzerland and preceding Finland. At the close of voting, it finished in last place with 48 points. Due to 2 consecutive years of poor results, Malta took 3 years away from the contest and have since performed all of their subsequent entries in English.
Lyrics[]
Fittixt għorrief, filosfi u poeti
Biex mistoqsija lilhom saqsejt:
“X’inhi l-imħabba kbira taż-żgħażagħ?”
Din it-tweġiba f’qalbi ħassejt
L-imħabba hi bacio, beso, Küsse
Ħaġa li ‘l qalbek tmiss u li jsejhulha “kiss”
L-imħabba hi bewsa ħelwa zokkor
Li jimbuttawha x-xofftejn waqt li jingħalqu l-għajnejn
U waqt li l-qalb ittambar bil-ħerqa
U tħoss il-vini jikwu bin-nar
Sew jekk tingħata ċar jew bis-serqa
Fin-nofs tal-lejla, fl-eqqel tan-nhar
Mort sibt il-freaks, Hell’s Angels u l-hippies
U l-mistoqsija lilhom tennejt
L-istess tweġiba dejjem ħadt minnhom
U mbagħad fi kliem dawn kollha jien ġejt:
L-imħabba hi bacio, beso, Küsse
Ħaż li ‘l qalbek tmiss u li jsejhulha “kiss”
L-imħabba hi bewsa helwa zokkor
Li jimbuttawha x-xottejn waqt li jingħalqu l-għajnejn
U waqt li l-qalb ittambar bil-herqa
U thoss il-vini jikwu bin-nar
Sew jekk tingħata ċar jew bis-serqa
Fin-nofs tal-lejla, fl-eqqel tan-nhar
L-imħabba hi bacio, beso, Küsse
Ħaż li ‘l qalbek tmiss u li jsejhulha “kiss”
L-imħabba hi bewsa helwa zokkor
Li jimbuttawha x-xottejn waqt li jingħalqu l-għajnejn
Kemm it-Taljani u kemm l-Ispanjoli
L-Ġermaniżi, Ingliżi u Maltin
Staqsejthom kollha x’jifmhu bl-imħabba
U it-tweġiba tagħhom hi din:
L-imħabba hi bacio, bewsa, u kiss
I searched for wise men, philosophers and poets
So I could ask them this question:
“What is youth’s big love?”
I felt the answer in my heart
Love is a kiss, a kiss, a kiss
Something that touches your heart and they call it “kiss”
Love is a kiss as sweet as sugar
That is pushed by the lips while the eyes are shut
And while the heart beats with enthusiasm
And feels the veins burn with fire
Whether it’s given straight or it’s stolen
In the middle of the night, in the harshest of the day
I went to find the freaks, Hell’s Angels and the hippies
And I also asked them my question
I always got the same answer from them
And then in the words of all these I came to:
Love is a kiss, a kiss, a kiss
Something that touches your heart and they call it “kiss”
Love is a kiss as sweet as sugar
That is pushed by the lips while the eyes are shut
And while the heart beats with enthusiasm
And feels the veins burn with fire
Whether it’s given straight or it’s stolen
In the middle of the night, in the harshest of the day
Love is a kiss, a kiss, a kiss
Something that touches your heart and they call it “kiss”
Love is a kiss as sweet as sugar
That is pushed by the lips while the eyes are shut
The Italians and also the Spanish
The German, English and Maltese
I asked them all what they understood under love
And their answer is this:
Love is a kiss, a kiss and a kiss
| Eurovision Song Contest 1972 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Participants | |||
 Mary Roos •  Betty Mars •  Sandie Jones •  Jaime Morey •  The New Seekers •  Grethe Kausland & Benny Borg •  Carlos Mendes •  Véronique Muller •  Helen & Joseph •  Päivi Paunu & Kim Floor •  Milestones •  Nicola di Bari •  Tereza Kesovija •  Family Four •  Anne-Marie Godart & Peter McLane •  Serge & Christine Ghisoland •  Vicky Leandros •  Sandra & Andres
| |||
| Songs | |||
| Nur die Liebe läßt uns leben • Comé-comédie • Ceol an Ghrá • Amanece • Beg, Steal or Borrow • Småting • A festa da vida • C'est la chanson de mon amour • L'Imhabba • Muistathan • Falter im Wind • I giorni dell'arcobaleno • Musika i ti • Härliga sommardag • Comme on s'aime • À la folie ou pas du tout • Après toi • Als het om de liefde gaat
| |||
Videos[]
Helen Micallef & Joseph Cutajar - L-Imħabba
ESC 1972 09 - Malta - Helen & Joseph - L-Imħabba