The 36 songs selected for the second phase of selection in Malta are being announced live this afternoon. esctoday.com, in association with partner website escmalta.com are covering the announcement live. Earlier this week, some controversy was caused when an entry was disqualified due to a faulty CD.

The identity of the artist cannot be revealed because they have another song that is still being considered for the competition. escmalta.com reports that when the singer arrived to perform the song in front of the jury, the disk did not play. Although the singer had a back-up CD, they were informed that MaltaSong Board could not accept additional CDs after the deadline and the song was disqualified.

The announcement was due at 16:45 CET, however there are some delays occuring. The annoucement is due in the next few minutes.

The 36 Songs for Malta Song For Europe, second qualification phase are:

1. I’ll Be Your Man – Ryan Noel Abela
2. Live And Quiet – J Anvil
3. Untitled Song – Christian Arding
4. Naughty Eyes – Nadine Axisa
5. Rhythm Of The Night – Justine
6. Jealous – Laura Bruna
7. Something About You – Laura Bruna
8. Tangled – Jessica Muscat
9. Another Way – Luana
10. Winter's End– Bernice Camillieri
11. Vodka – Morena Camillieri
12. Just This Once – Eleanor Cassar
13. I Want To Live – Mario Caruana
14. Luciano Pavarotti – Aldo Ruth & the She2s
15. Casanova– Morena
16. Go – Klinnsman
17. Whispers – Pamela
18. We Can Change The World – Rosman Pace
19. I Will Take My Touch – Vittorio Gauci
20. Complicated – Janica Formosa
21. Sunrise – Claudia Faniello
22. Voices of Atlantis – Natasha & Charlene
23. Give Me a Chance – Eleanor Cassar
24. Super Hero – Klinsmann
25. Requiem – Corazon Mizzi
26. Catwalk – Ray Calleja
27. Love is just the way – Rosman Pace
28. Jive In The Hive – Leontine
29. All right – Chris & Moira
30. If You Believe – Mary Spiteri
31. Caravaggio – Claudia Faniello
32. Throw Your Stones – Daniela Vella
33. My Last Encore – Mary Spiteri
34. Contradiction – Jean-Claude Vancell
35. Loved By You – Glenn & Pamela
36. Street Car of Desire – Petra Zammit

Placed 3rd in 2007, Klinsmann Colierois rewarded with two songs in the final selection round. Claudia Faniello, younger sister of former two time winner and Eurovision Song Contest representative Fabrizio also has two songs through to the next round. Mary Spiteri, who placed 3rd at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1992 with the song Little child has a song through to the next round. Chris and Moira, who represented the country in 1994 are also in the shortlist. Pamela, a strong soul singer that won a place in the 2007 final is also represented once as a solo artist and once in a duet with Glen. Natasha and Charlene return to the Maltese selection after missing out on qualification from the Bulgarian semi final in 2007.

In the next stage of the selection, 16 songs will be chosen for the televised national semi final on 21st February. These 16 songs were supposed to be joined by another two from the Opportunity 2 Challenge, but this show is likely to be cancelled due to legalistic and logistic copyright. Nevertheless, this has yet to be confirmed. Eventually, eight songs will compete in the national final on 23rd February and televoting (80%) and a jury (20%) will choose the winner.

Despite a second place in 2005, Malta was not succesful the last two years: Fabrizio Faniello finished last in Athens in the final with I do; Olivia Lewis finished 25th in the semi final in 2007 with Vertigo, thus not reaching the final. The winner of Malta Song for Europe will enter one of the semi finals in Belgrade.