After three days of auditions, Malta has chosen the 36 semifinalists to compete for the Maltese slot at the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest. Some big names of the Maltese music scene are in, like Miriam Christine (Eurovision 1996) or Claudia Faniello, who has tried her luck several times at the local competition.
These are the 36 names chosen by the Maltese jury:
- Words are not enough – Tiziana Calleja
- Fired up – Foxy Federation
- Beautiful contradiction – Miriam Christine
- Her name was Anne – Klinsmann
- Samsara – Claudia Faniello
- Fake – Jessica Muscat
- Twenty thousand leagues – Mike Spiteri
- If I knew – Cynthia Attard
- Stories – Lawrence Gray
- Three little words – Ruth Portelli
- Here I am – Raquela
- Mirage – J.Anvil
- Pizzicato – Aldo Busuttil
- The best years – Godwin Lucas / Eve Daly
- Once in a lifetime – Nadine Axisa / Clifford Galea
- Who cares? – Josef Tabone
- Broken – Silver Clash
- I surrender – Francesca Borg
- Save a life – Wayne Micallef
- Ole Satschmo blues – Claire Galea
- Waterfall – Pricilla & Kurt
- Euphoria – Baklava
- Moments – Dorothy Bezzina
- Change – Richard Edwards
- All I need – Petra Zammit
- Hypnotized – Rosman Pace
- Velvet ocean – Eleanor Spiteri
- My dream – Thea Garrett
- Curiosity – Ally
- Hold on – Pamela Bezzina
- Good intentions – Audrey Marie Bartolo
- Silver rain – Roger Tirazona
- Choices – Eleanor Cassar
- Just a little more love – Glen Vella
- One for you – Ryan Dale & Duminka
- Grave dancers – Dario Bezzina
Mike Spiteri and Miriam Christine already represented the country at the Eurovision Song Contest, in 1995 and 1996, respectively. Other names are familiar to the Maltese national competition: Claudia Faniello, Klinsmann, J. Anvil, Eleanor Spiteri, Roger Tirazona, Pamela Bezzina, Eleanor Cassar and Glen Vella are among the Maltese well-stablished artists to take part at the 2010 Maltese selection for Eurovision.
All 36 semifinalists will perform at the show L-Isfida. Every week, 6 entries will be staged starting on the 9th of December. The final will feature 20 songs and the winner will be decided through a combination of jury vote and televote.