The latest news on the Maltese selection process for the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest has been released this evening by the country’s national broadcaster, TVM, as 30 entries have passed the first phase of the nation’s selection.
Back in July, TVM made an open call for entries for the upcoming Maltese national final, Malta Eurovision Song Contest (MESC), in which artists and composers from across the nation were eligible to submit their entries for the country’s 2018 Eurovision selection.
From 129 to 30 entries in phase one
Having received 129 entries in total, each submission was presented to members within the national broadcaster and have since been shortlisted to a total of 30 entries.
The current shortlisted features the following:
- Abire Sekkaki – Casablanca love
- Aidan – Dai laga
- AIDAN – See you
- Avenue Sky – We can run
- Brooke Borg – Heart of gold
- Christabelle Borg – Taboo
- Dan – If only
- Danica Muscat – One step at a time
- Deborah C – Turn it up
- Deborah C & Joseph Tabone – Human
- Dominic Cini – Picture I draw
- Eleanor Cassar – Back to life
- Ishmael Grech – Good times
- Jasmine Abela – Supernovas
- Kelsey Bellante – Super woman
- Kevin Paul – Great adventure
- Kimberley Cortis – Monsters
- Kurt Anthony – You will find me
- Lawrence Gray – Love renegade
- Malcolm Pisani – Kiss
- Matthew Caruana – Call 2morrow
- Mikhail Attard & Cherylis Camileri – Breaking point
- Miriana Conte – Rocket
- Nicole Azzopardi – Mixed feelings
- Petra Whiteford – Evolution
- Raquel Galdes – In my mind
- Rhiannon Micallef – Beyond blue horizons
- Richard Joe – Song for dad
- Stefan Galea – Closer
- Tiziana Calleja – First time
Over the coming weeks, the shortlisted entries will once again be assessed and a final total of 16 songs will be finalised and chosen to compete in the final of MESC in February 2018.
The official Maltese entry for the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest will be determined via a 100% public televote.
Malta in Eurovision 2017
Last year’s Maltese representative, Claudia Faniello, was selected via MESC in order to represent her country in the host city of Kyiv with her entry Breathlessly.
Faniello had been trying to represent the nation every year since 2006, with her dream of competing at the Eurovision Song Contest becoming reality in 2017.
With the nation being drawn to compete in the second semi-final, Malta received high praise from the jury, gathering 55 points in total. However, the nation failed to receive any points from the public televote.