Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest explained

Malta
Contest:ESC
Broadcaster:Public Broadcasting Services (PBS; 1991–present)
Apps:36 (26 finals)
Highest:2nd:,
Related:X Factor Malta
Website:PBS official page
Current:2024

Malta has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 36 times since its debut in . The current Maltese participant broadcaster in the contest is the Public Broadcasting Services (PBS). Malta has yet to win the contest, but is the only non-winning country to have achieved four top three results.

Malta finished last on its first two attempts in and, and had a 16-year absence from the contest between and, when it returned. Malta has participated every year since. Malta's return proved more successful, reaching the top 10 in 12 out of 15 contests from 1991 to 2005, including third-place results with "Little Child" performed by Mary Spiteri and "The One That I Love" by Chiara and second-place results with "7th Wonder" by Ira Losco and "Angel" by Chiara . Since finishing last for the third time in, Malta has struggled to make an impact, having achieved only two top 10 results in recent years: first being an eighth-place with "Tomorrow" by Gianluca Bezzina in, and a seventh-place with "French: [[Je me casse]]|i=no" by Destiny Chukunyere in .

History

Malta first participated at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1971, although its history with the contest dates farther back. The Maltese Broadcasting Authority (MBA) gained associate European Broadcasting Union (EBU) membership on 1 January 1964 and it wrote a letter to the EBU enquiring about if it could participate as an associate member, but received no response.[1] However, MBA still broadcast the 1964 contest.[2] The MBA once again wrote to the EBU in 1965 asking if it could participate. This time the EBU responded but did not allow the MBA to participate in the contest as an associate member.[3] On 1 January 1970, the MBA became an active member of the EBU and participation in the Eurovision Song Contest was possible for the first time.[4] The MBA once again wrote to the EBU enquiring about its participation, but were informed that "Since arrangements for the contest were already in an advanced stage" they could not participate.[5]

The MBA successfully participated at the contest for the first time in . The format for Malta's national finals in the 70s consisted of the Malta Song Festival, which had been held annually in the country since 1960, acting as a semi-final with the highest placing songs going to the Song For Europe contest, where the winner would be chosen by a combination of jury and public votes. Malta's first entry to Eurovision was "Marija l-Maltija" performed by Joe Grech. It scored 52 points and finished last out of 18 countries. Malta participated again in with "L-imħabba" by Helen & Joseph. It scored 48 points and Malta came last for the second year in a row. The MBA had originally planned to participate in but due to complications behind their national final where the MBA deemed the participating songs to be "below the European standard", it withdrew as they feared getting last for a third year in a row. Malta never applied for the contest as they feared getting another low result.[6] Malta returned in and participated with the song "Singing This Song" by Renato. They scored 32 points and came 12th out of 19 countries. This was considered a success for Malta and enthusiasm for the contest in the Maltese music industry increased drastically.[7] On 11 September 1975, the MBA announced their intention to participate in the and opened song submissions for their national final which closed on 15 October.[8] However on 4 November, the MBA announced their withdrawal from the contest, citing that the participation fee had been drastically increased and Malta could not afford to participate.[9] In a statement released on 20 November, the MBA said that it felt it was "Under no obligation to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest year after year" and Malta did not participate in the contest again until 1991.[10]

Malta's return to the contest by the Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) in, after a 16-year absence, proved to be more successful, with eight consecutive top 10 placings (1991–1998) and finishing in the top 10 in 12 out of 15 contests from 1991 to 2005. These results included third-place finishes in for Mary Spiteri and in for Chiara and second-place finishes in 2002 for Ira Losco and in for Chiara, who in became the first performer to represent Malta at three contests, finishing 22nd.[11] [12] Malta's two second-places and two third-places make it the most successful country not to win the contest.

In the last 15 contests, Malta has only reached the top 10 twice, with Gianluca Bezzina finishing eighth in, and Destiny Chukunyere finishing seventh in . Fabrizio Faniello, who had previously finished ninth in, finished last in the final, and since then the country has failed to qualify from the semi-final round ten times, in,,,,,,,,, and .[13] of which they finished bottom 3 in the semi in and last place in and .

Together with France, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, Malta is one of the few countries that has not missed a contest since 1991. All of Malta's entries since 1991 have been sung in its other official language, English, which it was one of the few countries allowed to use in the contest between 1977 and 1999, being a former British colony which (as seen below) has had a close relationship with the UK within the contest. The only use of the Maltese language was three lines in the 2000 entry "Desire" by Claudette Pace. Also, along with Croatia and Sweden it was the only country never to be relegated, under the previous rules of the contest, that was not a part of the "Big Four".

Selection process

See also: National selections for the Eurovision Song Contest. Malta uses a televised national final to select its entry. From its debut in 1971 through 1976, Malta Song Festival, an existing song festival that had been created in 1960 was used to select the entrant, with the winner going to represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest. Malta did not participate in the contest between 1977 and 1990. Since its return in 1991, national finals under various names were held to select the entry, including Malta Song for Europe (Maltese: il-Festival Kanzunetta għall-Ewropa), Malta Eurovision Song Contest, and Malta Eurosong. During this time period, the organization of the event was taken over by the PBS.

A typical Maltese national final would consist of: the rules for submissions by composers, authors, and singers being published in October, first elimination rounds in December, and semi-finalists announced in January. The semi-final would then be held in February, followed two days later by a final to choose Malta's representative at the contest. In 2009, a new format of the contest was introduced, the Malta Eurosong contest, with eight semi-finals held over November 2008 to January 2009, and a final of 20 songs competing in February.[14] [15] In 2010 six semi-finals were held over December 2009 and January 2010, and a final was once again held in February 2010.[16] This format was discontinued for the 2019 and 2020 contests, with PBS instead using X Factor Malta to select the artist. The national final format returned for the 2022 contest.

Participation overview

+ Table key
1First place
2Second place
3Third place
Last place
XEntry selected but did not compete
Upcoming event
YearArtistSongLanguageFinalPointsSemiPoints
Joe Grech"Maltese: [[Marija l-Maltija]]|i=no"Maltese18 ◁52rowspan="5" colspan="2"
Helen and Joseph"Maltese: [[L-imħabba]]|i=no"Maltese18 ◁48
Renato"Singing This Song"English1232
Paul Giordimaina and Georgina"Could It Be"English6106
Mary Spiteri"Little Child"English3123
William Mangion"This Time"English869colspan="2"
Moira Stafrace and Christopher Scicluna"More than Love"English597rowspan="2" colspan="2"
Mike Spiteri"Keep Me in Mind"English1076
Miriam Christine"In a Woman's Heart"English10684138
Debbie Scerri"Let Me Fly"English966rowspan="7" colspan="2"
Chiara"The One That I Love"English3165
Times Three"Believe 'n Peace"English1532
Claudette Pace"Desire"English873
Fabrizio Faniello"Another Summer Night"English948
Ira Losco"7th Wonder"English2164
Lynn Chircop"To Dream Again"English254
Julie and Ludwig"On Again... Off Again"English1250874
Chiara"Angel"English2192colspan="2"
Fabrizio Faniello"I Do"English24 ◁1colspan="2"
Olivia Lewis"Vertigo"English2515
Morena"Vodka"English1438
Chiara"What If We"English2231686
Thea Garrett"My Dream"English1245
Glen Vella"One Life"English1154
Kurt Calleja"This Is the Night"English2141770
Gianluca"Tomorrow"English81204118
Firelight"Coming Home"English2332963
Amber"Warrior"English1143
Ira Losco"Walk on Water"English121533209
Claudia Faniello"Breathlessly"English1655
Christabelle"Taboo"English13101
Michela"Chameleon"English141078157
Destiny"All of My Love"Englishcolspan="4" X
Destiny"French: [[Je me casse]]|i=no"English72551325
Emma Muscat"I Am What I Am"English1647
The Busker"Dance (Our Own Party)"English15 ◁3
Sarah Bonnici"Loop"English16 ◁13

Awards

Barbara Dex Award

Related involvement

Commentators and spokespersons

All shows are broadcast live on Television Malta (TVM) and Radio Malta.

YearTelevision channelRadio channelCommentatorSpokesperson
MTVVictor Aquilina[18]
[19]
MTS[20] [21]
Victor Aquilina[22] [23]
[24] [25]
National Network[26] [27]
Norman Hamilton[28] [29]
Victor Aquilina[30] [31]
[32]
TVMRadio MaltaNorman Hamilton[33] [34]
TVMDominic Micallef[35]
Radio Malta 2Anna BonannoAnna Bonanno[36] [37]
Kevin Drake[38]
John Demanuele[39]
Stephanie Farrugia[40]
Charles SalibaRuth Amaira[41]
Anna Bonanno
Stephanie Spiteri[42]
Nirvana Azzopardi[43]
Valerie Vella[44]
TVMRadio MaltaMarbeck Spiteri[45] [46]
TVMJohn BundyYvette Portelli[47] [48]
Sharon Borg[49]
Eileen MontesinClaire Agius[50] [51]
Valerie Vella[52] [53]
Moira Delia[54] [55] [56]
Antonia MicallefMireille Bonello[57] [58]
Eileen MontesinMoira Delia[59]
Valerie VellaPauline Agius[60]
Chiara Siracusa[61]
Eileen MontesinKelly Schembri[62]
Elaine Saliba and Ronald BriffaKeith Demicoli
Gordon Bonello and Rodney GauciEmma Hickey[63]
Carlo Borg BonaciValentina Rossi[64]
Corazon MizziJulie Zahra
Arthur CaruanaBen Camille[65] [66]
Martha Fenech
Lara Azzopardi[67] [68]
Ben Camille[69] [70] [71]
TVMStephanie Spiteri[72]
Aidan Cassar[73]
Ryan Hili[74] [75]
Matt Blxck[76] [77] [78] [79]

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Messina . Joe . 27 January 1964 . Eurovision Song Contest: Participation And Eligibility . 12 . Times of Malta.
  2. News: 16 March 1964 . Eurovision Song Contest On Saturday . 12 . Times of Malta.
  3. News: 28 January 1965 . Eurovision Says 'No' To M.B.A./M.T.V. . 12 . Times of Malta.
  4. News: Barry . Fred . 14 January 1970 . MBA/MTV become active members of European Broadcasting Union: What Prospects Now For Malta's Participation In Eurovision Song Contest . 11 . Times of Malta.
  5. News: 27 February 1970 . E.B.U's "No" To Malta's Participation In Eurovision Contest . 24 . Times of Malta.
  6. News: Aquilina . W.J. . 15 February 1974 . Views... . 7 . Times of Malta.
  7. News: 26 March 1975 . 7 . Times of Malta.
  8. News: 12 September 1975 . Malta's Participation In Euro Song Festival . 9 . Times of Malta.
  9. News: 5 November 1975 . Malta out of Eurovision Song Contest . 9 . Times of Malta.
  10. News: 21 November 1975 . Eurovision Song Contest . 16 . Times of Malta.
  11. Web site: Malta: Eurovision entrant chosen . Klier . Marcus . 2009-02-08 . ESCToday . 2009-02-08 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090209110208/http://esctoday.com/news/read/13185 . 2009-02-09 .
  12. Web site: Malta: Chiara bids in Eurovision 2009 for third time . Sanz Martin . Jorge . 2009-02-08 . Oikotimes . 2009-02-08 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090211121520/http://oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=5055 . 2009-02-11 .
  13. Web site: Marks . Kira Borg . 2023-05-10 . 'Malta's Not Famous Guys': The Busker Reacts To Last Night's Disappointing Eurovision Loss . 2023-05-11 . Lovin Malta . en-GB.
  14. Web site: Malta: major changes to the selection process. Klier. Marcus. 2009-09-02. ESCToday. 3 September 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080903035000/http://esctoday.com/news/read/12245. 16 December 2009.
  15. Web site: Malta: More developments on 2009 national selection. Floras. Stella. 2008-10-14. ESCToday. https://web.archive.org/web/20081015100644/http://esctoday.com/news/read/12372. 15 October 2008. 16 December 2009.
  16. Web site: Malta: National final on 20th February. Stella. Floras. 19 November 2009. ESCToday. https://web.archive.org/web/20091121181936/http://esctoday.com/news/read/14513. 21 November 2009. 16 December 2009.
  17. Web site: 2021-04-12. 2021 OGAE Poll. 2021-05-07. OGAE International. en-US.
  18. News: 16 March 1964 . Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday . Times of Malta . 12.
  19. News: 22 March 1965 . Eurovision Song Contest: Young Singer Wins Title for Luxembourg . Times of Malta . 2.
  20. News: Your Listening and Viewing . . 6 April 1968 . 6.
  21. News: Barry . Fred . Eurovision Song Contest – Tonight's 17-Nation Event . . 6 April 1968 . 13.
  22. News: Sound and Vision . . 29 March 1969 . 10.
  23. News: Barry . Fred . Europe Ready for Song Finals Tonight – Maltese viewers' eyes on British, Italian entries . . 29 March 1969 . 19.
  24. News: Sound and Vision – Today's TV Log . . 21 March 1970 . 12.
  25. News: Barry . Fred . All Eyes on Amsterdam – Eurovision Song Contest's 15th edition next Saturday . . 18 March 1970 . 13.
  26. News: Barry . Fred . Eurovision Song Contest Analysis – It was all in the game . . 7 April 1971 . 11.
  27. News: Sound and Vision – Today's TV Log . . 3 April 1971 . 10.
  28. News: Sound and Vision – Today's TV Log . . 25 March 1972 . 8.
  29. News: Eurovision Song Contest 1972 – On TV and Radio . . 25 March 1972 . 7.
  30. News: Sound and Vision – Today's TV Log . . 7 April 1973 . 10.
  31. News: Eurovision Song Contest 1973 . . 7 April 1973 . 11.
  32. News: Euro Song Contest – Sweden's runaway victory . . 8 April 1974 . 7.
  33. News: Sound and Vision . . 22 March 1975 . 6.
  34. News: Barry . Fred . Eurovision Song Contest Today . . 22 March 1975 . 12.
  35. News: Television . . 4 May 1991 . 14.
  36. News: 'Great interest' in Malta's 'Little Child' . . 9 May 1992 . 18.
  37. News: Radio Television . . 9 May 1992 . 18.
  38. News: Television . . 15 May 1993 . 22.
  39. News: Television . . 30 April 1994 . 28.
  40. News: Television . . 13 May 1995 . 24.
  41. News: 1996 Eurovision Song Contest . . 18 May 1996 . 29.
  42. News: Television . . 9 May 1998 . 33.
  43. News: Television . . 29 May 1999 . 31.
  44. News: Television . . 13 May 2000 . 35.
  45. News: Television . . 12 May 2001 . 31.
  46. News: Radio . . 12 May 2001 . 32.
  47. News: Eurovision Song Contest 2002 . . 25 May 2002 . 34.
  48. News: Television . . 25 May 2002 . 35.
  49. News: Massa . Adriana . Lynn's dress rehearsal goes well . 8 December 2022 . . 23 May 2003 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221208141641/https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/lynns-dress-rehearsal-goes-well.149502 . 8 December 2022 . live.
  50. News: Massa . Adriana . Hopes for Eurovision qualification . 18 January 2023 . . 10 May 2004 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230118093933/https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/hopes-for-eurovision-qualification.123259 . 18 January 2023 . live.
  51. News: Massa . Adriana . We will do our very best, Julie and Ludwig pledge . 18 January 2023 . . 14 May 2004 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230118094332/https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/we-will-do-our-very-best-julie-and-ludwig-pledge.122998 . 18 January 2023 . live.
  52. News: Television – May 19, 2005 . . 19 May 2005 . 31.
  53. News: Television – May 21, 2005 . . 19 May 2005 . 29.
  54. News: Television – May 18, 2006 . . 18 May 2006 . 28.
  55. News: Television and Radio – May 20, 2006 . . 20 May 2006 . 28.
  56. News: Massa . Ariadne . Fabrizio struggles to leave his mark . 3 February 2023 . Times of Malta . 20 May 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230203094704/https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/fabrizio-struggles-to-leave-his-mark.53637 . 3 February 2023 . live.
  57. Web site: Massa . Ariadne . All eyes on Olivia Lewis... . Times of Malta . 6 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230206153152/https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/all-eyes-on-olivia-lewis.18387 . 6 February 2023 . 9 May 2007 . live.
  58. News: Television – May 20, 2007 . . 20 May 2007 . 32.
  59. Web site: Lewis . Cole . Malta: PBS to broadcast both Semi finals . ESCToday . 22 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230222172225/https://esctoday.com/11327/malta_pbs_to_broadcast_both_semi_finals/ . 22 February 2023 . 10 May 2008 . live.
  60. Web site: Valerie Vella chosen as commentator . Oikotimes . 6 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100212154112/http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=5462 . 12 February 2010 . 5 April 2009 . dead.
  61. Web site: Eurovision Song Contest 2010 - Oslo - Norwegen . Ecgermany.de . 2011-05-22 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110926224033/http://www.ecgermany.de/ESC%202010/Oslo%20Tagebuch/17.Mai.htm . 2011-09-26 .
  62. Web site: Malta: Eileen Montesin Drafted in to Commentate . Escflashmalta.com . 27 April 2011 . 17 May 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120319184010/http://www.escflashmalta.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=983%3Amalta-eileen-montesin-drafted-in-to-commentate&catid=2%3Alatest-news-international&Itemid=2 . 19 March 2012 .
  63. Web site: Calleja Bayliss. Marc. Exclusive: Commentators for PBS Coverage Revealed. escflashmalta.com. 10 May 2013. 11 May 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20140116114345/http://escflashmalta.com/index.php/music-news/local-music-scene-news/item/2922-exclusive-commentators-for-pbs-coverage-revealed. 16 January 2014. dead. dmy-all.
  64. Web site: Marc. Calleja Bayliss. ESC 2014: Few Hours Away from Semi-Final One. escflashmalta. 6 May 2014. 7 May 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140508034759/http://www.escflashmalta.com/index.php/music-news/international-music-news/item/3888-esc-2014-few-hours-away-from-semi-final-one. 8 May 2014. live.
  65. Web site: Segwi b'mod DIRETT l-ewwel semi-finali... - Television Malta. facebook.com. TVM. 11 May 2016. mt. 10 May 2016.
  66. Web site: Flask. Wayne. Ira Losco takes Malta to the Eurovision Song Contest finals. maltatoday.com.mt. Malta Today. 11 May 2016. 11 May 2016.
  67. Web site: Saliba . Norma . 10 May 2018 . ARA: Kif tipprepara Christabelle qabel titla' fuq il-palk tal-Eurovision . Watch: How Christabelle prepares before going on the Eurovision stage . 4 January 2024 . TVM News . mt . "The broadcast [...] will start at 9pm and will be transmitted live on TVM and tvm.com.mt.".
  68. Web site: 12 May 2018 . Min taħseb se jirbaħ illejla? . Who do you think will win tonight? . 4 January 2024 . TVM News . mt . "Tonight at 21:00, on TVM and tvm.com.mt the 63rd final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 will be broadcast live.".
  69. Web site: Where To Watch Semi-Final One of the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 . Granger . Anthony . 2019-05-14 . Eurovoix . en-GB . 2020-03-11.
  70. Web site: Where To Watch Semi-Final Two of the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 . Granger . Anthony . 2019-05-16 . Eurovoix . en-GB . 2020-03-11.
  71. Web site: Where To Watch The Grand Final Of The Eurovision Song Contest 2019 . Granger . Anthony . 2019-05-18 . Eurovoix . en-GB . 2020-03-11.
  72. Web site: Eurovision 2021 – TVM . 17 May 2021. TVM Maltese. en-US. 17 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210517170130/https://www.tvm.com.mt/mt/tvmi/programmes/eurovision-2021-2/. dead.
  73. Web site: Skeda - TVM . 10 May 2022 . TVMi . . 13 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220513153750/https://www.tvmi.mt/mt/tvmi/skeda/ . dead .
  74. Web site: DIRETT: L-ewwel semifinali tal-Eurovision . 9 May 2023 . 10 May 2023 . TVM.
  75. Web site: ARA: The Busker bi prestazzjoni sabiħa fl-ewwel semifinali tal-Eurovision . 9 May 2023 . . 10 May 2023.
  76. Web site: L-Iskeda ta' TVM It-Tlieta, 7 ta' Mejju 2024. The TVM Schedule Tuesday, 7 May 2024. mt. PBS. 2 May 2024.
  77. Web site: L-Iskeda ta' TVM Il-Ħamis, 9 ta' Mejju 2024. The TVM Schedule Thursday, 9 May 2024. mt. PBS. 7 May 2024.
  78. Web site: L-Iskeda ta' TVM Is-Sibt, 11 ta' Mejju 2024. The TVM Schedule Saturday, 11 May 2024. mt. PBS. 7 May 2024.
  79. Web site: Van Waarden . Franciska . Malta: Matt Blxck Spokesperson for Eurovision 2024 . Eurovoix . 6 May 2024 . 6 May 2024.