Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024
| Eurovision Song Contest 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country |  Malta | |||
| National selection | ||||
| Selection process | Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2024 | |||
| Selection date(s) |
| |||
| Selected artist(s) | Sarah Bonnici | |||
| Selected song | "Loop" | |||
| Selected songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest | ||||
| ||||
Malta is set to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö, Sweden, with "Loop" performed by Sarah Bonnici. The Maltese entry for the 2024 contest was selected through the national final Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2024, organised by the Maltese broadcaster Public Broadcasting Services (PBS).
Background
Prior to the 2024 contest, Malta has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest thirty-five times since its first entry in 1971. Malta briefly competed in the Eurovision Song Contest in the 1970s before withdrawing for sixteen years. The country has competed in every contest since their 1991 return. Malta's best placing in the contest thus far is second, which it achieved on two occasions: in 2002 with the song "7th Wonder" performed by Ira Losco and in the 2005 with the song "Angel" performed by Chiara. Both in 2022 and 2023, Malta failed to qualify for the final with the songs "I Am What I Am" performed by Emma Muscat and "Dance (Our Own Party)" performed by The Busker.[1]
The Maltese national broadcaster, Public Broadcasting Services (PBS), broadcasts the event within Malta and organises the selection process for the nation's entry. For the third year in a row, the broadcaster opted to select the Maltese entry through the national selection show Malta Eurovision Song Contest,[2] a format previously held between 2012 and 2018.
Before Eurovision
Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2024
Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2024 was the national final format developed by PBS to select the Maltese entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. The competition consisted of a semi-final phase and final, and was held between October 2023 and February 2024.[3][4] Both phases were broadcast on Television Malta (TVM) as well as on the broadcaster's streaming platform tvmi.mt.
Format
The competition was divided into a semi-final and a final. The semi-final phase consisted of nine performances in each of the four weekly episodes of the TV show XOW between 27 October and 17 November 2023, where a combination of votes from a jury and a public televote determined a total of twelve qualifiers for the final. This consisted of a show week featuring pre-recorded performances and ad-hoc music videos created by the contestants, with the winner being decreed by a similar combination of votes from the jury and the public. The final was originally planned as a one-night show to be held in January 2024; on 9 January, however, PBS clarified the mechanics of the final stage: three episodes aired between 29 and 31 January, where the finalists were interviewed; the music videos for their songs premiered on 1 February; a "nostalgia night" was held on 2 February, where contestants performed Maltese or international songs from the past; and the final was held on 3 February.[3][5][6][7]
Competing entries
On 15 April 2023 PBS announced the songwriting camp MESC Music Exchange Camp would be held between 12 and 15 June, dedicated to the creation of 18 competing songs for their next national selection.[2]
On 21 August 2023, PBS published the regulations of Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2024, announcing that artists and composers would be able to submit their entries between 28 August and 20 September 2023. Songwriters from any nationality were able to submit songs as long as the artist was Maltese or possessed Maltese citizenship. Artists were able to submit as many songs as they wish, however, they could only compete with one in the semi-final. A dedicated panel selected the semi-finalist entries, which were announced on 18 October 2023.[3][8][9]
Among the selected competing artists were Moira Stafrace of Chris & Moira, who represented Malta in the 1994 contest, and Eliana Gomez Blanco, who represented Malta in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2019.[9][10]
| Artist | Song | Language | Songwriter(s)[11] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Arding | "Bellus" | Maltese |
|
| Cosette Baldacchino | "Free Fall" | English |
|
| Dan | "Baraxx" | Maltese |
|
| Denise Mercieca | "Mara" | English[a] |
|
| Desirei Grech | "Watch Me" | English | — |
| Dominic Cini | "Bewsa" | Maltese |
|
| Eliana Gomez Blanco | "There's Only Flowers" | English |
|
| Erba' | "Sirena" | English, Maltese |
|
| Franklin Calleja | "Puppet" | English |
|
| Gail Attard | "Wild Card" | English | Christina Magrin |
| Greta Tude | "Topic (Bla Bla)" | English |
|
| Haley Azzopardi | "Tell Me That It's Over" | English |
|
| Janvil | "Man" | English |
|
| Jessica Micallef | "Tagħna Tnejn" | Maltese | Jessica Micallef |
| Karin Duff | "Breaking Bad" | English[b] |
|
| Kurt Calleja[c] | "Misunderstood" | English |
|
| Kyle George | "Arrows" | English |
|
| Lisa Gauci | "Breathe" | English |
|
| Lyndsay Pace | "Fire Proof" | English |
|
| Maria Christina | "Moving On" | English |
|
| Marie Claire | "Fading" | English |
|
| Mark Anthony Bartolo | "Condition or Fiction" | English | Mark Anthony Bartolo |
| Mark Portelli | "Just Be" | English | Kimberley Cortis |
| Martina Cutajar | "Miles Away" | English[d] |
|
| Matt Blxck | "Banana" | English, Maltese[e] |
|
| Michela Galea | "Let's Talk About Love" | English |
|
| Miguel Bonello | "Better Off Alone" | English |
|
| Miriana Conte | "Venom" | English |
|
| Moira Stafrace | "Feather Flight" | English |
|
| Nathan | "Ghost" | English |
|
| Oxygyn | "Cloudmaker" | English |
|
| Ryan Hili | "Karma" | English |
|
| Sarah Bonnici | "Loop" | English |
|
| Sopranique | "Empire" | English |
|
| Stefan Galea | "Numb" | English |
|
| Thea Aquilina | "Blood Stream" | English |
|
Shows
Semi-final
The semi-final took place over four episodes of XOW – hosted by Ron Briffa and Jacqui Losco – on 27 October, 3 November, 10 November and 17 November 2023, with nine acts performing in each show. The voting was open after each show and for a fifth overall round on 24 November, at the end of which the results were announced.[12][13]
| Draw | Artist | Song | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kurt Calleja | "Misunderstood" | Eliminated |
| 2 | Sarah Bonnici | "Loop" | Advanced |
| 3 | Gail Attard | "Wild Card" | Advanced |
| 4 | Mark Anthony Bartolo | "Condition or Fiction" | Eliminated |
| 5 | Eliana Gomez Blanco | "There's Only Flowers" | Eliminated |
| 6 | Oxygyn | "Cloudmaker" | Eliminated |
| 7 | Nathan | "Ghost" | Advanced |
| 8 | Lyndsay Pace | "Fire Proof" | Eliminated |
| 9 | Dominic Cini | "Bewsa" | Eliminated |
| Draw | Artist | Song | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marie Claire | "Fading" | Eliminated |
| 2 | Franklin Calleja | "Puppet" | Eliminated |
| 3 | Desirei Grech | "Watch Me" | Eliminated |
| 4 | Sopranique | "Empire" | Eliminated |
| 5 | Janvil | "Man" | Advanced |
| 6 | Haley Azzopardi | "Tell Me That It's Over" | Advanced |
| 7 | Denise Mercieca | "Mara" | Advanced |
| 8 | Mark Portelli | "Just Be" | Eliminated |
| 9 | Maria Christina | "Moving On" | Eliminated |
| Draw | Artist | Song | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jessica Micallef | "Tagħna Tnejn" | Eliminated |
| 2 | Cosette Baldacchino | "Free Fall" | Eliminated |
| 3 | Michela Galea | "Let's Talk About Love" | Eliminated |
| 4 | Thea Aquilina | "Blood Stream" | Eliminated |
| 5 | Miguel Bonello | "Better Off Alone" | Eliminated |
| 6 | Moira Stafrace | "Feather Flight" | Eliminated |
| 7 | Dan | "Baraxx" | Eliminated |
| 8 | Stefan Galea | "Numb" | Eliminated |
| 9 | Karin Duff | "Breaking Bad" | Eliminated |
| Draw | Artist | Song | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erba' | "Sirena" | Advanced |
| 2 | Miriana Conte | "Venom" | Advanced |
| 3 | Christian Arding | "Bellus" | Eliminated |
| 4 | Lisa Gauci | "Breathe" | Advanced |
| 5 | Matt Blxck | "Banana" | Advanced |
| 6 | Martina Cutajar | "Miles Away" | Eliminated |
| 7 | Greta Tude | "Topic (Bla Bla)" | Advanced |
| 8 | Ryan Hili | "Karma" | Advanced |
| 9 | Kyle George | "Arrows" | Eliminated |
Final
The final took place on 3 February 2024 and was hosted by Carlo Borg Bonaci and Angie Laus.[18] Voting was opened on 2 February, after the release of the music videos, and lasted until the final. Yulan Law and The Busker performed as interval acts. The winner was determined by a weighed combination of votes from a seven-member jury panel (7/9) and a public televote (2/9).[19]
| Draw | Artist | Song | Jury | Televote | Total | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Janvil | "Man" | 24 | 5 | 29 | 8 |
| 2 | Haley | "Tell Me That It's Over" | 5 | 2 | 7 | 12 |
| 3 | Erba' | "Sirena" | 47 | 9 | 56 | 4 |
| 4 | Nathan | "Ghost" | 15 | 8 | 23 | 10 |
| 5 | Lisa Gauci | "Breathe" | 36 | 3 | 39 | 5 |
| 6 | Sarah Bonnici | "Loop" | 79 | 23 | 102 | 1 |
| 7 | Greta Tude | "Topic (Bla Bla)" | 25 | 7 | 32 | 7 |
| 8 | Miriana Conte | "Venom" | 23 | 2 | 25 | 9 |
| 9 | Ryan Hili | "Karma" | 54 | 17 | 71 | 3 |
| 10 | Gail | "Wild Card" | 17 | 3 | 20 | 11 |
| 11 | Denise | "Mara" | 30 | 9 | 39 | 5 |
| 12 | Matt Blxck | "Banana" | 51 | 29 | 80 | 2 |
| Draw | Song | Juror 1 | Juror 2 | Juror 3 | Juror 4 | Juror 5 | Juror 6 | Juror 7 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Man" | 8 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 24 | |
| 2 | "Tell Me That It's Over" | 5 | 5 | ||||||
| 3 | "Sirena" | 4 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 47 |
| 4 | "Ghost" | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 15 | ||
| 5 | "Breathe" | 7 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 36 |
| 6 | "Loop" | 12 | 12 | 7 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 79 |
| 7 | "Topic (Bla Bla)" | 3 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 25 | ||
| 8 | "Venom" | 6 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 23 | |
| 9 | "Karma" | 5 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 54 |
| 10 | "Wild Card" | 2 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 17 | |
| 11 | "Mara" | 1 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 30 | |
| 12 | "Banana" | 10 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 51 |
At Eurovision
The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 will take place at the Malmö Arena in Malmö, Sweden, and consist of two semi-finals held on the respective dates of 7 and 9 May and the final on 11 May 2024. All nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big Five" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final will progress to the final. On 30 January 2024, an allocation draw was held to determine which of the two semi-finals, as well as which half of the show, each country will perform in; the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot.[21] Malta was scheduled for the first half of the second semi-final.[22]
Notes
- ^ Contains a repeated word in Maltese
- ^ Contains a repeated word in Maltese
- ^ Not to be confused with the Kurt Calleja who represented Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012.
- ^ Contains a repeated phrase in Spanish
- ^ Contains words in Spanish
References
- ^ "Malta". Eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- ^ a b Granger, Anthony (15 April 2023). "Malta: Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2024 Confirmed as Songwriting Camp Announced". Eurovoix. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- ^ a b c "Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2024 – Rules & Regulations" (PDF). PBS. 21 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
- ^ Popescu, David (22 August 2023). "Malta: Format changes for 2024 national final". ESCUnited. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ Manfrin, Edoardo (22 August 2023). "Eurovision 2024: Malta conferma la partecipazione e cambia il regolamento della selezione". Eurofestival News (in Italian). Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ "Malmö 2024: The 36 acts competing to represent Malta". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 19 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- ^ Fotios, Ntinos (9 January 2024). "Malta: The Grand Final of MESC 2024 will be held on February 3!". Eurovisionfun. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ Stephenson, James (21 August 2023). "Malta: MESC 2024 Final Will Have No Live Performances". Eurovoix. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ a b Caligari, Rodianne (18 October 2023). "SEE: 36 songs announced for semi-finals of MESC2024". TVMNews+. PBS. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ Vautrey, Jonathan (18 October 2023). "Semi-finalists of Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2024 revealed, including Ryan Hili and Eliana Gomez Blanco". Wiwibloggs. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
- ^ "Malta: MESC 2024". Eurovisionworld. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ Cano Alcalá, Beatriz (27 October 2023). "Comienza el MESC 2024 con su primera semifinal: participantes, mecánica, horario, cómo y dónde verla y más información" [MESC 2024 begins with its first semifinal: participants, mechanics, schedule, how and where to watch it and more information]. ESCplus España (in European Spanish). Retrieved 27 October 2023.
- ^ Cano Alcalá, Beatriz (24 November 2023). "Anuncio 12 finalistas del Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2024 (MESC): participantes, mecánica, horario y dónde verlo" [Announcement of the 12 finalists of the Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2024 (MESC): participants, mechanics, schedule and where to see it]. ESCplus España (in European Spanish). Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ Granger, Anthony (25 October 2023). "Malta: Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2024 Show One Participants Announced". Eurovoix. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ Granger, Anthony (1 November 2023). "Malta: Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2024 Show Two Participants Announced". Eurovoix. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ Granger, Anthony (9 November 2023). "Malta: Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2024 Show Three Participants Announced". Eurovoix. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ Conte, Davide (16 November 2023). "Malta: Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2024 Show Four Running Order Announced". Eurovoix. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ^ "Carlo Borg Bonaci and Angie Laus will present Malta Eurovision Song Contest". TVMNews+. PBS. 29 January 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ a b Schulte-Wieschen, Claire (4 February 2024). "Sarah Bonnici will represent Malta at Eurovision 2024 with 'Loop'". Eurovisionworld. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ Cano Alcalá, Beatriz (24 November 2023). "MESC 2024: Conoce los 12 finalistas que aspiran a representar a Malta en Eurovisión 2024" [MESC 2024: Get to know the 12 finalists wishing to represent Malta in Eurovision 2024]. ESCplus España (in European Spanish). Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ Van Dijk, Sem Anne (13 December 2023). "Eurovision 2024: Semi-Final Allocation Draw on January 30". Eurovoix. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
- ^ "Eurovision 2024: Semi-Final Draw results". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.