While much of the Eurovision world’s eyes are on Sanremo this week, other national selections haven’t stopped pushing forward.
Tonight, the 24 previously announced semi-finalists competing to represent Malta at Eurovision 2023 performed for one of 16 slots ahead of Saturday’s Grand Final. Among those advancing are Eurovision veteran Fabrizio Faniello and Eliana Gomez Blanco, Malta’s 2019 Junior Eurovision representative. (Watch her semi-final performance below.) You can watch all 24 of tonight’s performances on Eurovision Malta’s official YouTube channel here.
The entire list of finalists is as follows:
- Cheryl Balzan – “La La Land”
- Ryan Hill – “In the Silence”
- Stefan Galea – “Heartbreaker”
- Giada – “I Depend on You”
- Chris Grech – “Indescribable”
- The Busker – “Dance (Our Own Party)”
- Maxine Pace – “Alone”
- Ian – “On My Own”
- Brooke – “Checkmate”
- Dan – “It’ll Be Ok”
- Matt Blxck – “UP.”
- Fabrizio Faniello – “Try To Be Better”
- Eliana Gomez Blanco – “Guess What”
- Christian Arding – “Eku Ċar”
- Geo Debono – “The Mirror”
- Nathan – “Creeping Walls”
The finalists were decided via a combination of jury and televote scores, leaving eight songs behind in the semis. They were:
- Greta Tude – Sound of My Stilettos
- Andre’ – Broken Hill
- Mark Anthony Bartolo – “Tears”
- Dario Bezzina – “Bridle Road”
- Klinsmann – “Piranha”
- Bradley Debono – Blackout
- Mikhail– “Leħen Fiċ-Ċpar”
- Dominic and Anna – Whatever Wind May Blow
In addition to the 24 semi-finalists, the in-studio audience and television viewers were treated to a performance by Gaia Gambuzza, Malta’s 2022 Junior Eurovision representative, and a look back at highlights of Malta’s national finals. The latter tribute featured performances from a handful of former competitors of national finals past, including two by Eurovision 2017 representative Claudia Faniello. (She performed the songs she competed with in 2008 and 2012.) You can watch the tribute below:
Malta will select its 2023 Eurovision artist this Saturday, at a final hosted by contest veterans Amber (Eurovision 2015) and Glen Vella. The country is hoping to make its way back into the Grand Final after failing to do so last year when Emma Muscat placed 16th in the second semi-final with the song, “I Am What I Am”.
Do #YOU think Malta can qualify to the final this year? Who are #YOU rooting for to represent them? Is “Guess What” stuck in your head, or is it just me? Sound off in the comments below, in our forum, or on social media @ESCUnited.
