Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

  Malta's Eurovision final takes places tonight in Valletta's Ta'Qali and there will be 50-50 televote-juries. What can I say about the songs? There's no Eurovision winner this year either among them, that's for sure, sadly. Nor a sure qualifier either. I guess my favorites - not thinking at all in Eurovision terms - are Richard & Joe and Eleanor I guess, followed by Deborah C and Dwett (maybe for all the wrong reasons though). Turn it up needs a good remix and it could become something great though. Christabelle and Brooke are quite good if staged and sung well live, Jasmine, Matthew Anthony and Tiziana follow on my list with Lawrence Gray , even if takes some moments to let it sink in it's Lawrence baby. Aidan leaves me borderline, I might learn to like it a lot or then not with further listenings but these comments are based on hearing the songs when they came out, and now for the second time after all these weeks. I have no clue who's goi...

Here they are. The lucky 16. As it is Malta the list is filled with seasonal veterans (Deborah C for the 7th year in a row, for example) and even one previous winner (Richard Micallef aka Edwards aka Firelight 2014 frontman), some newcomers and some comebacks after years, like Eleanor Cassar. And not forgetting previous runner ups Lawrence Gray,  Brooke and Christabelle looking for another shot. Thomas G:son, not welcome in Cyprus anymore has squeezed in a song in Malta instead, the Christabelle's one. Sadly quite a few other foreign composers in the list, too. The real veterans in this editions are Lawrence Gray reaching his 14th entry, Eleanor Cassar her 12th and Richard Micallef (in various combos or solo) 9th. This  time he brings along his dad! Keep the family together, after doing Eurovision with brothers and sister.  Aidan - Dai Laga  (Aidan Cassar) Avenue Sky - We Can Run  (Jonas Gladnikoff, Matthew Ker, Glen Vella) Brooke Borg - He...

Here it is! The very first short list for the possible Eurovision song contest 2018 entries and among these also the very first known artist. Will it be a Borg, a Cassar, a Celleja or a Micallef, or some other name? These 30 were selected among the 129 submitted songs, and next they will be cyt down to 16 for the February 2018 final. As always among the names quite a few familiar names..... Brooke, Christabelle, Deborah C, Eleanor, Lawrence, Rhiannon just to name a few. Not forgetting Malcolm Pisani - watch video below. Abire – 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 Calleja – Great Adventure Kimberley ...

In this year's Maltese national selection the biggest surprise for me was Eleanor Cassar missing the final. Her I want to run away was catchy and up tempo, maybe not a winner but certainly a top-5 song. Yet it didn't even make the top-16. Weird. It was her 9th participation and she has to her credit one runner up place, in 2009 with Some day . Also Give me a chance did well, 4th in 2008 but her other songs haven't really bothered the top places: Hypnotized (10th in 2011), Choices (14th in 2010), Tell me (11th in 2006), He (10th in 2005), Through all my life (7th in 2004) and Someday you will see (9th in 2003). But, she's got a voice that have given her victories and awards in various national contests and festivals, and also abroad: Bulgaria, Romania, Kazakhstan... check yourself here . Talented lady with a big voice. I hope she comes back again. I have always had a soft spot for He .

Malta will have its semifinal tonight. Out of 24 songs 16 will go on to tomorrow night's final where the winner will be decided by a jury and televote. Last year's winner Glen Vella will provide some big smiles and high notes on both nights. Fabrizio Faniello is after his third win while the regulars Eleanor Cassar, Claudia Faniello, J.Anvil, Lawrence Gray and Wayne Micallef, just to name a few are after their first one. Last year's runner ups Richard Edwards and Kurt Calleja both are back at it. If the ten  highlighted ones are through, this blogger's happy at this point. You can listen all the songs for example  here . The show starts at 20.30 CET. 01. Danica Muscat – Seven Days 02. J. Anvil – You Are My Life 03. Isabelle Zammit – Walk On Water 04. Francesca Borg – Take Me Far 05. Klinsmann – No Way Back 06. Richard Edwards – Look At Me Now 07. Annalise Ellul – Whoop It Up 08. Kurt Calleja – That Is The Night 09. Romina Mamo – DNA 10. Nadine Bartolo – Can’t...

Malta has announced the 24 lucky semifinalists and as expected it's a family affair and even if not most every artist is a familiar name and already participated in the Maltese selections. When this goes on year after year one treats them a bit differently, wishing this or that artist would finally make it and win as it is his/hers about 18th time with no win. Think about Eleanor. Or sinply because they are good. My own personal favourites, the Micallef brothers and Faniello siblings all proved to have a good one this year, too. And if you wonder why Wayne wasn't it the pre-selection where they sung for the judges it's because he was in the States but then he does have merits.... Last year's runner up Richard and 3rd placed Kurt are back with a bang. Claudia has been a runner up in the past, so has Eleanor. Listen snippets of the songs here , here and here . This bloggers early favourites are Claudia Faniello, Danica Muscat, Eleanor Cassar, Fabrizio Faniello, Kaya, Ku...

Malta has its third semifinal some days ago featuring previous winner Miriam Christine with uptempo and repetitive Beautiful contradiction , The Garrett with classic Eurovision americanized ballad My dream , Tiziana Calleja with latin inspired Words are not enough that promises a lot but the mix and the singer just aren't tight enough, Eleanor Spiter with rather forgettable pop song Velvet ocean , Francesca Borg with I surrender that is unfortunately lost in anonymous arrangement. It might need a much stronger and heavier orchestration to make it stand out. Last but not least selection veteram Eleanor Cassar with rather over performed Choices . And no, I still don't think we have heard the winner yet. Out of these I would pick up My dream , it felt genuine and pleasant to listen to.