Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

News from Malta tonight as well. The 134 songs have been shortlisted to 48 (what happened to the news they won't reveal this list at all?) where from the 20 semifinalists will be selected. Many familiar names and previous winners but one is missing, Ira Losco. Her return has been rumoured and speculated for months and she's not in. Yet. Maybe she will be granted a wildcard. Maybe some other wildcards will be granted as well. Anyways previous winners Miriam Christine (1996), Ludwig Galea (2004), Olivia Lewis (2007), Glen Vella (2011) and Gianluca Bezzina (2013) with his sisters and brothers following the example of the Micallefs are in with several previous Malta Song for Europe participants. And hallelujah, there is even a group of nuns! We will see how many of these are included in the end.... Malta's selection will take place already this November 21-22, 2014. 12, Baker Street  – Karen DeBattista Beautiful to Me  – L-Aħwa (aka Bezzina Family) Break All Borders ...

An interesting move from the Maltese TV as they ban the winning artists from the past five years from their national selection 2012. Wouldn't it have been better to ban the writers of the winning entries instead?? On the other hand then they would have a drastic drop of songs sent in as they provide some 3/4 of the songs anyway as usual I guess.... Well, joking a bit perhaps but aren't they awfully many every year by certain writers?  Anyways, Malta is waiting for songs until late October and then  a jury will pick up 24 songs for the semifinal on January 27 and there will be 16 left for the final the day after where a jury will mainly decide on the winning song like this year. Will it finally be a year of Micallef/Edwards?