Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Malta is about to announce the 20 semifinalists very soon and now there is a list of 49 songs and artists who have made it this far from the 153 songs sent it. And there are many familiar names as always. Fans are most excited about Ira Losco who finally makes a comeback, and we have also Jessika, Deborah C, Danica Muscat, Christabelle, Lawrence Gray, Corazon, Raquel Galdes, Franklin Calleja, Klinsmann Coleiro.....  Let's see if they all make the cut. The semifinal takes place on January 22 and 14 songs will make it to the final the day after. Once again there will be jurors and televoters will act as one juror.

Malta has chosen its 14 finalists and I must say my prediction went pretty well: 12/14. Only Raquel (pictured) and Lyndsay didn't make it, wonder why?. If we look at my want list it's another story, 9/14. My top contenders both made it so we are still chasing a dream with Trilogy and hoping it's Lawrence Gray the one the jurys will love. The final takes place tonight. Franklin – Still Here Christabelle – Rush Jessika – Fandango Chris Grech – Closed Doors Karen Debattista – 12, Baker Street Daniel Testa – Something In The Way Glen Vella – Breakaway Lawrence Grey – The One That You Love Deborah C – It’s Ok L-Ahwa – Beautiful To Me y Amber – Warrior Trilogy – Chasing A Dream Dominik – Once In A While Ekklesia Sisters – Love & Let Go

I have been following the Maltese selection closely for years now and generally liked it quite a lot but this year seems to be the weakest effort so far. I mean, the songs aren't bad but they are very even, bland. No particular highlights - except a couple that stood out with the first snippet hearing -  nor lows. It feels like these are mostly songs that didn't make the selection this spring considering these exceptional circumstances this time. I may be wrong but that's my impression. At this point every song could make the final and any song can drop out. Propably it all comes to the staging, live performance and shining on stage when it matters come semifinal time. And talking about nuns. Sister Cristina in Italy is from another planet compared to these Maltese sisters. The whole affair is lacking the heavenly inspiration of any kind. If the song was sung by anyone else it would have never made the cut, I think. I wasn't a fan of Bezzina's last effort and ...