Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Richard Edwards, another one from the talented and musical Micallef family (check out yesterday's Wayne William). He also tried to get to Eurovision as solo artist several times ( Finally , Look at me now , Fall like Rome ) until making it with the family in Firelight . His latest solo is Burning . Check out also fantastic   My mistake . Another very talented singer-songwriter. And maybe, just maybe I will have some news for you when I return.... 

Wayne William, or Wayne Micallef, released his album two years ago, a collaboration of songs he's been working on for the past five years when he has also participated in the Maltese Eurovision selections with Where you belong , Save a life , Everybody sing , Time and Some kind of wonderful , but ended up representing Malta with the rest of Micallef family in the band Firelight and Coming home in 2014. Anyways, the title track of the album is his latest video.... Check out also Don't fade away . Excellent voice and beautiful ballads with some uptempo. That's Wayne. One of this blogger's long time Maltese favorites. And when I return from holidays I just may have some news for you.....

Maltese Firelight totally came home on the stage of EuroClub on May 3, 2014.

Malta had its usual pretty good selection of Eurovision tunes and finally the Micallef clan took home the trophy! Richard Micallef aka Richard Edwards fronts Firelight that includes sister Michelle and also his brothers Daniel in acoustic guitar and Wayne, who joins this Eurovision adventure as a backing singer. The brothers plus Michelle formed the group The Mics that took part in 2003 and 2005. In 2011 Richard was already a runner up with Finally and last year he tried with Fall like Rome . But now it's all about Firelight and Coming home . Robert: Malta for a change had a really strong preselection with many good songs this year that did not sound as amateur demos anymore. Firelight was my number 2 to win the Maltese ticket so I'm quite happy about it. Its a great song and done by really good singers. I expect them to do well: Certainly final and most probably top 10. My personal favourite to win the Maltese preselection however was De Bee's Pin the middle becau...

Malta will have it's national selection once again for 2012 and it will take place on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th of February at the Malta Fairs and Convention Centre in Ta’ Qal. As usual many familiar names among the artists and songwriters including even two previous winners Fabrizio Faniello (ESC 2001 and 2006 ) and Mirian Christine ( ESC 1996 ). The 20 in semifinal become 14 for the final. I have listened the songs a couple of times and here's my wild guess for the ones that will stay in semifinal: Andreana Debattista, Corazon, Amber, Ryan Paul Abela, Pamela and Deborah C . They just didn't pull any strings in me that would indicate Eurovision success or that I'd would particlarly want to listen them over and over again.  I don't have a clear favorite either, the live performance will be crucial me thinks. A the moment my favorites are (in no particular order) De Bee, Romina Mamo, Chris Grech, Miriam Christine, Wayne William, Firelight, Christabelle, Davi...

Malta has revealed its 20 hopefuls for Copenhagen 2014 Eurovision. As always the list is filled with familiar names and songs penned by Gerard James Borg, Paul Abela, Philip Vella, Paul Giordimaina, Fleur Balzan and the Micallef brothers among others. Also among the artists we spot mostly familiar names including two Eurovision veterans Fabrizio Faniello and Miriam Christine. The Micallef brothers seem to have attemps to hide themselves behind new names, Wayne as William and Richard is with the band Firelight including sister Michelle. Keep it in the family! Is  this the year Micallef clan finally makes it? I hope so! There are even two previous Junior Eurovision participants among these 20: Sophie Debattista (2006) and Daniel Testa (2008). Daniel also holds the country's best showing in that, 4th. The selection went from over 70 to 50 and then finally 20. The semiFInal is on February 7, 2014 and will cut them to 14 for the final the night after. Some Kind of Wonderful - ...

The 24 semifinalists for the Maltese selection have been announced and surprisingly Fabrizio Faniello's song didn't make it. His sister Claudia is shortlisted once again though. So are many other very familiar names like Richard Edwards, Klinsmann, Kevin Borg, and then we have two Bezzinas, two Zammits and among the writers the same names come across again and again: Boris Cezek (3), Dean Muscat (3), Paul Giordimaina (2), Fleur Balzan (2), Philip Vella (4), Gerard James Borg (7), Wayne Micallef (2), Richard Micallef (2) and there are even the usual Thomas G:son, Ray Agius, Marc Pelinck... Richard Micallef/Edwards besides being co-author of two songs he performs two; one solo and one duet. And will he be third time lucky and finally win it after Finally and Look at me now ? This blogger doesn't want to take sides but.... let Edward win!!! 01. Perfect day – Janice Debatista (Boris Cezek, Dean Muscat) 02. Never walkaway – Chris Grech (Matthew James Borg, David Cass...

The Maltese final also takes place tonight starting at 20.30 CET and you can watch it on eurovision.tv. Readers of this blog know I am all for Richard Edwards this year (sorry Wayne!) and I believe he has a good chance. If not then Claudia Faniello might finally make it. Or then we will have something surprising in the making. I will be back after the show for comments. All my favourites made the final with the exception of Eleanor Cassar so I can just sit back and see what happens... Lawrence Gray - In Your Eyes Deborah C ft Leila James - You Make Me Go Uh Uh Dorothy Bezzina - Autobiography Gianni Zammit - Petals On A Rose Claudia Faniello - Pure Danica Muscat - 7 Days Fabrizio Faniello - I Will Fight For You (Papa's Song) Corazon - Mystifying Eyes Richard Edwards - Look At Me Now Kaya - First TIme Amber - Answer With Your Eyes Wayne Micallef - TIme Kurt Calleja - This Is The Night Janvil - You Are My Life Klinsmann - No Way Back Francesca Borg - Take Me Far

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...

Some of the Maltese entries are online already and here's Richard Edward's fabulous Look at me now and there you will also links to other goodies, like Wayne Micallef's Time .

Richard Edwards, the runner up in Malta's national final in 2011 with Finally has released a new fantastic song and video My mistake . There's also a couple of Making of vids here and here . And don't forget he's back in the Maltese selection for 2012 with Look at me . (As is his brother Wayne Micallef with Time )

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...

As usual the list of the 62 songs and singers that have qualified so far in Malta is a familiar reading. These are selected from 161 sent in songs and 24 will make the cut in the end for the semifinal. We don't know yet the songwriters but how many Borgs you think there will be? Anyways, as the same names circulate in the Maltese selection every year they start to feel like family members. And only so many family names you even think you know the ones that might be new ones.... Some singers have several songs and I guess they have have to eventually pick only one if selected with several so there will be changes. Somehow it is very cute with this little circles.... And this bloggers favourite families Faniellos and Micallefs-Edwards are there again! It's time for a Micallef, isn't it? 7 days - Danica Muscat All eyes on me - Kelly Schembri All my love - Fiona Cauchi Answer with your eyes - Amber Aquila's theme - Ludwig Galea Autobiography - Dorothy Bezzina Back to ...

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?

Tomorrow Friday May 6, 2011 you have an unique chance to see those two Eurovision friendly brothers Wayne Micallef and Richard Edwards together on stage for a good cause, Puttinu cares foundation. The show's titled Battle of the brothers . The fun starts tomorrow at 11.30am at the Point shopping mall. More information here . Meanwhile the Malta song for Europe 2011 runner up Richard has released a video for his fabulous Finally - the song that should have gone to Germany if you ask me. And the already veteran Wayne was there this year with equally fantastic Everybody sing .

Riccardo Cocciante was the head of the jury and the mixture of televote and jury picked up the 16 finalists for Saturday night's final. I got eight out of my 11 favourites in (sadly Domenique, Sophie and Jamie didn't make it).but the good news is both Wayne and Richard are in! Congratulations guys! Micallefs rock! Also both Faniellos are in the final. Here are the finalists: Amber - Catch 22 (Ray Agius, Godwin Sant) Kurt Calleja - Over and Over (Johan J'atmberg, Kurt Calleja) Wayne Micallef - Everybody Sing (Wayne Micallef, Wayne Micallef) Claudia Faniello - Movie in My Mind (Philip Vella, Gerard James Borg) Klinsmann & Ben - This Love (Klinsmann Coleiro, Jonathan Spiteri) Eleanor Cassar - Hypnotised (Paul Giordimania, Fleur Balzan) Raquela - If I could do it all again (Marc Paelnick, Mathias Strasser) Baklava - Moon dance (Philip Vella, Gerard James Borg) Marilena ft Michael - He’s a Demon (Michael Henry, Anthony Grech) Glen Vella - One Life (Paul G...

Malta is having it's semifinal next Friday and as usual there's plenty to choose from. A mixture of televote and jury will pick up the 16 finalists. I have picked up my top-11 favourites out of the semifinalist hoping they will make the cut and eventually one of them win. Wayne Micallef - Everybody sing . He has one of the best voices around and this song's a very good pop song instead of the ballads we have heard from him the previous years. It's got a good and memorable melody, easy to sing along. What else do you need in Eurovision? Richard Edwards - Finally . Another great voice, just like his brother. Those Micallef kids really can sing! And write great melodic songs. This one's anthemic, classic pop song that needs a strong singer, just like Richard. It's his first time this far as soloist in Malta but will he outdo Wayne? Eleanor Cassar - Hypnotized. She sure has a great voice, looks like a diva and the song's not bad either.One day she will do Eur...

The Maltese songs have been made public and you can listen them right here. This edition sounds pretty good with a quick listening. I will do a better review next week but I can already tell the Micallefs Wayne and Richard and Faniellos Fabrizio and Claudia sounded very good to me. Amber – Catch 22 Jessica Muscat – Down Down Down Wayne Micallef – Everybody Sing Richard Edwards – Finally Cherise Grixti – Heart of Glass Marilena Gauci – He’s a Demon Eleanor Cassar – Hypnotized Raquela -  If I Could Do It All Again Domenique Azzopardi – I’ll Follow the Sunshine Jamie Tonna – Lost Without You Kelly Schembri – Love Me Like Your Money Sophie Debattista – Love to Love You Baklava – Mood Dance Claudia Faniello – Movie in my Mind Fabrizo Faniello – No Surrender Ally – Numb Glen Vella – One Life Kurt Calleja – Over and Over Klinsmann Coleiro / Benjamin Darmanin – This Love J.Anvil – Topsy Turvy Amber – Touch Wood Anna Azzopardi – Unfaithful Petra Zammit – Unintentional Rosman Pace – You’ll ...

Wayne Micallef who took part in the Maltese selection again this year with fabulous Save a life has a great new single out, Breaking down . Don't forget Where you belong , his 2009 entry. And here's a nice interview with his this February at the Malta song for Europe.