Malta’s selection process for the Eurovision Song Contest will be held in January as TVM makes an open call for songs.
Malta has kicked off their search for their entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Malta. Those wishing to take part in the Maltese selection process have until 1 September to submit their song as well as pay a fee of 150 Euro. In total sixteen singers will compete in January 2018 to represent Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018, with the winner once again selected by 100% televoting.
The selection process will be held in three stages. Once all of the songs have been submitted, as per the deadline, 60 songs will be shortlisted by a local jury. A second shortlist will then be created from the 60 songs, 30 of the songs will be selected to go through to the next stage by local and international juries. Finally sixteen songs will be chosen to compete in the final of the Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2018. In the event a singer has two songs in the final sixteen, they will be asked to sing only one, with the composer and lyricist asked to find another singer for the second song with the assistance of PBS.
The rules of the selection are as follows:
- The song including music and lyrics must not have been released commercially before November 1st 2018
- Songs must not exceed three minutes in length
- Singers must be 16 years old by May 1st, 2018
- Each performance can have no more than six people
- The winner of the Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2017 is not eligible to compete
- All artists must be of Maltese nationality or have dual citizenship, in a group consisting of two or more people the lead artist must be Maltese or have dual citizenship.
- Authors and composers may be of any nationality.
To read the rules in full click – here. Apply to take part in the Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2018 – here.
Malta was represented by Claudia Faniello at the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 in Kyiv, Ukraine. She performed the song “Breathlessly” in the second Semi-Final, ending 16th with a total of 55 points. All of Malta’s 55 points came via jury voting, with the song failing to score a single point on the televote. Malta’s highest points came in the form of 8 points from the jury in Macedonia.
Source: TVM
[tw-accordion class=””] [tw-accordion-section title=”Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest”] Malta debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1971 and was represented by Joe Grech and the song “Marija I-Maltija”, which finished last. Malta competed again in 1972 and 1975 but then withdrew until their return in 1991. During the 1990s Malta only once finished outside of the top 10, and in 1998 they came within just 7 points of victory. It was Chiara who brought the country their 3rd place finish in 1998, and who went on to finish in 2nd at the 2005 contest in Kyiv. The only other artist to finish 2nd for Malta is Ira Losco, who was 12 points away from victory in 2002.[/tw-accordion-section] [/tw-accordion]
