We are only a few days away until Malta once again commences its Eurovision 2023 selection ‘Malta Eurovision Song Contest’, with its first Quarter-Final commencing on the 13th of January. Ahead of the first show, PBS has revealed the hosts of this year’s competition.
Familiar names on the hosting line-up
On its social media account, PBS have confirmed that there will be two different sets of hosts. One for the Quarter-Finals and one for the Semi-Finals and the Final.
Hosting the Quarter-Finals this year are Ryan and Josmar. The duo already hosted both MESC and MJESC in 2022, and will be returning to the hosting duties for another year.
The Semi-Final and Final would be hosted by Glen Vella and Amber, both of whom have represented Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest. Glen represented Malta in 2011 with the song “One Life” in Dusseldorf, whilst Amber represented Malta in 2015 with “Warrior” in Vienna.
What we know about Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2023
The Malta Eurovision Song Contest is set to take place throughout January and February 2023. Four quarter-finals will be held on January 13th, 20th, 27th, and February 3rd respectively. Of the forty artists competing, only 24 will make it to the semi-final on February 9th. Eight songs will be knocked out of contention and the remaining 16 songs will advance to the final. At the final, broadcast on February 11th, a combination of a jury and the public vote will help to determine the winner.
The competing artists in this year’s competition are as follows:
| Artist | Entry (Translation) | Composer | Author |
| Ryan Hili | “In The Silence” | Aaron Sibley, Natan Dagur, Cyprian Cassar | Aaron Sibley, Natan Dagur |
| Jason Scerri | “Anything Can Happen” | Jason Scerri | Jason Scerri |
| The Busker | “Dance (Our Own Party)” | Dav.Jr, Jean Paul Borg, Sean Meachen, Matthew James Borg, Michael Joe Cini | Dav.Jr |
| MATT BLXCK | “Up” | MATT BLXCK , Cyprian Cassar | MATT BLXCK |
| Marie Claire | “Thankful” | Rickard Bonde Truumeel, Linda Persson, Ylva Persson, Thorghy Landgren, Thomas Rodin | Emil Calleja Bayliss |
| Andre’ | “Broken Hill” | Toby Farrugia & David Cassar Torreggiani | Andre’ Portelli |
| Bradley Debono | “Blackout” | Christina Magrin | Christina Magrin |
| Dario Bezzin | “Bridle Road” | Darren Michaels, Martin Älenmark | Charlie Mason |
| James Louis | “Dream” | James Louis | James Louis |
| Kirstie | “Girls Get Down” | Cyprian Cassar | Muxu |
| Mikhail Attard | “Leħen Fiċ-ċpar” (Voice In The Mist) | Cyprian Cassar | Cliff Casha |
| Eliana Gomez Blanco | “Guess What” | Ray Agius | Alfred C. Sant |
| Lyndsay | “Haunted” | Michael James Down, Will Taylor, Primoz Poglajen, Jonas Gladnikoff, Johnny Sanchez, Sara Ljunggren | Michael James Down, Will Taylor, Primoz Poglajen, Jonas Gladnikoff, Johnny Sanchez |
| Giada | “I Depend On You” | Melanie Georgiou | Melanie Georgiou |
| STEFAN | “Heartbreaker” | Stefan Galea, Rikki Lee Scicluna | Stefan Galea, Matthew Mercieca (Muxu) |
| Maxine Pace | “Alone” | TBC | TBC |
| Chris Grech | “Indescribable” | Joakim Dubbelman, Gerard James Borg, Jesper Rune, Arve Furset | Joakim Dubbelman, Gerard James Borg, Jesper Rune, Arve Furset |
| DAN | “It’ll Be Ok” | Daniel Muscat Caruana | Daniel Muscat Caruana |
| Mark Anthony Bartolo | “Tears” | Mark Anthony Bartolo | Mark Anthony Bartolo |
| Clintess | “Lura Qatt” (Never Back) | Dominic Cini | Etienne Micallef |
| Jake | “Love You Like That” | Primoz Poglajen, Jonas Gladnikoff,Michael James Down | Primoz Poglajen , Michael James Down |
| Brooke | “Checkmate” | Brooke Borg, Gerard James Borg, Christian Rabb, Dino Medanhodzic, Lukas Meijer | Brooke Borg, Gerard James Borg, Christian Rabb, Dino Medanhodzic, Lukas Meijer |
| Maria Christina | “Our Flame” | Erik Horvath, Rickard Bonde Truumeel, Linda Persson, Ylva Persson | Emil Calleja Bayliss |
| Chrsitian Arding | “Eku Ċar” (Clear Echo) | Jan van Dijck | Emil Calleja Bayliss |
| Klinsmann | “Piranha” | Mats Ygfors, Robin Svensson, Magdalena Ohlin, Gerard James Borg | Mats Ygfors, Robin Svensson, Magdalena Ohlin, Gerard James Borg. |
| Aidan | “Reġina” | Aidan Cassar & Boban Apostolov | Aidan Cassar |
| Greta Tude | “Sound Of My Stilettos” | Cyprian Cassar | Muxu & Antoine Farrugia |
| Dominic & Anna | “Whatever Wind May Blow” | Alexander Berger, Jonas Gladnikoff, Will Tailor, Michael Tauben | Alexander Berger |
| Ian | “On My Own” | Melanie Georgiou | Melanie Georgiou |
| Geo Debono | “The Mirror” | Daniele Moretti | Naill Mooney / Natasha Turner |
| Haley | “Tik Tok” | Philip Vella | Gerard James Borg |
| Fabrizio Daniello | “Try To Be Better” | Johan Bejerholm | Johan Bejerholm |
| John Galea | “Trailblazer” | John Galea | John Galea |
| Jessika | “Unapologetic” | Jessica Muscat, Stefan Moessle | Jessica Muscat, Stefan Moessle |
| Nathan Psaila | “Creeping Walls” | Dominic Cini, Jonas Gladinikoff | Emil Calleja Bayliss |
| Stefan Xuereb | “What Do You Want” | Richard Micallef | Aidan O’ Connor |
| Maria Debono | “X’Allegrija” (What Joy) | Cyprian, Muxu | Cyprian and Muxu |
| Francesca Sciberras | “Masquerade” | Marco Debono | Rita Pace |
| Dario Mifsud Bonnici | “Pawn In A Game” | Henric Pierroff, Emil Vaker, Karin Pierroff | Henric Pierroff, Emil Vaker, Karin Pierroff |
| Cheryl Balzan | “La La Land” | David Cassar Torregiani, Cheryl Balzan and Toby Farrugia | Cheryl Balzan |
Malta’s Eurovision journey
Malta made its Eurovision debut in 1971, with Joe Grech performing “Marija I-Maltija” (Maria the Maltese Lass), finishing 18th with 52 points. Malta did not participate in Eurovision from 1975 until 1991. That year they returned with the song “Could It Be” by Paul Giordimaina and Georgina, finishing 12th with 32 points.
Since then, Malta has been at every Eurovision and finished in the top 10 an impressive 12 times. Their best result so far is second place, which they’ve achieved twice. The first time was in 2002, when Ira Losco sang “7th Wonder,” and the second time in 2005 with Chiara’s “Angel.” Malta’s most recent Eurovision entry was Emma Muscat, who scored 47 points in the semi-final, earning 16th place and therefore, not qualifying for the final with the song “I Am What I Am”.
Are you excited for the Maltese selection for Eurovision 2023? Will you be watching the Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2023? As always, let us know what you think by commenting below. Also, be sure to follow “That Eurovision Site” on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok as we prepare for Eurovision 2023!
News Source: PBS
Photo Credit: PBS
