REVIEWING THE CLASS OF 2015: MALTA!

When Amber won the Maltese national final back in November 2014, almost everyone was delighted. However since Warrior was revamped, the reaction has been mixed. Here's what we think about the Maltese effort...

Ana: I like this song because it’s dark but at the same time it has a positive message. Amber’s vocals are amazing and she makes me believe every single word she sings. I wonder if she’ll be able to stand out among so many women singing the same kind of songs and reach the final. 7/10

Ilkar: The revamp didn't do much to this one. It's shouty, I don't like the arrangement and in general its lost among all the other similar songs this year. And unfortunately I don't have much faith in her giving us a flawless vocal performance in Vienna. Screamy or shouty. One or the other it's going to be. 3/10

Jack: The revamped version has divided people for sure. Some really dislike it it, some love it... I am in the latter category for sure. Will Amber qualify? She deserves too! Probably the best song Malta has ever sent! I fear she might do unnoticed though, especially with an early draw and in such a tough semi. And another question - will Amber or Nina fare better in Vienna? 8/10

Jess: Wow, wow, wow, WOW! That is all I will say about Malta's entry. It has such a powerful message behind it, and Amber's voice is amazing! 9/10

John: The Maltese entry is a pleasant ballad with a strong melody. in a year which features so many ballads it would be easy for a mellow song to get "lost in the crowd" so to speak .Sadly I don't think there is anything so striking enough here to make it stand out from the others. I would also have concerns about the strength of Amber's live vocals. 6/10

OUR VERDICT - 33/50
OVERALL SCORE - 6.6/10

Malta: Official video-clip of 'Warrior' presented!

The Maltese entry has undergone a minor revamp and the official video-clip has been presented. Sometimes revamps don't work but I think it's worked for the better here. #TeamAmber! Enjoy it below....

Malta: Amber films official video-clip for 'Warrior'

Amber has this week been filming the official music video for Warrior in Rabat. It seems the song has undergone minor changes to make it even more powerful and the finished product will be released next month. Amber had this to say:

The song remains the star of the show. Warrior is about dealing with the challenges we have to face in life and having the strength to overcome obstacles. The moment I sing here I feel a lot of emotions. I hope that my fans can share this feeling when they listen to my song

Photograph - Daniel d’Anastasi

AMBER TO REPRESENT MALTA!

The Maltese representative for Vienna is ... AMBER! This blogger couldn't be happier!! Amber was the best choice without a doubt. She topped the jury and the televote. Christabelle came 2nd and Glen Vella achieved 3rd place. The Maltese national final was fantastic. The staging was fabulous and I reckon it's only a matter of time until Malta host Eurovision itself... hey, maybe it'll happen in 2016? Fan favourite Jessika only managed 9th place (she didn't sound the best) and poor old Karen didn't get a single point. Amber was actually a backing singer for Kurt Calleja in Baku and has tried several times before to get to Eurovision with Catch 22 in 2011, Answer with your Eyes in 2012, In Control in 2013 and Because I Have You in 2014... now she's victorious! Apparently the song itself might have a slight revamp before Vienna, which will no doubt make it even stronger. I just pray they won't change it all together!! The full results:

1. Warrior – Amber – 72 points
2. Rush – Christabelle – 47 points
3. Breakaway – Glen Vella – 39 points
4. Closed Doors – Chris Grech – 35 points
5. Still Here – Franklin – 26 points
6. Something In The Way – Daniel Testa – 24 points
7. Love and Let Go – Ekklesia Sisters – 23 points
8. The One That You Love – Lawrence Grey – 18 points
9. Fandango – Jessika – 18 points
10. Chasing A Dream – Trilogy – 12 points
11. It’s Ok – Deborah C – 12 points
12. Once In A While – Dominic – 11 points
13. Beautiful To Me – L-Aħwa – 11 points
14. 12, Baker Street – Karen Debattista

Amber will fly the Maltese flag :-)

Enjoy the live performance below:

Malta: National final tonight, fourteen qualifiers revealed!

The Maltese qualifiers were announced moments ago, and there's not really any surprises. Amber, Jessika, Karen Debattista, Ekklesia Sisters and Deborah C all managed to qualify for tomorrow night's final. Amber must win. Unfortunately, we lost six acts. Raquel was eliminated - I don't know why.. Her performance was one of the best tonight. Loved it. Ekklesia Sisters's (The Nuns) will no doubt do very well, possibly even win, but I've heard their performance was very poor. I don't think the juries will appreciate them but we'll see. The acts in red failed to make the final:

• Lyndsay Pace – Home
• Iona Dalli – Could Have Been Me
• 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
• Raquel – Stop Haunting Me
• Domenique – Take Me As I Am
• Lawrence Grey – The One That You Love
• Deborah C – It’s Ok
• Danica Muscat – Close Your Eyes
• Corazon – Secretly
• L-Ahwa – Beautiful To Me y
• Amber – Warrior
• Trilogy – Chasing A Dream
• Dominik – Once In A While
• Ekklesia Sisters – Love & Let Go

Malta: Semi final tonight, 14 acts to progress!

Twenty songs. Fourteen qualifiers, One winner. Malta's semi final will be held tonight and it promises to be a fabulous show. Many fantastic and unique acts are in the running to represent the tiny island but this blogger has three ultimate favourites - Amber, Jessika and Raquel. But I think the winner will be either L-Aħwa or Ekklesia Sisters - although Amber could definitely challenge them. Or maybe Raquel could win? Her song is unique and many people seem to like it. I don't know but I did review all the songs individually, and y'all can check my reviews out here. Here's the running order for tonight. 

1. Home – Lyndsay
2. Could Have Been Me – Iona Dalli
3. Still Here – Franklin
4. Rush – Christabelle
5. Fandango – Jessika
6. Closed Doors – Chris Grech
7. 12, Baker Street – Karen Debattista
8. Something In The Way – Daniel Testa
9. Breakaway – Glen Vella
10. Stop Haunting Me – Raquel
11. Take Me As I Am – Domenique
12. The One That You Love – Lawrence Grey
13. It’s Ok – Deborah C
14. Close Your Eyes – Danica
15. Secretly – Corazon
16. Beautiful To Me – L-Ahwa
17. Warrior – Amber
18. Chasing A Dream – Trilogy
19. Once In A While – Dominic
20. Love & Let Go – Ekklesia Sisters

Good luck to everyone! I'll update this post later tonight with the results..

Review 2015: Malta's national selection PART 4!

My reviews of the Maltese semi-finals conclude this evening.. Enjoy!

L-Aħwa - Beautiful To Me
This blogger was never a fan of Gianluca's 2013 entry but I kinda like Beautiful To Me. He returns with his siblings - it isn't my favourite song in the selection but I think the Maltese public will like it.. Hard to predict where it'll end though. Could be a winner but also could flop. I wouldn't complain if they did win. 7/12

Karen Debattista - 12, Baker Street
Karen Debattista is a new to the Maltese selection process but she's already made a pretty good impression with 12, Baker Street. Her song is unique and very cute. Her voice is gorgeous and she looks so beautiful... Not necessarily a winner but I'm sure Karen can achieve top five with a strong performance. 8/12

Christabelle - Rush
I can see potential here. Rush is your typical dance song, no doubt about it, but I really like it. This blogger feels she needs some dancers and pyrotechnics if it's going to make an impression next week... What do you think? I'll give it 7/12

Chris Grech - Closed Doors
Closed Doors could really be a dark horse. Chris has been trying for a quite a few years and I'd love to see him make Eurovision next year. Not sure if this will make a massive impression though - because it isn't memorable when compared to other entries. The juries should like it, though! 8/12

Amber - Warrior
And finally, I have saved the best for last. Warrior is a strong, powerful and a beautiful ballad. I adore it! Can't wait to see Amber perform this live - like Chris, she's been trying for so many years so it would be lovely to see her be victorious. Juries will love it (if she nails it vocally) and I reckon the televote will also support her.. I really hope so anyway!!! What do you think? Does Amber deserve to win? 12/12

Thank you to everyone who has followed my reviews! The Maltese national final will be held next weekend - who are you supporting?

Malta: Running order decided!

The running order for Malta's upcoming selection has been determined. Lyndsay will kick off preceding and Ekklesia Sisters, aka The Nuns, will close the show. Amber and L-Aħwa both have a good draw however Jessika isn't as lucky. She's drawn at #5, although I'm sure she will qualify will ease and achieve a respectable position.. maybe even a winner? Here is the running order in full:

1. Home – Lyndsay
2. Could Have Been Me – Iona Dalli
3. Still Here – Franklin
4. Rush – Christabelle
5. Fandango – Jessika
6. Closed Doors – Chris Grech
7. 12, Baker Street – Karen Debattista
8. Something In The Way – Daniel Testa
9. Breakaway – Glen Vella
10. Stop Haunting Me – Raquel
11. Take Me As I Am – Domenique
12. The One That You Love – Lawrence Grey
13. It’s Ok – Deborah C
14. Close Your Eyes – Danica
15. Secretly – Corazon
16. Beautiful To Me – L-Ahwa
17. Warrior – Amber
18. Chasing A Dream – Trilogy
19. Once In A While – Dominic
20. Love & Let Go – Ekklesia Sisters

Photograph - TVM

I will continue my reviews tomorrow....

Malta: Songs released in full!

PBS Malta has published all the competing entries in full - and jeez, there are some amazing songs here! Amber's song is incredible. It screams winner! Jessika's entry is also great. L'Ahwa are very sweet, too. I like that one. The weakest song, in my opinion, is Love and Let Go by The Nuns. Ewww. Hopefully Malta won't opt for this... Stay tuned as this blogger will review these songs within the next couple of weeks!

Malta: Semi finalists revealed!

The Maltese semi-finalists were revealed a couple of days ago. Many familiar names return - including Glen Vella (2011) and Gianluca Bezzina (2013), he is competing with his siblings under the name L'Ahwa. Jesskika and Daniel Testa both made it. I wouldn't mind seeing either of them win, but I'd rather Jessika. The nuns somehow qualified. Their song sounds terribly dated and boring. It's a thumbs down from this blogger, I'm afraid. Amber's entry is very strong though - could 2015 be her year? You can listen to the snippets of the songs below:

Glen Vella - Breakway

(Kevin Borg & Simon Gribbe)

Trilogy - Chasing a dream

(Paul Abela & Joe Julian Farrugia)

Karen DeBattista - 12, Baker Street

( Jan Van Duck & Emil Calleja Bayliss)

Franklin - Still here

(Alexander Rybak)

Deborah C - It's ok

(Elton Zarb & Matthew Mercieca)

Sisters (Ekklesia) - Love and let go 

(Philip Vella)

Lawrence Gray - The one that you love

(Elton Zarb & Lawrence Gray)

Amber - Warrior

(Elton Zarb & Matthew Mercieca)

Jessika - Fandango

(Philip Vella & Gerard James Borg)

Daniel Testa - Something in the way

(Minsek & Charlie Mason)

Christabelle - Rush

(Elton Zarb & Matthew Mercieca)

Chris Grech - Closed doors

(Chris Grech, Edward Mifsud & Peter Cassar Torregiani)

L-Ahwa - Beautiful to me

 (Erik & Anjou)

Raquel Galdes - Stop haunting me

(Elton Zarb & Matthew Mercieca)

Danica Muscat - Close your eyes

(Elton Zarb & Emil Calleja Bayliss)

Lyndsay Pace - Home

(Boris Cezek)

Corazon - Secretly

(Corazon)

Iona Dalli - Could have been me

(Philip Vella)

Domenique - Take me as I am

(Adrian O’Connor)

Minik - Once in awhile

(Elton Zarb & Rita Pace)

Malta: Firelight selected for Copenhagen!

Okay, they weren't among my favourites but it's a great choice from Malta nevertheless. Firelight have won the Maltese national final with Coming Home. Daniel Testa was tonight's runner up and De Bee came third!

My favourite, Jessika, won the public televote although she couldn't stop Firelight from winning as the jury opted for Firelight instead. I'm pleasantly surprised with Malta this year :-) And here are the results:

1. Firelight - Coming Home 
2. De Bee - Pin The Middle 
3. Daniel Testa - One Last Ride 
4. Amber - Because I Have You 
5. Deborah C - Until We Meet Again 
6. Pamela - Take Me 
7. Franklin - Love Will Take Me Home 
8. Jessika - Hypnotica 
9. Christabelle - Love Tricity 
10. Ryan Paul Abela - City Lady 
11. Sophie - Let The Sunshine In 
12. Wayne William - Some Kind of Wonderful 
13. Davinia - Brand New Day 
14. Chris Grech - Oblivion 

Malta: National final tonight!

14 acts managed to qualify from last nights marathon of a semi final - meaning that 6 acts were eliminated, including Fabrizio Faniello and Miriam Christine. It promises to be a long show but a good show nevertheless.

There will be some special guests tonight in the form of the Swiss representative, Sebalter, and JESC winner, Gaia Gauchi! The lovely Emmelie de Forest will premier "Rainmaker" for the first time ever - this song is going to be the official theme song of the 2014 contest. And I've heard she'll sing this with all the 26 finalists in Copenhagen - awesome!! I would love to see Jessika or Davinia win but I also believe Daniel Testa could be victorious? His song seems to be the big favourite tonight. Here are tonight competitors:

• Amber – Because I have you
• Chris Grech – Oblivion
• Jessika – Hypnotica
• Daniel Testa – One last ride
• Wayne William – Some kind of wonderful
• Ryan Paul Abela – City lady
• Christabelle – Love tricity
• Pamela – Take me
• Sophie – Let the sunshine in
• Franklin – Love will take me home
• Deborah C – Until we meet again
• Firelight – Coming home
• De Bee – Pin the middle
• Davinia – Brand new day

#TeamJessika! You can watch the show here at 20:40 CET.