Minsk 2018

Junior Eurovision: Malta’s national final draw takes place

As Junior Eurovision draws closer, national finals begin to take place. Malta will select its entrant on the 8th of September and the draw to determine who will open and close their show has taken place!

Luana Schembri to open and Thea Aquilina to close

As we reported back in June, for the first time since 2010, Malta’s national selection will feature original songs. Interested individuals had until July 20 to apply and 16 artists emerged successfully. Yesterday, TVM revealed the results of the draw which determined who would open and close the national final that will take place on September 8 starting at 16:45 CET.

Luana Schembri will open the show with No Rest for the Wicked. Thea Aquilina will close the show with Back to My Freedom. It is expected that the producers will determine the rest of the running order as has been the case in recent editions of the Malta Eurovision Song Contest, the national final for the adults.

All sixteen artists and songs are as follows:

  • Giorgia Borg – 10
  • Thea Aquilina – Back to My Freedom
  • Isaac Spiteri – Bonfire Nights
  • Yarin Coleiro – Can You Be the One
  • Kylie Meilak – Crystals
  • Lora Grech – Finish Line
  • Jahel Cardona – Home
  • Riona Degiorgio – Infinity
  • Ela Mangion – Marchin’ On
  • Eliana Gomez Blanco – Music Takes Control
  • Kristy Spiteri – Nann
  • Luana Schembri – No Rest for the Wicked
  • Albert-Lauren Agius – Paper Boats
  • Zaira Mifsud – Shout Now
  • Katryna Borg and Rihana Azzopardi – The Puppet and the Clown
  • Aiden Aquilina Cohen – Wherever You Go

Malta in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest

Malta debuted in the very first Junior Eurovision Song Contest back in 2003 with Sarah Harrison. It has so far participated 13 times, only missing out in 2011 and 2012. Since returning to the contest in 2013 it has enjoyed consistently good results, never missing out on a top 10. It won the contest twice, in 2013 with Gaia Cauchi and 2015 with Destiny Chukunyere. In 2017 Gianluca Cilia represented Malta with his charismatic entry “Dawra tond”, finishing 9th with 107 points.

Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2018

Belarus’s capital Minsk will be the host of the 2018 edition of Junior Eurovision. This is the second time the event takes place in the city, who previously hosted it in 2010. A record-breaking 20 countries will participate in Minsk on November 25. Wales and Kazakhstan will both make a debut with Kazakhstan participating for the first time to any Eurovision related event. Besides, the contest will also feature three returning countries: France, that last participated in 2004, Azerbaijan that last participated in 2013 and Israel that last participated in 2016. Last year’s participant Cyprus will instead withdraw from the competition.

What kind of song are you hoping Malta will send to Minsk? What is your favourite Maltese entry at the contest so far? 

Let us know in the comment section below or on all social media platforms @ESCXTRA. 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button