Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest

Although the history of National song contests organized in the Maltese islands dates back to 1960 when the first Malta Song Festival was organized, it was only in 1971 that Malta started to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. Malta took part 27 times since its debut in 1971 but has never won the contest, although it has twice finished second and twice finished third.

At first, the island state sent songs in its native language, Maltese, but it failed to rank highly, finishing last in its first two attempts in the contest in 1971 and 1972 and withdrew after the 1975 contest.

Malta's return to the contest in 1991, after a sixteen-year absence, proved to be more successful, with eight consecutive top ten placings (1991-1998) and finishing in the top ten in 12 out of 15 contests from 1991-2005. These results included third place finishes in 1992 for Mary Spiteri and in 1998 for Chiara and second place finishes in 2002 for Ira Losco and in 2005 for Chiara, who in 2009, became the first performer to represent Malta at three contests, finishing 22nd.^[1][2] Malta's two seconds and two thirds, make it the most successful country not to win the contest.

Since 2006, Malta has struggled to make an impact in the contest, finishing last in 2006 with Fabrizio Faniello, who had previously finished ninth in 2001, and failing to qualify from the semi-final round four times, in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011. Malta has failed to reach the top ten in eight of the last nine contests (2006-2014), the exception being Gianluca Bezzina, who finished eighth in 2013.

Together with France, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom, Malta is one of the few countries that has not missed a contest since 1991. All of Malta's entries since 1991 have been sung in its other official language English. The only use of the Maltese language being three lines in the 2000 entry "Desire", performed by Claudette Pace. The Maltese broadcasters of the show are the Public Broadcasting Services (PBS). All shows are transmitted live on TVM (Malta) and Radio Malta.

Along with Croatia, Malta is one of the nations to have constant top 10 results but has yet to win...

Contestants

Table key

• NOTE:

a. If a country had won the previous year, they did not have to compete in the semi-finals the following year. In addition, back in 2004-2007, the top ten countries who were not members of the big four did not have to compete in the semi finals the following year. If, for example, Germany and France placed inside the top ten, the countries who placed 11th and 12th were advanced to the following year's grand final along with the rest of the top ten countries.

b. ^ Spain originally gave its 12 points to Israel and 10 to Norway. After the broadcast it was announced that Spanish broadcaster wrongly tallied the votes and Germany should have got the top mark - 12 points - instead of being snubbed, as it happened. The mistake was corrected and so Germany was placed 7th over Norway. Israel and Norway both received 2 points less than originally and Croatia, Malta, Portugal, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Belgium, Estonia and Turkey all received one point less than indicated during the broadcast..

Voting history

As of 2014, Malta's voting history is as follows:

Most points given in the grand finals only Rank Country Points 1  United Kingdom 129 2  Sweden 98 3  Greece 86  Ireland 86 5  Italy 76 Most points received in the grand finals only Rank Country Points 1  United Kingdom 103 2  Ireland 95 3  Croatia 82 4=  Turkey 78  Spain 78

Most points given in the semis and finals Rank Country Points 1  Sweden 133 2  United Kingdom 129 3  Greece 126 4  Ireland 101 5  Turkey 87 Most points received in the semis and finals Rank Country Points 1  United Kingdom 141 2  Ireland 99 3  Croatia 93 4  Turkey 93 5  Spain 79

Marcel Bezençon Awards

Press Award

Commentators and spokespersons

Photogallery

• 

  Julie and Ludwig at Istanbul (2004)

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  Olivia Lewis at Helsinki (2007)

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  Morena at Belgrade (2008)

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  Gianluca Bezzina at Malmö (2013)

Notes and references

Notes

References

External links

• ESCMalta Community website
• EurovisionMalta.com
• Points to and from Malta eurovisioncovers.co.uk

Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest   Participation 1971 1972 1973 to 1974 1975 1976 to 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015   Artists 1970s 1970 Joe Grech Helen and Joseph 1973 to 1974 Renato 1976 to 1979 1980s 1980 to 1989 1990s 1990 Paul Giordimaina and Georgina Mary Spiteri William Mangion Chris and Moira Mike Spiteri Miriam Christine Debbie Scerri Chiara Times Three 2000s Claudette Pace Fabrizio Faniello Ira Losco Lynn Chircop Julie and Ludwig Chiara Fabrizio Faniello Olivia Lewis Morena Chiara 2010s Thea Garrett Glen Vella Kurt Calleja Gianluca Bezzina Firelight Amber   Songs 1970s 1970 "Marija l-Maltija" "L-imħabba" 1973 to 1974 "Singing This Song" 1976 to 1979 1980s 1980 to 1989 1990s 1990 "Could It Be" "Little Child" "This Time" "More Than Love" "Keep Me In Mind" "In a Woman's Heart" "Let Me Fly" "The One That I Love" "Believe 'n Peace" 2000s "Desire" "Another Summer Night" "7th Wonder" "To Dream Again" "On Again... Off Again" "Angel" "I Do" "Vertigo" "Vodka" "What If We" 2010s "My Dream" "One Life" "This Is the Night" "Tomorrow" "Coming Home" "Warrior" (Note: Entries scored out are when Malta did not compete)

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