Malta put on a glamorous show just a few weeks ago as it hosted the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2016. But now Maltese broadcaster PBS is well and truly focused on its adult stars. Tonight it has published a shortlist of the 60 songs that have made it to the next round of the Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2017. They were culled from 156 submissions.

The list includes plenty of returnees  — Jessika has three songs in the running, while 2016 MESC star Deborah C has submitted a duet. RaquelaStefan Galea, and Janice Mangion are giving it another go. And several acts who featured in on our recent wishlist, including Maxine Pace, Brooke Borg, Jasmine Abela, Lyndsay Pace and Claudia Fanniello, will also grace the stage! This is gonna be intense…

Each of those acts — and many more — performed at the recent Wiwi Jam at the Hard Rock Café in Stockholm. You can hear them flexing their vocal muscles in our playlist below.

Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2017: 60 shortlisted songs

  • Aidan Cassar – “You”
  • Ana Boynuegri – “Feel”
  • Avenue Sky – “We Can Run”
  • Brooke Borg – “Unstoppable”
  • Cherton Caruana – “Fighting To Survive”
  • Cherylis – “Breathe”
  • Christian Arding – “Chill Out”
  • Claudia Faniello – “Breathlessly”
  • Clive Issac Gauci & Karine Caruana – “Rescue Me”
  • Clive Issac Gauci & Karine Caruana – “When Love Cries”
  • Corinna Baldacchino – “Leap of Faith”
  • Crosswalk – “So Simple”
  • Dario Bezzina – “Prisoner”
  • Dario Mifsud Bonnici – “Pawn In A Game”
  • Deborah C & Josef Tabone – “Tonight”
  • Derrick Schembri – “U”
  • Domenique Azzopardi – “Hey Yo”
  • Dominic – “Don’t Let Your Heart Say No”
  • Dre’ Curmi – “The Rapture”
  • Floren Sultana – “Unforgettable”
  • Franklin Calleja – “Follow Me”
  • Gabriella Azzopardi – “Heal With Me”
  • Iona – “Fireworks”
  • Jade Vella – “Seconds Away”
  • Janice Mangion – “Kewkba”
  • Jasmine Abela – “Supernovas”
  • Jessica Magro – “Different Light”
  • Jessika – “Edge of Tomorrow”
  • Jessika – “Immortal”
  • Jessika – “Let There Be Light”
  • Joseph Refalo – “I Got You”
  • Joseph Tabone – “When The Sun Shines”
  • Kaya – “The Power”
  • Kayla Borg – “Falling”
  • Kevin Borg – “Follow”
  • Klinsmann Coleiro – “Laserlight”
  • Kylie Colerio – “Breathe”
  • Lydon Incorvaja – “Sunshine in the Rain”
  • Lyndsay Pace – “Butterfly”
  • Lyndsay Pace – “Gemini”
  • Maria Cini – “Chasing My Dreams”
  • Maria Muscat – “Unbreakable”
  • Maxine Pace – “Bombshell”
  • Milkmi – “Shelter”
  • Michela Pace – “Cruise Control”
  • Miriana Conte – “Don’t Look Down”
  • Nadia Vella – “Bird of Prey”
  • Nazio Rotin – “Free Fall”
  • Nazio Rotin – “Gone”
  • Raquela Dalli Gonzi – “Ray of Light”
  • Raquel Galdes – “Beautifully Bruised”
  • Rhiannon Micallef – “Fearless”
  • Rhiannon Micallef – “Moving Mountains”
  • Richard Edwards – “You”
  • Romina Mamo – Child of the Sun”
  • Sebastian Calleja – “Escape”
  • Shauna Vassallo – “Crazy Games”
  • Stefan Galea – “Wait Forever”
  • Tiziana – “Only Night”
  • Wayne William – “Calling Out”

PBS will now work to whittle these 60 songs down to just 16.

The lucky artists singing those numbers will then move on to the national final itself, to be held some time in February.

We already know that there will only be one show this year, as opposed to the semi-final and final format we’re used to seeing.

There’s been no update yet as to whether rumoured changes to the voting system will also take place.

One way or another, Malta will be hoping for a second consecutive appearance in the Eurovision final.

Ira Losco managed to take the country to 12th place in Stockholm. Along the way, she won the jury vote in her semi final too — all the while pregnant with her first child!

Are you excited by any of the names involved in this year’s Malta Eurovision Song Contest? Let us know what you think in the comments section below!

Follow all of our Malta Eurovision news here

23 Comments
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Ola
Ola
7 years ago

From the list there are a few very good artists but it seems that Claudia Faniello is the most complete of the lot. If she’s back it’s probably with a great song
the girl was robbed in 2008, but mostly in 2012 when she was 1st runner up

YoungsterJoey
YoungsterJoey
7 years ago

So many Borg and Pace last names.

And I bet so many will be typical Eurovision songs with generic lyrics about empowerment. Malta’s been selecting the same songs for consecutive years (Walk on Water was different, and yet I still like their entries lol!!)

I’m shook Christabelle or that Daniel Testa isn’t here.

(J)ESC Fanatic
(J)ESC Fanatic
7 years ago

Happy for Domenique, I hope she gets revenge for her robbery last year and for Brooke too. But where are Corazon and Christabelle? 🙁

Vanessa
Vanessa
7 years ago

GO KEVIN BORG! He deserves to finally win it

ESChungary
ESChungary
7 years ago

Jessika has 3 entries!!!!!
Stefan Galea is back to fight for his place in the final I think it was a shame that he was left out last year…..raquel has brilliant vocals too

DrePi
DrePi
7 years ago

Can’t wait to see Franklin and Claudia in the finals. Also hope to see the maltese song in the finals!

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
7 years ago

My bad. Tiziana made the 2015 Swiss final and finished 5th as Mélanie René won. I assume this is the same Tiziana, yes?

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
7 years ago

If I’m not mistaken, didn’t Tiziana try out for Die Entscheidungsshow 2016?

Keep your ears on Franklin. I forgot about him when I gave my rundown on who I think would do well at ESC 2017. Too bad neither Red Electrick nor Chris Grech signed up this time.

Colin
Colin
7 years ago

Cool, Jessika has 3 songs in the mix! Hopefully they are as good as her usual ones, at least one passes in the finals and we can FINALLY see her in Eurovision!

Ramon
Ramon
7 years ago

Time for a song in Maltese in the selection! If ‘Kewkba’ is any good and entirely in Maltese then it has to make it! Janice has a great voice so I’m sure she’ll be belting out a great number!

Jonas
Jonas
7 years ago

This doesn’t really mean anything right now, though – seeing as they can just ditch whatever song wins and replace it with another one out of nowhere (or Sweden!).

#Kingdom
#Kingdom
7 years ago

Where is Christabelle?

Maria
Maria
7 years ago

Yay, Richard Edwards is back!

IanTer
IanTer
7 years ago

Stefan Galea, jasmine maxine and Brooke!!!!! Are back !!!! Brilliant artists

Calum Macleod
Calum Macleod
7 years ago

They hope for another smasher from Brooke!

Ryan
Ryan
7 years ago

CLAUDIA FANIELLO! THE NAME, THE ARTIST, THE TOTAL PACAKGE!

Jr esc nl
Jr esc nl
7 years ago

I hope the only Maltese song “kewkba” will at least make it to the final 16…

Music My Love
Music My Love
7 years ago

Corazon as well :'( :'( :'(

Music My Love
Music My Love
7 years ago

Amazing to have Claudia Faniello and Raquela back. Only Christabelle is missing though :'(

ESCFan
ESCFan
7 years ago

Some titles are really generic. but we’ll wait and see ! I am looking forward to hear Janice Mangion signing in Maltese. Kewkba means star 🙂

To watch: Maria Muscat, Kevin Borg and Claudia 🙂

No Corazon and no Christabelle 🙁

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
7 years ago

Those generic ass titles lmao. Only “Kewkba” stands out, I want to hear some Maltese!

Kylie
Kylie
7 years ago

Great to see Brooke back. She really is ‘unstoppable’

MarioMario
MarioMario
7 years ago

Hopefully we’ll have Claudia, Brooke and Jessika in the final.