As Malta makes their preparations for next year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Portugal, the build-up for this year’s Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Tbilisi have already gotten underway.

And on Saturday the country ticked off a major part of their JESC 2017 checklist by choosing Gianluca Cilia as their singer.

The nine-year-old came out on top of the 10 participants competing at the national selection show, delivering an emotional performance that mixed power and pizzaz while maintaining the innocence and sweetness of youth.

He becomes the second confirmed Junior Eurovision representative after Russia’s Polina Bogusevich last month. Interestingly, he’s also the first male singer that Malta has sent since 2008, when Daniel Testa placed fourth at the contest in Cyprus.

Malta Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2017 finalists

All 10 finalists performed their cover of an existing hit single and the winner was decided by 100% televoting. Gianluca, the youngest competitor, took the top spot ahead of second placed Veronica Rotin and bronze medalist Rianne Demicoli.

Running order:

  1. Thea Aquilina – “This is a Man’s World”
  2. Jahel Cardona – “One Night Only”
  3. Gianluca Cilia – “Perdere l’amore”
  4. Kira Copperstone – “The Voice Within”
  5. Riona Degiorgio – “True Colors”
  6. Rianne Demicoli – “Satellite”
  7. Aidan Jay Drakard – “Mad World”
  8. Demi Galea – “Breathing Underwater”
  9. Kylie Meilak – “I Believe”
  10. Veronica Rotin – “And I Am Telling You”

Who is Gianluca Cilia?

Prior to Gianluca’s Malta Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2017 win, broadcaster PBS got to know more about the rising star.

He started singing at the age of 6 and currently takes singing and music theory lessons at the Harmonic Ensemble. But he’s not narrow. In his spare time he enjoys reading, playing with his iPad and he’s passionate about Lego. Perhaps he’ll bring a spare set to Tbilisi?

He won his first major festival in 2015 at Oltreoceano in Palermo. A year later he earned the right to represent Malta in an international singing festival in Romania, where he finished third with his original song “Mamma Io canto per te”. Later that year, Gianluca took part in the first edition of Arpeggio, held in Malta and organised by Erseb Productions, and ended up as the Grand Prix winner.

Gianluca’s Junior Eurovision 2017 song will be unveiled later this year. But this much we already know: The sunny island is on to a good thing with this one!

Was Gianluca Cilia the right winner? What kind of song do you think Gianluca will sing in Tbilisi? Let us know in the comments below.

Follow all of our Malta Eurovision news here

Photo: PBS

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Ria NL
Ria NL
6 years ago

Perdere L’Amore is one of my big favorite songs !! I love Gianluca’s version of it very much !! I think Massimo Ranieri will be very proud of him, if he heard his version !! I hope for a great junior ESC song for Gianluca and I like to wish him and Malta the very best of luck in Tblisi in november

Erika Said
6 years ago

So, i have watched Gianluca singing since he was only 6 years old .. we knew from day 1, that he was going to be a little star ?? Being the director of Erseb Productions, i feel honoured to have had him part of my events both locally (in Malta) & internationally. Gianluca has big talent …. & suggest you watch our for what his song now!!! Am sure it’s gonna be super!!! He’s got it all!!! Watch out for Malta – you’re gonna come back in 2018 ?????!!

Erika Said
6 years ago

So, i have watched Gianluca singing since he was only 6 years old .. we knew from day 1, that he was going to be a little star ?? Being the director of Erseb Productions, i feel honoured to have had him part of my events both locally (in Malta) & internationally. Gianluca has big talent …. & suggest you watch our for what his song now!!! Am sure it’s gonna be super!!! He’s got it all!!! Watch out for Malta – you’re gonna come back in 2018 ?????!!

Andrea
Andrea
6 years ago

Am I the only one that thinks he could’ve sung “Tomorrow” with Bezzina himself?

James
James
6 years ago

I hope he sings in Maltese. Although, I’m not sure how I’d feel about another victory for Malta, which would be their third since 2013 if it happens.

Suomalainen ananas
Suomalainen ananas
6 years ago

Oh mein gott, that stage is tiny

beccaboo1212
6 years ago

Hopefully next year Malta stages a Junior Eurovision selection at the Mediterranean Conference Centre! 😉

Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
6 years ago

We have two singers, one song and 12 confirmed countries so far and I already think that he is going to win the adult jury vote (and maybe even JESC) He has a great voice and judging by he pattern of winners in the recent years he brings that cute factor the early and most recent JESC winners had. Also that would mean that the pattern for Malta would be win- host- win- host- win- ? It is also great that there is a boy being selected so early, it is a crisis in JESC most of the time but… Read more »

Jp
Jp
6 years ago

So nice to have a boy for a change! I bet the song will be Italy 2014 style…

beccaboo1212
6 years ago
Reply to  Jp

That may happen, but we’re not sure yet. We’ll have to wait until the fall in order to find more details for Malta’s entry! 😉