Destiny Je Me Casse Malta Eurovision 2021
Photo: EBU / ANDRES PUTTING

Maltese broadcaster TVM has announced the 22 acts who will compete in the semi-final of the Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2022. Among the names are two former Eurovision stars as well as plenty of familiar faces from previous editions of MESC as well as the X Factor Malta.

Former Firelight frontman Richard Micallef is part of the lineup. He previously competed at Eurovision 2014 with his family band, making it to the grand final with the song “Coming Home”. Richard Micallef also returned to MESC 2018 along with his father Joe Micallef. The duo finished second with “Song for Dad”.

Another familiar face is Jessica Muscat — formerly known as Jessika. In 2018 she won San Marino’s national final 1IN360 and represented the microstate alongside German rapper Jenifer Brening. This time Jessica is performing solo with the song “Kaleidoscope”.

Malta’s Junior Eurovision 2010 singer Nicole Azzopardi is also in the contest. She’s competing at MESC with the song “Into the Fire”.

Making her MESC debut is Emma Muscat. In 2018 the young singer competed in the popular Italian talent show Amici di Maria de Filippi, where she placed fifth. While Emma has released a number of Italian songs, she will compete in MESC with “Out of Sight”.

The lineup has plenty of other familiar faces from previous editions of MESC as well as stars of the two previous editions of X Factor Malta. Janice Mangion, Matt BLXCK and Miriana Conte are among the lineup. Aidan Cassar is also on the list, competing with the Maltese language “Ritmu” (or “Rhythm”).

In the official announcement on Facebook, the broadcaster revealed the names and teased that there was “More to come”.

Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2022 – Competing acts

  • Aidan Cassar – “Ritmu”
  • Baklava ft. Nicole – “Electric Indigo”
  • Denise Mercieca – “Boy”
  • Derrick Schembri – “II”
  • Emma Muscat – “Out of Sight”
  • Enya Magri – “Shame”
  • Francesca Sciberras – “Rise”
  • Jade Vella – “Revelación”
  • Janice Mangion – “Army”
  • Jessica Grech – “Aphrodisiac”
  • Jessica Muscat – “Kaleidoscope”
  • Malcolm Pisani – “We Came for Love”
  • Mark Anthony Bartolo – “Serenity”
  • Matt BLXCK – “Come Around”
  • Miriana Conte – “Look What You’ve Done Now”
  • Nicole Azzopardi – “Into the Fire”
  • Nicole Hammett – “A Lover’s Heart”
  • Norbert Bondin – “How Special You Are”
  • Rachell Lowell – “White Doves”
  • Raquel Galdes Briffa – “Over You”
  • Richard Micallef – “Hey Little”
  • Sarah Bonnici – “Heaven”

MESC returns after a three-year break in which TVM used the X Factor Malta and internal selection to choose its act for Eurovision.

The 22 acts will compete in the semi-final of MESC 2022, with the 16 best acts qualifying for the grand final. TVM has not confirmed the dates of the two MESC shows, however both are expected to take place in February 2022.

What do you think about the MESC 2022 lineup? Who would you like to see represent Malta in Turin? Tell us your thoughts below!

 

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CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
2 years ago

How many attempts is this for Jessica at MESC? Ten? Her best chance was in 2014, with “Hypnotica”, where she won the televote hands down, but with a lopsided 5-to-1 ratio favoring the jurors, and 3 of the jurors sending her to the showers, she fell to 8th out of 14 contenders. Methinks the people in 2014 were still thawing out from Loreen’s “Euphoria”. Her 2018 entry for San Marino didn’t have much of a chance. She’s still young at 32, but time is catching up with her.

Last edited 2 years ago by CookyMonzta
Mary Borg
Mary Borg
2 years ago

Nicole Hammett is also a strong contender; she has a couple of successes under her belt inspite of her young age, mainly being a golden buzzer act in Malta’s Got Talent 2020; doing several Eurovision covers in music videos and gaining lots of views

ete sech
ete sech
2 years ago

Just judging by the titles, I’m most excited for Aidan’s Ritmu, which seems to be in Maltese

Kaleidoscope
Kaleidoscope
2 years ago

I would love to see Jessica again at Eurovision.

David
David
2 years ago

It would be refreshing if Malta sent a song in Maltese.
Disappointed that’s its not the same as muzika muzika and fully in Maltese with an orchestra

Sabrina
Sabrina
2 years ago

Eurovision’s site informed the songwriters for each entry and a curious fact is that Aidan is competing against 4 other songs that he also has written (“Boy”, “Heaven”, “Over You” and “Revelación”).

Nicolas
Nicolas
2 years ago

It’s funny because X-Factor Malta 3 seems very strong this year.

Jake
Jake
2 years ago

Nahseb Fik was a great song and would’ve done really well at ESC. I think it’s stellar Aidan is investing in the Maltese language and I believe that authenticity would be rewarded by televoters for an amazing ethnic bop. He could pull off a Luca Hänni but lacks a bit of dancing skills that Luca displayed. Hopefully with the right choreographer he can improve.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
2 years ago

No offense to the other artists but surely, internally selecting Emma Muscat and spending this time really getting the right song and developing the performance with her would be a better idea than another one of these finals?
I was hoping they’d gotten away from the MESC-style selections as they’ve had pretty well-received songs through a (somewhat) internal selection over the past three years and the quality has definitely been better than what they’ve previously sent.

Georgie
Georgie
2 years ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

When they announced they were bringing back MESC I expected them to be giving a second chance for the X Factor finalists to get to ESC.. but none of them are competing so we’re back to the same talent pool MESC has had for ages. If the pool is this small and the newer acts seemingly aren’t willing to compete in the NF, why not focus your resources on getting one act as good as possible instead?

Colin
Colin
2 years ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

Is Emma *that famous* in Malta now that we have another one of ”just wait” situations? I hope that everyone has a chance. But even if so, I’m sure that the 21 other artists have waited for long enough to have another opportunity to promote their music and to get closer to their ESC fans. I assume they are (mostly) on board with this. Remember how nobody complained in 2016 when Ira Losco got basically internally selected via NF? It’s Malta…

Last edited 2 years ago by Colin
Apollo
Apollo
2 years ago

There are three clear standouts. Aidan Cassar, a young artist who has a few chart-topping summer-y bops in Maltese. Janice Mangion, who had one of the best MESC entries ever with ”Kewkba”. Finally, the act I’m most excited for: Emma Muscat, a rising star in Italy who is signed to Warner Music Italia.

Colin
Colin
2 years ago

Considering Malta has a small, but steady pool of artists, I was expecting to see a lot of familiar faces. Both Richard and Jessica deserve another shot at ESC. Jessica in particular needs a comeback story, as years of her serving quality on MESC culminated with the poorly done Sanmarinese entry (in which she still slayed as much as she could). Now, part of me hopes to have a good laugh with the MESC lyrics, but part of me wants them to be good. So, considering there’s 22 songs… can we have both? Top notch songs, and funny guilty pleasures.… Read more »

Colin
Colin
2 years ago
Reply to  Colin

Yes, as in ”so bad it’s good” ”Pack of Wolves with a heart of gold” level funny-gimmicky. Sometimes, it’s therapeutic having fun with these. 🙂

Ukraine stan
Ukraine stan
2 years ago

I looked at the titles and I’m a bit sad no one’s trying for Maltese. Perhaps Il is in maltese since I’ve heard it means “the” but idk

Kaitlin
Kaitlin
2 years ago
Reply to  Ukraine stan

I think theres 1

MaltaHooman
MaltaHooman
2 years ago
Reply to  Ukraine stan

Ritmu is entirely in Maltese and other songs like Army might have Maltese parts

Chris Malta
Chris Malta
2 years ago
Reply to  Ukraine stan

Aidan Cassar s Ritmu is in Maltese. Search his other song Nahseb Fik on YouTube which was a radio hit this summer in Malta. It will be something similar.

Dani
2 years ago

I am just happy for MESC to return. Used to be one of my favourite selections, even if a lot of the songs were dated.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
2 years ago

emma muscat is really famous here in italy ! if her song is deserving she should get it easily.

Heartbeater
Heartbeater
2 years ago

Didn’t Francesca Sciberras represent Malta in junior eurovision 2009 with Mikela with the song double trouble

Etienne
Etienne
2 years ago
Reply to  Heartbeater

Yes, she did.

meri
meri
2 years ago

I hope more JESC alumnis will take part in Eurovision! 😀

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
2 years ago

I’ll wait until the songs are out before I can make my judgments on Malta. Good luck

twix
twix
2 years ago

The real standout here is Emma Muscat who is the only singer signed to a record label (Warner Music Italy) and has a big following in Malta (and to a smaller extent in Italy). Another positive is that from the official announcement it looks that only one song is fully written by non-Maltese contributors.

MaltaHooman
MaltaHooman
2 years ago

I sincerely hope that us Maltese people will learn how to choose the SONG not the artist. Would hate to see Emma Muscat win because she is Emma Muscat and suuper popular in Italy. Let’s hope we do not screw this up for ourselves and we actually choose the best song, irrespective of who sings it.

Chris Malta
Chris Malta
2 years ago
Reply to  MaltaHooman

Wait until you hear Emma s song before you judge. If she has the best song and she wins, it means she will be attacked because she s famous? Unbelievable.

MaltaHooman
MaltaHooman
2 years ago
Reply to  Chris Malta

I never said that. I simply said that I hope the best song wins, irrespective of who sings it. If it is Emma who sings the best song then I hope she wins.

Zenna
Zenna
2 years ago
Reply to  Chris Malta

Read the comment properly first. Oml…Unbelievable

Etienne
Etienne
2 years ago

Ritmu is in Maltese. Ritmu means rhythm.

MaltaHooman
MaltaHooman
2 years ago
Reply to  Etienne

The word ritmu comes from Italian. Maltese is based on Semitic origins (Arabic) with Italian input. It reflects our geography and also our history since we also have influences from other languages such as French and more recently English

Malta Fan
Malta Fan
2 years ago

Unfortunately whatever we send and whoever we send will not do well with televoting.

esc1234
esc1234
2 years ago
Reply to  Malta Fan

you have juries though, they love Malta (and sweden) more than anything else.

Malta Fan
Malta Fan
2 years ago
Reply to  esc1234

The jury helps us but we won’t win Eurovision if we continue flopping with televoting each and every year.

esc1234
esc1234
2 years ago
Reply to  Malta Fan

all you need is a good, original song. And stop trying too hard, if i may add.

Malta Fan
Malta Fan
2 years ago
Reply to  esc1234

Yes, I agree with you then. 🙂

Alex
Alex
2 years ago
Reply to  Malta Fan

Malta was 2nd with Televote in 2005.
Top 10 in 2013.
If people like your entry, people will vote. We’ve seen it with many countries recenetly. Any country can do well with Televote

Last edited 2 years ago by Alex
MaltaHooman
MaltaHooman
2 years ago

Ritmu is indeed Maltese for Rhythm, and Aidan had previously stated that he submitted a song entirely in Maltese so this is it. Also note that Janice Mangion hinted that her song will have some Maltese in it (supposedly). I wouldn’t be surprised since she had Kewkba last time entirely in Maltese

Mr X
Mr X
2 years ago
Reply to  MaltaHooman

A song in Maltese ? Very interesting….

Etienne
Etienne
2 years ago

Francesca Sciberras – “Rise”

Francesca represented Malta as a duo in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2009 with the song ‘Double Trouble’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRLoykyb6GQ

Baklava took part in the Malta Eurovision Song Contest in 2011 with the song Moon Dance. This year they teamed up with Nicole.

Nicole is the daughter of former Maltese representative Debbie Scerri (Let Me Fly 1997)

Last edited 2 years ago by Etienne
meri
meri
2 years ago
Reply to  Etienne

OMG… Wiwibloggs, you HAVE to mention Francesca Sciberras’ participation in JESC!!

Ashton
Ashton
2 years ago

already rooting for Aidan since Nahseb Fik was a banger, and it seems like Ritmu will be in Maltese just going from the title. It would be very cool to see Dutch and Maltese making a return after so long being abandoned for English

MaltaHooman
MaltaHooman
2 years ago
Reply to  Ashton

Yes Aidan had revealed that Ritmu is entirely in Maltese

Kaitlin
Kaitlin
2 years ago
Reply to  Ashton

big difference is 12 years (Dutch) vs 50 YEARS (Maltese)

Lucky
Lucky
2 years ago

This is a honest surprise, and can’t be more excited to see Aidan again. Glad he’s bringing a Maltese song, he has proved himself with “Nahseb Fik”.

Last edited 2 years ago by Lucky