Malta Emma Muscat I Am What I Am Eurovision 2022 second rehearsal
Photo: EBU / NATHAN REINDS

Eurovision 2022 second rehearsals are drawing to a close, with the penultimate semi-final two act of the day taking to the stage. That’s Malta’s Emma Muscat with “I Am What I Am”. How did she do? Let’s find out…

Malta’s Emma Muscat “I Am What I Am” — Eurovision 2022 second rehearsal

Padraig: Emma starts her rehearsal playing the piano, pretty much like in her music video. But that’s where the similarities end. She quickly abandons tinkling the ivories in favour of climbing on top of the instrument. It makes for a stunning shot, as she sings passionately with a glorious orange sun blazing behind her. Or rather it would be stunning if the stage was working. Instead, she performs in front of a total lunar eclipse which is much less spectacular than it sounds. Never mind, Emma looks beautiful in a reflective dress. She completes the luck with a pair of silver trainers and overall the performance is much more youthful and dynamic than any of her pre-party appearances. She’s joined on the satellite stage by a group of dancers, and together they turn what was a worthy but generic empowerment anthem into a likely qualifier.

Reaction to Malta’s second rehearsal at Eurovision 2022

@wiwibloggs_official #Malta’s Emma Muscat is bathed in gold at her 2nd #Eurovision rehearsal. @jonathanvautrey watches and reacts 🇲🇹 #ESC2022 #Eurovision2022 #TheSoundOfBeauty #IAmWhatIAm ♬ original sound – wiwibloggs

What do you think? How will Emma do in the semi-final? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Azan
Azan
1 year ago

She seems tired, but the staging is great and she normally has AMAZING vocals!

Helma Muscat Doublesin
Helma Muscat Doublesin
1 year ago
Reply to  Azan

She is sick has a cold.she will be ok for the show.

Lambert
Lambert
1 year ago

Wow, that was seriously out of tune.

Paul
Paul
1 year ago

For God Sake: why did she decide to change her song? Such a BAD, BAD, BAD decision. “Out of sight” was much better.

Moonstar
Moonstar
1 year ago
Reply to  Paul

I agree.

Karl
Karl
1 year ago

“likely qualifier”

In another universe, perhaps.

Aisling
Aisling
1 year ago

Likely qualifier ? Not to be rude but other countries deserve it more 🙁

Nicky
Nicky
1 year ago
Reply to  Aisling

Based on her 1st run through, yes

Sad that eurovision official channel uploaded the wrong rehearsal run

But her 1st run she was vocally stunning

Moonstar
Moonstar
1 year ago

Why on earth did they think this song was better than her original song?

Jghtl
1 year ago

Is this junior esc? She’s out of breath

Nicky
Nicky
1 year ago
Reply to  Jghtl

this clip was from her 3rd run through

Zisk
Zisk
1 year ago

I only hear “I am water. M.”

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
1 year ago

It’s a bit of fun really. Take it or leave it, I suppose.

Jake
Jake
1 year ago

Oh wow. Not the best clip to display what usually are solid vocals from her. Moving around so much is not helping. This song did not need a dance crew—this needed a John Lundvik/Cesar Sampson style backing gospel choir to secure jury vote and give this song a bit more gravitas.

AllThingsNordic.eu
1 year ago
Reply to  Jake

Great point, I agree. Emma sang the previous song perfectly. Now with this song and the forced choreography, it may / will flop. Emma can sing but this is not for her, I am sorry. Good luck Malta!

Nikki
Nikki
1 year ago

So many shaky vocals in these rehearsals…

AllThingsNordic.eu
1 year ago
Reply to  Nikki

In most of the clips I find the music is too low and the vocals too high, so every little detail or hiccup is maximized.

Nikki
Nikki
1 year ago

I see. I wonder if this is going to get resolved because so far malta, greece, finland, austra and probably the others (i havent listened to them all) don’t sound well…

AllThingsNordic.eu
1 year ago

After legendary Destiny last year, now this. Emma is a great singer but the song is very generic and her vocals today were shaky.

Yeah yeah fire
Yeah yeah fire
1 year ago

JESC winner

Xxx
Xxx
1 year ago

Why do i hear “i’m gonna take your man, take it or leave it i am what i am” XD

Jofty
Jofty
1 year ago
Reply to  Xxx

Is that Israel or Malta?

Adam
Adam
1 year ago

Is it me or she sounds ill, tired or run 10 km before rehersal? Something is not working.

Tadhg
Tadhg
1 year ago
Reply to  Adam

Yeah, her vocals are a bit dodgy.

Im so fab
Im so fab
1 year ago
Reply to  Adam

She is probably tired and fed up with this cheesy song / performance.

escfan24
escfan24
1 year ago

Malta getting ready to win Junior Eurovision…oh wait

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago

How does the piano keep playing after Emma abandons it?

This is what I always wonder when performers do this. It makes as much sense to me as Victoria and Thomas putting down their guitars halfway through “Zitti e buoni”, or Ethan walking away from his drums.

Jon
Jon
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

I would love to see the camera panning over the piano, at this point self playing, later into the song 😀

Fatima
Fatima
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

You make a good point. I think all instruments look silly on the eurovision stage these days, because we all know they’re mimed. Feel the same about Latvia’s sax. Don’t make a feature of something we know you’ve prepared earlier.

Xxx
Xxx
1 year ago

This grew on me, i love her vocals.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
1 year ago

Every great performance that Emma delivers just reinforces how awful the song that she’s being asked to elevate truly is.
If she manages to qualify with this…THIS, it’ll be an all-time Eurovision achievement.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

Will it beat Romania 2013, though? In terms of the shortage of creativity, sure. In terms of piercing my ears, unlikely. However, both songs are in a category I’d safely eliminate even before considering possible borderlines. Too bad for Emma, as you say. She’s very talented.

Im so fab
Im so fab
1 year ago

Next….

Nicky
Nicky
1 year ago

what a serve, but i myself don’t care if she doesn’t win, i do want her to make it to the final, so i can vote for her, i really want that each listen also for me, and i get instantly very happy 3 runs second rehearsal, all 3 times wow amazing, also if you can remain vocally on point whilst moving around both stages like a diva, that is also not what every artist can do this has jury top 2 potential i think, in terms of solid stageshow production, solid vocals, solid performing capabilities, as for televote i… Read more »

Eurovision2016>
Eurovision2016>
1 year ago

Quality is absolutely incredible. Whoever is behind the production in this masterpiece needs a pay raise because this is what we call hollywood production, it’s absolutely incredulous how good this production value is. emma’s vocals what can we say ARIANA GRANDE LEVEL SLAYY. in the livestream suzanne claimed that william said this could win, I wouldn’t go that far however a jury top two in this semi final alongside sweden is likely.

zsó
zsó
1 year ago

I like her and the staging but these are can’t help the song itself. Maybe it’s working better now I think juries will like the performance, but the televote? I don’t think so.

Nicky
Nicky
1 year ago
Reply to  zsó

she so deserves to be the one who breaks Malta’s bad streak with the televoters with all honesty, also she is a lovely person as well, such a sweetheart

Jofty
Jofty
1 year ago
Reply to  Nicky

I really hope I’m wrong but this could be Claudia Faniello # 2. Good luck Malta.

Nicky
Nicky
1 year ago
Reply to  Jofty

Yes i hope you are wrong, and she deserves to do well, also for a in your face moment to her haters

Gets embarrassing, imagine hating on her because she sounds bit tired at the end of her 3rd and last run through of the day

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Jofty

Nah… Claudia actually had a song which came off as honest and personal. It might not have been immediate for most younger audiences, but it wasn’t as empty as IAWIA. Good luck to Emma, though. I like Emma, even if I don’t like her song.

Jofty
Jofty
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

Oh no doubt. But I meant the disastrous televote result.