Prediction: Ira Losco will win Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2016

Last night 19 artists performed in the semi final of the Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2016, but only 14 have advanced to tonight’s grand final in Valletta. In recent weeks our dear readers have been voting up a storm in our fan poll and ultimately named Ira Losco their winner with “Chameleon”. At the same time the Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of musical unprofessionals — has been busy reviewing all of the songs, and we ranked “Chameleon” a close second behind Christabelle’s floor-stomper “Kingdom”. Now it’s time to combine our results and reveal a very loose prediction of what will go down tonight in the Med…

These results are, of course, based on the pre-recorded studio versions released by the contestants in January. Tonight’s six-member jury, which accounts for 86% of the overall score, will be evaluating the live performances. In some ways you could call this an internal selection, with the public being thrown a 14% stake as a courtesy. Ira is an obvious favourite of the jury. But according to our results Christabelle will offer Ira her toughest challenge, along with Corazon, Maxine and Brooke.

You can tune in via the MESC 2016 live stream tonight from 20:45 CET.

MESC 2016: Combined prediction

MESC 2016 Fan Poll results

1. Ira Losco – Chameleon 19.51% (517 votes)
2. Corazon – Falling Glass 11.02% (292 votes)
3. Daniel Testa – Under the Sun 10.64% (282 votes)
4. Christabelle – Kingdom 10.53% (279 votes)
5. Maxine – Young Love 7.32% (194 votes)
6. Jessika – The Flame 5.28% (140 votes)
7. Brooke – Golden 5.02% (133 votes)
8. Jasmine Abela – Alive 4.87% (129 votes)
9. Deborah C – All Around the World 3.17% (84 votes)
10. Laurence Gray – You’re Beautiful 2.72% (72 votes)
11. Franklin – Little Love 1.7% (45 votes)
12. Dominic – Fire Burn 1.66% (44 votes)
13. Raquel – Flashing Lights 1.36% (36 votes)
14. Kim – Lighthouse 1.21% (32 votes)

Wiwi Jury Results

1. Christabelle – “Kingdom” (8.31)
2. Ira Losco – “Chameleon (Invincible)” (8.13)
3. Brooke – “Golden” (7.63)
4. Maxine Pace – “Young Love” (7.22)
5. Corazon – “Falling Glass” (6.78)
6. Jasmine Abela – “Alive” (6.59)
7. Deborah C – “All Around the World” (6.41)
8. Jessika – “The Flame” (6.23)
9. Raquel Galdes – “Flashing Lights” (5.78)
10. Kim – “Lighthouse” (5.25)
11. Dominic – “Fire Burn” (4.78)
12. Daniel Testa – “Under The Sun” (4.47)
13. Franklin Calleja – “Little Love” (3.44)
14. Lawrence Gray – “You’re Beautiful” (2.97)