Out with the old and in with the new. Ira Losco will no longer sing “Chameleon” at Eurovision 2016. Instead, after a fierce competition between nine other songs and a revamp of “Chameleon”, Ira will take the song “Walk on Water” to Stockholm. She will debut the song on 17 March at 20:00 CET, live on the Maltese news.
Melodifestivalen fans will be pleased to learn that the song was written and composed by a team of Swedes, including Lisa Desmond, Tim Larsson, Tobias Lundgren and (drum roll…) Molly Pettersson Hammar (“I’ll Be Fine” and “Hunger”).
As soon as Ira won the ticket to Eurovision, there was discussion that “Chameleon” would be replaced. This was then followed up by the confirmation in February that there were ten possible songs Ira would be going with. Ira herself hinted at a change on her Facebook, when her cover photo changed to simply saying “#WOW”. Initially, it was reported that this was the name of the song, but it simply seems to be a hashtag friendly acronym.
It’s understood that it was a close call between “Chameleon” and “Walk on Water”, though. After the initial batch of ten songs were rated by a group of musical experts, the final decision came down to a revamped version of “Chameleon” and “Walk on Water”. It was from this final vote that “Walk on Water” was ultimately chosen to be Malta’s Eurovision song. Y’all, this was anything but a quick decision!
Are you sad to see “Chameleon” go, or are you just as excited to see what “Walk on Water” will be like? Let us know in the comments section and check back soon for the launch later this week.
Photo: Courtesy Ira Losco
#WOW definitely a winner!
@Colin I know what you mean, however for Ira Losco – having already achieved 2nd , I think she is really pushing for a win. Yes Cyprus qualified, but they then did really badly in the final. That kind of result is not what Malta are looking for.with Ira, she would see qualification and then just a small amount of points in the final as a failure. Cyprus never seemed to be looking for a win with that song and just wanted to qualify. I don’t think revamping Chameleon was ever going to be enough, it was lyrically very cheesy… Read more »
@James I think that Ira and her team seam quite insecure. While being ambitious isn’t wrong by itself, sacrificing artistic integrity to do it is. Anyway, songs from Georgia and Belgium got even worse reception from the get go, but they didn’t changed it, they just tweaked it a bit and made great videos. Even if they fail to reach the finals, I can say I respect their integrity. Cyprus last year got really bad reception on YouTube and was even placed in the harder semi. However, some fan-favorites, like Malta, Iceland, Czech Republic and Ireland failed to qualify, but… Read more »
I am Maltese and for anyone saying that our new song is being premiered after the deadline should get their facts right before they speak. The song was sent in before the deadline to the administration, it is going to be relieved to the public tomorrow, so check before you talk. Secondly yes I am sad to see Chameleon go but any song will fit Ira’s voice and if it s for the best I am happy for the change. #VOTEIRA
All this could be interpreted as publicity stunt for Malta- which could work in their favour at the end of the day.
If they had chosen Golden, they certainly wouldn’t have to go through all this trouble in the first place. Stop putting so much power in the judges!! The people have a say too. Oh, and to reply to this article: chameleon, walk on water, blah blah blah.
This song was most definitely written for Molly Pettersson Hammer to use in this years Melodifestivalen but was not accepted. I wish Malta good luck with it anyways…
@Nicky91 As much as I want to agree with everybody and as much as I think Ira is amazing, Malta has much more talent. She is one of the most popular in Malta but I’ve seen national finals and, damn, Malta has talent. All they need is proper song writing (don’t get me wrong they have had seriously good songs), cause Malta has talent.
If they hesitated between Chameleon and that other song, I think it’s safe to say that the new one if probably just as crappy as the first! 😀
@James
i didn’t like Chameleon for eurovision, so i am happy she changed the song, and the title does promise something
the video was shot at a Aquarium, apparently
@Colin, that’s a valid opinion, totally OK to disagree with how they did it. I believe that because Malta want to win, they saw that Chameleon wasn’t getting the best feedback and decided to change it. They are not going to sacrifice their win just to go along with a song they don’t feel will take the trophy. On the other hand, they are taking a risk because now they are changing the song without any feedback at all (other than the internal judges) and they could end up finding the online feedback is worse than Chameleon. We will find… Read more »
Holy crap wait let me get this straight — Molly Pettersson Hammar wrote this song? I guess in one sense she’ll be going to Eurovision after all! 🙂
(Can’t you see how much I love MPH?)
Why not making ESC like Champions League where a country is allowed to have more than 1 team at start. Rules should be: half of the entries are Swedish. A joke. Sad part it is increasingly true.
EBU does not want to formalize that because they hope that more than half of the entries to be Swedish. Again should be a joke but I am not 100% sure it is.
@Mar
how can you say that, i really hope and think she made a good choice, Chameleon was a horrible song, like warrior was dull for the audience last year
Ira is a good singer, and please wish her good luck, and she’s Malta’s best singer they have to my opinion
I don’t agree with Cheesecake, it is like having an type of the TV program Idol and let the winner represent Malta.
People, I want to be clear. I do not think Maltese representatives are in no way in the breach of the formal rules. I only note that from an unwritten, professional side, it is not okay.
@Ivan
Don’t be so silly…they haven’t broken any rules for Eurovision and stated that the winner of the Maltese competition was for the performer only and did not mean that specific song would be the final one. There is no cheating.
This had better be good! I wanted Molly P.H. in the MF final along with Panetoz! If the bookies like this, maybe Molly will come out the big winner after all… …But with everyone saying that this could be one of the lousiest Eurovisions in quite some time, maybe Ira didn’t have much to lose if she had sent “Chameleon”. The public reaction to some of these national final outcomes is probably the biggest reason that the decision to keep “Chameleon” or go with “Walk On Water” was razor-thin. If all the bookies’ top choices had won (in places like… Read more »
They’re trying to avoid another Warrior problem. I think its a good move to change the song. Its clearly not getting a warm reception on various polls unlike Warrior did.
Those that are commenting negatively … is all jealous … let’s the best song win. Good luck Malta, everything perfect is running.
The song has been submitted to the ebu so it did respect the deadline. On thursday it will be revealed to the public.
why do I get the feeling this song was turned down by SVT for Melodifestivalen and given to Ira as an afterthought?
‘Chameleon changing it all’
Oh, the irony 😛
Thank god, I hated “Chameleon”. Still, I don’t have a very good feeling about the new song either…
Anyway I find it rather disrespectful to stage a NF and ask viewers to pay money to vote and then abandon the chosen song.
They have just lost my vote. This is cheating , cheating fans around Europe and their own people also… Such a shame…
Hmm let’s hope it is not another copy of Euphoria this time because that would be the limit!
Next year Malta should demand 50/50 jury/televote and guarantee that the song is kept.
Imagine if the same rules applied to Eurovision finals. For instance, people vote for Greta Salome: Hear Them Calling and it wins, only for Greta to announce a week later that the real winning song is actually ‘A Thousand Goodbyes’, although the winner is STILL Greta (Iceland) Would be VERY ANNOYING, right? Cause that was NOT the song you were voting for, right? Would be cheating, right? Why this isn’t? Especially since she announces after deadline.
However, I eagery expext the new song.
TODAY IS NAMED “WAITIN FOR NOTING” WATH A YEAR OF NOT RESPONSABILITI AND EMOTIONS, FLOW YEAR TO ME, THE BES SONGS LOST IN ENY FINALS AND THE BAD INTERNAL DETITIONS WAS VERY BORING AL LOKING FOR THE SAME CONCEPT WITOUT ORIGINALITY EXEPT FRANCE, RUSSIA CYPRUS AND CROATIA THE OTHERS WATH ARE YOU TINING. STOP, A NEED “ONE LAST BREATH” JA JA
It’s a shame because I really like Chameleon and probably would have put it in my top 10 songs this year but it does sound like something is missing in the mix, but I can’t put my finger on it. xD
I’m hoping Walk On Water will be equally good at least. I can see why some people don’t like the rules of the Maltese national selection but we can’t really know whether people voted for the song or just for Ira. 😛
I really agree what Malta did this year!
First of all PBS mentioned that this year the attention will be on the artist, as did in the selection of the junior eurovision.
I really hope that Malta will have the best song in this year’s eurovision. Go Malta, just wow!
I really liked chameleon and thought it would be amazing with a revamp, but anyway, if it’s a better song I don’t mind at all. And considering Molly PH wrote it I’m waiting for a fantastic song! Speaking of when the songs are released, Malta has sended the song on the Ebu, they just haven’t premiered it. I think the deadline is about submitting the song, not giving in to the public. Oh and for the #WOW hashtag, it must be created from the first letter of each word of the song title, W alking O n W ater
THIS MUST be a Melodifestivalen reject then! Not good for Sweden, send to Malta. It’s written by an MF team, so I bet it was initially written for Molly, and then transfered to Ira since it did not make the cut! Just sayin! wild guess!
Molly Pettersson Hammar is one of the songwriters.. she participated in Melodifestivalen this year.
@Error
Yep, Molly PH just confirmed in on Twitter 🙂
At this point I’m just hoping the song is bad to spare us some of the carnage in semifinal 1, sorry Malta.
Maybe #WOW will manage to be even more Swedish and even closer to Euphoria.
Just sayin’
Go Malta, i love the title
and i will vote for you, my revenge from last year ( where i couldn’t vote)
and people have faith in Ira, she’s a good singer
@T, @No Name, @error
dude we know you’re the same guy, just changing names. we got it
Apparently Molly Pettersson Hammar wrote Ira’s song 🙂
http://bloggar.aftonbladet.se/schlagerbloggen/2016/03/molly-pettersson-hammar-har-skrivit-maltas-eurovision-lat/
As I didn’t like Chameleon I’m happy! I think Walk On Water is way better, it’s also written by Molly PH, my favorite in Melfest this year 😀
SWEDISH SONGWRITERS according to Aftonbladet. Who’s surprised? 🙂
@uk
This isn’t even against the eurovision rules -_-
Folks shouldnt talk about how the Maltese should be mad about Chameleon not moving forward. Ira won cause it was Ira. The Maltese were crazy (in positive way) in their support for Ira and they probably dont’ care which song advanced.
And I bet it will sound the same as all the other english-language crap we have this year
Looks like my Top 5 is getting shaken up big time. Chamelon was my #1. Albania was my #2 but after the revamp it’s not in my Top 5. I might bring in Azerbaijan. And I haven’t been able to hear Croatia yet since Youtube has it blocked in the U.S. but I hear it’s a great song.
I don t like what Malta do this year. They change the song because they read negative comments about their chosen entry Chameleon.
EBU must change rules for 2017.
1.Country can change song only if song is published before EBU rule time, and if song is plagiat.
2.No host nationa and EBU reference group to decide the draw. Draw like before 2013.
3.Allow 8 instead 6 people on stage, but no prerecorder backing vocal. Sing of singer and backing vocals must be alive.
I don’t like these last minute song presentations.Chameleon was fine, nothing bad and nothing exceptional so I don’t expect much now.
Lol the rule does apply to other countries. You are making this sound like special treatment. If any other country required more time to submit to the public their song and video, I am sure that the same treatment would have been given to others. Last year it was given to Montengro (that I know of at least). What matters is that they send the song to the EBU within the stipulated time and they both managed.
I think the rule should apply for everyone …I find it very disrespectful for other countries.
For me the results of televoting are always much more logical than jury results.