On Thursday evening at 20:00 CET, Ira Losco will finally reveal “Walk on Water” — Malta’s much-anticipated song for Eurovision 2016.
The big reveal marks the end of a very long journey for Ira. It started with a hard-fought win at the national selection in February, which was followed by several weeks of uncertainty, which in turn led to a hastily-organised internal selection to choose a new song.
We’re pleased to say that all the twists and turns were worth it as she has emerged with an even stronger song — and perhaps Malta’s best entry ever.
On Wednesday afternoon PBS kindly invited wiwibloggs to attend an exclusive first viewing of the music video. wiwiblogger Patrick, who is living and studying in Malta, booked it to PBS headquarters, and I joined in via Skype from London.
We were both floored. “Walk On Water” is a contemporary pop song with strong drum and bass undertones. Its radio-friendly sound is bigger than Malta and the Mediterranean — you could hear it getting airplay across Europe and beyond.
Those who complained that “Chameleon” lacked a hook and climax will appreciate what they find here. A quiet but confident opening leads to a memorable and powerful chorus. The production is slick and gives the song major shape and direction. And it uses backing vocalists to great effect. At times there is a wall of sound that channels a church choir, which makes sense given the religious themes associated with walking on water.
Fans have made much of the fact Melodifestivalen star Molly Petterson Hammar co-wrote the song, and some have asked us whether it sounds more like MPH’s “I’ll Be Fine” or “Hunger”. The answer is neither. It may carry the soul element that fans associate with MPH, but through drum and bass and gospel this becomes decidedly Ira.
Half an hour after leaving PBS, Patrick was still humming the tune. I asked him what his lingering impression was.
I didn’t expect this from a tiny island like Malta. Darkness meets drums meets upbeat meets gospel. I was hungry to hear this and it’s completely satisfied me with its energy and power. There’s winning potential here. Europe is ready to visit Malta — and in 2017 it just might!
The accompanying music video, which you can watch this evening, is gorgeous. We see Ira working a series of high-fashion looks while on the beautiful island of Gozo. We don’t want to give anything away, but let’s just say she is a real contender to challenge in our annual search for Eurovision’s Next Top Model! She is comfortable in the sun and knows how to work it beneath those rays.
The bookies share our enthusiasm. Malta’s odds to win Eurovision have been slowly narrowing all week — there is confidence Ira will do well with the new tune. And on Wednesday afternoon Malta’s odds dropped sharply from between 25/1 and 33/1 at a number of agencies to between 6/1 and 10/1 at the same ones.
Malta’s video will be presented tonight on their news bulletin and uploaded to the official Eurovision.tv YouTube channel.
Ira Losco Photo Gallery
I hope she’s the winner! She’s got everything it takes to top the contest. Such a beautiful song and talented artist.
Helena F….., look at the betting sites, MALTA IS THIRD FAVORITE. So I think you have the worst taste in music and not Wiwi writers.
LOL, when WiWi likes a song it’s bound to be junk. WiWi ‘writers’ have the worst taste in music. This will be lucky to qualify. It’s over produced junk.
What a hype!!! Now I have extreme expectations on this!
I feel like listening the song right now!
Valletta 2017
@Nicky91
I am sorry, I know how it feels. Personally I like Douwe Bob’s song, but I hated our Croatian entry in 2011 (Break A Leg/ Celebrate / Lahore – yes, the song had THREE version, each worse than the next and not even similar in lyrics), so I know. On contrary, I couldn’t be more proud this year and wish Nina Kralji? all the best, since the song is probably our best entry ever.
I agree with u nicky about the netherlands xD
Not sure if he will qualify, but then… 20th or similar.
@Colin
thank you for the compliment, you know i’m dutch and i don’t our song, look i’ve seen Douwe Bob live before, and he has no stage presence to my opinion
of course i must not criticize my own country, but i’m being honest
i’m really excited about hearing Ira’s song, and I want to wish every country the very best of luck this song contest
even San Marino’s song, i like the story of the song, but the video is so boring
Georgia, well it hurts on my ears
Montenegro, same as Georgia, really just screaming music
@Nicky91 I would really like to see Netherlands in the finals this year. Along with Austria, they improved their entry from last year a lot and would deserve it. Both songs are usually in the middle of someone’s list and could go either way. Also, Croatia and Czech Republic deserved it A LOT. Even if songs are thankfully really appreciated by fans, it’s not from the countries that usually have luck. Estonia and Iceland are my favorites of the evening and both have killer songs and luck in ESC, but who knows… And now we need to hear Malta… best… Read more »
@SpirK
exactly, and i can vote for Malta this year, as they are in the same semi-final as the Netherlands
Amber was definitely robbed of the final last year
‘Hunger’ could win Eurovision, too, in fact I wasn’t a fan of ‘I’ll Be Fine’. I believe that Isa and Molly robbed sp hard at Melfest this year.
I expect a lot, and I’ll be supporting Malta even if they were sending a church bell. I’m enough with Sweden and Russia topping all the time. That’d be great bringing the contest to southern Europe again.
Björkman, is making Eurovision more for Sweden every year – like the voting format changing, just for make the jury more acceptable after their unfairly victory last year.
If it is as good as you guys say it is, then Malta may be in the game, considering that we are in an all open year with no clear favorites whatsoever. Let’s see if Ira can surpass herself!
@Marc
well thank you, well Chameleon is a nice song, which she still will record for her new album with 7 other songs which weren’t selected for eurovision
and what do you think about Ira Losco, yourself, your own opinion?
Guys too much hype… hope u are right and a great song.
We’ll see…
@Nicky91, I think it could be good, better than Chameleon for sure. But I wonder if it’s that good why Molly didn’t sing it in Melodifestivalen.
I really like Malta when they go with something simple and authentic (like in 2013 which IMO it deserved at least top 5) instead of divas and cliches.
I am worried for Malta. I really want them to do well this year after what happened with Amber…
@Marc
well maybe it is a good song, 7th wonder was also a good song, right
and it totally deserved to win tbh
and Ira has got the support of all of the maltese people behind her, some are supporting her for 16 years now
and it’s better to start pessimistic, instead of really overrating it, i’m gonna give it a close listen today, and i’ll comment tomorrow what i think about it or later today, i’ll see
but Marc, have faith Always keep the faith 🙂
I don’t think this*
Well I don’t trust if it’s coming from Patrick who has one the worst music taste by far in wiwibloggs. I don’t this is going to be that good, we’ll see.
I really hope that this doesn’t flop like “What about my dreams” “Rockefeller Street” “I’m alive” “Warrior” and “Warrior” both from last year, and maybe even “You” and “Glorious” did in 2013. At the moment I am expecting a lot and I hope it is not a let down.
@Hello hi.. yeah.. like when someone thought Georgia slayed last year.. 😀
@ Christoph .. My name “hello hi ” is of no reference to dolly style .. I have not even listened to that song !!
well maybe it can become a fan favourite, because most people know Ira already, and they know how good she is
best of luck to Malta, you were robbed last year
@T
stop the negativity, Malta is currently on 5th place, maybe because some people already heard it
I’m not so sure about this. I want Malta to do well, they’re basically one of my favourite countries in Eurovision and they definitely deserve a win sometime in near future. But based on the songwriters it seems like this is a melfest reject. Two of the songwriters also wrote Swedens entry 2005 and Molly P. H. is not even a songwriter. So I personally believe that the guys pretty much did the song by themselves and then Molly came in right before they sended it in to Melodifestivalen. SVT or her team wanted her to do I’ll be fine… Read more »
Well i cant understand all your negativity! You havent even listened to it yet and you post negative comments. When chameleon was selected everyone said that its not that good and it fell in the tops and odds. And now they change it and you say “bring back chameleon”! Wtf people??? + considering that the new song has been chosen by professionals from all over europe and the fact that the guys in this video reacted so positively means that this will be at least very good. And in addition its neither the first nor the last time when a… Read more »
@Nico
why that was a artist selection, if another singer had won the maltese selection, they might have changed the song as well
3 WORDS: PREFERENCE, CAMPAIGN OR REGIONALISM.
IF I WATH ENY SONG FROM MEXICO IN EUROVISION I WILL CRY I WILL MAKE PI AND I FLY LIKE AN CRAZY ANGEL
I feel sorry for the other participants in the Maltese pre-selection. What a farce!
@pete
Who got a trip to malta? They used a wiwiblogger who lives there.
If “Walk On Water” is as good as the author says it is, then, like the song title itself, “Chameleon” did its job as a warmup.
If I’m not mistaken, didn’t Albania ditch Elhaida Dani’s “Diell” last year, and replace it with “I’m Alive”? This is not the first time a song has been replaced, for any reason. I doubt it is even the 2nd or 3rd time.
It’s “amazing” the “enthusiasm” a trip to Malta can generate! LOL
A small country stepped up it’s game, if not for the song, as we still need to hear that, at least they showed us they listen.
@TIMO is raising as many inconsistent argument as he/she can. Bro you’re booing Malta but all the things you’ve written to “judge” Malta have been done before or are done being now. Did you hear the Maltese delegation saying that a win is guaranteed? Or did Ira write that? You seem so informed. Please, give us some more news 😛
Her vocals are not really the best. Cant understand why this is suddenly being hyped. I see a Kate Ryan happening!
@This is my opinion (TIMO): Why are you getting that offensive just on Malta? As far it is not forbidden in the rules of the ESC to change the song there is no reason to get angry if some country wish to do so. This option has been used by many countries in the past and I don’t see anything wrong with it. So, relax and calm down and enjoy this year’s songs. Your behaviour is far from “coming together” as the slogan of the ESC 2016 is supposed to be.
Christoph, not all Eurovision fans like Margaret’s song. Hence the celebrations when she lost.
@hello hi — all of Eurovision fandom loved Margarets song. And Ilse DeLange has said publicly that she regrets how she presented Calm After the Storm. The only rubbish I see is your name — which smacks of Dolly Style…
you are building an expectation higher than anything else so I hope it’s good!
Don’t really trust the judgement of wiwibloggs reporters so I won’t get my hopes up for maltas final entry..
After all these are the same people who rated Margaret cool me down very highly and then had given the common linnets a terrible rating in 2014
They seem to like cheap tacky rubbish !!!
I don t like what Malta doing this year. It s not fair to other countries especially for countries from first semifinal. EBUmust change rules for 2017. Country can change song only if song is publish before ebu rules and if song is plagiat
This is sad. it’s like as they are preparing for beauty contest, it’s just a song for eurovision and Malta participated, contributed for long years that they should be proud of it doesn’t matter if they don’t win if they haven’t won untill now, how they are preparing changing son waiting for other countries to pic their song then they can choose one they think it’s better than other countries songs etc..pleaseeee winning is not guaranteed it’s competition at same time bridge to unite europe, what ever the song is about l find this arrogant and wouldn’t feel like to… Read more »
Oh my god her face is so symmetrical she should be on Malta’s money, like seriously!
The song I wanna hear it now! & the team behind Ira have already done such a great job, I mean look at all the hype they were able te create, for a song in which a teaser hasn’t even been released yet!
i loved chameleon i hope wow is a good song just like chameleon.
Can’t wait to hear her song!! :))