She’s perhaps the biggest star in her country and the bookies have been narrowing their odds on her to win Eurovision all week.
And on Thursday evening Malta’s Ira Losco showed us why when she revealed her Eurovision 2016 song “Walk on Water” and the accompanying music video.
Ira Losco — “Walk on Water”
The song is contemporary pop with drum ‘n bass edge. Co-written by Molly Pettersson Hammar, it oozes MPH soul — but Ira most definitely claims it as her own. The song suggests that a certain someone makes her feel like she can do the impossible — “walk on water”.
The video sees leggy Ira looking hot and haute as she contemplates her life and her love on the beautiful beaches of Gozo. Waves crash and the sun shines — but all eyes are on her.
Malta mean business! Great entry from @iralosco #WalkOnWater #WoW #Eurovision ????????????????????????
— David Hobbs (@davidhobbs1990) March 17, 2016
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.
Awesome !
It’s definitely what I would call a winner material. Well done #Malta !#Eurovision— Bedelia (@BedeliaDuM) March 17, 2016
Ahead of the release, Ira defended her decision to switch to a new song.
Speaking to Malta Today, she described “Walk on Water” as more contemporary, and praised its message of “achieving the impossible and never giving up on yourself.”
“Life, as we all know can be very hard and it is full of ups and downs, but I truly believe that staying positive will make it easier to achieve seemingly impossible goals.”
Despite the glorious video, Ira is staying humble. Writing on her Facebook page on Wednesday afternoon she said:
“Walk on Water” video being launched tonight on PBS at 8pm during the news. I know many of you got excited about a review that went out yesterday night. But let’s stay feet on the ground. Thank you SO much for all your support it is vital and so appreciated. I’m working my ass off to give you and my country the BEST possible performance on the night. Above all to represent you all with as much passion and professionalism as I can. 14 years you have all been there believing in me and listening to my music and I can’t thank you all enough!!!
What do YOU think of the song? Do you think it has what it takes to reach the Top 10? Do you think it could go higher? Let us know in the comments box below.
Our initial reaction
Ira Losco Photo Gallery
OK NOW I LOVE IT 🙂
@Jeannette
thank you, and i’m from the Netherlands but i am totally already addicted to this song 🙂
Reminds me of Neangely’s “Higher”
Ira Losco will need a strong bunch of backing vocalists who can reproduce the choir sound. They may have to perform the primary melody at some points to compensate for Ira’s vocal shortcomings, especially when she has to deliver intense and razor-edged vocals during the chorus. The song also begs pyrotechnical effects, a clever artwork and creative visualizations to live up to the videoclip’s natural setting. I wasn’t impressed with her live performance of ‘Chameleon’ on the Maltese final which was unflattering both vocally and stylistically. Until we actually hear ‘WOW’ performed live, we can go on having a pow-wow… Read more »
Denis + 10000
Not liking a song doesn’t mean people are jealous of it, nicky91! And jealous of what exactly? We are not 5 year-olds here. We all have different reasons for not liking a song.
My reason for not liking this is because it feels calculated and manipulative. And it’s overproduced, they really put in all sorts of things to it. Less is more usually. it might be hard to distinguish this one from all the other entries and it might be a flop again.
Totally agree with you on this one @Nicky91! Haters always gonna hate!
@Escachas
well are you jealous of Ira, that has got the looks, voice and a amazing eurovision song
I Like the music video as well, and i’m gonna vote for her, Malta was robbed last year, and i don’t want that to happen again
#TeamIraLosco, and this song is way better than that Chameleon garbage
Am I listening to a different track from everybody else? This sing is very poor. A mess. Not an obvious improvement over Chamaleon, which was a non-song already. I can’t see Malta qualifying this year.
This is not good. Russia and krotia is awful. Sweden 2017
I don’t know why Wiwibloggs keeps hyping all these Swedish songs that sound exactly the same… sure, it’s not bad, but this won’t win Eurovision. It doesn’t stand out from the pack.
Love it- but wont do that well – far too good for Eurovision! (too modern and radio friendly)
I LOVED IT, and this is gonna get my vote definitely
this makes me so proud of being a fan of Malta each year
because this song is clever, it’s current music, with a catchy beat
for me my top 3 are:
1. Malta
2. Latvia
3. Czech Republic
and following close 4,5,6
4. Denmark
5. Azerbaijan
6. Italy
Of course there will be negative comments, it just opinions at the end of the day. However one must keep in mind comments here and on youtube tend to be way too biased, naturally. The actual reception to this song is very positive at first hearing, and this is a good indicator that it will do very well in may.
Whatever kind of comments there are here, it certainly won’t determine the winner of the Eurovision. But this is my opinion: I do agree with the Wiwiteam. The song is great, it’s fun to listen to and it won’t surprise me if it won. There will always be people who won’t like the song. It’s how the world works, but I do believe it has that particular sound of being a hit. And it will do well in Eurovision.
BAM! I had low expectations after Chameleon but Walk on Water knocked me out of my seat. I felt like I slammed, face first, into a wall of sound. I have listened to it three times now and each time it just got better. I can’t predict how high it will go in my personal rankings because I have some strong favs at the top, but Ira is going to keep pushing upwards. With great staging this could lift the roof off the arena in Stockholm. Oh, and keep the Angry Birds sound but do lose the one red boob… Read more »
Lovely vocal, good song, way over produced. Dial back on some of the effects clutter and allow her vocals to shine, you have a decent shot at winning.
Its brilliant, a million times better than chameleon. Makes my top 10. It is a little messy at times, sounds like too much going on or sounds clashing with each other, but nothing that is too bad.
I’m actually really surprised that it’s getting such a bad reaction here because it’s modern and fixes everything wrong with chameleon. Maybe it was slightly overhyped but then again this is wiwibloggs and people should have expected a bit of an exaggeration and attitude that sometimes isn’t actually there.
Do people actually hate every single song that is released because that is what I sometimes feel coming here. This song is CURRENT, FRESH, CATCHY and has great chart potential. If you can’t just enjoy the music what is the point AT ALL. Ira this song rocks and she’s going to the final.
Ok, Wiwibloggs, it’s really not that amazing or impressive. Calm your diva-loving hormones!
It’s a good song but there are better songs in the contest. And the first semi-final is where the better songs are. I put her in the maybe qualify box. It all comes down to the performance.
To be honest, changing the song last minute is really unfair and sneaky. It’s not right hearing all the other contestant’s songs and then changing to suit. I hope Malta doesn’t quality.
Sounds a bit like Emile Sande! Same drum beat as one of her hits…
@Nadya – Gianluca’s song is arguably Malta’s best ever. It was unlucky to finish as low as it did.
Walk On Water comes across as cynical and manufactured. Something that you cannot say about Tomorrow.
The song will surely shine live. Ira is a top performer on stage, she is so confident and always delivers when it matters. This is top 5 material, potential winner in my eyes. A big well done to Malta for taking this so seriously, other countries should take note. Malta is out to do the Treble. Well done Ira and her team…your hard work will pay off in may 🙂
I knew it! The Maltese delegation paid a lot of money to the wiwi team. $$$ Ka-ching Ka-ching Ka-ching!
The song is like the title, it’s not gonna happen.
Side remarks: please don’t do a Trijntje and burn the dress with one red boob. And please remove the angry bird sound in the background. It gets on my nerves.
This and Latvia are huge favorites to win. Wouldn’t it be funny if the same situation happened and Malta and Latvia are tied for first place, only for Latvia to get 12 points at the end and Ira nothing? lol xD
(im impartial since I want Russia or Croatia or UK to win)
This is sooo Molly petterson hammar! I wish it would be her singing it on eurovision
Criticca
No chance to Malta win with this song, only if juries pushed Malta in 2012 like they did Sweden in 2012 and 2015 withu juries vote, and Malta in televote be from 1 to 6 placess thant to eurovision fans who love Ira from 2002 .
My judgement on her song is impartial since I’ve only found out about Ira this year. Chameleon was a hot mess but this one is OUTSTANDING might even with the whole thing! Love the aqua/mermaid concept as well (reminds me of Ola from Polish NF earlier). Can’t wait to see it live in ESC. You got this Malta!!
Nadya
GIANLUCA BEZZINA song Tomorrow is so much better than Walk on water.
We knot that Malta be overated with juries points from 6 to 9 place in final with juries, with televote song wili be between 11 and 15 place in final. My prediction maybe from 9 to 12 place in final.
She doesn’t even sound close to that live. The most auto-tuned track of the year
Christoph
HAHAHA
This song don t have chance to be in TOP 5 maybe in TOP 10.
If GIANLUCA BEZZINA can come 8th with “Tomorrow,” then IRA LOSCO can win with “Walk on Water.” PBS has BIG BIG plans for staging. Think about it: LED floor, walking on water…it will be beautiful. Get ready to eat your words, haters. Malta will win! (And no, I’m not Maltese, I’m British).
Hey guys, this was really a let down for me because the song does nothing to me. I was hoping for Ira to come back with a great song after deciding not to sing Chameleon but not this. I could not make head or tails of the song and only after a few listens do I say that it is Okay. This is just my personal opinion (Viel Gluck Ira)
This is the winner of the Eurovision Somg Contest 2016. Ira’s voice CAN handle this. Checkout her YouTube channel. There is more to her than Seventh Wonder!!!
Briekimchi
I agree with Too much fuss from the Wiwi team . Nothing special, Ira looks good but for me she don t have vocals for this kind of song.
It wili be overrated by juries, juries love Malta , like juries love Sweden from 2012 and gave Sweden amazing overrated points, Azerbaijan, and sometime Italy,Israel.
Too much fuss from the Wiwi team. Once William went over the top with it, I could guess how it was going to end up.
Left-hand of the scoreboard is ambitious but it will at least get into the final, something that I do not think that Chameleon was going to do.
I do agree with Robyn. Ira’s voice is the problem moreso than the song. MPH should have used this herself. She would have done a better job with it!
Okay, I have given it another chance, and its good, but definitely not a winning song. Theres something missing. This is the kind of song that wouldnt even qualify for the MF Final :O oops…. okay, maybe it would but would never win MF. So bye Ira, no chance on winning with this. It doenst beat my fav Maltese entry: 7th wonder 😀
Going to quote JonathanUK from down below, as his comment sums up my feelings to a T: “Absolute perfection!!!!!!!!! It’s so classy, soulful, stylish and powerful. Absolutely everything you could have asked for and it just is so amazing!!! Proud of you Ira and will be in FULL support of you in Eurovision!!!! Come on!!!!! So happy!!!” XXXX
tend to agree with the review video. automatically left-hand side of scoreboard, and then depending on staging Top 5 or winner. it’s a weak year, and this STANDS OUT. live it will either be amazing or a disaster. i hope for amazing. in any event, studio version is my #1! go malta!
The song itself didn’t match with Ira’s voice, should be better if she sang a revamped Chameleon, hope the will reveal it too
I like it. It’s okay, and with good staging will likely qualify. But I have to agree with others here, the song is more suited to a singer such as Molly Pettersson Hammar (You can hear her influence in it clearly). But I do like it and it’s moved up from my #25 to #14
This is INTERESTING, “Chameleon” was 100 times worse than “Walk on Water”, I have a feeling that even Ira knew it and I can hear her voice LOVING this new song.
It’s Eurovision PERFECTION, GO MALTA !!!
Loo, loved your comment! Spot on! I have to admit that I’m holding out for Sweden not to repeat. But bias aside, I think the Frans song is great and more importantly, charming, and definitely is justified in being a favorite. The Maltese song I do like too.
Alas…:-(
…Only one way to settle this and satisfy some of you: Reveal the revamped version of “Chameleon”.
🙁 …. don’t like it. There is no melody that could be remember. Chameleon was rememberable, with a positive mood ….. Too bad, too bad they change the song.
No, I don’t like it. I don’t even know what to make of the song. The verse, pre-chorus and chorus sound like three completely different songs. It feels like they are trying way too hard, almost as if they don’t have an idea themselves how they want it to sound. Adding every kind of effect is counter productive when you do it for the sake of doing it. 1 Australia 2 Germany 3 Hungary 4 Croatia 5 Russia 6 Norway 7 Iceland 8 France 9 Italy 10 Armenia 11 Belgium 12 Cyprus 13 Belarus 14 Lithuania 15 Estonia 16 Poland… Read more »
To quote Ira: ‘I’m not perfect, but I am a OK’.
I would say at first this was somewhat over-hyped, but nice entry anyway. I like it more than Chameleon.
Still not among best songs of hard semi 1 (Iceland, Estonia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Netherlands, Austria), but certainly among the second tier, along with Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus and Moldova. Not meh like Finland and Greece and not a fodder like Montenegro, Bosnia and San Marino.
Is this it? I don’t like the sound of this song at all! This is clearly over-hyped. And I think she will flop in May. My favourites are.. though it hurts.. Russia and Australia. Russia because it’s Russia. And Australia because I don’t get why they have to be in this contest.