The Judges Auditions stage is over and now Malta‘s Eurovision hopefuls must face the rigours of the X Factor Malta‘s Bootcamp round. The stage kicked off this weekend and the judges were expecting the acts to have lifted their game from the audition performance — no second chances this time!

While other editions of the X Factor have done away with the Bootcamp, X Factor Malta is still using it. And it works. It’s a way to get to know the auditioning acts and see how they handle the pressure of having to sing an unfamiliar song with a group of strangers.

For the first part, contestants were separated into categories and given one of four songs to perform. Girls had Lady Gaga’s “A Million Reasons”, Boys had Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth’s “See You Again”, Overs had Elton John’s “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me”, while Groups could show off their harmonies with the Temptation’s classic “My Girl”.

As judge Alexandra Alden told the 120 assembled hopefuls, the judges needed to reduce them down to just 48. And they were ruthless with their eliminations. Acts who may have been cut a little slack at the Judges Auditions stage were promptly (but politely) shown the door if they messed up.

Former Malta Eurovision Song Contest stars featured, and the Overs category was particularly full of ex-MESC singers who continued to prove their worth. Aidan CassarJanice Mangion, Miriana Conte, Petra and Dario Mifsud Bonnici were among those who made it to the next stage. Anna Faniello — mother of Maltese Eurovision stars Claudia Faniello and Fabrizio Faniello — also made it to the next stage, as did the singing magician Aleandro Pace Tahir.

Next came the Wall of Songs, where the remaining acts had to grab a song selection and find the three other acts with the same song. Franklin Calleja — whose first Bootcamp performance was not shown — was seen grabbing Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years”.

This singing challenge showed how acts could work with others and if they could hold their own in a group performance. The judges seemed to have a good sense of what was work, but there was once controversial decision.

Recent MESC singer Lyndsay Pace and upcoming singer Isaac Mercieca were both eliminated after their group performance. This sparked a flurry of comments on social media, from fans bewildered why two of the auditioning acts would be eliminated so early.

But there is hope. Acts eliminated from the second challenge aren’t sent home immediately. Instead they go into the Holding Room. If the judges reach the end of the second challenge performances and they’re short of numbers, they will look to the Holding Room and give some acts a second chance.

X Factor Malta continues next Sunday, with more Bootcamp performances, saves and eliminations.

What do you think? Which performances have you been impressed with? Who would you like to see represent Malta at Eurovision 2019? Sound off below!

Read more X Factor Malta news

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Héctor
Héctor
5 years ago

Boys category was specially awful. I suppose they didn’t show the good acts because that was really hard to listen…

Polegend Godgarina
5 years ago
Reply to  Héctor

Franklin serving TABS (Talent, Acclaim, Beauty and Success) as per usual, he’s the best male vocalist from Malta and he’s well-liked by everyone.

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago

The one I would like to eliminate is Alexandra Alden. WHY on earth is she here? What does she have contribute? Is it a success in Malta to have 3000 views on your YouTube videos? Aidan is more successful and advanced than her. It’s ridiculous.

SAARA’S SOLDIER
SAARA’S SOLDIER
5 years ago

Yeah sure he is. He’s graduated in music and has a degree in vocal accademics too! Piss off, she’s the most knowledgeable one of the lot, she earnt her place there.

Rome
Rome
5 years ago

That Aidan guy sounds terrible. How can he make it through?! ._.

Kris
Kris
5 years ago

I still don’t understand why early elimination would cause controversy? Isn’t it a norm in such shows

Talentina Monetta
Talentina Monetta
5 years ago
Reply to  Kris

The “controversy” that was mentioned is basically just some random Youtube comments lol

Polegend Godgarina
5 years ago

Are they still pretending to ignore that Aiden sounds like a dying cat?

Joshua Alexander
Joshua Alexander
5 years ago

Seems like you had a lot of them. Sorry for your loss, but Aidan is great! One of my fave’s.

Polegend Godgarina
5 years ago

Said no one ever

Joshua Alexander
Joshua Alexander
5 years ago

Hope you tolerate other peoples’ opinion… My view of him is that Malta never really had a guy who’s modern and current. Maybe you don’t like his voice, but we all know XFactor is about the whole package, he also seems confident speaking infront of the camera, just like Petra in example.

Polegend Godgarina
5 years ago

Not you thinking being confident in front of a camera can make us forget about TRAGIC vocals.

Joshua Alexander
Joshua Alexander
5 years ago

I agree about the tricks. But then listen to Jessie J, never heard a song of hers where she doesnt do the tricks. Aidan reminds me of her. And would love to see him in Israel. But I agree totally Robyn, maybe he should expose more sides of himself.

Polegend Godgarina
5 years ago

With the difference that Jessica J actually sounds pleasant.

SAARA'S SOLDIER
SAARA'S SOLDIER
5 years ago

Comparing Aiden to Jessie J is like comparing Primark and Gucci…. it’s just a whirlwind away. He’s just trash, and the cringeworthy shots of him flexing his ugly shirts and non existent biceps add more to the horror.

Joshua Alexander
Joshua Alexander
5 years ago

Perhaps you only like fake drag queens – Soldier of Saara. Speak about her sense of fashion lol….

Polegend Godgarina
5 years ago

Perhaps Saara’s Soldier hasn’t had their hearing damaged and only stans good vocalists.

SAARA'S SOLDIER
SAARA'S SOLDIER
5 years ago

Perhaps I can’t stand drag queens, even if they’re better than a plastic queen like you. And should I speak of Saara’s fashion sense… I’d say it stands tall and mighty next to your irrelevant jargon and useless badmouthing.

Polegend Godgarina
5 years ago

Well, if making two notes with zero technique like he did in Dai Laga is enough for him to make it to the X Factor live shows, we should be concerned.

Joshua Alexander
Joshua Alexander
5 years ago

Haha, you just hate the guy! Chill lol

Polegend Godgarina
5 years ago

A rat is a rat

Joshua Alexander
Joshua Alexander
5 years ago

Yeah, and you’re one 😛

SAARA'S SOLDIER
SAARA'S SOLDIER
5 years ago

A rat is a rat…. but Joshua Alexander is indeed a big blunder xD

Jo.
Jo.
5 years ago

lol

ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
5 years ago

After watching the performance of “Burn” I am also shocked that Lyndsay and Isaac were eliminated. They are two clear qualifiers to me… I also watched “Just Give Me A Reason” and Kurt plus one of the girls were my qualifiers for sure, but nobody qualified directly :O I think this is the toughest bootcamp ever seen and I am not amused… First, almost everybody got through and now this…

Joshua Alexander
Joshua Alexander
5 years ago

Aidan and Petra – Final 2. And I would die happy. Malta choose wisely for once <3

Talentina Monetta
Talentina Monetta
5 years ago

Malta will choose wisely only if it doesn’t follow your advice

Joshua Alexander
Joshua Alexander
5 years ago

Cause choosing Valentina Monetta for the 90th time is a good advice! Oh come on

Polegend Godgarina
5 years ago

Where did Talentina Monetta suggest that a country should send her? They’re only stanning for the Sanmarinese legend with no implications, work on your reading abilities sis!