After almost four months, the first series of the X Factor Malta has come to an end. And with it, Malta’s act for Eurovision 2019 has also been decided. Michela Pace was voted winner of the X Factor and will go on to represent Malta in Tel Aviv.
After last week’s semi-final, the contest was left with just four acts: Michela Pace, Nicole Frendo, Owen Leuellen and Petra.
While in previous episodes, judges Howard Keith Debono, Ray Mercieca, Alexandra Alden and Maltese Eurovision diva Ira Losco have had their say in deciding who went through in previous episodes, this time it was down to the Maltese public to select from the four finalists.
The show consisted of three rounds, followed by an elimination. In the first round, each of the contestants performed a solo song, then were joined by a guest vocalist for a second song. Petra was joined by the Overs category judge Ray Mercieca, Owen performed with Boys judge Ira Losco, Nicole duetted with Maltese singer-songwriter Matthew James Borg, and Michela was joined by the acclaimed Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja.
After those performances, the voting lines were frozen and Petra was announced as the first act to be eliminated from the grand final. Petra proved herself to be a hardworking and determined singer with strong soul vocals, and we expect to see her around in years to come.
The remaining three acts then took to the stage for a third performance, this time performing songs with Maltese lyrics â something we didn’t usually hear at the Maltese national final.
The voting lines were frozen again and Nicole Frendo was the second act to be eliminated. The 16-year-old was another act who proved to be a stand-out right from her first audition.
Then it was down to a Super Sing-off between young diva Michela Pace and singer-rapper Owen Leuellen. After the final vote, Michela Pace was declared the first winner of the X Factor Malta and will also represent Malta at Eurovision 2019.
While Malta has selected their act for Eurovision, the song is still to be decided. It is expected that Michela’s song will be internally selected at a later stage.
This is similar to the way Malta has chosen its Junior Eurovision entries, using a national final to select the artist then later internally selecting a song. This system has worked well for Malta, giving them two JESC wins and four other top-ten finishes in the past six years.
What do you think? Who was your favourite from the grand final? What sort of song should Michela sing in Tel Aviv? Share your thoughts below!
He was so close, too bad Malta didn’t choose Owen.
He would’ve brought something new and fresh from Malta. I’m afraid we will get another woman singing ballad. Let’s hope it’s a good onen
So Michela won the Poll by over 50% meaning the majority of the points on Wiwiblogg’s poll meaning she had the biggest following, soon after she is announced as the Winner these haters arise and mention how everyone else was better and more original and that Malta sends the same ballads yet we don’t even know what the song is going to be.
Give me a break! Michela was far superior than all 3 Singers and had the most following Locally by Maltese viewers and foreign.
well if nothing else malta is consistent since 2015 on its track record of Powerful Female Vocalists
Malta is the new Albania.
So Malta had the chance to send something different ad cool like a guy singing rap and they are just sending another average female singer like for the 5th time in row.
I like her voice but you need something exciting to do well in Eurovision.
Imagine calling Michela an average singer and then praising Owen omg ?
Malta had plenty of groups and singers that wanted to bring something new to ESC. Instead they vote for yet another pretty ballad girl
Rap never did well in esc, soul groups and girl bands neither, we ve had guys singing with a guitar multiple times with rarely a good result. In the end, the Best voice (or close second after Nicole frendo imo) won a VOICE competition.
Rap does well with the public, but the juries hate it.
Even if that might be true, Owen Leullen, as charismatic as he was, would have been a very weak contestant in esc. His rap is good but would have not reached out to the masses, and he wasnt the strongest vocalist either (he had to resort to heavy autotune in gangster s Paradise)- i.e. he would have totally flopped. Kelsey bellante would have been a better hip hop artist since she could bust some rhymes and sing well.
Maybe, but we don’t know the song yet, so Michela might end up just like Claudia Faniello and Christabelle.
Malta really wanted a change it seems, but I guess we are having another dreadful ballad from Malta.
I think they will buy something from Sweden like they did in 2016. Or maybe Laurell Barker will make a call here too ^^
P.S. You do know Laurell reads this website, right? đ
Really? Laurell, is that you Purple Mask???
No, I’m not her (sadly). But she does read wiwibloggs and has commented on here before as Laurell. No joke.
Business opportunity!
Btw, I ainât throwing stones ^^
At least the Maltese audience was by my side tonight! She’s good, I hope she gets a proper song to shine in Tel Aviv.
song?
This seems more promising than France’s choice. Thank you Malta for choosing right. Excited to hear more news about your song choice
Not a bad voice, hope they find the right song for her
Since they put so much money into the selection process, I’m assuming they’ll give their girl a killer song as well, yes?
Congratulations to Michaela. Now onto the hard work – choosing a good song. Best of luck.
Help me here Mask: how should I call that thing that happens to her voice when she goes for higher notes. I really like it, but I have no idea about how to describe it.
I don’t know her very well, to be honest. It would be better to ask her. From the two videos in the above article , I would say she has a wide overlap between modal and falsetto registers. So it is falsetto (or “head voice”) you are hearing, perhaps. (There will no doubt be someone who comments below now and says that “falsetto” is a definition for male registers only… to them I say: No it isn’t. That is not accurate. Please do your research again. đ ) However, if she were capable of extraordinarily high notes, then this would… Read more »
Thank you đ It makes sense, it’s sounds a little bit like a whistle to me.
I agree Robyn, she has to be careful to not overdo it. It can become a trademark move, but if she’ll do it all the time, it also can get annoying. I would like to know if she does that by choice, or if it’s like an instinctive reflex.
They’re voice cracks. Some performers intentionally let their voice crack to express emotion in vocal performances, literally as if they are falling apart lol. A random Eurovision example would be Julia’s ‘Que quieres que haga’ from OT Gala 2019 (her live performance). But yeah when your voice cracks it usually goes into falsetto.
I was also thinking about calling it a crack, Danni, but like you said, cracks are usually used as part of the interpretation, while in Michela’s case it seems more like an aspect of her voice. Maybe a natural crack? I also love Julia, so whatever the name we give to it, I can say I’m attracted to this kind of sound even when I’m not paying attention to it.
The best decision! Welcome to the Eurovision, the youngest contestant ever!! đ
Nah. That 11-year-old who sang for France in â89 is never losing that record.
The 13 year old who sang for belgium*
No, the eleven-year-old who sang for France:
https://youtu.be/f9rxnwHbg8A
Finished seventh. Sheâs the reason they raised the age limit the next year. Sandra Kim is still the youngest winner, also an unbeatable record.
Oh, weird i never heared about her.
Nope. Nathalie PĂąque was 11 when she performed at Eurovision 1989. She’s the reason the age rule was implemented in 1990.
Guys, I mean that she is the youngest one since she was born in 2001. đ
Ah, ok. In that sense, youâre correct.
Is she the first Eurovision performer born in the 21st Century then?
Second. Kristian Kostov was born in 2000 I think.
2000 is not the 21st century, it’s still the 20th. Centuries begin on the year ending in -1 because they last one hundred years (ie 1 January 1901 to 31 December 2000). Michela is the first singer born in the 21st century to perform as a lead artist at Eurovision.
I thought 20th century went from 1900 to 1999.
Btw Eliot from Belgium was also born in December 2000.
Katariina is right, however I think the record goes either to Spain 1979 with children choir or Denmark 1985 with that annoying kid. Luxembourg 1969 was pretty close too.
Since there wasn’t a “year zero”, the centuries always start on a year finished by 1, so Katariina is right. Then Eliot and Kristian got close, but Michela tends to be the first artist of a new century in Eurovision. She’ll make History, no matter which result she gets in Tel Aviv. đ
I think you mean Monaco, who sent the 12 year old
You’re right, I’m often confusing Monaco with Luxembourg.
Romania might send Laura Bretan, born in April 2002. Lucky with Serhat, he brings some balance about age.
I didn’t know Laura was that young. Which is a complement, since she sounds much more experienced on the studio version for her song.
Laura singing with Il Volo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYaX-FuvmL4
Quite impressive!
If Il Volo win Sanremo 2019 they will be representing Italy once again in the Eurovision !! sure hope they win Sanremo they are MAGIC !!
And now we also know Bilal will represent France.
Yay! đ