Ever since Destiny Chukunyere gave Malta its second Junior Eurovision win in 2015, fans have been waiting for her to turn 16 and give Eurovision a go. And it looks like 2020 could be her year. The “Not My Soul” singer was among the hopeful acts in the fourth auditions episode of the X Factor Malta.
Destiny and her fellow Maltese singers faced the judges’ panel. Music manager Howard Keith Debono, rock legend Ray Mercieca, singer-songwriter Alexandra Alden and Malta’s Eurovision queen Ira Losco were ready to decide to who would go through to Bootcamp.
Since winning Junior Eurovision 2015, Destiny Chukunyere has been keeping busy, with solo releases, a stint on Britain’s Got Talent, and supporting Michela on backing vocals in Tel Aviv. And now it could be her turn for the Eurovision spotlight. Destiny auditioned with Jennifer Hudson’s “Giving Myself” and her mature performance impressed both judges and viewers, some of whom can imagine Destiny on stage in Rotterdam.
? DESTINY CHUKUNYERE HAS ENTERED X FACTOR MALTA ?
Calling it now: she’ll win the prize of representing Malta at Eurovision, they’ll write her a Lizzo-adjacent affirmation INSPO-BANGER (her Jr Eurovision win was in that ballpark), and she’ll probably win.#Valletta2021
— Rob Holley ?? (@robholley) October 26, 2019
And while the judges gave Destiny four yeses to Bootcamp, she still has to go on and win it. From what we’ve seen of the auditions so far, there are a couple of acts who will be stiff competition for Destiny. But we like a good challenge — may the best singer win!
There weren’t many males auditioning on this episode, but one that stood out was Dav. Jr. The young singer-songwriter spoke of his time in Melbourne, Australia then auditioned with a heartfelt original song played on his acoustic guitar. The judges liked his style and sent him through to Bootcamp.
Fans of Malta’s former national final may recognise Deborah C. The MESC veteran had competed in the show every year from 2012 to its end in 2018. Judge Alex questioned the serial contestant, wondering if her focus was on competitions and not on herself. She auditioned with P!ink’s “Walk Me Home” and got mixed reactions from the judges. But there was still enough support for Deborah C to make it to Bootcamp.
Also standing out was Maltese mom Jozi, who served rock chick realness. Amid all the pop and R&B auditions, she switched it up and performed the Led Zeppelin classic “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You”. With a bold rock voice — and excellent rock hair — Jozi brought a lot to the performance and got four yeses from the judges. She’s off to Bootcamp.
From this week’s episode, joining the above at the Bootcamp round will also be Amy Mizzi, Chanello Galea, Charisse Vassallo, Danika, Francesca Borg, Francesca Busuttil, Francesca Sciberras, Greta Attard, Joanna Gauci Loporto, Julia Balzan, Karine Caruana, Karl Schembri, Laura Camilerri, Lucia Theuma, Mark Debono, Mark Morales, Matthew Vassallo, Miguel Bonello, Samira Cauchi and Shazay Grima. Some of these acts have been put through with the proviso that they will become part of a group at Bootcamp.
What do you think? Who should make it to the X Factor Malta live shows? Would any of these singers be a good pick for Malta to take to Rotterdam? Is this Destiny’s year? Tell us your thoughts below!
Can we actually acknowledge some of the other acts actually exist? I hate it when everyone just focuses on one act when there are so many talented singers there. Yeah Destiny is good, but she isn’t the only good singer competing. Give some of the others a fair shot.
Eurovision 2021 will be held in Valletta 😉
Winning no matter the song WOW. Wasn’t that Lazarev destiny last year too ?
And first she hasn’t already won X-factor or is it rigged ?
Wow, that was an expert and professional audition from Destiny. Outstanding. Easy winner, surely?
The voting public will decide that – the most endearing act will win, not the most talented.
What people don’t vote for talent? 🙂
That’s rhetorical, no need to answer.
The juries have found their new Tamara. Malta is their pet anyway.
that opinion is really stupid. 1. NorthMacedonia didnt qualify 2008 WITH Tamara 2. Northmacedonia have NEVER scored high before with the juries. so bye felicia. Your research is the worst i ever seen.
welp there’s our third confirmed eurovision 2020 participant
i would love to see malta win, they would go crazy
DAVID JR EST LE MEILLEUR ALORS C’ EST LUI QUI DOIT GAGNER
Give her a good song please and have a nice -but not too much- stage perfomance and she will win.
She’s an amazing singer, but with that being said, I think it’s going to be hard to find a suitable song for her and her voice… But if they cold find one – it’s going to be lit
You forgot to mention Francesca Sciberras has an ESC connection as well – she did represent Malta at JESC 2009 as 1/2 of Francesca & Mikaela, the duo who sang the iconic “Double Trouble” 🙂
I still don’t understand what the point of dong X factor is if they are just going to have a national hero be one of the contestants. It’s as if Chiara decides to enter.
I am soooo stoked for eurovision 2020. Albania is bringing their A game, malta might give us destiny, and spain and belgium have made good artist choices already.
Good artist doesnt mean good song
True, but it rarely happens that way..
+ Hurricane just said that they might try out for Serbia!
+ Gaja Prestor or Senidah for Slovenia, Aly Ryan for any country haha and UK are also sending something for once I believe!
You mention Aly Ryan in the list like it’s a good thing. Luckily, I think she’s the least likely to make it anywhere. Unless there’s a HoD who wants to make Eurovision history as Mr. Desperado.
I do like her, yeah she is brutally honest, but why is that considered a bad thing? + if she went for San Marino, if would be better than any other option that San Marino is going to have… so yeah I would like to see her, and she was robbed last year..
Really? That’s all you get from her obscure behavior? Brutal honesty is a good thing to me, but I think she qualifies more as delusional and desperate. Nobody of excellence would ever be peddling themselves like she does. Literally nobody is waiting for her to “come and save them”. Least of all San Marino. They need a sugar daddy who pays their bills. Also: I do not believe that not winning by having a mildly catchy song and giving an okay-ish performance qualifies as being robbed.
Although I will say this: She might be a better Executive Supervisor than the one the EBU has in store.
haha lol XD, I don’t know I don’t get that feeling about her, she just wants to go to Eurovision and all her accusations of NF being rigged are probably (90%) true, I mean there is no way S!isters would won with that song like anywhere…
Oh don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed her sass about the awful German NF and NDR. But that’s where it stopped. She does not have the goods to back up this incessant country hopping (does anybody? Eurovision entries should have an identity, in my opinion). She can do whatever she wants, of course. As well as we can have our opinions. Granted, one might say that having any opinion on this is already too much honor for her, but hey, we are at a Eurovision site.
Done. Now get her an adequate song for Eurovision.
It will either be Destiny or Justine Shorfid.
YAS! Finally!
Please let her be the one chosen with an amazing entry (maybe even resulting in a victory!)
Go Destiny <3
I don’t want to be presumptuous…but SURELY this is Destiny’s to lose!!! I reckon Malta should have ditched MESC and internally selected her the second she turned 16, but if this is how she has to get to Eurovision then so be it. Fingers crossed…
I guess you could say this is destinys… Destiny e.e
The Lil’ Queen of Malta is back ! I’m so excited !
#DestinyForEurovision