While Malta skipped holding a national final this year in favour of internally selecting Destiny, the country has been treated to a new incarnation of an old song contest. The revamped Mużika Mużika contest made its debut, celebrating Maltese song. The contest was won on Saturday night by Malta’s Eurovision 2011 star Glen Vella with his song “Ħarsa Biss”.
The Maltese Song Festival has taken many forms since 1960. The contest has been relaunched this year as Mużika Mużika – Festival Kanzunetta Maltija (Music Music – Maltese Song Festival), with an emphasis on the Maltese language and Maltese artists.
The 2021 edition was won by Glen Vella and his pop ballad “Ħarsa Biss” (“Just Look”). In Eurovision style, the winner was decided by a combination of televotes (25%) and a jury vote (75%) in a nailbiting finish.
Glen tied with fellow competitor (and jury vote winner) Christian Arding on 78 points. But it was Glen who won the tiebreak with the higher televote score and therefore won the whole competition. The televote favourite was national final regular Danica Muscat.
Glen Vella previously represented Malta at Eurovision 2011. His song “One Life” placed 11th in its semi-final, just one point away from qualifying.
Mużika Mużika also featured other familiar names from Eurovision and Malta’s national finals. Acts included Eurovision 2001 star (and Claudia’s brother) Fabrizio Faniello, national final regulars Franklin Calleja, AIDAN, Janice Mangion and Avenue Sky.
Mużika Mużika 2021 grand final results
- Glen Vella – “Ħarsa Biss” (78 points)
- Christian Arding – “Għajjejt Inħobb” (78 points) jury vote winner
- Kantera – “L-Ewwel Jien” (74 points)
- Janice Mangion ft. George Curmi Pusè – “Teżor” (69 points)
- AIDAN – “Naħseb Fik” (65 points)
- Fabrizio Faniello – “Fjamma” (64 points)
- Danica Muscat – “Għażiż” (62 points) televote winner
- Franklin Calleja – “Warajk” (56 points)
- Bernie & Pod – “Ħudni Lura” (43 points)
- Miguel Bonello – “Sinfonija Ħiemda” (40 points)
- Avenue Sky – “Kompli Tbissem” (32 points)
- Raquel – “Vizzju” (28 points)
Inspired by Sanremo, Malta puts on a show
With Destiny one of the hot favourites to win Eurovision 2021, Mużika Mużika was an example that broadcaster TVM still knows how to put on a large-scale live music competition.
The event was held at the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre (MFCC), also the home of the most recent editions of the Malta Eurovision Song Contest and the live X Factor Malta shows. The contest was broadcast on TVM and — after the patchy Junior Eurovision 2016 — the broadcaster proved they could still host a slick, modern song contest.
Mużika Mużika also took its cue from Italy’s Sanremo Music Festival. The Maltese event took place over three nights, and included one night when the competing acts performed duets of classic Maltese songs with other Maltese stars. And like Sanremo, Mużika Mużika also featured a live orchestra.
What do you think? Should Malta send a Maltese language song to Eurovision 2022? Would you like to see any of these acts at Eurovision? Tell us your thoughts below!
I am happy I was in the contest as the author of WARAJK. Franklin did a great job…. Music was by Dominic Cini.
It was an impressive show. 3 days of maltese talent, live orchestra and an amazing stage. It will return in 2022
Congratulations Etienne! As I well know Malta’s sure Got lots of Talent! Are you Rick and Wayne’s brother?
Congratulations Glen. Back to 2011, just 10 years ago, he deserved to final, OOOne life was a very good song.
It surprises me how small countries like Iceland and Malta have been capable of developing their own musical industries. It’s praiseworthy in my book.
And I agree with what other users say. Malta should use national finals and send songs in Maltese, but they should guarantee a variety of styles and artists. I mean, Fabrizio Faniello has competed tons of times in these NFs and represented Malta in ESC twice. Other artists from the country like Red Electrick, Xtruppaw and Airport Impressions should receive chances.
janice mangion!! kewkba was a masterpiece, i was heartbroken when she lost to claudia in 2017
Tezor is as good as Kewkba
Just being curious, how much did Malta pay for wiwibloggs to get them to write several of stories about Malta in the last few days?
can’t they appreciate a local festival?
Of course they can, but there is a line of small words under that photo says ‘proof that Malta can still put on a live music competition’. Are we some kind of agree the winner this year will be Malta? After reading so many reports on some specific counties, I’m feeling that’s not fair for other contestants.
I agree with you but I do not think wiwibloggs is that powerful to influence the ESC outcomes in May. No offence Admin team <3
I can already bet 100% that MAlta will have the highest note of the wiwi jury this year.
I bet you it won’t!
Free. Because it’s a songfest that had Eurovision alumni involved so it’s worth doing a write-up about it.
If you’re not interested about all things Malta, you can always scroll down to look for ones about other countries.
Useless comment
Malta, I LOVE YOU
He is so cute and what a good voice/song. He should make a song together with Destiny !
I like it very much. better than destiny
Production and stage design are on point. Malta is ready to host!
This is very interesting! Would be a good format to select the Eurovision participant! I’d just change the 25/75 televote-jury thing, maybe. Malta has some very good talents in its pockets
making it 50-50 and using Eurovision points (1-8,10,12 or 1,2,4,6,8,10,12) will be far better, just like 2011-2018 Melodifestivalen.
please TVM let this be your Eurovision selection from 2022 onwards, and please put the at-most-3-minute song length rule as well once it becomes a selection, making it a true Eurovision selection…
Omg please let this become the Maltese selection from next year onwards. We’d get some songs in Maltese, and an actually well-produced Maltese national final. I would love to see it
Congratulations to Glen; you were robbed of a final spot in 2011 courtesy of UK vote for that Swiss mess which predictably bombed on the Saturday