Photo: TVM

We’ve made it through all three quarter-finals of Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2023. This latest show presented the last 14 songs out of the 40 39 that are part of the island nation’s supersized selection for Eurovision 2023.

There weren’t any results. Official voting won’t open until 3 February. All the qualifiers will then be revealed at the same time ahead of the semi-final on 9 February.

But that doesn’t stop us from asking who your favourites of the night were. Head down to our poll below to let us know who stood out to you in quarter-final 3 of MESC 2023.

MESC 2023 quarter-final 3 running order

  1. Andre’ – “Broken Hill”
  2. Bradley Debono – “Blackout”
  3. Cheryl Balzan – “La La Land”
  4. James Louis – “Dream”
  5. Dominic & Anna – “Whatever Wind May Blow”
  6. Greta Tude – “Sound of My Stilettos”
  7. Ryan Hili – “In the Silence”
  8. Jessika – “Unapologetic”
  9. Stefan Galea – “Heartbreaker”
  10. Giada – “I Depend on You”
  11. John Galea – “Trailblazer”
  12. Jake – “Love You Like That”
  13. Chris Grech – “Indescribable”
  14. Maria Christina – “Our Flame”

Poll: Who had the best song in quarter-final 3 of Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2023?

You can vote for as many acts as you’d like. However, you’ll only be able to vote once, so choose wisely before submitting.

MESC 2023: Show details

Over three quarter-finals, 40 39 songs will compete in Malta’s selection for Eurovision 2023. Once the voting has taken place, 24 acts will progress to the semi-final on 9 February.

We then get a second cull of the songs, with 16 set to make it through to the grand final on 11 February. It’s here where Malta’s artist for Eurovision 2023 will be selected (though based on previous years, their song could later be changed).

The semi-final and grand final will be hosted by Glen Vella (Eurovision 2011) and Amber (Eurovision 2015).

Which songs stood out to you from quarter-final 3 of Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2023? Could any of these acts go on to win the whole thing? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

46 Comments
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Marco
Marco
1 year ago

I am Maltese, and I am unpleasantly surprised and embarrassed at the level of the songs being produced lately. With these songs we should be banned from participating let alone win this whole thing……as if !

Pinky
Pinky
1 year ago

I can’t understand how someone as talented as Kurt Cassar is back to San Marino while in Malta there’s this trashfest going on. He is one of the most solid male vocalists from Malta I ever heard. Hope he’ll go to mesc and show them how it’s done one day. The only vocalist as strong as him is Ryan Hili pity his song doesn’t grow that much but he’s the strongest link in this joke of selection and really I don’t get how Brooke is receiving more attention than him. Leaving Aidan out is a big mistake, quality is even… Read more »

Christ
Christ
1 year ago
Reply to  Pinky

Ryan is an outstanding vocalist and the song could work with a revamp. Brooke’s song is winner material but she tends to scream some high notes, always turns me off when doing it. I followed Kurt Cassar in San Marino last year it’s good he’s back he’s got a powerful voice and delivers. I doubt he wasn’t shortlisted in Malta if he applied as he’s really good but as we all know Malta is also very corrupt so you never know. On another note, let’s not forget The Busker please, clear underdogs imo. Curious to see how this selection will… Read more »

Eurovision love
Eurovision love
1 year ago
Reply to  Christ

Is Kurt cassar related to Aidan cassar in any way? I hope he presents a better entry than Tears of Gold, that did not do him any justice. My favourite from this trash party has to be Ryan Hili and I’d say Busker. Just figured out Ryan won X factor Malta recently so we might see him in Liverpool in May

Stian F
Stian F
1 year ago

Ridiculous selection…. None of these songs will be in Eurovision anyways… Neither from the 2 previos shows… Just ridiculous. We all know Malta.. well deserving non qualifier for sure, no matter what they end up with.

Milana
Milana
1 year ago

I think stefan was one of the better ones in this quarter

ImpressiveInstants
ImpressiveInstants
1 year ago

Just pick Brooke, buy her a Swedish reject, and let her place 18th in the final.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago

She’d need a much better Swedish reject than Emma in that case. Emma didn’t qualify to the finals with her new song.

Zander25
Zander25
1 year ago

they remove the most interesting act, not saying it’s a worthy winner but the broadcaster just showing how dirty they manage their selection so I’m not interested anymore on whoever Malta chooses.

Panna
Panna
1 year ago
Reply to  Zander25

They probably have bought a Swedish produced song already, they will make one of the girls win and have her perform the Swedish song

Yuvan
Yuvan
1 year ago

I don’t see any purpose for these quarter-finals than money from advertisements, might as well hold these in a karaoke bar next year. No standout acts here, but it shows that many of these songs are simply not interesting.

Jimbo
Jimbo
1 year ago

I watched it from Dominic and Anna performance. The only acts that show a touch of promise was Ryan Hili, Giada and Chris Grech. I must confess it was cringe! Lots of outfits with glitter and leather bottoms plus plenty of fashion disasters. Hosts I have to say even though I don’t understand Maltese were awkward with the music artist. I’m off to follow Ryan Hili, Giada and Chris Grech now on Instagram!

Colin
Colin
1 year ago

My winner, hands down, is Bradley Debono. It’s dark, mysterious, dramatic. Ryan Hili’s vocals are outstanding, and his song is good too, but I feel like it didn’t go to a huge level I was hyped for. Giada also did really well. What a pleasant surprise after last year. Jessika’s song is a guilty pleasure, but she sells it 100%. She is such a professional on stage. John Galea also put a smile on my face, and his song has something. As for most of the other entries… I feel too kind now to comment. Maybe tomorrow. 🙂

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

Listening to all 39 songs at least once (I came back to most of them this morning), I think that my top 5 are Bradley Debono, Nathan, The Busker, Ryan Hili, and Eliana Gomez Blanco. Maxine Pace (who is excellent, but I had higher hopes for her song from the snippet), Christian Arding, and Giada would come next, with Brooke very close by (overhyped, but solid). Dan completes my top 10 (the song is catchy and cute.) Jessika is currently my 12th, because she can elevate any material. I wish if she competed with stronger songs. Some songs are just… Read more »

The Voice of Reason
The Voice of Reason
1 year ago

Aidan.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago

Why are so many songs about romance and heartbreak? It’s insipid.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

Ideas for songs, feel free to steal. A ghost comes back to haunt the person that murdered them. A man was in jail for sixteen years for a crime he did not commit. An alcoholic has been sober for two decades but modern life is about to ruin that. A farmer who breeds animals for meat slowly comes to realise that this is cruelty. An adopted person wonders about their unknown heritage. An elderly chemist accidentally discovers time travel.

I thought of these just as I was typing them, it’s not hard. Please feel free to donate more, readers.

Sol Stevia
Sol Stevia
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

-A Human falling in love with a mythical or otherwise unreal creature, i.e Werewolf, Vampire, etc etc -A personal safe space in one’s own mind that they run to when they feel anxious -A Servant falls in love with their King\Queen -A song about someone who was abused by their parents and is now a parent themselves and is happy about it and is a loving parent to their kids -A recovering addict describing their addiction in great detail and how they couldn’t escape from it but finally found their way out -A song about how living forever would suck… Read more »

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Sol Stevia

Sol Stevia for Malta 2024!

Sol Stevia
Sol Stevia
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

:]

Sol Stevia
Sol Stevia
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

If only I could sing or produce a track lmafo.

Panna
Panna
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

Maybe it is because most artists prefer to write songs about their experiences and feelings, rather than creating a fantasy.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Panna

Maybe, but it would be better if they had the talent to actually do that. It could also help if the contest was more open to all ages, where people with more actual life experience could present a wider array of feelings. Wisdom, endurance, guilt, sorrow, forgiveness, acceptance, all that kind of stuff. Imagination is also very important, so they can express their “feelings” through fiction as much as through fact.

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
1 year ago

Is anyone even watching or are we boycotting?

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  BadWoolfGirl

I watched, but nobody else commented, so…

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

I half watched. Nothing could really hold my interest, partly because of the low cost staging. Some of these performers are good, but all deserve a better song.

Sol Stevia
Sol Stevia
1 year ago
Reply to  BadWoolfGirl

I don’t like any of the songs so :\

Sol Stevia
Sol Stevia
1 year ago
Reply to  Sol Stevia

:[*

Sol Stevia
Sol Stevia
1 year ago
Reply to  Sol Stevia

Oh now you wanna show the face I put wiwi comment? nvm

John
John
1 year ago

It’s like a high school musical tryout. My ears are bleeding.

CHINGIS
CHINGIS
1 year ago

THE GAME OVER??!?!

Colin
Colin
1 year ago

Bravo, Giada! 🙂 As someone who found “Revelacion” so bad it’s good at best, I was really pleased hearing “I Depend on You”.

brennan
brennan
1 year ago

this is a pretty rare moment where i genuinely can’t make myself like any of the songs (maybe a Belarus NF from 2017 might have come close)

which is a bummer maybe considering that Aidan’s song had me feeling pretty optimistic about Malta’s chances this year

brennan
brennan
1 year ago
Reply to  brennan

… after watching the whole thing, I vote for… the jingle from the jewellery ads (‘belle époque’ by the devil’s sway)

Karl
Karl
1 year ago

Malta makes me cringe. The broadcaster and the delegation are so corrupt.

NickC
NickC
1 year ago

Sorry, but someone should tell PBS it is not quantity but the quality that matters.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago

Unless Ryan Hili really knocks it out of the park with his full version, I think that Bradley Debono is my go-to choice to go to Liverpool. A dark, dramatic “Phantom of the opera-esque” ballad with fantastic voice and good lyrics. I’m glad that I’m quite satisfied with the full version.

Yankee
Yankee
1 year ago

I haven’t listened to any snippets. I’m still waiting for the full versions to be released. Apparently, it will be next week and I’m super excited.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago

Do we know what songs are worth waiting for? I haven’t listened to the snippets. Any songwriters stand out?

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

My personal favorite snippets from this semi:

  • In the Silence by Ryan Hili
  • Blackout by Bradley Debono
  • I Depend on You by Giada

I have no idea whether they’ll deliver in a full song or not.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

Thank you, I’ll look out for them.

Ritoli
Ritoli
1 year ago

Why don’t you publish an article about the song “Cha Cha Cha” from Finland and the whole issue of copying from the song “WE GOT THE MOVES”? This song may be disqualified.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Ritoli

Patience. Maybe there’s nothing to tell.

Karen
Karen
1 year ago
Reply to  Ritoli

Because it’s a nothingburger

Anoni
Anoni
1 year ago
Reply to  Ritoli

Maybe because there isn’t any plagiarism. Just because two songs are of a similar genre doesn’t immediately mean one copied the other. It’s so easy to look at Kaarija’s previous works to know that this song is well within his usual style. He is a rapper and he’s done some rock songs. His songs usually include a funky dubstep/electro instrumental. Cha cha cha is just the amalgamation of all these different types of songs he’s done. If anyone seriously believes this is plagiarism then they need to check a dictionary to find the meaning of the word and maybe also… Read more »

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
1 year ago
Reply to  Ritoli

Because there isn’t any copying.