The competition is heating up in Malta. This week, the island nation will choose its star for Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool at the national final Malta Eurovision Song Contest.

On Thursday 9 February, 24 acts will compete in the Malta Eurovision Song Contest semi-final. Eight artists will get the chop, while 16 lucky stars will make it through to Saturday’s grand final. Amongst the acts vying for a finale spot are Malta’s 2001 and 2006 Eurovision star Fabrizio Faniello, MESC veteran Brooke and fan favourite Matt Blxck. 

Ahead of the semi-final, we want to hear from you. Who should qualify from the MESC 2023 semi-final? Listen to the acts and vote in our poll. 

Scroll down to vote in our poll.

Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2023 competing entries

Twenty-four acts will compete in the MESC 2023 semi-final. Sixteen acts will go through to Saturday’s final and eight will be eliminated.

Poll: Who should qualify from the Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2023 semi-final?

In this poll, you can vote for as many acts as you like. But remember, you can only vote once — so choose wisely. This poll will close on Wednesday 8 February, with results published ahead of the MESC semi-final on Thursday. 

Who did you vote for? Which artist will win Malta Eurovision Song Contest? Let us know in the comments section below.

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SA17
SA17
1 year ago

Personally I feel like The Busker or Maxine Pace can actually do quite well with a good revamp. I don’t mind Brooke, powerful vocals and good stage presence but the song itself is too common.

Having said that unfortunately I don’t think Maxine will be in the top 3, instead Ryan Hili will be.

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
1 year ago

I also likely think Brooke will probably represent Malta. I’ll be surprised if it’s anyone else.

Jofty
Jofty
1 year ago
Reply to  BadWoolfGirl

I am going to the show on Saturday, it’s my third time. The only difference this year is I have “prior knowledge” of the songs. I have seen Brooke and Matt Black before when he performed under a different name. Like you, I will be most surprised if Brooke does not win, especially with Aidan out of the way. I have also seen Aidan as a soloist and with “boyband” Avenue Sky, one of whose members was about 40. I will expect the unexpected, there are worse ways of spending a Saturday night!

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
1 year ago
Reply to  Jofty

You’re actually from Malta? Lucky that you’re going to see the show live and not just from your TV

Jofty
Jofty
1 year ago
Reply to  BadWoolfGirl

No, I’m from Ireland but I live in UK. I travel to Malta quite a lot for holiday.

XOOOD
XOOOD
1 year ago

OPTION Z: NONE OF THE ABOVE!

Tibor
Tibor
1 year ago

Sorry for the OT, but since Cristian doesn’t seem to cover Sanremo this year, we have very little opportunity to talk about it. The running order is out.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Tibor

Marco is night 1, along with Ultimo, Ana Oxa, Elodie. Levante is night 2, along with Colapesce Dimartino, Madame. These are the ones I’m most anticipating, anyway. Where can I see the actual running order? What I’ve seen on Twitter seems to be alphabetical. One day to go!

Tibor
Tibor
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

I have put a link to the announcement in my post – click on “running order”. It’s in Italian but not that difficult to understand, Amadeus is talking very slowly.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Tibor

Oh, thank you, I missed that.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

Marco fourth! I like when my favourites are on early, the steam seems to run out of the crowd’s energy by the end.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

He’s the critics favourite, and he sells out stadiums. I think he has a good chance of winning. Don’t know if he’ll go to Liverpool if he does, though. Maybe he’ll want to give somebody else the chance, having himself come 7th in 2013.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

Stadia

paul
paul
1 year ago

The national selection that should be renamed borefest

EuroFanGirl16
EuroFanGirl16
1 year ago

Hamilton Travel

Planetcrush
Planetcrush
1 year ago

Unpopular Malta opinion: Emma Muscat was much much better than Destiny! MUSCAT should have been 1st in odds instead of Jemecasse

Benito Camelo
Benito Camelo
1 year ago
Reply to  Planetcrush

Maybe in an alternative reality

Tom
Tom
1 year ago
Reply to  Planetcrush

it is not happening in the real life

Thallo
Thallo
1 year ago

THE most annoying country at Eurovision.

Jon
Jon
1 year ago
Reply to  Thallo

On what basis?

paul
paul
1 year ago
Reply to  Thallo

true Malta used to be well supported by the eurofamily but its just fallen away,theres little interest in who malta sends or how malta does at eurovision anymore.
these boring selection shows dont help

Thallo
Thallo
1 year ago
Reply to  paul

I couldn’t have said it better myself. I love supporting smaller countries at Eurovision, but god, Malta is just like an annoying little fly in the corner that won’t stop buzzing. It’s the most corrupt broadcaster in ESC, I’m sick of their scandals.

Chris Malta
Chris Malta
1 year ago
Reply to  Thallo

Pity Eurovision finished being watched by such hateful persons such as you. And you say music unites. In your dreams!

Thallo
Thallo
1 year ago
Reply to  Chris Malta

But it’s a fact, the Maltese broadcaster is so annoying! I’m tired of them.

Scandal after scandal, several songs changed after the public voted otherwise (lack of respect for the public choice), constant corruption accusations, broadcaster spending huge hundreds of thousands of euros to advertise their entries on YouTube adverts & banning MESC contestants. I can go on and on…

malta
malta
1 year ago
Reply to  Thallo

Easy dont follow us is easy there are many other countries follow them 🙂

NickC
NickC
1 year ago

I will not vote because i do not have time to listen this many songs. I also think it is cruel and pointless to occupy that many artists for weeks. Malta should learn from Finland: choose a handful of local talent, and give them real exposure. Even Sweden, with its gigantic music industry shortlist a smaller number of songs.
This whole selection smells like corruption wasting public money.

paul
paul
1 year ago
Reply to  NickC

sometimes less is more.
the largest national selection for one of the smallest competing nations,wouldnt be so bad if the quality was there,but malta have become boring at eurovision

Doggy Bark
Doggy Bark
1 year ago
Reply to  NickC

you cannot air the same ad 100500 times if you do not have 42 candidates singing in 5 shows.

Milan
Milan
1 year ago

I don’t see if, in a poll where multiple selections are possible and you basically vote independently for each entry, you are not allowed to cast your vote if you think none should qualify. True, that is basically a useless vote, but a vote it is.

Ari
Ari
1 year ago
Reply to  Milan

Just like in a political election. You can always cast an invalid vote to express your disapproval with everyone participating. A useless vote, for sure, but it’s still counted and shows that what is being offered isn’t good enough.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Ari

Offered by who? As long as everybody has the ability to run as a candidate, then there is plenty of choice.

Ari
Ari
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

Umm no. The ability alone doesn’t get you on the ballot. A party does.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Ari

What are independents?

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

Think of those idiots who dress up as aliens or monsters standing on the podium in the UK, when the vote count is being announced.

Ari
Ari
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

I dunno, what are they? People with no influence? How many independents make up your government and make laws?

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Ari

There’s nothing to stop voters from making that happen. The whole parliament could be made up of independents, in theory.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

My point being that you actually do not need a party to get on the ballot. The problem is you need resources to run a campaign.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

UK I was thinking of, like I said in my comment that went into the moderation system and now can be seen only sometimes. Not every country in Europe is like that. Sweden no. Italy had an independent prime minister only last year, though. France almost has an independent president, that’s what he was before he formed his own little gang. Croatia a while ago. Other countries have independents in government because no one party has a majority. This concludes my lecture. I’m not sure this Malta poll was worth the typing.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

Small correction – Croatia never actually had an independent president, yet always formally has ”an independent president”. Our second president Stipe Mesic was a nominee of minor parties coalition, which is a less common position to win from. Usually, it’s between HDZ and SDP, but not this time. Technically, all presidents of Croatia, while in office, have to pause their party memberships, as they are formally representing the whole nation equally. But maybe you are referring to the late mayor of Zagreb, Milan Bandic, who indeed finished second in the presidential elections once, beating the HDZ candidate out of the… Read more »

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

Thank you. I am never as clever as I pretend to be. I thought you had an independent prime minister for a short time a few years ago? I’m interested in politics, but it’s hard to keep track of the smaller countries. It’s mostly the big ones that get all the headlines.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

Oh, you are right. We did! You *are clever*. A prime minister, not a president, but formally independent nonetheless. I waa concentrating on presidents only. He is the father of Ella Oreskovic who competed in Dora twice. But the funniest part is that his name wasn’t even on any ballot, and the first time I found out about his existence is the day he was declared the prime minister. Long story short, the ruling HDZ and oppositional SDP both failed to get enough votes to form a government, while a newly formed third party Most (the bridge) gained enough to… Read more »

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

* Božo Petrov, not Andrej, ha ha ha

Andrej is our current prime minister, Plenkovic. Sorry for the mistake.

Ari
Ari
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

if only!

Milan
Milan
1 year ago
Reply to  Ari

This is what I’m complaining about. Here one cannot even cast an invalid vote because it is refused with a message saying “Please make a choice”.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Milan

Just don’t vote, and then ask people to look at the total number of votes cast. If it’s low, that will say something by itself.

Film4o
Film4o
1 year ago

The Busker song is the one i like the most. Their presence on stage is also very playful and charismatic.

FlopFlip
FlopFlip
1 year ago

I do think that this NS isn’t as bad as people are depicting it to be. I agree that the ‘bad’ songs overpower the ‘good songs’, but there are a couple of songs that can make it to the final with an adequate revamp. Ryan Hili, Maxine, Brooke, and The Busker all have a decent shot at qualifying if the staging and the song are elevated accordingly. I also have a soft spot for Eliana, her song is a bop from start to finish.

P.S. I completely agree that this national selection has been dragged on for way tooooo long.

Benito Camelo
Benito Camelo
1 year ago
Reply to  FlopFlip

It’s just that Malta fell out of the fans’ grace and became unpopular

WannaEatMySpaghetti
WannaEatMySpaghetti
1 year ago

Is this poll even important? There is not a single song in this selection that could make it to the final in Liverpool.

West
West
1 year ago

At this point I’m almost convinced that they’re rather write about anything but the Czech selection – you know, the one where everyone can vote in.

Luk
Luk
1 year ago
Reply to  West

I have nothing against Malta, but I do not understand the total omission of the Czech Republic

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
1 year ago
Reply to  West

Today is the last day, so if you want your favor to win, you better vote now

Tom
Tom
1 year ago

The Busker is the best and that’s it. Period.

Chris Malta
Chris Malta
1 year ago

Lyndsay did not qualify. Why is she included in the list?

Benito Camelo
Benito Camelo
1 year ago

Malta will buy a new song and announce it before the deadline, anyways. It doesn’t make sense xd

Mr X
Mr X
1 year ago

I only like The Busker. The weakest one of all preselections this year.

Serafina
Serafina
1 year ago

This NS been too long for no reason, no one’s hyped about this lol
But since Malta hasn’t done well with generic melfest-like pop songs,
THE BUSKER – “DANCE (OUR OWN PARTY)” is probably their best
option for >>an attempt<< of qualification (since none of these are that great
nor grand final worthy)

Stian F
Stian F
1 year ago

The Busker song is actually quite amazing. It is heads above anything else in this selection and would be a great Eurovision entry for Malta. Also, it is the ONLY – read ONLY song that could make Malta qualify for the final this year!

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
1 year ago

There should be a 25th option in this poll— I don’t care.

Orla Burke
Orla Burke
1 year ago

I suppose whoever the mafia says ?

The Voice of Reason
The Voice of Reason
1 year ago

Mihail – he’s the only one who realises what the fans want – Maltese. But is it worth caring if Aidan isn’t there?

Doggy Bark
Doggy Bark
1 year ago

The situation with Aidan is tragicomedic when you realize that he was promoting a song that would’ve never represented Malta even if he won.

Voix
Voix
1 year ago

This is me coming from the future. It doesn’t matter who qualifies. Brooke is going to win and her melfest reject purchase will be announced few days before the March deadline.

Ari
Ari
1 year ago
Reply to  Voix

Just like the model from last year, it will be a deeply heartfelt and extremely personal song that the artist herself wrote by channelling her powers through Dino Medanhodzic and others.
and others. To make it more special, Brooke herself added… umm ordered Gerard James Borg to add some brilliant phrases like “drop your guard, high alert”.

Voix
Voix
1 year ago
Reply to  Ari

#sheiswhatsheis

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago

Two Eurovision winners up for Grammys tonight, I just remembered. Hopefully there will be a nice article tomorrow about the Best New Artists, and Album of the Year.

Ari
Ari
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

Is it Marie N and The Herreys?

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Ari

2XL and Teach In

Ari
Ari
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

I had to look up 2XL. I suspected it had something to do with Estonia but I only associate Tanel and Dave with 2001. Apparently, 2XL are called Soul Militia since 2002 so I assume theyll be getting their Grammy under that name.

Jofty
Jofty
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

I assume not 2/XXL from Macedonia. I love them 100% yes I do.

Stephanie
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

They lost to jazz singer Samara Joy (Brazilians are steamed because they were confident Anitta was going to win). ABBA also got shut out in their categories

Vivian
Vivian
1 year ago

At the very least I think it’s interesting Malta hasn’t dropped out of the contest since they never get televote support. We already know they’re the biggest scapegoat of a soon-to-be killer semifinal. Honestly I would’ve pulled a North Macedonia move here and wait a year before the next, saving up funds to send a proper act, of which there are none in this selection.

Ari
Ari
1 year ago
Reply to  Vivian

Nope, no victim here. Malta came 2nd in 2002 and 2005 which was both mostly televoting. And the funds don’t buy taste. They threw bags of money at Losco and Destiny. You deserve to fail when you let Björkman pick your song and try to win on anything but merit.

Serafina
Serafina
1 year ago
Reply to  Vivian

I think the main issue is that Europe probably don’t want a generic pop song from Malta, even if it’s a great one like 2019 and 2021. They did well with the televote whenever they stepped away from sending either melfest rejects or pop ballads

Ari
Ari
1 year ago

Does Malta manage to get over ten foreign followers at this point? I only checked out Brooke for obvious reasons and well, it’s perfect! For a 5th to 7th place in a Melodifestivalen heat. Although last night’s heat was so weak she could’ve qualified. Her song is filled with trite clichés from start to finish. Just like the abysmal Irish winner, only with fancier words. And those overexaggerated hand movements she makes dont make the act more interesting, either. My harshness is dripping fire, but come on, tell me I’m wrong. lol

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Ari

One of the songwriters also did Italy 2012, so he goes up in my opinion just because of that.

Zanoni
Zanoni
1 year ago

The Busker is my pick here.

Zanoni
Zanoni
1 year ago
Reply to  Zanoni

And it’s absolutely obvious. This is the one with an outside shot at qualifying.

Alecs
Alecs
1 year ago

Does Aidan react to his situation till now? So sad for him.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago

Bradley Debono, Nathan, The Busker, Ryan Hili, Eliana Gomez Blanco, Maxine Pace. Brooke should also definitely qualify to top 16, but there are more interesting songs to win. And what Jofty says, we can hope that the Maltese broadcaster won’t play another game of charades after this selection is done, and that the selected song, whose victory is 50% paid by the televoters, will actually go to Liverpool.

Idksmth
Idksmth
1 year ago

Either Brooke being the most professional should win or The Buskers, because they bring some fun and televoters could appreciate them, maybe enough to push through in 10th, but I wouldn’t count on it. Maxine isn’t a bad choice either, I’m not sure about her, would be like Christabelle winning MESC with arguably her worst song. But judging by the massive margin between Brooke and others in views for their QF performances, this is probably her year, especially with Aidan being DQ. Wouldn’t be opposed to her having a new song for Liverpool as this seems below her talents, but… Read more »

Jofty
Jofty
1 year ago

Perhaps there should be another option; will any of the named songs represent Malta in Liverpool?!

Karl
Karl
1 year ago

A national final with 42,000 acts lol

Elizabeth
Elizabeth
1 year ago

The poll is broken. It won’t let you select more than one.

Karl
Karl
1 year ago
Reply to  Oliver Adams

How is it fixed? It should only let you select one, as only one act will go.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Karl

16 will qualify, which is the question.

Alex
Alex
1 year ago
Reply to  Karl

To the contrary, the poll is trying to get a sense of who people would be happy qualifying. But even if it were just a poll for who should win, Wiwibloggs wisely does multi-choice voting (also called approval voting) because the real question is which entry has the most supporters, not which entry has the most people ranking it first. That is, the poll answers the question of which entry has the most people who would be happy if it won. If our political voting systems worked this way too, we’d end up with fewer unpopular candidates, disincentivize similar candidates… Read more »

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago

Aidan should qualify.

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

He would’ve been, my winner, had he not been disqualified.