Maltese Eurovision Selection 2014. Artists in the green room Photo (c) Daniel d’Anastasi PBS Ltd

MALTA – Welcome to our LIVE Rolling Blog of the Maltese Eurovision Song Contest for 2014. Just refresh the page for Live updates starting from 20:45 CET

How and where to look at the show with us

The Maltese National Final will be transmitted live at 20:45 CET on TVM, TVM HD, Radju Malta 1

On-Line you can look HERE on TVM and HERE on Eurovision.tv

14 Finalists and Running Order

01 – “Lovetricity” – CHRISTABELLE
02 – “Some Kind Of Wonderful” – WAYNE WILLIAM
03 – “Brand New Day” – DAVINIA
04 – “City Lady” – RYAN PAUL ABELA
05 – “Love Will Take Me Home” – FRANKLIN
06 – “One Last Ride” – DANIEL TESTA
07 – “Let the Sunshine In” – SOPHIE DEBATTISTA
08 – “Oblivion” – CHRIS GRECH
09 – “Until We Meet Again” – DEBORAH C
10 – “Hypnotica” – JESSIKA
11 – “Take Me” – PAMELA
12 – “Coming Home” – FIRELIGHT
13 – “Because I Have You” – AMBER
14 – “Pin The Middle” – DeBee

LIVE ROLLING BLOG – JUST REFRESH THE PAGE – 20:45 (CET)

Our Man John Stanton is ringside for the show. Here is the pre-show warm-up

Malta Pre Show. Photo : Eurovision Ireland

Here is the Opening Act getting ready #Rainmaker?

Maltese Opening Act. Photo : Eurovision Ireland

No – It is Malta’s first ever Eurovision Winner (Junior) the little dynamo Gaia Cauchi with her winning song “The Start”. For all those who knock JESC she has just brought the house down!

Gaia Cauchi opens the Maltese Final. Photo : Eurovision Ireland

01 – “Lovetricity” – CHRISTABELLE

Lovetricity Photo : Eurovision ireland

200% of energy from Christabelle. I think she was certainly plugged into the Maltese National Grid for that performance. Fast dance track with plenty of shining lights that I am sure were seen from space. Catchy chorus in this all girl act. Good start to the show

02 – “Some Kind Of Wonderful” – WAYNE WILLIAM

Now for something completely different. Always hard to go second in such a big field of songs. Good vocals from Wayne but you somewhat felt that you came down from an energetic start. A pleasant song but feel he may get lost in the show.

Wayne William. Photo : Eurovision Ireland

03 – “Brand New Day” – DAVINIA

“My Heart Goes Oh Oh Ohhh” – You know what you are getting with this song. It is pure bubble-gum 50/60’s inspired pop music. Many will stick their noses in the air for this simple song – but the simplicity of the song is its strength. This is a “song bomb” – easily set off but leaves an impression. You can’t get it out of your mind. Don’t rule this one out. The audience loved it.

Davina in for her close up. Photo : Eurovision Ireland

TV BREAK – Expect a few of these during the night

04 – “City Lady” – RYAN PAUL ABELA

I thought I would be in the minority in liking this song but not. It has a retro 70/80’s feel to it with a chorus that has you humming along to! Ryan has a face that mother’s will love, a quiff that will make Jedward jealous and some facial hair that gives him a Teen Wolf look – but in a good way. As the chorus is so catchy the song loses some of it’s pace in the transition to the verses. That can easily be rectified with some production. Catchy and cheeky. Not a winner but a good effort.

Ryan Paul Ablea. Photo : Eurovision Ireland

05. “Love Will Take Me Home” – FRANKLIN

I have always tipped this song for the competition. Franklin will have teenage girls/boys grabbing their phones to vote. He is spot on with his vocals and camera angles. He was utterly charming and engaging on stage. A dramatic ballad that is well written and should score well with all people. The audience were clapping throughout the performance. One to watch.

Franklin. Photo : Eurovision Ireland

06 – “One Last Ride” – DANIEL TESTA

Proving that JESC singers can make that jump to the adult contest. Daniel has a killer hook in his song that gets you on your feet or at least humming along – even if you are a musical snob. The song though drops when it gets to the chorus. He was determined to sell the song and bravo for that. He is highly though of and liked in Malta so this could score well in the public vote. How it might score with the juries is another kettle of fish. Could be a Top 5 with the Maltese televote support

Daniel Testa. Photo : Eurovision Ireland

TV Ad Break number 2

Gianluca and Ira on the ukulele – Hey it wouldn’t be Eurovision without a ukulele!

Gianluca and Ira on the ukulele. Photo : Eurovision Ireland

07 – “Let the Sunshine In” – SOPHIE DEBATTISTA

Guitar based pop song from a funky looking Sophie. I just hope no animals were hurt in the making of her coat. This is catchy and taps into that guitar based Gary Barlow sounding song. Radio friendly and could sit well on a Eurovision stage. This could go one way or another but I rather fancy this one.

SOPHIE DEBATTISTA. Photo ; Eurovision Ireland

08 – “Oblivion” – CHRIS GRECH

This is the type of song that you know you should like as it is authentic and raw but for me it leaves me a little cold. There were big notes in the song that literally went into “Oblivion” and you could tell that they had taken their toll on Chris and his voice was breaking under the strain. The abrupt ending made you feel like the writers had ran out of melody for the song. A good singer that had the wrong song. Shame

Chris Grech. Photo : Eurovision Ireland

09 – “Until We Meet Again” – DEBORAH C

Oh a song that you want to like and it starts off promising though gets stuck in second gear and fails to reach full horse power. Competently sung but the brass section in the song made it seem dated as opposed to retro. Instead of getting a 2014 song with 80’s influences you got an 80’s song with 2014 hints. It was at times listening to Riva’s “Rock Me” from 1989 – which was a tough pill to swallow back then – so you can guess how I thought of this song.

Deborah C. Photo : Eurovision Ireland

TV AD Break Number 3

Just over the half way mark and I would say that Franklin, Spohie, Daniel and Davina are leading the way but some of the favourite are up next

10 – “Hypnotica” – JESSIKA

Every national selection has to have a “Euphoria” style song and this is it. For a slender woman Jessika has a huge voice on her that at times was too strong. Having said that I loved the the zebra glitter painted dancers. Warren who choreographed Kurt’s “This is the night” in 2012 has a hand in this stage performance – job well done. The local audience loved it though the Euphoria comparisons might be a hurdle at Eurovision.

Jessika. Photo : Eurovison Ireland

11 – “Take Me” – PAMELA

You could not get any different a song from Hypnotica. A gentle ballad that almost had yodelling it it. Looking like a Miss World contestant – Pamela gave a safe performance. Pleasant but I think would struggle to qualify from a Eurovision Semi Final.

Pamela. Photo Eurovision Ireland

12 – “Coming Home” – FIRELIGHT

Oh this has winner written all over it. Think Mumford and Sons meets Lady Antebellum and you have a Blue Grass inspired pop song. I defy you not to tap your feet to this song. A real band who know how to work the camera and the audience. If you want a song that is instant and memorable then this is it. I have just had a Gianluca moment like I did last year. One to watch.

Firelight. Photo : Eurovision Ireland

TV AD Break Number 4

13 – “Because I Have You” – AMBER

Amber gives a strong performance of this gentle ballad. It reminds me of Estonia from last year – that gentle grower of a song that you like. Will score well with  the juries but not sure how it will coming after Firelight

Amber. Photo : Eurovision Ireland

14 – “Pin The Middle” – DeBee

This is Amy McDonald meeting Denmark’s classic 1995 song “Fra Mols til Skagen” by Aud Wilken. A quirky mid-tempo song with some great key changes in it to make it immensely interesting. Great stage show but that comes from having some of Ira Losco’s team involved with their development. Great moments in the song that got the audience involved in the song. This for me has winner all over it – but who can tell what will happen with the International Judges

DeBee. Photo : Eurovision Ireland

That is your lot. A huge variety of acts and songs. If I had to pick a Top 5 I would have to go for

• DeBee
• Firelight
• Franklin
• Jessika
• Christabelle

So who makes your Top 5?

Interval Acts

Ira and Gianluca begin our Interval Acts

As we speak John has jumped backstage to interview Switzerland’s Sebalter for us!

Voting lines have closed!

TV AD Break 5

Gianluca back singing “Happy Song” – from his debut solo album. Looks like he is joined by the rest of the Bezzina family. What a talented family.

Gianluca sings his Eurovision 2013 song “Tomorrow”

Guess where Eurovision Ireland is? Yes The Green Room

Malta Green Room. Photo : Eurovision Ireland

Eurovision Ireland’s John caught up with “Firelight” and “Pamela”. We hope Pamela was giving us a “Peace Sign”

Eurovision Ireland with Firelight. Photo : Eurovision Ireland

Eurovision Ireland with Pamela. Photo : Eurovision Ireland

Here we are with Franklin and team

Eurovision Ireland with Franklin Photo – Eurovision Ireland

We caught up with Deborah C and Wayne William too

Eurovision Ireland with Deborah C and Wayne William – Photo Eurovision Ireland

Local Band “Winter Moods” take to the stage for the Interval Act

Eurovision Ireland with Amber

Eurovision Ireland with Amber – Photo Eurovision Ireland

Eurovision Ireland with DeBee – Photo Eurovision Ireland

Another song from “Winter Moods”

Eurovision Ireland with Daniel Testa – Photo Eurovision Ireland

Swiss Eurovision Representatives for 2014 Sebalter take to the stage to perform their entry “Hunter For Stars”

Live from the Green Room in Malta – Photo Eurovision Ireland

Now up is Emmelie De Forest performing “Rainmaker” – the official theme song for Eurovision 2014.

Uh Oh – Technical difficulties and the song will not play

Second time lucky and “Rainmaker” is like a song from the “Lion King” with Emmelie’s barefoot and half-naked male dancers. Oh how our Eurovision Girl is growing up. Oh is it wrong to prefer “Rainmaker” to “Only Teardrops”?

VOTES

Public Top 3 Votes

8 Points – Pin The Middle

10 Points – One Last Ride

12 Points – Hypnotica

When the Jury votes were added Firelight with “Coming Home” will represent Malta at Eurovision 2014.

We did tell you we got that Gianluca feeling about them.

Bravo Firelight and brave PBS for a great show.

Are you happy with the winner?

Editor in Chief Garrett Mulhall

Source : Eurovision Ireland