Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013


Malta participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö, Sweden. The Maltese entry was selected through a national final format consisting of a semi-final and a final, organised by the Maltese broadcaster PBS. Gianluca represented Malta with the song "Tomorrow", which qualified from the second semi-final of the competition and finished in 8th place in the final, scoring 120 points.

Before Eurovision

Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2013

On 14 September 2012, PBS called for entries to be submitted for the national final, with the submission period closing on 31 October 2012. Both Maltese and international composers were eligible to submit entries, however performers must hold Maltese citizenship. On 14 November 2012, PBS announced that out of 181 submissions, 69 entries were long-listed for the second phase of the selection, including submissions from former Maltese Eurovision entrants Miriam Christine, William Mangion and Fabrizio Faniello. On 30 November 2012, the 24 semi-finalists were revealed and previewed on a special edition of the Maltese talk show Xarabank. On 21 December 2012, Saska Hunt and the song "Dress Rehearsal" were withdrawn and replaced by Marilena with the song "Overrated".
The semi-final and final evenings were hosted by Elaine Saliba and Gordon Bonello, with backstage commentary and interviews by Rodney Gauci.

Semi-final

The semi-final took place on 1 February 2013 at the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre in Ta' Qali, where 16 of the 24 entries qualified to compete in the final.
The jury panel that evaluated the songs in the semi-final was
DrawArtistSongComposersResult
1Richard Edwards"Fall Like Rome"Philip Vella, Magnus Kaxe, Gerard James BorgFinalist
2Ylenia"Tides of Illusion"Jason Cassar, Mario FarrugiaEliminated
3Janice Debattista"Perfect Day"Boris Cezek, Dean MuscatFinalist
4Chris Grech"Never Walk Away"Matthew James Borg, David Cassar Torregiani, Chris Grech, Peter BorgFinalist
5Marilena"Overrated"Philip Vella, Gerard James BorgEliminated
6Petra"No One Home"Wayne Micallef, Richard MicallefEliminated
7Dorothy Bezzina"Starting from the End"Magnus Kaxe, Gerard James BorgFinalist
8Domenique"Too Little Too Late"Marc Paelinck, Matthias StrasserFinalist
9Jessika"Ultraviolet"Philip Vella,, Gerard James BorgFinalist
10Franklin Calleja"Let Your Heart Talk"Ray Aguis, Alfred C SantEliminated
11Claudia Faniello"When It's Time"Errol Sammut, Claudia FanielloFinalist
12Corazon"My Stranger Love"Paul Giordimaina, Fleur BalzanFinalist
13Kevin Borg"Needing You"Kevin Borg, Simon Gribbe, Dan Attlerud, Thomas Thörnholm, Michael ClaussFinalist
14Scar"Superstar"Konrad PulѐFinalist
15Melanie Zammit"Loverdose"Maria Lundin, Niclas Lundin, Gerard James BorgEliminated
16Danica Muscat"Fantasy"Paul Abela, Joe Julia FarrugiaEliminated
17Petra & Richard"Wonderful Today"Wayne Micallef, Richard MicallefFinalist
18Deborah C"Love-O-Holic"Johan Bejerholm, Gerard James BorgFinalist
19Gianni"Us Against the World"Boris Cezek, Dean MuscatFinalist
20Raquela"Keep Believing"Raquela Dalli GonziEliminated
21Gianluca Bezzina"Tomorrow"Boris Cezek, Dean MuscatFinalist
22Amber"In Control"Paul Giordimaina, Fleur BalzanFinalist
23Klinsmann"The Remedy"Philip Vella, Magnus Kaxe, Gerard James BorgEliminated
24Davinia"Betrayed"Elton Zarb, MuxuFinalist

Final

The final took place on 2 February 2013 at the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre in Ta' Qali, where the 16 finalists presented their songs to the Maltese public again. Seven members of the jury awarded their points from 1-8, 10, and 12 points. The jury vote accounted for 7/8 of the result with the televote accounting for the remaining 1/8. Gianluca Bezzina emerged as the winner with the song "Tomorrow".
The jury panel that evaluated the songs in the final was
DrawArtistSongJuryTelevoteTotalPlace
1Scar"Superstar"1011111
2Dorothy Bezzina"Starting from the End"23515
3Corazon"My Stranger Love"1101111
4Jessika"Ultraviolet"127198
5Gianni"Us Against the World"90914
6Davinia Pace"Betrayed"480483
7Kevin Borg"Needing You"6812802
8Richard Edwards"Fall like Rome"1001013
9Janice Debattista"Perfect Day"1701710
10Deborah C"Love-o-Holic"125179
11Claudia Faniello"When it's Time"146207
12Gianluca Bezzina"Tomorrow"8210921
13Chris Grech"Never Walk Away"348425
14Petra and Richard"Wonderful Today"352376
15Amber"In Control"434474
16Domenique"Too Little Too Late"20216

Preparation

On 2 March, Bezzina travelled to Armenia to promote the Maltese entry during the Armenian national final.

At Eurovision

Malta was allocated to compete in the second semi-final on 16 May for a place in the final on 18 May. In the second semi-final, the producers of the show decided that Malta would perform 6th, following Finland and preceding Bulgaria. On stage, Gianluca was joined by two backing vocalists, Louise Ann Bugeja Tate and Samaria Bezzina, backing vocalist and ukulele player, Kenny D'Ugo, backing vocalist and bass player, Gabriel Cassar and drummer Chris Tate.
Malta qualified from the second semi-final, placing 4th and scoring 118 points. At the second semi-final winners' press conference, Malta was allocated to perform in the first half of the final. In the final, the producers of the show decided that Malta would perform 9th, following Belarus and preceding Russia. Malta placed 8th in the final, scoring 120 points.

Points awarded to Malta

12 points10 points8 points7 points6 points

    • 5 points4 points3 points2 points1 point

    • Points awarded by Malta

    Semi-final 2

    Points awarded in second semi-final:
    12 points
    10 points
    8 points
    7 points
    6 points
    5 points
    4 points
    3 points
    2 points
    1 point

    Final

    Points awarded in the final:
    12 points
    10 points
    8 points
    7 points
    6 points
    5 points
    4 points
    3 points
    2 points
    1 point