RANKED: The 10 best songs Malta ever took to Eurovision

The Eurovision Song Contest is one of Malta’s favourite hobbies. From picking the song and singer which we think stands the best chance at winning over Europe, to stewing for several months in anticipation and hope, to swelling with pride on the big day and then deflating with disappointment when we lose – not to mention spending weeks after the event analysing What Could Have Possibly Gone Wrong – Eurovision in Malta is a big deal.

Much to our chagrin, Malta has never actually won the contest, but Lord knows, we’ve tried. According to Wikipedia, we have the dubious honour of being the only non-winning country to have achieved four top three results (shout out to Mary, Ira, Chiara, and Chiara again). We’ve participated 31 times since 1971, and the closest we got was second place. Out of all the songs we’ve ever sent up, we decided to pick our top 10. Here goes…

10. Gianluca Bezzina - Tomorrow (2013)

The ludicrously charming Dr Bezzina took a song about a strait-laced IT guy called Jeremy and the manic pixie dream girl who, as we say in Maltese, hawditlu l-wajers, and he made it magical. No other Maltese song has generated this many ukulele covers.

9. Julie and Ludwig - On Again... Off Again (2004)

This unbearably silly but ridiculously catchy song starts off on a strong foot with the declaration “Look at me, I need some attention,” and only gets better. It features a random operatic interlude, and gave Malta an easy idiom to describe couples who are constantly breaking up and getting back together.

8. Debbie Scerri - Let Me Fly (1997)

Clearly hoping to capitalise on Ireland’s string of victories (1992, 1993, 1994, and 1996!) at the contest, Debbie’s performance of this soaring, melancholy ballad featured a gigantic harp.

7. Olivia Lewis – Vertigo (2007)

The most pointlessly dramatic song ever sung about feeling like you have a disease of the inner ear – and it SLAPS.

6. Michela – Chameleon (2019)

This year’s chama-chameleon definitely deserves a spot on this list. Despite the daft lyrics straight out of the Swedish pop industrial complex, Gozitan X-Factor winner Michela has the voice of an angel and the beat is cool as hell.

5. Mary Spiteri – Little Child (1992)

I was quite young when I realised that the little child Mary is talking to is…herself?? This is basically the Maltese version of Whitney’s The Greatest Love Of All, and Mary has the pipes to match.

4. Times Three – Believe 'n Peace (1999)

When I heard this at the tender age of eight I thought it was the most amazing song ever, and I cried real tears when it flopped at the Eurovision. Never mind – it’s still a bop and we’ll always have those incredible Baco-foil outfits.

3. Chiara – The One That I Love (1998)

Remember when ballads were good? Miss Chiara went on stage armed with nothing but a long grey dress and a chic bob, and she knocked it out of the park.

2. Ira Losco – 7th Wonder (2002)

The cat suit! The hair! The glitter? The voice! We were so close to seizing victory this one time that when Latvia was announced the winner by a margin of just 12 points, we all hoped that it was just a blip in the virtual reality (~*~rEaLiTy~*~).

1. Claudette Pace – Desire (2000)

Play it at any party and people will go bananas, because this sultry, summery and downright fun song is the perfect representation of Malta at Eurovision. Plus there’s a bonus line in Maltese which you can use as a fun ice-breaker on Tinder – dejjem ridtek…dejjem xtaqtek…lilek…habbejt. Gold.