Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest 2002

Eurovision Song Contest 2002
Country	Malta
National selection
Selection process	Malta Song for Europe 2002 5/8 Jury 3/8 Televoting
Selection date(s)	15/16 February 2009
Selected entrant	Ira Losco
Selected song	"7th Wonder"
Finals performance
Final result	2nd, 164 points

Malta competed in the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 in Tallinn, Estonia. The Maltese entry was selected through the Malta Song for Europe contest, where the winner was Ira Losco with the song "7th Wonder", written by Philip Vella and Gerard James Borg.

Malta Song for Europe 2002

Public Broadcasting Services (PBS), the Maltese broadcaster, organised a national final to select the 2002 Maltese entry to the Eurovision Song Contest. Malta Song for Europe 2002 was held on 15 and 16 February, where the winner was decided through an expert jury, comprising 5/8 of the overall vote, and public televoting, comprising the remaining 3/8 of the vote.

Sixteen songs competed to be the Maltese entry to Eurovision, with the final winner being Ira Losco with the song "7th Wonder".

Malta Song for Europe 2002 - 15–16 February 2002

Draw	Artist	Song	Lyrics (l) / Music (m)	Points	Place
1	Nadine Axisa	"Think of You"	Marica Axisa (m), Joe Julian Farrugia (l)	74	6
2	Lawrence Gray	"What Happened to Our Love"	Ray Agius (m), Alfred C. Sant (l)	90	4
3	Andreana Debattista & Karl Spiteri	"Theresa"	Karl Spiteri (m & l)	72	8
4	Ira Losco	"One Step Away"	Ray Agius (m), Philip Vella (l)	101	3
5	Lawrence Gray	"Moment of Truth"	Paul Abela (m), Alfred C. Sant (l)	72	8
6	Gunther Chetcuti	"Wanna Hold On"	Eugenio Schembri (m), Gunther Chetcuti (l)	74	6
7	Olivia Lewis	"Give Me Wings"	Paul Giordimaina (m), Fleur Balzan (l)	65	11
8	Julie Zahra	"Secret to Share"	Mark Debono (m), Fiona Cauchi (l)	37	16
9	Fiona	"Hide and Seek"	Paul Abela (m), Alfred C. Sant (l)	40	14
10	Paula	"Dazzle Me"	Philip Vella (m), Gerard James Borg (l)	77	5
11	Annalise Ellul	"A New Day Is Dawning"	Dominic Galea (m), Paul Callus (l)	72	8
12	Ira Losco	"7th Wonder"	Philip Vella (m), Gerard James Borg (l)	160	1
13	Nadine Axisa	"Romantic"	Ray Agius (m & l)	39	15
14	Roger Tirazona	"When I'm Near"	Paul Abela (m), Joe Chircop (l)	41	13
15	Karen Polidano	"When Comes My Lover"	John David Zammit (m), Ray Mahoney (l)	103	2
16	Fiona	"Heaven in My Life"	Paul Giordimaina (m), Fleur Balzan (l)	51	12

At Eurovision

At Eurovision Ira performed "7th Wonder" 20th in the running order, following Turkey and preceding Romania. The Maltese votes were calculated through a 50/50 split in public televote held after all songs had performed and the votes of a professional jury. However this would be the last year that countries could choose the use a 50/50 voting method after allegations of vote swapping were used between the eight countries that used juries for part or all of their votes.^[1] All countries are now obliged to hold a public televote.

At the close of the voting, Malta placed 2nd in a field of 24, having received 164 points, being beaten only bay Latvia. this was Malta's best result up to that point, and is still one of two second-place finishes for Malta, still being Malta's best results at Eurovision.

The Maltese public and jury gave most points to Cyprus' One, giving them the maximum 12 points. This was followed by 10 points to the United Kingdom's Jessica Garlick and 8 points to Russia's Prime Minister.

See also

• Eurovision Song Contest 2002
• Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest

References

1. ^ Rau, Oliver (2003-05-06). "Cheating at the Eurovision Song Contest 2002?". ESCToday. http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/1498. Retrieved 2009-05-22. 

External links

• Maltese National Final 2002