MaltaMedia.com

The organisers of the International Malta Hit Song Contest 2009 announced the 20 entries which qualified for the next round to be held on One Tv during the Sunday afternoon show, Celebrity Sundays. The show kicks off on Sunday 1st March.

5 entries will be performed each week during Celebrity Sundays. During the 5th show we will know the first 5 entries which have qualified for the final of 1st of May through the public’s vote. 5 more entries will be ’saved’ through the judges votes in the next phases of the Celebrity Sundays shows.

During the final of the International Malta Hit Song Contest 2009, 10 local singers and 10 foreign singers will compete in two separate categories. The final result will be entirely in the hands of an international panel of music experts. The final phase will be held on 1st of May in a concert-like venue. The winning entry will represent Malta at the Universong Festival 2009 to be held at the Canary Islands, Teneriffe (Spain).

The submitted entries were judged by the following panel of music experts:

Abela Kevin (Principal trumpet – Malta Philarmonic orchestra, music director)
Borg Clifford (Pianist and Composer . Known mostly for his’ cool chill out musical pieces’.)
Caruana Krista (Culture Journalist – One News)
Magrin Lawrence (Bass Guitarist – Impact)
Saliba Jotham (Singer -Screamdaisy)

The 20 qualified entries in the official running order are:

1. Body Rock – Vittorio Gauci (Philip Vella, Gerard James Borg)
2. Shades of Memories – Julie Pomorski (Johann Schembri)
3. Love was made of clay – Gloriana Arpa Belli (Renato Briffa, Doris Chetcuti)
4. Primitive – Romina Mamo (Clinton Paul, Rita Pace)
5. Lucky Day – Kylie (Andrew Zahra, Joe Julian Farrugia)
6. Would you forgive me – Geordie (George Debono, Mariella Pace Asciak)
7. Smoke-Screen – Jessica Muscat (Philip Vella, Gerard James Borg)
8. One more chance – Lyndsay Pace (Rosman Pace)
9. One Day – Neville & Mark Spiteri Lucas (Mark Spiteri Lucas, Rita Pace)
10. Emotion – Talitha (Ian Dimech)
11. Falling in Love – Francesca Borg (Jason Cassar, Mario J. Farrugia)
12. Wish I hadn’t fallen – Estelle Imbroll (Estelle Imbroll, Mark Scicluna)
13. Puzzled – Josmar (Aldo Spiteri, Claudia Faniello)
14. I can’t and I won’t – Isabelle (Philip Vella, Gerard James Borg)
15. Unforgettable – Marilena (Philip Vella, Gerard James Borg)
16. Unconditional Love – Jessica Magro (Andrew Zammit, Keith Zammit)
17. Silhouette – Stephanie Vella (Clinton Paul)
18. Another Side of Me – Corazon Mizzi (Philip Vella)
19. Colourblind – Dominic Cini (Dominic Cini, Clinton Paul)
20. Imagine Me – Julia Grima (Mark Spiteri Lucas, Rita Pace)

While the following songs are in the reserved list:
Part of me – Therese Caruana (Elton Zarb, Billy J)
Hot Beat – Etienne Bugeja (Andrea Milana, Natasha Turner)

During the last hours, the organisers of the International Malta Hit Song Contest 2009 have confirmed the following changes in the line up of this year’s competition:

Song 9. One Day will be performed by Neville Refalo as a soloist after Mark Spiteri Lucas withdrew from the competition.

A second change happened in the reserved list. In a typical ‘twist of fate’ situation, the song ‘In Your Eyes’ by Bernice Camilleri (Renato Briffa, Rita Pace) has replaced the second song in the reserve list ‘Hot Beat’ by Etienne Bugeja (Andrea Milana, Natasha Turner) which was withdrawn by the organisers as the composer does not hold a Maltese or dual citizenship.