Introduction

• Participant(s): Christabelle
• Song: "Taboo"
  
• Writer(s): Muxu, Christabelle
• Composer(s): Thomas G:son, Johnny Sanchez
• Broadcaster: TVM
  
• Social media:    
• Team review: 

Every year Malta is having a lavish national final. Out of the 20 finalists Christabelle went as the deserved winner. This was a very important point in the life of Christabelle, as it was her fourth attempt to win the Maltese Song Festival.

Christabelle was born in 1992 and got in touch with music and singing at a very early age of three! She received vocal training and even hosted TV shows for children, being a child herself. She also tried her luck at the national final of the Junior Eurovision. Later on she went to the USA and studied singing and music at the Mounte Sainte Mary's College in Hollywood. She might have had a great career in the USA as she went on concerts and worked with American and British producers. Her father wanted her to return to Malta. She is a student in the field of accounting at the University of Malta. Nevertheless she has not giving up singing. She appeared in the preliminary programme of the Italian super star Laura Pausini and sang a duet with Gigi d'Alessio. In the Maltese Song Festival Christabelle appeared with the following entries: 2013 “Lovercity”, 2014 “Rush” , 2016 “Kingdom”.

This year’s Eurovision entry for Christabelle is quite a strong one. The message is even stronger, as it’s about mental health. This is a very personal topic for Christabelle as she is also appointed as ambassador of the Maltese President’s Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society for mental health. Her further commitment is for the LGBT community. The video clip is from a very high quality and it transports the topic of the song at its best. The song is co-written by the Swedish composer Thomas G:sson, who is responsible for various successful ESC songs, including Loreen’s winning entry “Euphoria” for Sweden 2012. All these pre-conditions look brilliantly for Christabelle. Let’s hope that the message will conquer Europe by a storm.

History

• Debut: 1971
• Participations: 31
• Victories: 0
• Finals: 23
• Top 10: 13
• Chances for Top 10: 42%
• Chances for Final: 53%

Malta is participating for the 31st time in the Eurovision Song Contest. Malta had its debut in 1971 with a song in the Maltese language called "Marija L-maltija" by Joe Grech. The Maltese have only used their native language twice, due to the fact that English is the second official language it has always been used as advantage. Nowadays every country can chose the language of their entries by preference. Over the years Austria has send a song in French, Latvia in Italian or Cyprus in French, this year Estonia will have an Italian song. But English has been the main language in the Eurovision Song Contest for most of the countries. That's why Malta does not enjoy the language advantage anymore.

There has been a long pause in the Maltese participation between 1976 until 1990. Then Malta returned in 1991 with "Could it be” by Paul Giordimaina and Georgina and achieved a good 6th place. With this new enthusiasm and energy the Maltese reached a lot of good positions. Out of 30 participation, Malta reached the Top10 for 13 times, so the chance to reach a Top10 position for Malta is approx. 42%, statistically. And to reach the Grand Final is approx. 53%.

Unfortunately, Malta has never won the ESC, but made a second place two times and a third place two times as well. Malta is so eager to win the contest one day, rumours said it should be the first open air contest in history. At least Malta won and hosted the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2014 and thanks to this occasion the Maltese broadcaster could show off a little bit what to expect if Malta wins the ESC, the introduction, the postcards were perfectly made. This is what we could expect if one day Malta will host the ESC.

Biggest successes

2x 2nd place

• Ira Losco | 7th Wonder (2002)
• Chiara | Angel (2005)

2x 3rd place

• Mary Spiteri | Little Child (1992)
• Chiara | The One That I Love (1998)

Video Nostalgia

• “Marija L-maltija” | Joe Grech, Rank 18, Dublin 1971
• “This Time“ | William Mangion, Rank 8, Millstreet 1993
• "This Is The Night” | Kurt Calleja, Rank 21, Baku 2012