Firelight take Malta into Eurovision Song Contest final
They may not have had the instant draw of last year’s Eurovision hopeful Gianluca Bezzina, but Malta’s folk-pop sextet Firelight have secured a position in this Saturday’s Eurovision Song Contest final, taking place in Copenhagen
Having opened tonight’s ceremony in Copenhagen, local six-piece Firelight have come through to the final of the Eurovision Song Contest, and will be representing Malta at the pan-continental song contest tomorrow night with the song ‘Coming Home’.
Firelight are led by singer Richard Edward Micallef, a regular participant in the Malta Eurovision Song Contest. The band was formed in June 2013, and is currently in the process of recording its debut studio album.
A total of 16 countries were represented in yesterday’s semi-final, with 10 being allowed to go through. Prior to the semi-final, betting companies William Hill and Ladbroke had listed Malta as placing 5th out of 10 during yesterday’s semi-final.
There was a Maltese presence in the competition on Tuesday’s semi-final too, as local songwriter Gerald James Borg – of ‘Sliema Wives’ fame – was one of the co-writers of Russia’s entry, ‘Shine’, which made it through to the second semi-final.
The estimated viewership for the Eurovision song contest is some 125 million viewers.