Introduction Malta @ Eurovision 2021
Introduction
- Participant(s): Destiny Chukunyere
- Song: Je Me Casse
- Writer(s): Malin Christin, Amanuel Dermont, Nicklas Eklund, Pete Barringer
- Composer(s): Malin Christin, Amanuel Dermont, Nicklas Eklund, Pete Barringer
Due to the fact that last year the entire ESC has been cancelled, the Maltese singer Destiny received another chance to represent her country this year. Destiny is no stranger in Malta anymore. She has been the one and only Junior ESC winner in 2015, when she could win with “Not My Soul” and the highest number of points ever.
Destiny Chukunyere was born in Birkirkara, Malta in 2002. Her father is the former Nigerian football player Ndubisi Chukunyere, her mother is Maltese. Destiny has taken part at several festivals e.g. Festival Kanzunetta Indipendenza 2014 with the song “Festa t'Ilwien” where she ended up third. She could also win the junior version of the San Remo festival the year before. Destiny appeared in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2016 as a guest star to bring more attention to the junior version, which she had won. In 2017 she even participated in “Britain’s Got Talent”, 2018 in the X Factor Malta show. She has also supported last year’s singer Michaela Pace with the song “Chameleon” in Tel Aviv, where a 14th place in the Grand Final could be reached.
Destiny has was even honoured back in Malta with the Midalja ghall-Qadi tar-Repubblika award. Since this time everybody knows and loves Destiny Chukunyere. Her music style can be described as a mix of Pop, R&B, Funk and Soul, her big idol is Aretha Franklin.
This year’s song “Je Me Casse” even has a French song title, it has electro elements and a kind of “Charleston” vibe. The ornate video-clip is well-made and it seems that Malta is very keen on winning the Eurovision Song Contest with Destiny. The song is about a girl who is self-confident and does not accept being fooled around.
Hell no I am not your honey
Hell no I don’t want your money
Got it wrong I ain’t into dummies
According to the bets, Malta is in the top position, it has even been before the song was revealed. Maybe it’s because of her victory at the Junior ESC or that Destiny has the best concept of this year’s participants to beat them all. Her enormously strong voice, paired with a groovy song and a good attitude should help Destiny to fulfil her dream.
History
- Debut: 1971
- Participations: 33
- Victories: 0
- Finals: 25
- Top 10: 13
- Chances for Top 10: 39%
- Chances for Final: 53%
For Malta it’s going to be the 33rd participation at the Eurovision Song Contest. Last year has been cancelled due to the Corona pandemic. 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, so it does not matter anymore, hence this year’s Maltese entry has a French song title. But English has been the main language in the Eurovision Song Contest for most of the countries, even France sings half French half English. That's why Malta does not enjoy the language advantage anymore.
The small islands of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea has about 493.000 inhabitants. For such a tiny country the enthusiasm and the extensive national finals are breath-taking, there is a lot of creativity and there are many talented singers. It’s also worth to mention that the lovely singer Chiara has participated three times for Malta in 1998, 2005 and 2009 and she could achieve one second and one third place.
There has been a long pause of 15 years 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 after. Out of 33 participation, Malta reached the Top10 for 13 times, so the chance to reach a Top10 position for Malta is approx. 39%, statistically. To reach the Grand Final is about 50/50.
Unfortunately, Malta has never won the ESC, but made a second place twice 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.
