Malta have had a fairly long history at Junior Eurovision, but it wasn’t until recently that the nation found their Junior Eurovision groove with a string of great results. Two wins in a matter of three years is nothing to sneeze at, and since their 2013 return, they haven’t fallen out of the Top 10. This year it will be Ela representing Malta with her uplifting pop number Marchin’ On. Will Malta march on into another Top 10 result?
This track has already received mixed reviews from fans but I can confidently say that this was the right choice from the field of songs presented at the national selection. It may not be the most revolutionary or creative of songs, but at its core, Marchin’ On is a catchy and uplifting pop song that is performed incredibly well.
The beginning of the song features a charming backing of gospel vocals which complement Ela’s mature vocals really well. More broadly, I think that ‘mature’ is the best word to describe this song as a whole, not just in terms of the vocals. Some of the competing entries this year appeal more towards the younger audiences, but I feel that this will appeal more towards an older audience who can both appreciate the meaningful message of the song while also appreciating the immense talent Ela demonstrates. Although the vocals throughout the live performance are great, there are specific moments where Ela absolutely nails a big note, or a vocal run and I think, or at least hope that the juries reward this as it’s truly the stand out of the entry.
It has been announced that she will be joined by dancers on stage, and I do think this will help lift the performance in comparison to the national final. Perhaps it will help Malta stand out more against its competitors, although for me this already stands out just on vocals alone.
This is a great entry from Malta, I hope to see them do well this year! For me, it’s 8/10.
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