Three former winners are among the 20 finalists vying to clinch the title of next month's Malta Eurosong 2009, to go on to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow.
Georgina Abela, who competed with Paul Abela in 1991, Miriam Christine Borg (1996) and Chiara, who won the Malta title twice in 1998 and 2005, are among the finalists.
The national finals will be held on February 7 at the Malta Fairs and Convention Centre, Ta' Qali. The event is sponsored by Go and Hamilton Travel. Tickets cost between €12 and €20. For more information call the ticket helpline on 7964 6407.
The following are the 20 songs that have made it to next month's finals. The list, which starts with the name of the song, followed by the singer/group, composer and author, does not reflect the order in which they will perform:
1. Ha Hi Hu, The Elements (Carm Fenech).
2. Kamikaze Lover, Baklava (Philip Vella, Gerard James Borg).
3. Choose Your Number, J. Anvil (Augusto Cardinali, Giovann Attard).
4. Where You Belong, Wayne Micallef (Wayne Micallef, Luke Ambrogio).
5. Tonight At The Opera, Classic Rebels (Ralph Siegel, John O'Flynn).
6. Promises, Vittorio & Dorothy (Chan Vella, Alexia Schembri).
7. What If We, Chiara (Marc Paelinck, Gregory Bilsen).
8. One Million Ways, Rosman ( Rosman Pace).
9. Before You Walk Away, Q (Paul Giordimaina, Fleur Balzan).
10. Let it Shine, Kylie Coleiro (Andrew Zahra, Joe Julian Farrugia).
11. Where was I?, Jamie Tonna (Jason Paul Cassar, Mario J. Farrugia).
12. Life Is An Opera, Christine Barbara (Rita Pace).
13. Someday, Eleanor Cassar (Paul Giordimaina, Fleur Balzan).
14. Crossroads, Racquela (Philip Vella, Gerard James Borg).
15. Mama, Miriam Christine (Miriam Christine Warner).
16. Avalon, Georgina & Ruth Casingena (Paul Abela, Joe Julian Farrugia).
17. Typical Me, Alison Ellul (Philip Vella, Gerard James Borg).
18. The Song In Your Heart, Trilogy (Paul Abela, Joe Julian Farrugia).
19. Blue Sonata, Claudia Faniello (Ray Agius).
20. Butterfly Sky, Klinsmann, (Klinsmann Coleiro, Joe Julian Farrugia).