A Maltese song will be competing in France's national Eurovision song contest final on January 26.
The song, Ma Liberte, the work of Maltese team Philip Vella, Gerard James Borg and Sean Vella, beat several other songs to make it to the final stages of the competition.
A 14-member jury consisting of music industry professionals and French television representatives shortlisted three songs and three artists to go head to head in a live national final.
The three finalist songs will be given massive rotation on radios and television channels all over France, giving the French people the possibility to vote for their favourite entry.
The winning entry will be revealed on March 2 on the show Les Chansons D’Abord hosted by ex-Eurovision participant Natasha St-Pier.
Joanna Lagrave – who five years ago was 1st runner up in France’s Star Academy – will be performing the song by Vella/Borg and hoping to be the one to represent France in the 59th edition of the contest.
Borg/Vella will also be competing in the local selections with four songs between them, but should they go ahead and win the national finals in France, it will be giving Malta more than just one chance at this year’s Eurovision song contest.
Maltese composers and songwriters are also competing in the finals of Lithuania’s song contest with Alison Ellul and Elton Zarb’s song It’s all about a boy and Natasha Turner’s Silent tears.