Eurovision hopeful Gianluca Bezzina bade farewell to well-wishers at Malta International Airport yesterday as he set off for Malmö ahead of the competition’s semi-final next week.

“We’re nervous but in a good way, it’s what we’ve been waiting for,” Gianluca said as he checked in with his band.

As a band we’re close, so this feels like going on a holiday with friends

The 23-year-old from Qrendi, who has just graduated as a doctor, will go head to head with 17 other entries in the second of two Eurovision semi-finals to be held on May 16. If he makes it he will go on to represent Malta in the final on May 18.

Gianluca and his band will get a feel for the stage in Sweden this afternoon when they do their first rehearsal.

“There is some stiff competition but on the whole I feel confident,” he said, adding that “both semi-final groups are evenly balanced”.

The song, Tomorrow, which was co-written and composed by Boris Cezek and Dean Muscat, is a charming 1970s-style love story.

The band said they adopted a “real and human approach” throughout the build-up to the competition and that their onstage costume reflected their daily wardrobe.

The shy group hope to have started a new Eurovision tradition, after attending an intimate Mass held for the band and crew last Sunday.

“As a band we’re close, so this feels like going on a holiday with friends,” he said.

Gianluca also hinted towards the “tap on the head” at the end of the entry’s music video as being the group’s signature move.