On Saturday 24 May 2008 the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) presents the 53rd edition of the Eurovision Song Contest through the Serbian public broadcaster RTS in Belgrade, Serbia. From this year all participants in the Eurovision Song Contest must take part in a semi-final round to qualify for the final session, where they join the big four (contest founders France, Germany, Spain, and UK) and the host country, winner of the previous year's contest. The finalists will be selected during two semi-final sessions on Tuesday and Thursday before the final. Malta's entry will appear during the second semi-final contest on Thursday 22 May 2008.

Malta's representative for 2008 Morena will sing Vodka, written by vereran Eurovision songwriting duo Gerard James Borg and Philip Vella. Borg and Vella wrote Ira Losco's 7th Wonder, which placed 2nd in 2002, Claudette Pace's Desire which made it to the 8th place in 2000, and On Again...Off Again sung by Julie and Ludwig in 2004. Most recently they penned Malta's 2007 Eurovision entry, Olivia Lewis'Vertigo, which failed to qualify for the final round.

This website offers all the basic information and news updates about Malta's entry for this festival. The contest, which has been broadcast every year since 1956 in the majority of European countries, holds the record as the longest-running annual programme on TV.

Over these pages we document several aspects of this popular song contest on the Internet, including lyrics, image and video, as well as the latest news reports from MaltaMedia.com, and much more.

NEWS UPDATES from MaltaMedia.com 182 entries submitted for Malta Eurosong 2009 - 15 October 2008 New voting system for Eurovision Song Contest - 18 September 2008 No Maltese participants in Eurovision Dance Contest - 6 September 2008 PBS selects EuroSong advisory team for Eurovision - 26 June 2008 Maltasong succumbs to new PBS directors - 5 June 2008 Morena's Eurovision adventure comes to an end - 25 May 2008 Eurovision final no show draws mixed reactions - 24 May 2008 Eurovision disaster sparks cultural debate in Malta - 23 May 2008 Malta fails to make it to Eurovision 2008 final - 22 May 2008 Low expectations for Malta at Eurovision semifinal - 22 May 2008 Final preparations for Eurovision 2008 semifinal - 21 May 2008 Eurovision 2008 odds against Malta worse ever - 20 May 2008 Russian wants to write Chiara's 2009 song - 19 May 2008 More Eurovision 2008 rehearsals for Malta - 18 May 2008 Hectic schedule for Morena in Belgrade - 17 May 2008 Morena to appear naked with Maltese flag - 16 May 2008 Morena's first stage rehearsal in Belgrade - 14 May 2008 Morena refuses substantial vodka sponsorships - 5 May 2008 Vodka is not one of Eurovision bookmakers' picks - 4 May 2008 French Eurovison song sparks language debate - 18 April 2008 New single 'Tattoo' for Morena - 13 April 2008 Morena to perform with Jo Zette and in London - 7 April 2008 Morena launches Vodka video and official website - 24 March 2008 Vodka was not jury's choice for Eurovision 2008 - 29 January 2008 Morena to sing at Eurovision semifinal on 22 May - 28 January 2008 Morena for Malta at Eurovision Song Contest 2008 - 26 January 2008 Australian Pop Idol for Malta Song For Europe final - 26 January 2008 Eight songs chosen for Malta Song For Europe finals - 25 January 2008 All 2008 Malta Song for Europe songs on YouTube - 20 January 2008 Malta Song for Europe semi-finalists announced - 9 January 2008 Malta Song confirms 2008 MSFE in January - 18 December 2007 Earlier MSFE due to probable clash with 2008 elections - 15 December 2007 225 songs submitted for Song for Europe 2008 - 14 November 2007

Intersting Facts: Finland never won the Eurovision Song Contest before 2006. In 2006 Finland took part for the 40th time. In 2008 Malta is presenting its 21st entry. A record-breaking 43 countries will be represented at the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest In 2008, Azerbaijan and San Marino are taking part for the first time ever. Austria has withdrawn from the 2008 edition, expressing dissatisfaction with the way the contest is run. As of 2008, the country which has entered the longest with no wins to their name is Portugal. They started entering in 1964, and are still awaiting their first win.