Christina Magrin, who represented Malta at the 2016 Junior Eurovision Song Contest, also took part.

Several people praised Festivals Malta for the professional manner in which the show was organised, and the singers for entertaining the people of Malta during these tough times.

“Mużika Mużika song festival back with flying colours,” Prime Minister Robert Abela said. “A wonderful experience of remarkable talent by local artists, musicians and singers. A sign of resilience from all involved.”

#MUZIKAMUZIKA – #Maltese 🇲🇹 song festival back with flying colours. A wonderful experience of remarkable talent by local artists, musicians and singers. A sign of resilience from all involved. Best of luck for tomorrow and Saturday @Festivals_Malta – RA @JoseHerreraMP pic.twitter.com/Row79Qc9Zb

— Robert Abela (@RobertAbela_MT) March 18, 2021

Opposition leader Bernard Grech praised the festival for giving a chance to artists to showcase their skills after a tough year for the entertainment industry.

“They took the chance to take and give us all an artistic breath of fresh air that, if only for a moment, turned our attention away from the tough times we’re living in,” he said.

“Well done to Festivals Malta for organising this festival to promote Maltese talent and the Maltese language,” Culture Minister Jose Herrera said. “Well done to the artists and technical people for putting on a show that entertained the people of Malta during these times.”

Valletta Cultural Agency chairman Jason Micallef, who helped organise the show, described the reaction by the Maltese public to the show as “extraordinary”.

“We worked a lot and I believed we could bring back a festival of Maltese songs, but I must admit that I was positively surprised by the reaction of the Maltese public,” he said.

“It’s been a while since I saw so many unanimously positive comments about a festival, and it’s no less than the singers, artists and composers deserve. Mużika Mużika is here to stay.”

The music show started way back in the 1960s, providing a platform for singers to showcase songs in Maltese, but eventually morphed into the Malta Song for Europe.

However, X Factor Malta has since replaced Malta Song for Europe as the competition to choose Malta’s Eurovision representative, paving the way for the relaunch of Mużika Mużika.

The same 20 semi-finalists will perform again tonight, after which the tele-voting results will be announced. The top twelve acts will qualify to the final, which will take place on Saturday. 

Cover photos: Mużika Mużika

Which was your favourite act last night?