Ira Losco

Ira Losco M.Q.R.
Ira Losco in 2016
Background information
Born	(1981-07-31) 31 July 1981 Sliema, Malta
Genres	Pop
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	1998–present
Website	Ira Losco official website

Ira Losco M.Q.R. (born 31 July 1981) is a Maltese singer. She represented her country Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016, with the song "Walk on Water". Losco also competed for her country in the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 with "7th Wonder", finishing second, only twelve points behind the winner.

Career

To date Losco has performed in over 15 countries and has won more than 20 music awards. She has appeared in front of audiences ranging from 1,000 to 80,000, and has played alongside renowned international acts such as Elton John, Katie Melua, Maroon 5, Akon, Mel C, Ronan Keating, Bob Geldof, Tokio Hotel and Gigi D'Alessio.^[1]

Losco started her career with a college band called Tiara but they split up a few months after Losco represented her country in the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 which was held in Tallinn. She placed second with the song "7th Wonder".^[2][3]

In 2003, she was chosen to perform the song "Reaching Higher", which was the official song of the Xth Games of the Small States of Europe Malta 2003. Losco was awarded the Midalja għall-Qadi tar-Repubblika in 2008.^[4]

Losco has been involved in advertising in her country, including for Guess, McDonald's Salad Plus,^[5] and Vodafone's Music Jam Campaign.^[6]

Losco won the Maltese national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 on 23 January, with the song "Chameleon".^[7][8]

Eurovision Song Contest

Losco represented Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 with the song “7th Wonder”. She finished runner up, just 12 points behind eventual winner Marie N, which was Malta’s highest result ever in the competition until it was equaled in 2005.^[2][3]

In December 2015, it was revealed that Losco had submitted two songs for the Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2016, the country’s national selection process. Her entries "Chameleon" and "That’s why I love you" were both shortlisted for the semifinal, with "Chameleon" qualifying for the final. On 23 January, Losco won the national selection with over 40% of the votes cast by the Maltese public.^[9]

Following Losco's win at the Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2016, she stated that she was open to the idea of performing a song other than "Chameleon" at Eurovision, should it improve Malta's chances of winning. The national final rules, set by PBS, allow for the winning song to be partially modified or completely changed. On 19 February 2016, PBS announced that an international jury consisting of representatives from ten countries, along with local experts from Malta, would be presented with several songs, including a revamped version of "Chameleon", and would determine which song Losco would perform at the contest. On 14 March it was announced that she would perform the song "Walk on Water". The song and video were released on 17 March 2016.^[10][11][12]

The dress worn by Losco for the contest was by Alex Zabotto-Bentley, who has also designed for Lady Gaga, Prince and Kylie Minogue.^[13][14] It was revealed that to increase the chance of winning the contest, the budget was increased drastically, from minimum €200,000 in a previous given year to an approximate maximum of €1,500,000 during the Losco's participation in 2016.^[15] In the first semi-final, on 10 May 2016, "Walk on Water" qualified for the Eurovision final. In the final on Saturday 14 May 2016,^[16] she placed 12th out of 26 countries.^{[17][18][19][20][21][22]}

Personal life

In May 2016, it was announced that Losco and her boyfriend, Sean Gravina, were expecting a baby.^[23][24] Their son, Harry, was born on 25 August 2016.^[25]

Activism

Losco has publicly expressed her support for a number of social causes in Malta, including LGBT rights and anti-bullying campaigns amongst teenagers.^[26] In 2014, she was nominated for the first LGBTI Community Awards organised by the Malta Gay Rights Movement.^[27] Losco supports equal rights and acceptance, rather than just tolerance, in the context that her country, Malta, has been known as the best country in Europe and the world in LGBTQI rights.^[28][29] Losco organised an LGBT friendly party in Stockholm during the Eurovision song contest 2016.^[30][31]

Discography

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ira Losco.

Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest
Participation 1971 1972 1973 to 1974 1975 1976 to 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Artists 1970s 1970 Joe Grech Helen and Joseph 1973 Enzo Guzman Renato Enzo Guzman 1977 to 1979 1980s 1980 to 1989 1990s 1990 Paul Giordimaina and Georgina Mary Spiteri William Mangion Chris and Moira Mike Spiteri Miriam Christine Debbie Scerri Chiara Times Three 2000s Claudette Pace Fabrizio Faniello Ira Losco Lynn Chircop Julie and Ludwig Chiara Fabrizio Faniello Olivia Lewis Morena Chiara 2010s Thea Garrett Glen Vella Kurt Calleja Gianluca Bezzina Firelight Amber Ira Losco
Songs 1970s 1970 "Marija l-Maltija" "L-imħabba" 1973 "Paċi Fid Dinja" "Singing This Song" "Sing Your Song, Country Boy" 1977 to 1979 1980s 1980 to 1989 1990s 1990 "Could It Be" "Little Child" "This Time" "More Than Love" "Keep Me In Mind" "In a Woman's Heart" "Let Me Fly" "The One That I Love" "Believe 'n Peace" 2000s "Desire" "Another Summer Night" "7th Wonder" "To Dream Again" "On Again... Off Again" "Angel" "I Do" "Vertigo" "Vodka" "What If We" 2010s "My Dream" "One Life" "This Is the Night" "Tomorrow" "Coming Home" "Warrior" "Walk on Water"
(Note: Entries scored out are when Malta did not compete)