Ira LoscoM.Q.R. (born 31 July 1981) is a Maltese pop singer. Her career breakthrough came in 2002, when she represented Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 with the song "7th Wonder". She placed second in the competition, Malta's best ever result. Fourteen years later, she returned and represented Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 with the song "Walk on Water", placing twelfth. Losco has released six studio albums so far in her career and is one of the most successful Maltese musicians of all time. In 2018, she served as a judge on the inaugural season of X Factor Malta. She returned to serve as a judge in 2019.
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]
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 equalled 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.[10]
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.[11][12][13]
The dress she wore for the contest was by Alex Zabotto-Bentley, who has also designed for Lady Gaga, Prince and Kylie Minogue.[14][15] In order to increase the chances 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 Losco's participation in 2016.[16] 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,[17] she placed 12th out of 26 countries.[18][19][20][21][22][23]
In May 2016, it was announced that Losco and her partner, Sean Gravina, were expecting a baby.[24][25] Their son, Harry, was born on 25 August 2016.[26] On 1 December 2019, Ira and Sean got married.[27] In June 2020, Losco announced that together with her husband and son, they were expecting a baby girl. Their daughter, Gigi, was born on 14 November 2020. [28]
Activism
Losco has publicly expressed her support for a number of social causes in Malta, including LGBT rights and anti-bullying campaigns amongst teenagers.[29] In 2014, she was nominated for the first LGBTI Community Awards organised by the Malta Gay Rights Movement.[30] 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.[31][32] Losco organised an LGBT friendly party in Stockholm during the Eurovision Song Contest 2016.[33][34]
^. Ira Losco. Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
^ abBohlman, Philip V. (2004). The music of European nationalism. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. p. 2. ISBN978-1-57607-270-7. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
^ ab"Eurovision Song Contest 2002". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
^"Controversy rages over Gaia Gieh ir-Repubblika award". Times of Malta. 4 December 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
^Losco teams up with McDonald's Salad Plus, independent.com.mt; accessed 14 July 2015.
^Losco launches the Vodafone Music Jam Campaign[permanent dead link], independent.casasoft-dev.com; accessed 14 July 2015.[dead link]
^. esctoday.com. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
^"Malta sends Ira Losco to Stockholm". Eurovision.tv. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
^Granger, Anthony (31 July 2018). "Malta: Ira Losco Confirmed as X Factor Malta Judge".
^. tvm.com.mt. TVM. 23 January 2016. Archived from the original on 8 January 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
^Gordon Roxburgh. "Malta: Ira Losco to perform "Walk On Water"". Eurovision.tv. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
^Juhász, Ervin (19 February 2016). "Is "Chameleon" Malta's song? Chances are big that it isn't!". escbubble.com. ESCBubble. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
^Roxburgh, Gordon (19 February 2016). "Malta considers which song Ira Losco will perform in Stockholm". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
^content. . 89.7 Bay. Archived from the original on 9 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
^. TVM. Archived from the original on 7 April 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
^"'Baġit bla limitu għall-Eurovision ta' din is-sena'". MaltaToday.com.mt.
^"Eurovision: Ira to perform in 22nd position". Times of Malta.
^Reactions – Watch again – Eurovision: Ira Losco 12th, Ukraine victorious.
^MALTA'S IRA LOSCO IN 12TH PLACE IN EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 2016.
^Ukraine wins the Eurovision – Malta in 12th place – fourth place by jury votes.
^Updated (2): Ukraine wins Eurovision Song Contest, Malta in 12th place.
^"Losco confirms pregnancy rumours: 'I'm a mother-to-be'". Malta Today. 8 May 2016.
^"Ira Losco publicly announces what everyone knew – she's pregnant". Malta Independent. 8 May 2016.
^Mamsikashvili, Rezo (26 August 2016). "IT'S A BOY! MALTA'S IRA LOSCO AND BOYFRIEND SEAN GRAVINA WELCOME THEIR FIRST BABY HARRY". wiwibloggs.com. Wiwibloggs.
^"Ira Losco Officially Ties The Knot In Beautiful Maltese Wedding". Lovin Malta. 1 December 2019.
^Cilia, Johnathan (28 June 2020). "Ira Losco Announces She's Pregnant With Her Second Child, A Girl". Lovin Malta. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
losco, born, july, 1981, maltese, singer, career, breakthrough, came, 2002, when, represented, malta, eurovision, song, contest, 2002, with, song, wonder, placed, second, competition, malta, best, ever, result, fourteen, years, later, returned, represented, ma. Ira Losco M Q R born 31 July 1981 is a Maltese pop singer Her career breakthrough came in 2002 when she represented Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 with the song 7th Wonder She placed second in the competition Malta s best ever result Fourteen years later she returned and represented Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 with the song Walk on Water placing twelfth Losco has released six studio albums so far in her career and is one of the most successful Maltese musicians of all time In 2018 she served as a judge on the inaugural season of X Factor Malta She returned to serve as a judge in 2019 Ira LoscoM Q R Losco performing in 2016Background informationBorn 1981 07 31 31 July 1981 age 41 Sliema MaltaGenresPoppop rockOccupation s SingersongwriterYears active1998 present Contents 1 Career 2 Eurovision Song Contest 3 Awards 4 Personal life 5 Activism 6 Discography 7 References 8 External linksCareer EditTo 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 Melanie 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 Walk On Water 7 8 On 31 July 2018 it was announced that Losco will be a judge on Malta s version of The X Factor 9 Eurovision Song Contest Edit Losco at the ESC 2016 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 equalled 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 10 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 11 12 13 The dress she wore for the contest was by Alex Zabotto Bentley who has also designed for Lady Gaga Prince and Kylie Minogue 14 15 In order to increase the chances 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 Losco s participation in 2016 16 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 17 she placed 12th out of 26 countries 18 19 20 21 22 23 Awards EditMain article List of awards and nominations received by Ira LoscoPersonal life EditIn May 2016 it was announced that Losco and her partner Sean Gravina were expecting a baby 24 25 Their son Harry was born on 25 August 2016 26 On 1 December 2019 Ira and Sean got married 27 In June 2020 Losco announced that together with her husband and son they were expecting a baby girl Their daughter Gigi was born on 14 November 2020 28 Activism EditLosco has publicly expressed her support for a number of social causes in Malta including LGBT rights and anti bullying campaigns amongst teenagers 29 In 2014 she was nominated for the first LGBTI Community Awards organised by the Malta Gay Rights Movement 30 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 31 32 Losco organised an LGBT friendly party in Stockholm during the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 33 34 Discography EditMain article Ira Losco discographyReferences Edit Home Ira Losco Ira Losco Archived from the original on 25 March 2016 Retrieved 8 May 2016 a b Bohlman Philip V 2004 The music of European nationalism Santa Barbara Calif ABC CLIO p 2 ISBN 978 1 57607 270 7 Retrieved 6 February 2011 a b Eurovision Song Contest 2002 European Broadcasting Union Retrieved 6 February 2011 Controversy rages over Gaia Gieh ir Repubblika award Times of Malta 4 December 2013 Retrieved 13 December 2015 Losco teams up with McDonald s Salad Plus independent com mt accessed 14 July 2015 Losco launches the Vodafone Music Jam Campaign permanent dead link independent casasoft dev com accessed 14 July 2015 dead link Eurovision Malta Ira Losco to Stockholm esctoday com Archived from the original on 30 January 2016 Retrieved 23 January 2016 Malta sends Ira Losco to Stockholm Eurovision tv Retrieved 23 January 2016 Granger Anthony 31 July 2018 Malta Ira Losco Confirmed as X Factor Malta Judge Ira Losco wins the 2016 Malta Eurovision Song Contest tvm com mt TVM 23 January 2016 Archived from the original on 8 January 2018 Retrieved 23 January 2016 Gordon Roxburgh Malta Ira Losco to perform Walk On Water Eurovision tv Retrieved 8 May 2016 Juhasz Ervin 19 February 2016 Is Chameleon Malta s song Chances are big that it isn t escbubble com ESCBubble Retrieved 19 February 2016 Roxburgh Gordon 19 February 2016 Malta considers which song Ira Losco will perform in Stockholm eurovision tv European Broadcasting Union Retrieved 19 February 2016 content Ira Losco rehearses for Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest 89 7 Bay Archived from the original on 9 May 2016 Retrieved 8 May 2016 Ira begins Eurovision rehearsals with team TVM Archived from the original on 7 April 2019 Retrieved 8 May 2016 Baġit bla limitu għall Eurovision ta din is sena MaltaToday com mt Eurovision Ira to perform in 22nd position Times of Malta Reactions Watch again Eurovision Ira Losco 12th Ukraine victorious MALTA S IRA LOSCO IN 12TH PLACE IN EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 2016 Ukraine wins the Eurovision Malta in 12th place fourth place by jury votes Updated 2 Ukraine wins Eurovision Song Contest Malta in 12th place Malta in Mourning Ira Losco Places 12th WATCH Fans give Ira Losco warm welcome back Losco confirms pregnancy rumours I m a mother to be Malta Today 8 May 2016 Ira Losco publicly announces what everyone knew she s pregnant Malta Independent 8 May 2016 Mamsikashvili Rezo 26 August 2016 IT S A BOY MALTA S IRA LOSCO AND BOYFRIEND SEAN GRAVINA WELCOME THEIR FIRST BABY HARRY wiwibloggs com Wiwibloggs Ira Losco Officially Ties The Knot In Beautiful Maltese Wedding Lovin Malta 1 December 2019 Cilia Johnathan 28 June 2020 Ira Losco Announces She s Pregnant With Her Second Child A Girl Lovin Malta Retrieved 28 June 2020 Biography Ira Losco Retrieved 22 April 2016 Nominees for first LGBTI Community Awards announced Maltatoday 3 November 2014 Retrieved 22 April 2016 Gay rights territorial disputes take centre stage at Eurovision Times of Malta Ira Losco Gay rights must go beyond tolerance Times of Malta Stories eurovision tv FILMAT Ira onorata li Malta kisbet l ewwel post fil qasam LGBTIQ TVM Archived from the original on 30 March 2019 Retrieved 13 May 2016 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ira Losco Official websiteAwards and achievementsPreceded byFabrizio Faniellowith Another Summer Night Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest2002 Succeeded byLynn Chircopwith To Dream Again Preceded byAmberwith Warrior Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest2016 Succeeded byClaudia Faniellowith Breathlessly Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ira Losco amp oldid 1132029473, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
