Ira Losco

Ira Losco M.Q.R.
Losco in 2016
Background information
Born	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 will represent her country Malta in Eurovision Song Contest 2016, and also competed for her country in the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 with "7th Wonder", finishing second.

Career

To date, Losco has performed in over 15 countries and more than 20 music awards to her name. She has performed in various countries. She has appeared in front of audiences ranging from 1,000 to 80,000, and played alongside renowned international acts such as Elton John, Katie Melua, Maroon 5, Akon, Mel C, Ronan Keating, Bob Geldof, Tokio Hotel, 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 called "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 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 as 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. ^[9][10]

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 to the final. On 23 January, Ira won the national selection with over 40% of the votes cast by the Maltese public. ^[11]

Following Losco's win at the Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2016, the singer stated that she was open to the idea of performing a song other than "Chameleon" at the Eurovision Song Contest should it improve Malta's chances of winning. The national final rules set by PBS allowed for the winning song to be partially modified or completely changed. On 19 February 2016, PBS announced that that an international jury consisting of representatives from ten countries along with local experts from Malta will be presented with several songs, including a revamped version of "Chameleon", and will determine which song Ira Losco will ultimately perform at the Eurovision Song Contest. On 14 March 2016, it was announced that Ira would perform the song Walk on Water at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016. The song and video were released on 17 March 2016. ^[12][13][14] The same dress designers of Lady Gaga, Prince and Kylie Minogue, Alex Zabotto-Bentley, have designed the dress of Losco for the coming Eurovision Song Contest.^[15][16]

Activism

Losco has publicly expressed her support for a number of social causes in Malta, including LGBT rights and anti-bullying campaigns amongst teenagers.^[17] In 2014, she was nominated for the first LGBTI Community Awards organised by the Malta Gay Rights Movement.^[18] She also supports YMCA initiatives for homeless people and is involved in campaigns against animals in circuses, as well as being a speaker for Self-Empowerment and Self-Worth, voluntarily visiting schools to give talks to students.

Discography

References

1. http://www.iralosco.com/bio/
2. 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.
3. "Eurovision Song Contest 2002". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
4. "Controversy rages over Gaia Gieh ir-Repubblika award". Times of Malta. 4 December 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
5. Losco teams up with McDonald's Salad Plus, independent.com.mt; accessed 14 July 2015.
6. Losco launches the Vodafone Music Jam Campaign, independent.casasoft-dev.com; accessed 14 July 2015.
7. "Eurovision Malta: Ira Losco to Stockholm!". esctoday.com. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
8. "Malta sends Ira Losco to Stockholm". Eurovision.tv. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
9. 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.
10. "Eurovision Song Contest 2002". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
11. "Ira Losco wins the 2016 Malta Eurovision Song Contest". tvm.com.mt. TVM. 23 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
12. http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=malta_ira_losco_to_perform_walk_on_water
13. Juhász, Ervin (19 February 2016). "Is "Chameleon" Malta's song? Chances are big that it isn't!". escbubble.com. ESCBubble. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
14. Roxburgh, Gordon (19 February 2016). "Malta considers which song Ira Losco will perform in Stockholm". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
15. http://www.bay.com.mt/index.php/top-stories/2410-lady-gaga-stylist-to-design-eurovision-outfit-for-malta-s-ira-losco.html
16. http://www.tvm.com.mt/mt/eurovision/news/iras-eurovision-rehearsals-begin-with-team-in-malta/
17. "Biography". Ira Losco. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
18. "Nominees for first LGBTI Community Awards announced". Maltatoday. 3 November 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2016.