Ira Losco
M.Q.R.
Losco performing in 2016
Losco performing in 2016
Background information
Born (1981-07-31) 31 July 1981
Sliema, Malta
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active1998–present

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.

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, 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] On the same year, Ira Losco published her double album "No Sinner No Saint" to commemorate her 15th year in the music industry.

Eurovision Song Contest

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

Personal life

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]

Discography

References

  1. ↑ "Home – Ira Losco". Ira Losco. Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  2. 1 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. 1 2 "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. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  8. ↑ "Malta sends Ira Losco to Stockholm". Eurovision.tv. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  9. ↑ Granger, Anthony (31 July 2018). "Malta: Ira Losco Confirmed as X Factor Malta Judge".
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ Gordon Roxburgh. "Malta: Ira Losco to perform "Walk On Water"". Eurovision.tv. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  12. ↑ Juhász, Ervin (19 February 2016). "Is "Chameleon" Malta's song? Chances are big that it isn't!". escbubble.com. ESCBubble. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  13. ↑ Roxburgh, Gordon (19 February 2016). "Malta considers which song Ira Losco will perform in Stockholm". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ "Ira begins Eurovision rehearsals with team". TVM. Archived from the original on 7 April 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  16. ↑ "'Baġit bla limitu għall-Eurovision ta' din is-sena'". MaltaToday.com.mt.
  17. ↑ "Eurovision: Ira to perform in 22nd position". Times of Malta. 13 May 2016.
  18. ↑ Reactions – Watch again – Eurovision: Ira Losco 12th, Ukraine victorious.
  19. ↑ MALTA'S IRA LOSCO IN 12TH PLACE IN EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 2016.
  20. ↑ Ukraine wins the Eurovision – Malta in 12th place – fourth place by jury votes.
  21. ↑ Updated (2): Ukraine wins Eurovision Song Contest, Malta in 12th place.
  22. ↑ Malta in Mourning: Ira Losco Places 12th.
  23. ↑ (WATCH) Fans give Ira Losco warm welcome back.
  24. ↑ "Losco confirms pregnancy rumours: 'I'm a mother-to-be'". Malta Today. 8 May 2016.
  25. ↑ "Ira Losco publicly announces what everyone knew – she's pregnant". Malta Independent. 8 May 2016.
  26. ↑ 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.
  27. ↑ "Ira Losco Officially Ties The Knot In Beautiful Maltese Wedding". Lovin Malta. 1 December 2019.
  28. ↑ Cilia, Johnathan (28 June 2020). "Ira Losco Announces She's Pregnant With Her Second Child, A Girl". Lovin Malta. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  29. ↑ "Biography". Ira Losco. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  30. ↑ "Nominees for first LGBTI Community Awards announced". Maltatoday. 3 November 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  31. ↑ "Gay rights, territorial disputes take centre stage at Eurovision". Times of Malta. 12 May 2016.
  32. ↑ "Ira Losco: "Gay rights must go beyond tolerance"". Times of Malta. 12 May 2016.
  33. ↑ "Stories". eurovision.tv.
  34. ↑ "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.
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