Country Malta Languages English, Maltese Lyricist(s) Gerard James Borg | Artist(s) Claudette Pace Composer(s) Philip Vella Final result 8th | |
"Desire" was the Maltese entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2000, performed predominantly in English but with a bridge in Maltese by Claudette Pace.
The song is an up-tempo ballad, with Pace explaining the depth of her feelings to her lover. She tells him that "I've desired to hold you/Have you and make you mine" from their first meeting onwards, and that when he turns her away, her "fire" turns to "smoke". She also tells him that she believes that "Deep in your smile is desire for more".
Composer-lyricist combination Philip Vella and Gerard James Borg provided the Maltese entry at the 2002, 2004, 2007 and 2008 Contests. Additionally, two of Pace's backing singers were also solo entrants in their own right - Sahlene, performing under her real name, would go on to represent Estonia with "Runaway" and Gabriel Forss had previously represented Sweden as a member of Blond with "Bara hon älskar mig".
The appearance of the Maltese language is also of note, as it was the first time since Malta's return to the Eurovision stage in 1991 that this language had been heard, a break of 28 years and thus the longest break between two appearances of a language in Contest history. Translated into English, the phrase is "I have always wanted you / I have always desired you / You, I have loved".
The song was performed seventh on the night, following Romania's Taxi with "The Moon" and preceding Norway's Charmed with "My Heart Goes Boom". At the close of voting, it had received 73 points, placing 8th in a field of 24.
It was succeeded as Maltese representative at the 2001 Contest by Fabrizio Faniello with "Another Summer Night".