The OGAE Song Contest is held by the official Eurovision fan club circuit, spread in around 40 countries. The official title of this club is in French – Organisation Generale des Amateurs de l’Eurovision (OGAE).

All OGAE-clubs are asked to send in a song for this Eurovision-like contest. The rules state that the song must be no older than a year and sung in the country’s national language.

Members of OGAE Malta had until 30July to cast their votes for the Maltese selection. Ten entries were nominated by the members themselves and these were voted upon. Fantasy Radio 104.1 played the Maltese selection for this year’s OGAE Song Contest during Eurovision Radio on Tuesday 25 July and also during a special show on Thursday 27 July. Several votes were cast with an interesting battle of votes for the top places.

Chiara won the Maltese selection with Sail Away. Glen finished first runner up with his upbeat Say you’ll be mine, while Ira Losco placed third with her latest release, Accident Prone. Georgina finished fourth with Together Tonight.

Here are the full results:

1. 176 pts – Chiara – Sail Away

2. 156 pts – Glen – Say you’ll be mine

3. 153 pts – Ira Losco – Accident Prone

4. 130 pts – Georgina – Together Tonight

5. 125 pts – Fabrizio Faniello – Love on the radio

6. 120 pts – Keith Camilleri – Adonis to Venus

7. 114 pts – Triston B – Life is a beat

8. 113 pts – Manuel – When I’m with you

9. 83 pts – Karen Polidano – Forever

10. 46 pts – Daniel & 1565 choir – Worth her weight in gold

OGAE Malta contacted Marc Paelinck, the songwriter of Sail Away, to congratulate him. Mr Paelinck said he was very satisfied with this result and confirmed that following Chiara’s original version of Sail Away, the song was then covered by Belgian artist Dana Winner.