100 Days, 100 Songs. The Big Countdown To Eurovision

The 7th of February marked exactly 100 hundred days until Eurovision, it seems fitting to celebrate this by counting down 100 days with 100 songs. The last sixty three years has brought us nearly eighteen hundred fantastic, and unique Eurovision entries that some will love, whist others might not like so much. Each day we will bring you a song, and give you details on how it performed at the contest, but also information on the artist, and find out what happened next? Join us on this journey as we countdown from day 100 to 1 where we will have another 43 songs to add to this list.

Day 98- Claudette Pace - "Desire" For Malta 2000

It was a brand new decade, and Millennium for the Eurovision Song Contest back in 2000. The country, and contest were going through changes, that saw the show have it's biggest live audience. Over 16,000 people crammed into the Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, thanks to Charlotte Nielsen winning the contest a year before in Jerusalem with, "Take Me To Your Heaven". It was a show that the Swede's took to their heart as they put on a world class show, that saw the contest go from strength to strength. This edition saw Russia return after three years, but also Latvia make it's debut at the contest. The opening was one of the more memorable that saw the whole audience erupt to welcome Europe. The show was hosted by Kattis Ahlström and Anders Lundin who had great chemistry, and a comedic sense of humour to their hosting style. 24 countries would compete this year. 2000 also saw the show being broadcast live on the internet to Canada, Japan, Australia, and the USA for the first time. It was the Olsen Brothers from Denmark who would ultimately win the show.

This year Malta had decided to send something up beat, catchy with a taste of the Mediterranean. It came in the form of Claudette Pace, and her infectious song, "Desire". The song would not win, but it would come a very respectable 8th place, scoring 73 points. It scored points from an impressive nineteen countries with the highest scores coming from Russia, Cyprus, Croatia, and Macedonia who all awarded it eight points. Check out the entry below:

Who Is Claudette Pace?

Claudette Pace was born Claudette Buttigieg on the 8th February 1968, and in turned 51 years old yesterday. She was born in Naxxar. Prior to Eurovision she was well known as a television presenter before entering Malta's Song For Europe in 2000. At this role she was successful, and was the only television presenter that worked on all three of Malta's channels, TV, NET TV and TVM. She would be known all over Europe as a result of Eurovision. Her hit "Desire" would be later used in the United Kingdom as the official anthem of Gay Pride in 2001.

What Happened After Eurovision?

Unfortunately for those who love "Desire" and the voice of Claudette Pace, will be disappointed to find out that she relinquished her career as a singer after Eurovision. Her role as television presenter would also stop over ten years later. More importantly though, she would switch career's and have quite a successful stint as a politician in Malta. In 2013 she would be elected to the Maltese Parliament for the 8th district. This led to her becoming the shadow minister for health. Her career as a politician still continues, as she was re-elected back in 2017, and soon after appointed deputy speaker.

The talented singer has done it all. Claudette has gone from television presenter to singer, to now being a successful politician. Although musically she is better known for Eurovision, and the song, "Desire", it is one that everyone remembers from 2000.

Do you remember this song? Did you like it? Please tell us your thoughts in the comments below.