What is Malta's Eurovision 2025 song? Miriana Conte song controversy explained
The star has had to make some changes before appearing at the Eurovision semi-finals
Malta certainly grabbed the headlines when they announced who will be representing them at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 – with Miriana Conte taking the stage with her song SERVING.
However, the song has seen a name change, having originally been called Kant – which caused a stir due to the explicit word it sounds like to English-speaking audiences.
While, in Maltese, Kant simply means 'singing', not everyone was too happy with how it sounded.
Regardless, the song is an absolute bop – but will it be enough to get her through to the Grand Finale on Saturday?
Here's everything you need to know about the song, and the performer.
Who is Malta's Eurovision 2025 entry Miriana Conte?
Instagram: @mirianaconte
TikTok: @mirianaconte
Miriana Conte is a singer-songwriter who has been aiming for a spot at Eurovision for years.
First starting out her career in 2016, Conte was one of 16 entries selected to compete for a chance to represent Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2017 but she came in last place at the time.
She also competed in the 2018 qualifying contest and finished in 12th place, and attempted to compete in the 2022 and 2024 Eurovision Song Contest without success.
Finally, this year she won the selection process with Kant, and qualified for the semi-final in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025.
Between her fights for a spot at Eurovision, Miriana competed in The X Factor Malta in 2018 as well, co-founding music group 4th Line in the process, and they made it to the final.
However, she left the group in 2019.
How old is Miriana Conte?
Miriana is 24 years old.
What is Malta's Eurovision 2025 song and why is the controversial?
Malta's Eurovision 2025 song is called SERVING, after they were forced to change the name of the song from KANT due to its perceived explicit title.
Despite Malta arguing that Kant translates to 'singing' in English, it was deemed inappropriate following a complaint to the European Broadcasting Union by one of its participating bodies.
In the lyrics, Miriana sings: "Serving kant... Do-re-mi-fa-s-s-serving kant" – the term 'serving c**t' is prominent in drag and queer culture as an endearing term promoting confidence and power.
The song immediately caused trouble in the UK, with the lyrics meaning radio play was restricted and the performance causing issue for the BBC, which broadcasts the semi-final and final of the song contest for those in the UK pre-watershed.
Eurovision host and BBC Radio presenter Scott Mills, said on his radio show in February: "We can't talk about Malta's one at all. We definitely can't play a clip of it... ever, on the BBC."
In response to Mills's comments, Conte told LovinMalta: "I saw the article on social media about the BBC thing, but I don’t have much to say. I do however understand their position as a radio station and as a country."
After winning the Malta Eurovision Song Contest which saw her win the chance to represent Malta in this year's competition, Conte admitted that the song is "maybe" controversial, but she is embracing it.
In a post on Instagram, Miriana joked in a heartfelt post: "Controversial song? Maybe. Bold outfit? Possibly. But we did it."
In March, it was announced that the EBU had decided to censor the song.
Miriana responded: “While I am shocked and disappointed, I promise you one thing: the show will go on – Diva NOT down."
The word 'Kant' has also been removed from its lyrics.
Where did Malta place in the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest?
Last year, Malta sadly did not qualify for the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Finale.
Represented by the song Loop by Sarah Bonnici, they came 16th place in the second semi-final.
Competing countries need to make it into the Top 10 of their respective semi-final to make it to the finale.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 semi-finals take place on Tuesday 13th and Thursday 15th May, with the grand final on Saturday 17th May.
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Authors
Katelyn Mensah is the Senior Entertainment Writer for Radio Times, covering all major entertainment programmes, reality TV shows and the latest hard-hitting documentaries. She previously worked at The Tab, with a focus on reality TV and showbiz news and has obtained a BA (Hons) in Journalism.
Tilly Pearce is a freelance TV journalist whose coverage ranges from reality shows like Love Is Blind to sci-fi shows like Fallout. She is an NCTJ Gold Standard accredited journalist, who has previously worked as Deputy TV Editor (maternity cover) at Digital Spy, and Deputy TV & Showbiz Editor at Daily Express US.
