ESC BELGRADE 2008 (53ª)

2008.jpg

  • Dates – Grand Final: Saturday, 24 May 2008 – 21:00 CEST
  • Host – Venue & Location: Belgrade Arena (Београдска арена; Štark Arena, Штарк арена / KOMBANK Arena, Комбанк арена), Belgrade, 🇷🇸 Serbia
  • Presenter (s): Jovana Janković (Јована Јанковић) & Željko Joksimović (Жељко Јоксимовић)
  • Musical Director:
  • Director: Sven Stojanović
  • Executive Producer: Sandra Šuša
  • Executive Supervisor: Svante Stockselius
  • Multicamera Director:
  • Host broadcaster: Radio Television of Serbia (RTS)
  • Motto: “Confluence of Sound” (Ušće zvuka)
  • Opening Act: Marija Šerifović performing “Molitva” (remix) and “Tell Me Why”
  • Interval Act: Goran Bregović (Горан Бреговић)  (medley: “Gas gas”, “Napile se ulice” and “Kalašnjikov”); Vlade Divac (Владе Дивац)
  • Participants – Number of entries: 43: Final 25 [🇬🇧 United Kindom (47ª), 🇪🇸 Spain (44ª), 🇸🇪 Sweden (45ª), 🇫🇷 France (48ª), 🇩🇪 Germany (48ª), 🇷🇺 Russia (11ª), 🇬🇷 Greece (27ª), 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina (13ª), 🇷🇴 Romania (10ª), 🇦🇱 Albania (5ª), 🇫🇮 Finland (39ª), 🇳🇴 Norway (44ª), 🇬🇪 Georgia (2ª), 🇱🇻 Latvia (8ª), 🇷🇸 Serbia (3ª), 🇹🇷 Turkey (29ª), 🇦🇲 Armenia (3ª), 🇮🇱 Israel (27ª), 🇭🇷 Croatia (15ª), 🇵🇱 Poland (13ª), 🇮🇸 Iceland (21ª), 🇵🇹 Portugal (39ª), 🇩🇰 Denmark (37ª), 🇺🇦 Ukraine (6ª), 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan (1ª)]; First Semi-Final 19  [🇲🇪 Montenegro (2ª), 🇮🇱 Israel (27ª), 🇪🇪 Estonia (13ª), 🇲🇩 Moldova (4ª), 🇸🇲 San Marino (1ª), 🇧🇪 Belgium (47ª), 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan (1ª), 🇸🇮 Slovenia (13ª), 🇳🇴 Norway (44ª), 🇵🇱 Poland (13ª), 🇮🇪 Ireland (39ª), 🇦🇩 Andorra (5ª), 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina (13ª), 🇦🇲 Armenia (3ª), 🇳🇱 The Netherlands (46ª), 🇫🇮 Finland (39ª), 🇷🇴 Romania (10ª), 🇷🇺 Russia (11ª), 🇬🇷 Greece (27ª)]; Second Semi-Final 19  [🇮🇸 Iceland (21ª), 🇸🇪 Sweden (45ª), 🇹🇷 Turkey (29ª), 🇺🇦 Ukraine (6ª), 🇱🇹 Lithuania (9ª), 🇦🇱 Albania (5ª), 🇨🇭 Switzerland (47ª), 🇨🇿 Czech Republic (2ª), 🇧🇾 Belarus (5ª), 🇱🇻 Latvia (8ª), 🇭🇷 Croatia (15ª), 🇧🇬 Bulgaria (4ª), 🇩🇰 Denmark (37ª)🇬🇪 Georgia (2ª), 🇭🇺 Hungary (7ª), 🇲🇹 Malta (20ª), 🇨🇾 Cyprus (26ª), 🇲🇰 FYRO Macedonia (8ª), 🇵🇹 Portugal (39ª)]
  • Debuting countries: 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan (1ª), 🇸🇲 San Marino (1ª) 
  • Return:
  • Non-returning countries: 🇦🇹 Austria (42ª)
  • Vote – Voting system: Each country awarded 12, 10, 8–1 point(s) to their 10 favourite songs.
  • Nil Points:
  • Winning song: 1f3c6Believe” – Dima Bilan (Дима Билан) – 🇷🇺 Russia (1ª)

ESC Belgrade 2008.png

About/Overview. For the first time in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest, two Semi-Finals were held to decide which 25 countries would be represented in the Final. The Final of the contest took place on the 24th of May, just like the first ever Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. Serbia hosted the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest in the Belgrade Arena. A record 43 countries participated including San Marino and Azerbaijan who made their respective debuts. Austria withdrew and did not return to the competition until 2011. France was represented by a major star, Sébastien Tellier, however he failed to impress the voters of Europe and finished in 19th place. Ukraine’s Ani Lorak, who was in the running to represent her country in 2005, finished in second place with her song “Shady Lady”. Charlotte Perrelli (Nilsson), who won the contest in 1999 for Sweden returned to the competition but finished 18th in the Grand Final.

About the winner. Russia had been close to winning the contest several times but Dima Bilan brought it home with his second attempt with the song “Believe” written by American Jim Beanz and Bilan himself. Dima was accompanied by Russian figure skater and Olympic gold medalist Evgeni Plushenko as well as Hungarian violinist Edvin Marton. 

Facts and figures. Ukraine was runner up for the second year running, with third place going to Greece, and 4th to Armenia, it’s best result so far. Norway finished in 5th place; Sweden qualified for the Grand Final thanks to the jury vote introduced that year; The slogan for 2008 was ‘Confluence of Sound’. 

Final.

o/r  Country participant(s) SONG – TRANSLATE – LANGUAGE Points rank
01 🇷🇴 Romania TVR Nico & Vlad (Nico & Vlad Miriță) Pe-o margine de lume (On an edge of the world) Romanian, Italian 045 20
02 🇬🇧 United Kindom  BBC Andy Abraham Even if English 014 25
03 🇦🇱 Albania RTSH Olta Boka Zemrën e lamë peng (Hearts trapped in time) Albanian 055 17
04 🇩🇪 Germany NDR No Angels Disappear (Verschwinden) English 014 23
05 🇦🇲 Armenia AMPTV Sirusho (Սիրուշո) Qélé, Qélé  (Քելե Քելե; Let’s go, Let’s go / Come on, come on) English, Armenian 199 04
06 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina BHRT Laka (Лака, Elvir Laković, Елвир Лаковић) Pokušaj (Покушај, Try) Bosnian 110 10
07 🇮🇱 Israel IBA Boaz Ma’uda (בועז מעודה) The fire iIn your eyes (האש בעינייך‎, HaEsh BaEinayikh; Ke’ilu Kan, כאילו כאן, As if here) Hebrew[a] 124 09
08 🇫🇮 Finland YLE Teräsbetoni Missä miehet ratsastaa (Where men ride / Where the men ride) Finnish 035 22
09 🇭🇷 Croatia HRT Kraljevi Ulice & 75 Cents (Краљеви улицеи 75 Cents) Romanca (Романца, Romance) Croatian 044 21
10 🇵🇱 Poland TVP Isis Gee For life English 014 24
11 🇮🇸 Iceland RÚV Euroband (Eurobandið) This is my life (Fullkomið líf) English 064 14
12 🇹🇷 Turkey TRT Mor ve Ötesi Deli (Insane / Crazy) Turkish 138 07
13 🇵🇹 Portugal RTP Vânia Fernandes Senhora do mar (negras águas) [Lady of the sea (Dark Waters)] Portuguese 069 13
14 🇱🇻 Latvia LTV Pirates of the Sea Wolves of the sea (Jūras vilki) English 083 12
15 🇸🇪 Sweden SVT Charlotte Perrelli Hero English 047 18
16 🇩🇰 Denmark DR Simon Mathew All night long English 060 15
17 🇬🇪 Georgia GPB Diana Gurtskaya (დიანა ღურწკაია) Peace will come (მშვიდობა მოვა) English 083 11
18 🇺🇦 Ukraine NTU Ani Lorak (Ані Лорак) Shady lady (Леді з тіні) English 230 02
19 🇫🇷 France France 3 Sébastien Tellier Divine English[f] 047 19
20 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan İctimai Elnur & Samir (Elnur Hüseynov & Samir Javadzadeh, Elnur Hüseynov və Samir Cavadzadə) Day after day (Günbəgün) English 132 08
21 🇬🇷 Greece ERT Kalomira (Καλομοίρα) Secret combination (Μυστικός Συνδυασμός) English 218 03
22 🇪🇸 Spain TVE Rodolfo Chikilicuatre Baila el chiki-chiki (Dance the chiki-chiki) Spanish, English 055 16
23 🇷🇸 Serbia RTS Jelena Tomašević
feat. Bora Dugić (Јелена Томашевић и Бора Дугић)
Oro (Оро, Hora) Serbian 160 06
24 🇷🇺 Russia RTR winner Dima Bilan (Дима Билан) Believe (Верю / Поверь) English 272 01
25 🇳🇴 Norway NRK Maria (Maria Haukaas Storeng) Hold On Be Strong English 182 05
  • Dates – First Semi-Final: Tuesday, 20 May 2008 – 21:00 CEST
  • Host – Venue & Location: Belgrade Arena (Београдска арена; Štark Arena,Штарк арена / KOMBANK Arena, Комбанк арена), Belgrade, 🇷🇸 Serbia
  • Presenter (s): Jovana Janković (Јована Јанковић) & Željko Joksimović (Жељко Јоксимовић)
  • Musical Director:
  • Director: Sven Stojanović
  • Executive Producer: Sandra Šuša
  • Executive Supervisor: Svante Stockselius
  • Multicamera Director:
  • Host broadcaster: Radio Television of Serbia (RTS)
  • Motto: “Confluence of Sound” (Ušće zvuka)
  • Opening Act: Video killed a radio star performance, Ensemble “Kolo”.
  • Interval Act: Slobodan Trkulja (Слободан Тркуља), Metropole Orkest, Balkanopolis, Novak Djokovic (Novak Đoković, Новак Ђоковић) and Željko Joksimović performed “Beograde” (song by Đorđe Marjanović).
  • Participants – Number of entries: 43: Final 25 [🇬🇧 United Kindom (47ª), 🇪🇸 Spain (44ª), 🇸🇪 Sweden (45ª), 🇫🇷 France (48ª), 🇩🇪 Germany (48ª), 🇷🇺 Russia (11ª), 🇬🇷 Greece (27ª), 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina (13ª), 🇷🇴 Romania (10ª), 🇦🇱 Albania (5ª), 🇫🇮 Finland (39ª), 🇳🇴 Norway (44ª), 🇬🇪 Georgia (2ª), 🇱🇻 Latvia (8ª), 🇷🇸 Serbia (3ª), 🇹🇷 Turkey (29ª), 🇦🇲 Armenia (3ª), 🇮🇱 Israel (27ª), 🇭🇷 Croatia (15ª), 🇵🇱 Poland (13ª), 🇮🇸 Iceland (21ª), 🇵🇹 Portugal (39ª), 🇩🇰 Denmark (37ª), 🇺🇦 Ukraine (6ª), 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan (1ª), ]; First Semi-Final 19  [🇲🇪 Montenegro (2ª), 🇮🇱 Israel (27ª), 🇪🇪 Estonia (13ª), 🇲🇩 Moldova (4ª), 🇸🇲 San Marino (1ª), 🇧🇪 Belgium (47ª), 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan (1ª), 🇸🇮 Slovenia (13ª), 🇳🇴 Norway (44ª), 🇵🇱 Poland (13ª), 🇮🇪Ireland (39ª), 🇦🇩 Andorra (5ª), 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina (13ª), 🇦🇲 Armenia (3ª), 🇳🇱 The Netherlands (46ª), 🇫🇮 Finland (39ª), 🇷🇴 Romania (10ª), 🇷🇺 Russia (11ª), 🇬🇷 Greece (27ª)]; Second Semi-Final 19  [🇮🇸 Iceland (21ª), 🇸🇪 Sweden (45ª), 🇹🇷 Turkey (29ª), 🇺🇦 Ukraine (6ª), 🇱🇹 Lithuania (9ª), 🇦🇱 Albania (5ª), 🇨🇭 Switzerland (47ª), 🇨🇿 Czech Republic (2ª), 🇧🇾 Belarus (5ª), 🇱🇻 Latvia (8ª), 🇭🇷 Croatia (15ª), 🇧🇬 Bulgaria (4ª), 🇩🇰 Denmark (37ª)🇬🇪 Georgia (2ª), 🇭🇺 Hungary (7ª), 🇲🇹 Malta (20ª), 🇨🇾 Cyprus (26ª), 🇲🇰 FYRO Macedonia (8ª), 🇵🇹 Portugal (39ª)]
  • Debuting countries: 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan (1ª), 🇸🇲 San Marino (1ª) 
  • Return:
  • Non-returning countries: 🇦🇹 Austria (42ª)
  • Vote – Voting system: Each country awarded 12, 10, 8–1 point(s) to their 10 favourite songs.
  • Nil Points:
  • Winning song: 1f3c6 “Secret combination” – Kalomira – 🇬🇷 Greece (1ª)

About/Overview. For the first time in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest, two Semi-Finals were held to decide which 25 countries would be represented in the Final. The Final of the contest took place on the 24th of May, just like the first ever Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. Serbia hosted the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest in the Belgrade Arena. A record 43 countries participated including San Marino and Azerbaijan who made their respective debuts. Austria withdrew and did not return to the competition until 2011. France was represented by a major star, Sébastien Tellier, however he failed to impress the voters of Europe and finished in 19th place. Ukraine’s Ani Lorak, who was in the running to represent her country in 2005, finished in second place with her song “Shady Lady”. Charlotte Perrelli (Nilsson), who won the contest in 1999 for Sweden returned to the competition but finished 18th in the Grand Final.

About the winner. Russia had been close to winning the contest several times but Dima Bilan brought it home with his second attempt with the song “Believe” written by American Jim Beanz and Bilan himself. Dima was accompanied by Russian figure skater and Olympic gold medalist Evgeni Plushenko as well as Hungarian violinist Edvin Marton. 

Facts and figures. Ukraine was runner up for the second year running, with third place going to Greece, and 4th to Armenia, it’s best result so far. Norway finished in 5th place; Sweden qualified for the Grand Final thanks to the jury vote introduced that year; The slogan for 2008 was ‘Confluence of Sound’. 

First Semi-Final: [Q] – Qualifiers

o/r  Country participant(s) SONG – TRANSLATE – LANGUAGE Points rank
01 🇲🇪 Montenegro RTCG Stefan Filipović (Стефан Филиповић) Zauvijek volim te (Заувијек волим те, I love you forever) Montenegrin 023 14
02 🇮🇱 Israel IBA qualifier Boaz (Boaz Ma’uda, בועז מעודה) The fire in your eyes (האש בעינייך‎, HaEsh BaEinayikh; Ke’ilu Kan, כאילו כאן, As if here) Hebrew[a]  104 05
03 🇪🇪 Estonia ERR Kreisiraadio Leto svet! (Summer light) Serbian, German, Finnish 008 18
04 🇲🇩 Moldova TRM Geta Burlacu A century of love (Un secol de iubire) English 036 12
05 🇸🇲 San Marino SMRTV Miodio Complice (Accomplice) Italian 005 19
06 🇧🇪 Belgium VRT Ishtar O julissi na jalini (O Julissi) Imaginary 016 17
07 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan İctimai qualifier Elnur and Samir (Elnur Hüseynov & Samir Javadzadeh, Elnur Hüseynov və Samir Cavadzadə) Day after day (Günbəgün)  English  096 06
08 🇸🇮 Slovenia RTVSLO Rebeka Dremelj (Ребека Дремељ) Vrag naj vzame (To hell with it) English 036 11
09 🇳🇴 Norway NRK qualifier Maria (Maria Haukaas Storeng) Hold on be strong (Hold ut, vær sterk) English  106 04
10 🇵🇱 Poland TVP qualifier Isis Gee For life English  042 10
11 🇮🇪 Ireland RTÉ Dustin The Turkey (Dustin Turcaí) Irelande douze points (Ireland, twelve points; Irelande Douze Pointe) English[b] 022 15
12 🇦🇩 Andorra RTVA Gisela Casanova English[c] 022 16
13 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina BHRT qualifier Laka (Лака, Elvir Laković, Елвир Лаковић) Pokušaj (Покушај, Try) Bosnian  072 09
14 🇦🇲 Armenia AMPTV qualifier Sirusho (Սիրուշո) Qélé, Qélé (Քելե Քելե; Let’s go, Let’s go / Come on, come on) English, Armenian  139 02
15 🇳🇱 The Netherlands NOS Hind (Hind Laroussi) Your heart belongs to me English 027 13
16 🇫🇮 Finland YLE qualifier Teräsbetoni Missä miehet ratsastaa (Where men ride / Where the men ride) Finnish  079 08
17 🇷🇴 Romania TVR qualifier Nico & Vlad (Nico & Vlad Miriță) Pe-o margine de lume (On an edge of the world) Romanian, Italian  097 07
18 🇷🇺 Russia RTR qualifier Dima Bilan (Дима Билан) Believe (Верю / Поверь) English  135 03
19 🇬🇷 Greece ERT qualifier Kalomira (Καλομοίρα) Secret combination (Μυστικός Συνδυασμός) English  156 01
  • Dates – Second Semi-Final: Thursday, 22 May, 2008, 21:00 CEST
  • Host – Venue & Location: Belgrade Arena (Београдска арена; Štark Arena,Штарк арена / KOMBANK Arena, Комбанк арена), Belgrade, 🇷🇸 Serbia
  • Presenter (s): Jovana Janković (Јована Јанковић) & Željko Joksimović (Жељко Јоксимовић)
  • Musical Director:
  • Director: Sven Stojanović
  • Executive Producer: Sandra Šuša
  • Executive Supervisor: Svante Stockselius
  • Multicamera Director:
  • Host broadcaster: Radio Television of Serbia (RTS)
  • Motto: “Confluence of Sound” (Ušće zvuka)
  • Opening Act: Serbia for beginners accompanied by Aleksandar Josipović as a Master of Ceremonies.
    Interval Act: National Theatre in Belgrade performance, Lys Assia
  • Participants – Number of entries: 43: Final 25 [🇬🇧 United Kindom (47ª), 🇪🇸 Spain (44ª), 🇸🇪 Sweden (45ª), 🇫🇷 France (48ª), 🇩🇪 Germany (48ª), 🇷🇺 Russia (11ª), 🇬🇷 Greece (27ª), 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina (13ª), 🇷🇴 Romania (10ª), 🇦🇱 Albania (5ª), 🇫🇮 Finland (39ª), 🇳🇴 Norway (44ª), 🇬🇪 Georgia (2ª), 🇱🇻 Latvia (8ª), 🇷🇸 Serbia (3ª), 🇹🇷 Turkey (29ª), 🇦🇲 Armenia (3ª), 🇮🇱 Israel (27ª), 🇭🇷 Croatia (15ª), 🇵🇱 Poland (13ª), 🇮🇸 Iceland (21ª), 🇵🇹 Portugal (39ª), 🇩🇰 Denmark (37ª), 🇺🇦 Ukraine (6ª), 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan (1ª), ]; First Semi-Final 19  [🇲🇪 Montenegro (2ª), 🇮🇱 Israel (27ª), 🇪🇪 Estonia (13ª), 🇲🇩 Moldova (4ª), 🇸🇲 San Marino (1ª), 🇧🇪 Belgium (47ª), 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan (1ª), 🇸🇮 Slovenia (13ª), 🇳🇴 Norway (44ª), 🇵🇱 Poland (13ª), 🇮🇪Ireland (39ª), 🇦🇩 Andorra (5ª), 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina (13ª), 🇦🇲 Armenia (3ª), 🇳🇱 The Netherlands (46ª), 🇫🇮 Finland (39ª), 🇷🇴 Romania (10ª), 🇷🇺 Russia (11ª), 🇬🇷 Greece (27ª)]; Second Semi-Final 19  [🇮🇸 Iceland (21ª), 🇸🇪 Sweden (45ª), 🇹🇷 Turkey (29ª), 🇺🇦 Ukraine (6ª), 🇱🇹 Lithuania (9ª), 🇦🇱 Albania (5ª), 🇨🇭 Switzerland (47ª), 🇨🇿 Czech Republic (2ª), 🇧🇾 Belarus (5ª), 🇱🇻 Latvia (8ª), 🇭🇷 Croatia (15ª), 🇧🇬 Bulgaria (4ª), 🇩🇰 Denmark (37ª)🇬🇪 Georgia (2ª), 🇭🇺 Hungary (7ª), 🇲🇹 Malta (20ª), 🇨🇾 Cyprus (26ª), 🇲🇰 FYRO Macedonia (8ª), 🇵🇹 Portugal (39ª)]
  • Debuting countries: 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan (1ª), 🇸🇲 San Marino (1ª) 
  • Return:
  • Non-returning countries: 🇦🇹 Austria (42ª)
  • Vote – Voting system: Each country awarded 12, 10, 8–1 point(s) to their 10 favourite songs.
  • Nil Points:
  • Winning song: 1f3c6 “Shady Lady” – Ani Lorak – 🇺🇦 Ukraine (1ª)

About/Overview. For the first time in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest, two Semi-Finals were held to decide which 25 countries would be represented in the Final. The Final of the contest took place on the 24th of May, just like the first ever Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. Serbia hosted the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest in the Belgrade Arena. A record 43 countries participated including San Marino and Azerbaijan who made their respective debuts. Austria withdrew and did not return to the competition until 2011. France was represented by a major star, Sébastien Tellier, however he failed to impress the voters of Europe and finished in 19th place. Ukraine’s Ani Lorak, who was in the running to represent her country in 2005, finished in second place with her song “Shady Lady”. Charlotte Perrelli (Nilsson), who won the contest in 1999 for Sweden returned to the competition but finished 18th in the Grand Final.

About the winner. Russia had been close to winning the contest several times but Dima Bilan brought it home with his second attempt with the song “Believe” written by American Jim Beanz and Bilan himself. Dima was accompanied by Russian figure skater and Olympic gold medalist Evgeni Plushenko as well as Hungarian violinist Edvin Marton. 

Facts and figures. Ukraine was runner up for the second year running, with third place going to Greece, and 4th to Armenia, it’s best result so far. Norway finished in 5th place; Sweden qualified for the Grand Final thanks to the jury vote introduced that year; The slogan for 2008 was ‘Confluence of Sound’. 

Second Semi-Final[Q] – Qualifiers

o/r  Country participant(s) SONG – TRANSLATE – LANGUAGE Points rank
01 🇮🇸 Iceland RÚV qualifier Euroband (Eurobandið) This is my life (Fullkomið líf) English  068 08
02 🇸🇪 Sweden SVT qualifier Charlotte Perrelli Hero English  054 10
03 🇹🇷 Turkey TRT qualifier Mor ve Ötesi Deli (Insane / Crazy) Turkish  085 07
04 🇺🇦 Ukraine NTU qualifier Ani Lorak (Ані Лорак) Shady lady (Леді з тіні) English  152 01
05 🇱🇹 Lithuania LRT Jeronimas Milius Nomads in the night  (Klajūnai naktyje) English 030 16
06 🇦🇱 Albania RTSH qualifier Olta Boka Zemrën e lamë peng (Hearts trapped in time) Albanian  067 09
07 🇨🇭 Switzerland SRG SSR idée suisse Paolo Meneguzzi Era stupendo (It was wonderful) Italian 047 13
08 🇨🇿 Czech Republic ČT Tereza Kerndlová Have Some Fun English 009 18
09 🇧🇾 Belarus BTRC Ruslan Alekhno (Руслан Аляхно, Руслан Алехно, Ruslan Alekhno,Ruslan Alyakhno) Hasta la vista (Бывай, Прощай, See You Soon, Да сустрэчы) English[d] 027 17
10 🇱🇻 Latvia LTV qualifier Pirates of the Sea Wolves of the sea (Jūras vilki) English  086 06
11 🇭🇷 Croatia HRT qualifier Kraljevi Ulice & 75 Cents (Краљеви улицеи 75 Cents) Romanca (Романца, Romance) Croatian 112 04
12 🇧🇬 Bulgaria BNT Deep Zone feat. Balthazar (Deep Zone Project и DJ Balthazar, Deepzone & Balthazar, Deep Zone Project and DJ Balthazar, Дийп Зоун Проджект и DJ Балтазар, Дийп Зоун Проджект и Диджей Балтазар) DJ, take me away (Диджей, отведи ме) English 056 12
13 🇩🇰 Denmark DR qualifier Simon Mathew All night long English  112 03
14 🇬🇪 Georgia GPB qualifier Diana Gurtskaya (დიანა ღურწკაია) Peace will come (მშვიდობა მოვა) English  107 05
15 🇭🇺 Hungary MTV Csézy (Csézi Erzsébet) Candlelight (Gyertyaláng, Szívverés, Heartbeat) English, Hungarian 006 19
16 🇲🇹 Malta MTPBS Morena Vodka English[e] 038 14
17 🇨🇾 Cyprus CyBC Evdokia Kadi (Kadi Evdokia, Ευδοκία Καδή) Femme fatale (Μοιραία γυναίκα, Fatal woman) Greek 036 15
18 🇲🇰 FYRO Macedonia MKRTV Tamara, Vrčak & Adrian (Tamara, Vrčak & Adrijan, Tamara Todevska, Vrčak and Adrian Gaxha; Тамара Тодевска, Врчак и Адријан Гаџа) Let me love you (Vo Ime Na Ljubovta, Во Име На Љубовта, In the Name of Love) English 064 11
19 🇵🇹 Portugal RTP qualifier Vânia Fernandes Senhora do mar (negras águas) [Lady of the sea (Dark Waters)] Portuguese  120 02

Participation map

A coloured map of the countries of Europe

Transmitirá a 2º semifinal noutro horário. Participating countries Transmitirá a Final em direto. Did not qualify from the semi final Transmitirá a 1º semifinal em direto. Countries that participated in the past but not in 2008

ESC 2008 Scoreboard Grand Final Ι Detailed voting results:

Final:

Scoreboard - Eurovision Song Contest 2008 Final

ESC 2008 Scoreboard First Semi-Final Ι Detailed voting results:

First Semi-Final:

Scoreboard - Eurovision Song Contest 2008 Semi-Final (1)

ESC 2008 Scoreboard Second Semi-Final Ι Detailed voting results:

Second Semi-Final:

Scoreboard - Eurovision Song Contest 2008 Semi-Final (2)

The Eurovision Song Contest 2008 was the 53rd edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Belgrade, Serbia, following the country’s victory at the 2007 contest with the song “Molitva” by Marija Šerifović. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Radio Television of Serbia (RTS), the contest was held at the Belgrade Arena, and (for the first time) consisted of two semi-finals on 20 and 22 May, and a final on 24 May 2008. The three live shows were presented by Serbian television presenter Jovana Janković and musician Željko Joksimović.

Forty-three countries participated in the contest, the highest ever number of participants in the contest beating the record of forty-two set the year before. Azerbaijan and San Marino participated for the first time, while Austria did not participate, mainly due to questions on the semi-final organisation as well as the politicization of the contest.

The winner was Russia with the song “Believe”, performed by Dima Bilan who wrote it with Jim Beanz. Ukraine, Greece, Armenia and Norway rounded out the top five. Armenia achieved their best result to date this year. Of the “Big Four” countries Spain placed the highest, finishing sixteenth, while the United Kingdom ended up in last place for the second time in their Eurovision history, after 2003.

The official website, eurovision.tv, streamed national finals for this year’s contest live on ESCTV for the first time. Furthermore, for the first time the winner has been awarded an official winner’s trophy of the Eurovision Song Contest. The trophy is a handmade piece of sandblasted glass in the shape of a 1950s microphone.

Belgrade Arena, Belgrade – host venue of the 2008 contest.