A record number of 43 countries will be represented at the 53rd Eurovision Song Contest and for the first time, the contest features two Semi-Finals.
- 20 May - First Semi-Final
- 22 May - Second Semi-Final
- 24 May - The Final
Semi-Final (1)
Performer: Kalomira
Song title: Secret Combination
Song writer(s): Poseidon Yannopoulos
Song composer(s): Konstantinos Pantzis
With Secret Combination, Kalomira will represent Greece at the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest after winning the Greek national final in February.
Hungary
Semi-Final (2)
Performer: Csézy
Song title: Candlelight
Song writer(s): Imre Mózsik (English) Jánosi (Hungarian)
Song composer(s): Viktor Rakonczai
Csézy won the Hungarian national selection of the Eurovision Song Contest with the song named Candlelight, and she will participate in the Semi-Final in Belgrade. The local final took place in Budapest, and during the show 15 songs were performed. Among the contestants, not only newcomers, but also highly popular singers and bands tried to achieve the first place. The Hungarian viewers voted for Csézy, the young, beautiful and exquisitely talented singer.
Iceland
Semi-Final (2)
Performer: Euroband
Song title: This Is My Life
Song writer(s): Paul Oscar & Peter Fenner
Song composer(s): Örlygur Smári
After an exciting selecting process in Iceland dating back to September 2007, Iceland finally decided their participant for the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest. Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins was won by Euroband.
Semi-Final (1)
Performer: Dustin the Turkey
Song title: Irelande Douze Pointe
Song writer(s): Darren Smith, Simon Fine & Dustin The Turkey
Song composer(s): Darren Smith, Simon Fine & Dustin The Turkey
Pre-contest hot favourite Dustin the Turkey won the Irish final with the song Irelande Douze Pointe. The popular puppet will now go on to represent Ireland in the first Semi-Final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade on Tuesday 20th of May.
Dustin the Turkey is a top class popstar, builder, politician and Irish TV personality.He has been a star since the 1990’s when he joined RTÉ’s children’s television programme The Den with fellow furry friends Zig and Zag. He currently presents The Once A Week Show with Sinéad Ní Churnáin on Saturday mornings on RTÉ Two television.
Israel
Semi-Final (1)
Performer: Boaz
Song title: The Fire In Your Eyes
Song writer(s): Dana International & Shai Kerem
Song composer(s): Dana International
Out of 450 entries, Israeli broadcasters IBA and Channel 2 hand-picked five songs for Boaz, who will represent the country at the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest. In a televised show, the public chose The Fire In Your Eyes as Boaz' song for Belgrade.
Boaz, 20, is a young and passionate singer. With his clear golden voice, and genuine soul, he already won the hearts of the Israeli public, winning the first prize in the Israeli version of "Pop Idol – A Star is Born". From zero to hero, the new idol is the epitome of the new Israeli man, the rising star which shines in Israel, is soon to shine over Europe.
Latvia
Semi-Final (2)
Performer: Pirates Of The Sea
Song title: Wolves Of The Sea
Song writer(s): Jonas Liberg/Johan Sahlen/Claes Andreasson/Torbjorn Wassenius
Song composer(s): Jonas Liberg/Johan Sahlen/Claes Andreasson/Torbjorn Wassenius
After a series of Semi Finals, and a Grand Final ofEirodziesma 2008 in Latvia, Pirates Of The Sea sailed to a famous victory with the song Wolves Of The Sea and will represent Latvia in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest.
The Tremendous Trio are :
Aleksandra Kurusova, a frequent Latvian champion at Sport Dances, student of foreign languages at Latvia University and the winner of the Latvian edition of Strictly Come Dancing. Jānis Vaišļa,an adventurous traveller, TV and radio moderator, producer, cameraman. A real pirate himself, he spent 2 years sailing around the world. Roberto Meloni, a singer who represented Latvia at the Eurovison Song Contest in 2007 as a member of the group Bonaparti.lv.
Have a listen and let me know what you thought of them.
I've given my first impression as a comment.