Evridiki and Dimitris Korgialas at Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2008

Evridiki and Dimitris Korgialas (ESC 2007) singing "Fun in the sun" on the Junior Eurovision 2008 stage.

Serbia Eurovision 2008 - New logo

RTS and EBU have launched the theme of the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest together with an entirely different logo than the one announced at first.

The theme art for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest is based on the slogan The Confluence Of Sound.

Sandra Šuša, Executive Producer of the event said:

"The fact that the host city, Belgrade, is located on the confluence of two big European rivers, the Danube and the Sava, served as inspiration for the theme art of the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest."

Earlier, RTS presented the stage design for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest, which is based on the same concept. The new theme art replaces an earlier theme art concept, which won an RTS competition and which fans refer to as 'The Plum'.

source and picture:eurovision.tv;

Belarus - Ruslan Alehno - Hasta la vista

Ruslan Alehno will represent Belarus at Eurovision 2008 with the song Hasta La Vista

Singer and composer Ruslan Alehno was born on 14th of October 1981 in Bobruysk (Belarus), where in 1995 has graduated from music school, departments of guitar, accordion and trumpet.

Interview of Ruslan Alehno at Eurovision-Belarus

Post final press-conference:

R.Alehno: "I'm not ashamed of my Eurofest performance. Though indeed there is something to work on. Including vocals". K.Breiburg, producer of R.Alehno: "The presentation you've seen was designed only for specific show - Eurofest final. For Eurovision performance should be bright, memorable, as usually impressive shows succeed there. We don't have exact ideas how it will look now, but we will do our best!".more...

Ruslan Alehno - Hasta La Vista

Lyrics:

You shone at me like a blinding star.

I’ve just never seen such a light so far.

All my days Were fairy tales.

I begged you to look in my loving eyes

But you were as cold as Arctic ice,

And your laughHas killed my love.

The story is close to the final cut,

It won’t be the end but a running start.

So don’t be upset and don’t ask me whyI say goodbye.

Hasta la vista, baby!

I gonna miss you – may be

You can be blissfully happy

Though it’s not fair.

sources:eskaz.com; alehno.ru

Eurovision 2008 - Ticket sales

eurovision.tv reports:

Ticket sales takes place in three stages and will start with the sales of packages.

-Package A: All events (all twelve events, including dress rehearsals and live shows)
-Package B1/B2: Ticket to the Final, one of the Semi-Final live shows and dress rehearsals of both Semi-Finals (eight events)
- Fan package: A fan package, similar to Package A, is being sold to fan club organizations

The special fan package is available to members of the OGAE fan clubs. Ticket distribution will be co-ordinated by OGAE International and more information will become available through the website of OGAE Serbia before the international ticket sales starts.

Stage 1 (29th and 30th of January)

Ticket packages will be released. Sales for the local market starts at 9:00 local time and ticket packages can be ordered by phone: 0900 110 011 (only in Serbia). Package sale is limited to four packages per buyer. All packages will be delivered on the buyer's home address.

Stage 2 (31st of January until the 15th of March)

Ticket packages can be ordered by phone: 0900 110 011 (only in Serbia) and, to serve package buyers abroad, through the internet with tickets.co.yu and through www.eurovision.tv, starting at 10:00 CET.

Package sale is limited to four packages per buyer. All packages will be delivered on the buyer's home address both in Serbia as well as abroad.

Stage 3 (17th of March until tickets are sold out)

Remaining single tickets will be available for purchase both in Serbia as well as for foreign buyers.
Delivery of tickets already paid for, starts on the 17th of March.

The packages are classified in three different price categories. You can find more informations HERE

Event schedule

First Semi-Final dress rehearsal 1 (19/05 at 15:00)

First Semi-Final dress rehearsal 2 (19/05 at 21:00)

First Semi-Final dress rehearsal 3 (20/05 at 15:00)

First Semi-Final live show (20/05 at 21:00)

Second Semi-Final dress rehearsal 1 (21/05 at 15:00)

Second Semi-Final dress rehearsal 2 (21/05 at 21:00)

Second Semi-Final dress rehearsal 3 (22/05 at 15:00)

Second Semi-Final live show (22/05 at 21:00)

Final dress rehearsal 1 (23/05 at 15:00)

Final dress rehearsal 2 (23/05 at 21:00)

Final dress rehearsal 3 (24/05 at 15:00)

Final live show (24/05 at 21:00)

sources:eurovision.tv; RTS/eurovision

Eurovision Song Contest 2008 - Semi-Final Allocation Draw

Today at 13:00 CET, the organizers of the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest conducted the Semi-Final Allocation Draw, to determine which country would take part in which of the two Semi-Finals.

The draw was broadcast live in about ten countries and through Eurovision.tv's esctv.

The draw for the actual running order will take place on the 17th of March, during the annual Heads of Delegation meeting, in Belgrade, Serbia.

The following countries will be represented in the first Semi-Final, on Tuesday, 20th of May:

Andorra
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Belgium
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Estonia
Finland
Greece
Ireland
Israel
Moldova
Montenegro
The Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Romania
Russia
San Marino
Slovenia
Germany (voting rights, will not participate)
Spain (voting rights, will not participate)

The following countries will be represented in the second Semi-Final, on Thursday, 22nd of May:

Albania
Belarus
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
FYR Macedonia
Georgia
Hungary
Iceland
Latvia
Lithuania
Malta
Portugal
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine
France (voting rights, will not participate)
Serbia (voting rights, will not participate)
United Kingdom (voting rights, will not participate)

It was also determined by draw that Germany and Spain will be obliged to broadcast the first Semi-Final live and to vote. France and the United Kingdom will be broadcasting the second Semi-Final, as well as take part in the voting. Host country Serbia will broadcast both Semi-Finals, and has been drawn to vote in the second Semi-Final.

source:eurovision.tv

Malta - Morena - Vodka

Morena will represent Malta with the song Vodka at the Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade.

The Gozitan singer Morena is unique in her capabilities of singing. She tries different of styles and her voice is one of the best on the islands.

Last December she won the Malta International TV Song Festival with the song "Boghod Mill-Ghajn...Boghod Mill-Qalb" composed by Renato Briffa and penned by Mark Amaira.

Morena - Vodka

sources and photo:escmalta.com;ogaemalta.com;youtube.com

RELATED : New audio version of Vodka

Switzerland - Paolo Meneguzzi - Era stupendo

Paolo Meneguzzi will represent Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade with the song "Era stupendo".

Paolo Meneguzzi is 31 years old and he is known in Italy after competing four times at the San Remo music festival. (video San Remo)

Paolo Meneguzzi: Era Stupendo


Lyrics:

C'è una parte di me
Che tacere non sa
Quando guardo l'odio che c'è
Il dolore, la povertà
Mi rivedo bambino io
Che correvo nel blu

Era stupendo volare via, sfidare il tempo, la fantasia
La tua mano e la mia, nella stessa poesia,
Era stupendo

Ma una notte vedrai
Dal destino uscirò, lo giuro
Se la vita ci aspetterà
Torneremo laggiù

Sarà stupendo volare via,sfidare ancora il tempo,la fantasia
E poi la tua mano e la mia, nella stessa poesia
Era stupendo, era stupendo

Perchè non c'è pace finchè
Tutti pensano a sè
Era stupendo volare via, sfidare il tempo,la fantasia
La tua mano e la mia, nella stessa poesia
Era stupendo, era stupendo.


sources:paolomenguzzi.it;esctoday.com;youtube.com

Albania - Olta Boka - Zemrën lamë peng

Albania has decided that Olta Boka will go to Belrade with the song Zemrën lamë peng (We gambled the heart)

Olta Boka - Zemrën lamë

Romanian national selection - A withdrawal and a disqualification

TVR, the Romanian broadcaster has decided earlier today to disqualify the song Your love by the girl band Paradise while the song Vorbe care dor performed by 3 Sud Est has been withdrawn by the artists.

The two songs were replaced by:

La storia della pioggia - Inesa

Run Away - Catalin Josan

Catalin Josan has now two songs in semifinals : Run Away and When We're Together

Eurovision 2008 - The draw for the two semi finals

eurovision.tv reports:

The Draw deciding in which of the two Semi-Finals the participating countries of the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest are going to perform will be held in Belgrade on Monday, 28th of January.

The show, hosted by Serbian broadcaster RTS, starts at 13:00 CET and will be streamed live through Eurovision.tv's esctv.

The 38 countries represented in the Semi-Finals will be drawn from six pots, based on voting patterns between 2004 and 2007. Half of the countries in the six pots will be drawn into the first Semi-Final (on the 20th of May), the other half into the second Semi-Final (on the 22nd of May).

More informations here

Romanian national selection - All songs online

The 24 songs that have qualified in Romanian national selection are now available to listen to through the TVRomania official website.

On each song you can leave your comment and state whether you think the song is an original one.

01. Yanna - C’ est la vie


02. Zero - Come this way


03. Lucia Dumitrescu - Dragostea mea


04. Master Mån (Sweden) - Dr Frankenstein


05. Nicola - Fairytale Story


06. Nico - Fight For Life


07. VH2 -Follow Me

08. Ana Mardare, Irvin Doomes - Heaven


09. Tabasco - Love Is All I Need


10. Viper - Mas conmigo


11. Nico & Vlad Miriţă - Pe-o margine de lume


12. Leo Iorga & Pacifica - Prea mici sunt cuvintele


13. Rednex feat. Ro-mania - RailRoad, RailRoad


14. Paula Seling and Provincialii - Seven days


15. Oscar, Lars, Alexander, Fredrik (Sweden) - Shine


16. Adrian Enache - Te iubesc


17. Simona Nae - The Key Of Life


18. Maya (Slovenia) - Time To Rise


19. 3Sud-Est - Vorbe care dor - withdrawed


20. Cătălin Josan - When We’re Together


21. Daniela Nicol - Why


22. Imba - Yeke Yeke


23. Paradise - Your Love - disqualified


24. New Effect feat. Genţiana - Zamira



La storia della pioggia - Inesa

Run Away - Catalin Josan

Romania national selection - Catalin Josan - When we`re together (live)

One of the semifinalists of the Romanian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 is Catalin Josan.

Watch him singing live the song When we`re together qualified for the the Romanian semifinals.

[UPD]Romanian national selection - the 24 semifinalists

TVR announced the semifinalists for the Romanian national selection which will end up with the final on February 23.

Here are the 24 songs selected for the two semifinals.

01. Yanna - C’ est la vie (Alexandrescu, Badiu, Irenne, Gherescu, Zanfir, Fornea)
02. Zero - Come this way (Marius Moga)
03. Lucia Dumitrescu - Dragostea mea (Adrian Romcescu, Cristina Ştefan)
04. Master Mån (Suedia) - Dr Frankenstein (Henrik Wikström, Niklas Edberger, Kent Olsson)
05. Nicola - Fairytale Story (Andrei Stanoevici, Nicoleta Alexandru)
06. Nico - Fight For Life (Radu Marius Alin) - ????
07. VH2 -Follow Me - ( Mihai Pocorschi, Mihai Pocorschi, Gabriel Cotabita)

08. Ana Mardare, Irvin Doomes - Heaven (Tudy Zaharescu, Irvin Doomes)
09. Tabasco - Love Is All I Need (Norbert Kovacs, Mircea Adrian Piper)
10. Viper - Mas conmigo (Mihai Alexandru, Viper)
11. Nico & Vlad Miriţă - Pe-o margine de lume (Andrei Tudor, Andreea Andrei, Adina Şuteu)
12. Leo Iorga & Pacifica - Prea mici sunt cuvintele (Mihai Alexandru, Cezar Cristea)
13. Rednex feat. Ro-mania - RailRoad, RailRoad (Alexandrescu, Presel, Fornea, Ljungberg, Jens Sylsjo, Anders Lundstorm)
14. Paula Seling şi Provincialii - Şapte zile (Eduard Cârcotă, Cristian Hrişcu Badea)
15. Oscar, Lars, Alexander, Fredrik (Sweden) - Shine (Henrik Wikström, Niklas Edberger, Måns Zelmerlöw)
16. Adrian Enache - Te iubesc (Cristi Nistor, Ionuţ Turburaş)
17. Simona Nae - The Key Of Life (Dinu Maxer, Simona Nae)
18. Maya (Slovenia) - Time To Rise (M. Slatinsek, Ziga Pirnat)
19. 3Sud-Est - Vorbe care dor (Laurenţiu Duţă) - withdrawed
20. Cătălin Josan - When We’re Together (Marius Moga)
21. Daniela Nicol - Why (Marin Petrache Pechea)
22. Imba - Yeke Yeke (Imba)
23. Paradise - Your Love (George Popa, Irina Gligor) - disqualified
24. New Effect feat. Genţiana - Zamira (Raoul Bogdan, George Lazăr)

The two songs the two songs were replaced by:

03. Cătălin Josan - Run Away (Radu Bolsea, Sebastian Barac, Marcel Botezan)

04. Monique - Vânt de vară (Dincă Zamfira Maria)

RESERVED

01. Tom Boxer feat. Anca Parghel & Fly Project - Brasil (Cosmin Simionică, Tudor Ionescu, Anca Parghel)
02. Inesa - La storia della pioggia (Sandu Gorgos, Adriana Filip)
03. Cătălin Josan - Run Away (Radu Bolsea, Sebastian Barac, Marcel Botezan)
04. Monique - Vânt de vară (Dincă Zamfira Maria)

Evdokia Kadi will represent Cyprus in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest.

Saturday night, Evdokia Kadi won the national final in Cyprus with the song Femme Fatale. Despite the French title the song is entirely in Greek language.

Femme Fatale is the creation of Nikos Evagelou and choreographed by Elena Shakalli.

Dancers and Vocals by Tefkros Neokleous, Andreas Vanezis, Polys Kourousides and Christos Shakallis.

Femme fatale Lyrics (greek) HERE

Evdokia Kadi is an experienced singer who performs in night clubs as well as with the CyBC orchestra.

Here are the results of the Cypriot final:

Below you can watch the song Femme fatale.

sources:oikotimes.com;CyBC.com.cy

Ticket reservation via internet for Eurovision on January 13

Reservations for the Eurovision Song Contest tickets 2008 via internet will start between 13th and 20th of January, executive producer of the event, ms. Sandra Susa said to Beta agency.

Ms Suša also stated that the prices will be lower than in Helsinki, mainly because of the two semi finals format.

The exact cost is not known yet but Ms Suša said that they will be cheaper than in Helsinki as "RTS's main objective is not to make a profit from ticket sales".

Regular ticket sales will start at a later date when the agreements with the sponsors have been finalised.

sources:oikotimes.com;esctoday.com

43 countries to be represented in Belgrade

A record number of 43 countries will be represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008, the EBU confirmed today.

Two semifinals will take place.

In each semifinal, ten participants qualify for the final: nine of them through televoting, the tenth entry is the highest ranked non-qualified entry of the back-up juries.

The following 38 countries will be represented in the two semifinals of the 53rd Eurovision Song Contest:

Albania (RTVSH),

Andorra (RTVA),

Armenia (PTV),

Azerbaijan (iTV),

Belarus (BTRC),

Belgium (VRT),

Bosnia & Herzegovina

(PBSBIH),

Bulgaria (BNT),

Croatia (HRT),

Cyprus (CBC),

Czech Republic (CT),

Denmark (DR),

Estonia (ETV),

Finland (YLE),

FYR Macedonia (MKRTV),

Georgia (GEGT),

Greece (ERT),

Hungary (MTV),

Iceland (RUV),

Ireland (RTE),

Israel (IBA),

Latvia (LT),

Lithuania (LRT),

Malta (PBS),

Moldova (TRM),

Montenegro (RTCG),

The Netherlands (NPB),

Norway (NRK),

Poland (TVP),

Portugal (RTP),

Romania (TVR),

Russia (C1R),

San Marino (STV),

Slovenia (RTVSLO),

Sweden (SVT),

Switzerland (SRG SSR idée suisse),

Turkey (TRT)

Ukraine (NTU)

These 38 countries will be drawn into two semifinals, taking place on 20th and 22nd of May in Belgrade, Serbia.

The draw to determine on which night the 38 semifinalists will perform takes place on the 28th of January in Belgrade.

The official website of the Eurovision Song Contest will web-cast the event live.

The draws for the running order of the semifinals, the final and voting order takes place in mid-March. France, Germany, Serbia, Spain and the United Kingdom are automatically qualified for the final, scheduled for the 24th of May.

source:belgovision.com

ERT announces the national final participants

In an official statement the Greek national broadcaster announced the national finalists for the Greek 2008. The participants are:

Chrispa (MINOS EMI)

Kostas Martakis (SONY BMG)

Kalomira - Maria Saranti (HEAVEN MUSIC)

source:oikotimes.com

Kostas Martakis - Oneira Megala

Kostas Martakis - Oneira Megala

Strong battle for the 4th name in Greek selection

oikotimes.com reports:

Three names are decided already by ERT for the Greek national selection scheduled for late February 2008. Among the three names there are some information saying that Chrispa (representing Minos EMI) is still considering her participation, an issue which we investigate.

The big question now is the 4th participant. Information from close to ERT sources, revealed to oikotimes that the names battling for the 4th position are Onirama Group and Annet Artani.

Read full article on oikotimes.com

Moldova: Twelve songs selected for the national final

In Moldova, a professional jury of national broadcaster TRM listened to and judged the twenty seven songs submitted for the Molodvan selections for the Eurovision Song Contest 2008.

The twelve best scoring songs will take part in the Moldovan national final in January.

Olia Tira - Always Will Be

Alexa - We Are One

Edict - I Believe

Geta Burlacu - A Century Of Love

Cristina Rujitcaia - You Make Me Feel Crazy

Catrina Pislaru - Dance With Me

Jay Mon - Point Of View

Dana Marchitan - Your Name

Galina Scoda - Your Own Vision

Scroom - Jane

Elena Dermidjean - Living Creatures

Liusia Znamensky - Don't Deceive My Heart