After Serbia's win in 2007, the next installment of the Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Belgrad in May 2008 - but this time with changed rules. There will now be two semi-finals. The semi-finalists will be sorted into the two heats through the drawing of lots, which will be seeded to keep countries that have a significant history of voting for each other apart. Each semi-final will only be aired live in countries that are taking part in that semi-final, and only viewers from those countries can vote. The top nine songs from each semi will qualify for the final via televoting, and a tenth will be determined by back-up juries. Twenty-five songs will contest the final. The Big4 (UK, Germany, Spain and France) plus the host country are automatically qualified for the finale.

Two countries will perform in 2008 for the first time, Azerbaijan and San Marino. Meanwhile, Austria has decided to withdraw once again.

Alphabetical list of the participating countries: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, FYROM, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey Ukraine, United Kingdom

Edited February 29, 200818 yr by Huntress

This year's songs:

Semi-Final #1 (May 20th, 2008)

Andorra: Gisela with "Casanova"

Armenia: Sirusho with "Qele Qele"

Azerbaijan: Elnur Huseynov feat. Samir Javadzadeh with "Day By Day"

Belgium: Ishtar with "O Julissi"

Bosnia & Herzegovina: Laka with "Pokušaj"

Estonia: Kreisiraadio with "Leto Svet"

Finland: Teräsbetoni with "Missä miehet ratsastaa"

Greece: Kalomoira with "Secret Combination"

Ireland: Dustin The Turkey with "Irelande Douze Points"

Israel: Boaz Mauda with "Ke'ilo Kan"

Moldova: Geta Burlacu with "A Century Of Love"

Montenegro: Stefan Filipović with "Zauvijek volim te"

The Netherlands: Hind with "Your Heart Belongs To Me"

Norway: Maria Haukaas Storeng with "Hold On, Be Strong"

Poland: Isis Gee with "For Life"

Romania: Nico & Vlad Mirita with "Pe-o Margine De Lume"

Russia: Dima Bilan with "Believing"

San Marino: Miodio with "Complice"

Slovenia: Rebeka Dremelj with "Vrag Naj Vzame"

* Germany and Spain will also vote in this semi-final.

Semi-Final #2 (May 22th, 2008)

Albania: Olta Boka with "Zemrën E Lamë Peng"

Belarus: Ruslan Alekhno with "Hasta La Vista"

Bulgaria: Deep Zone & Balthazar with "DJ Take Me Away"

Croatia: Kraljevi Ulice & 75 Cents with "Romanca"

Cyprus: Evdokia Kadi with "Femme Fatale"

Czech Republic: Tereza Kerndlova with "Have Some Fun"

Denmark: Simon Mathew with "All Night Long"

Georgia: Diana Gurtskaya with "Peace Will Come"

Hungary: Csézy with "Szívverés"

Iceland: Euroband with "This Is My Life"

Latvia: Pirates of the Sea with "Wolves of the Sea"

Lithuania: Jeronimas Milius with "Nomads In The Night"

FYR Macedonia: Tamara feat. Vrcak & Adrijan Gaxha with "Vo Imeto Na Ljubovta"

Malta: Morena with "Vodka"

Portugal: Vania Fernandes with "Senhora do mar"

Sweden: Charlotte Perrelli with "Hero"

Switzerland: Paolo Meneguzzi with "Era Stupendo"

Turkey: Mor ve Ötesi with "Deli"

Ukraine: Ani Lorak with "Shady Lady"

* France, Serbia and United Kingdom will also vote in this semi-final.

Final

France: Sebastien Tellier with "Divine"

Germany: No Angels with "Disappear"

Serbia: Jelena Tomašević feat. Bora Dugic with "Oro"

Spain: Rodolfo Chikilicuatre with "Baila el Chiki Chiki"

United Kingdom: Andy Abraham with "Even If"

Edited April 5, 200818 yr by Huntress

All songs from the first semi-final in alphabetical order

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciX5nWHFzEc

All songs from the second semi-final in alphabetical order

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoM7jDAnzZg

Edited April 6, 200818 yr by Huntress

The first semi-final took place yesterday evening.

The following countries advanced to the final on Saturday:

01. Russia

02. Armenia

03. Azerbaijan

04. Poland

05. Norway

06. Finland

07. Greece

08. Israel

09. Bosnia & Herzegowina

10. Romania

The second semi-final took place yesterday evening.

The following countries advanced to the final on Saturday:

01. Denmark

02. Iceland

03. Sweden

04. Portugal

05. Turkey

06. Croatia

07. Albania

08. Georgia

09. Ukraine

10. Latvia

The complete running order on Saturday:

01. Romania: Nico & Vlad "Pe-o Margine De Lume"

02. United Kingdom: Andy Abraham "Even If"

03. Albania: Olta Boka "Zemrën E Lamë Peng"

04. Germany: No Angels "Disappear"

05. Armenia: Sirusho "Qele, Qele"

06. Bosnia & Herzegowina: Laka "Pokušaj"

07. Israel: Boaz Mauda "The Fire In Your Eyes"

08. Finland: Teräsbetoni "Missä miehet ratsastaa"

09. Croatia: Kraljevi Ulice & 75 Cents "Romanca"

10. Poland: Isis Gee "For Life"

11. Iceland: Euroband "This Is My Life"

12. Turkey: Mor ve Ötesi "Deli"

13. Portugal: Vania Fernades "Senhora do Mar"

14. Latvia: Pirates of the Sea "Wolves of the Sea"

15. Sweden: Charlotte Perelli "Hero"

16. Denmark: Simon Mathew "All Night Long"

17. Georgia: Diana Gurtskaya "Peace Will Come"

18. Ukraine: Ani Lorak "Shady Lady"

19. France: Sebastien Tellier "Divine"

20. Azerbaijan: Elnur & Samir "Day After Day"

21. Greece: Kalomira "Secret Combination"

22. Spain: Rodolfo Chikilicuatre "Baila el Chiki Chiki

23. Serbia: Jelena Tomašević feat. Bora Dugic "Oro"

24. Russia: Dima Bilan "Believe"

25. Norway: Maria Haukaas Storeng "Hold On, Be Strong"

Did you like Russia winning the event?

I Voted for Portugal, Bosnia Herzegovina, Ukraine and Albania, but Russia was alright, i guess!......