[Beanie]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Yeeesssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here we go again!!!!!!!!!

The Eurovision Song Contest 2008 is the 53rd edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, which will be hosted by Serbia. The semi-finals will be held on 20 and 22 May[5] respectively and the final on 24 May 2008 in the capital, Belgrade. The Belgrade Arena, venue for the Contest, is among the largest indoor arenas in Europe, with a total capacity of more than 20,000 seats. Serbia gained the right to host the Contest after Marija Šerifović won the 2007 Contest in Helsinki, Finland. The host broadcaster will be RTS.

At a press conference in Helsinki in May 2007, Svante Stockselius, executive supervisor of the Contest for the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced that the competition's format may be expanded to two semi-finals in 2008 or 2009.[6] On 28 September 2007 it was announced that the EBU had approved the plan of hosting two semi-finals in 2008.[7]

On 14 September 2007, the Mayor of Helsinki handed over the "Eurovision keys" to the Deputy of Belgrade. This ceremony is meant to be a tradition from now, and the ring contains a key from every city that has ever hosted the competition.[8] Cosmetics supplier Wella will become the official partner of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2008.[9]

[Beanie]

2 semis this year - nice

Last year the value of watching the rehearsals was there for all to see - particularly with the Swiss who couldnt sing a note and duly then failed to get through the semis(despite being among the top 5 betting favourites). Unfortunately I dont think a video of the Serbian entry rehearsal was ever online, but coverage of this one should be better than ever. There were plenty good threads from last year re politics and betting patterns too - well worth dragging up again.

A couple of songs decided already - I'll go dig em up.

[Beanie]

Leeeeeets goooooo!!!

After Andorra spat the dummy last year when their Busted tribute didn't get through the semi, which was a shock to very few but themselves, they've turned up despite threatening not to.

Gisela performing Casanova:



Oh dear god - Mickey is gonna have a fit with that one! He hates the template Eurovision entries, and that's as bog standard as Eurovision fare comes...boom boom boom indeed.

Chirpy Euro-disco at its best/worst - every note is predictably brilliant/dreadful, depending on your own view. Personally, I do like that kind of cheesy song for Eurovision, but it doesn't win votes, and that's gonna struggle to get through the semi, big style.

Last years reference - Cyprus - Euro disco entry that failed to get through the semi.

[Beanie]

Albania with Olta Boka (a woman, apparently) and Zemren e lame peng:



Copy, cut out, keep.

A classic example of looking at last years winner and, well, copying really. An own language 3 minute wail fest by some dodgy looking, angst ridden woman that has more than a hint of the fella about her.

It's problem is that it's a year too late, it's not sung as well as last year's Serbian entry, and if you're gonna do this type of song, it has to be catchy in some way, which this one fails to be.

Last years reference - Bosnia - an own language wail with pretty instrumental but ultimately few other redeeming features - finished mid table in the final.

[kompressaur]

shit im soz Beanie i missed this with my thread. I think i was drunk. good man. Is it still the same shitty voting procedure this year Beanie? If so lets petition an original eurovision voting procedure. It's what fcuking makes it and theyve gona and fcuked it all up

[Beanie]

Not exactly straightforward!

In an interview Svante Stockselius revealed more details about the two semi-final format to be used in 2008. On January 28, 2008, based on research conducted by the EBU’s tele-voting partner Digame, 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 broadcaster will have to broadcast the semi-final they are taking part in, with the broadcasting of the other semi-final being optional.

The automatic finalist countries will broadcast both semi-finals, but viewers from these countries may only vote in one. By draw, also in January 2008, it will be decided which two of the Big Four county's viewers will vote in the first semi-final, and which two in the second semi-final. A separate draw will determine in which semi-final the host country's viewers will be able to vote. The semi-finals will be webcasted live through Eurovision.tv.[14] The top nine songs from the televoting will qualify for the final, and a tenth will be determined by the back-up juries. Twenty-five songs will compete in the final.[2]

[Beanie]

Belarus go with a song called Hasta La Vista by Ruslan Alekhno:

Pffffffft. What a shite performance. His voice is scratchy, the song as bland as they come and the act very poor - bad choice.

[Beanie]

Cyprus - Femme Fatale - by Evdokia Kadi



Well atleast they are trying something a bit different, but ultimately it just seems a bit disjointed - 5 different songs in 1 and far too complex to do well at Eurovision, not to mention not being in english.

[Beanie]

Switzerland - Era Stupendo - Paolo Meneguzzi:



I guess it's Serbia's win last year that's lead to this large number of non-english songs this year. Difficult to know what to make of that - it could really do with atleast having a bit in English, and I think it might sound ok on the big stage - plenty belting notes to hit, plus some totty for the women.

It's a bit predictable tho - altho it picks up with a bit of a beat at the end which is a nice change of pace from the ballad. Ultimately though, we've heard it all before - and it's not gonna get any votes from anywhere other than Western Europe.

Bit of controversy over this one too - claims that its a copy of a 2006 song - make your own mind up:



Quite a shameless rip off really. Might not get away with that if the original writers kick up a stink.

[kompressaur]

LBC are talking about this. I emailed them. Be great if we got a mention Hows this all fairing up? Wont be long till the Brit vote will it?

[Bigkegman]

Are you having your Competition again komp ? - I could update the spreadsheet

It wouldn't be as good as the beeb mind you but it would still be ok

[Bigkegman]

nah feck it - cause they done it with a quicker scoring system - didn't they

[kompressaur]

They read it out but never mentioned us

[kompressaur]

aye they mentioned that too after i told them Kegs It caused the guy to jump in and she stopped reading the email out from 'komp'. As i said in time though once we get the forum all done and finished we can look at this sort of promotion. I suppose looks will matter then too and...:LOL they said then im gonna bet with komp! and he replied 'yes with komp's bookies' Maybe i could email them back quickly asking for a plug

[Bigkegman]

what is LBC when its at home ?