Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008
| Eurovision Song Contest 2008 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country |
.svg.png){kind=small} | |||
| National selection | ||||
| Selection process | Eurosong '08 | |||
| Selection date(s) |
Heats 27 January 2008 3 February 2008 10 February 2008 17 February 2008 Semifinals 24 February 2008 2 March 2008 Final 9 March 2008 | |||
| Selected entrant | Ishtar | |||
| Selected song | "O Julissi" | |||
| Finals performance | ||||
| Semi-final result | Failed to qualify (17th, 16 points ) | |||
| Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest | ||||
| ||||
Belgium made its 50th appearance at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008. This year Flemish broadcaster VRT was in charge of selecting the Belgian entry and chose it through the programme Eurosong. The winning song was selected on Sunday, 9 March 2008.[1]
At the Eurovision Song Contest Belgium performed in the first semi-final in Belgrade on 20 May 2008. They performed sixth on the night between the debut entries of San Marino and Azerbaijan. After scoring 16 points the song finished 17th out of 19 entries and failed to qualify for the final. It was also the last Eurosong to date.
Eurosong '08
As with 2006, four quarter-finals, two semi-finals and a final were broadcast between 27 January and 9 March. Each qualifying heat contained 5 acts, with the top two acts proceeding to the semi-final. Two wildcard entries were also chosen, bringing the total number of acts to 5 in each semi-final. In the semi-finals the top two acts again proceeded to the semi-final, with one wildcard entrant chosen as well. The final was won by Ishtar with the song O Julissi Na Jalini.
Unlike in previous years, only televoting decided the winner with no jury vote used. The jury did, however, comment on the performances and were able to choose the wildcard entries.
The quarter finals
First quarter final
29 January 2008
| Position | Song | Singer | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magical Sensation | Katy Satyn | 1st |
| 2 | Shut Down the Heatmachine | Raevan | 3rd |
| 3 | What I Like About You | Brahim | 2nd |
| 4 | We Breathe | Eva Darche | 5th |
| 5 | Decadence | Femme Fatale | 3rd |
Second quarter final
3 February 2008
| Position | Song | Singer | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Breaking All The Rules | Kenza | 3rd |
| 2 | Your Guiding Star | EFR | 3rd |
| 3 | O Julissi Na Jalini | Ishtar | 1st |
| 4 | Game Over | Esther | 5th |
| 5 | Addicted To You | Tanya Dexters | 2nd |
Third quarter final
10 February 2008
| Position | Song | Singer | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | My Music | Ellis-T | 4th |
| 2 | Rumour Has It | Tabitha Cycon | 3rd |
| 3 | I'm Not Sorry | Di Bono | 5th |
| 4 | If I Can't Find My Love | Nelson | 1st |
| 5 | Wheel Of Time | Geena Lisa | 2nd |
- Tabitha Cycon was later chosen as one of the two wild cards for the semi finals by the professional jury.
Fourth quarter final
17 February 2008
| Position | Song | Singer | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vagabundo | Francesco Palmeri | 5th |
| 2 | Shout It Out | Paranoiacs | 2nd |
| 3 | Around The World | Elisa | 4th |
| 4 | Lonely Hearts On Wheels | A Butterfly Mind | 3rd |
| 5 | I Feel The Same Way | Sandrine | 1st |
- A Butterfly Mind was later chosen as one of the two wild cards for the semi finals by the professional jury.
The semi finals
First semifinal
24 February 2008
| Position | Artist | Song | Lyrics (l) / Music (m) | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tanya Dexters | "Addicted To You" | Thomas G:son (m & l), Bobby Ljunggren (m), Henrik Wikström (m) | 5th |
| 2 | Nelson | "If I Can't Find My Love" | Nelson Morais (m & l) | 1st |
| 3 | Paranoiacs | "Shout It Out" | Hans Stevens (m), Raf Stevens (l) | 2nd |
| 4 | A Butterfly Mind | "Lonely Hearts on Wheels" | Annelies Cappaert (m & l) | 4th |
| 5 | Katy Satyn | "Magical Sensation" | J. Engelbrecht (m & l), S. Engelbrecht(m & l), A. Lennartsson (m & l), G. Mansson (m) | 3rd |
Second semifinal
2 March 2008
| Position | Artist | Song | Lyrics (l) / Music (m) | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geena Lisa | "Wheel of Time" | Yves Barbieux (m & l), S. Dutoit (l), Geena Lisa (l) | 5th |
| 2 | Tabitha Cycon | "Rumour Has It" | Marc Paelinck (m & l), Marwenna Diame (m & l) | 4th |
| 3 | Sandrine | "I Feel The Same Way" | Lawson, Vettese & Howard (m & l) | 2nd |
| 4 | Ishtar | "O Julissi Na Jalini" | Michel Vangheluwe (m & l) | 1st |
| 5 | Brahim | "What I Like About You" | Brahim Attaeb (m & l), Alan Glass (m & l) | 3rd |
- Brahim was later chosen as the wild card for the final by the professional jury.
The final
9 March 2008
| Position | Artist | Song | Lyrics (l) / Music (m) | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brahim | "What I Like About You" | Brahim Attaeb (m & l), Alan Glass (m & l) | 4th |
| 2 | Paranoiacs | "Shout It Out" | Hans Stevens (m), Raf Stevens (l) | 3rd |
| 3 | Nelson | "If I Can't Find My Love" | Nelson Morais (m & l) | 5th |
| 4 | Sandrine | "I Feel The Same Way" | Lawson, Vettese & Howard (m & l) | 2nd |
| 5 | Ishtar | "O Julissi Na Jalini" | Michel Vangheluwe (m & l) | 1st |
Commentators and spokespersons
- Commentators – Bart Peeters and André Vermeulen (VRT),[2] Jean-Louis Lahaye and Jean-Pierre Hautier (RTBF)[3]
- Spokespersons – Sandrine Van Handenhoven[4]
At Eurovision
Points Awarded by Belgium
Semi final
|
Final
|
| 12 points | 10 points | 8 points | 7 points | 6 points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 points | 4 points | 3 points | 2 points | 1 point |
See also
References
- ↑ "Belgium: 450 songs received for Eurosong 2008". Archived from the original on 26 November 2007. Retrieved 24 November 2007.
- ↑ "Sandrine geeft de Vlaamse punten op het Songfestival". eurosong.be. Archived from the original on 13 June 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2008.
- ↑ "RTBF – La 1 – Concours Eurovision de la chanson". rtbf.be. Retrieved 22 May 2008.
- ↑ "Belgium: Sandrine to announce Belgian votes". Archived from the original on 26 April 2008. Retrieved 23 April 2008.