Eurovision Song Contest - Belgrade 2008

Think it's way too early for this thread? It's not!

Since Serbia won last year's Contest, this year's will be coming from the Belgrade Arena, Belgrade, Serbia. For the first time, there will be TWO semi-finals, not just one. Dates for your diary are:

First Semi-Final: Tuesday, 20th of May
Second Semi-Final: Thursday, 22nd of May
The Final: Saturday, 24th of May

The Big Four countries, i.e. UK, France, Germany and Spain automatically qualify for The Final, as do Serbia, who are last year's champion and hence this year's host. All the other countries will have to enter one of the semi-finals to have the chance to participate in the final.

According to this site, 11 out of 43 countries have already chosen their songs. Eurovision fans, keep an eye on this for upcoming news on each country's selections, and feel free to discuss the progress here. See why it's not too early for this thread. I've also seen there that the UK will be choosing its entry in Making Your Mind Up on 1 March.

Also, please feel free to include look-backs to past Eurovisions in the run-up to this year's Contest. In 2002 the UK's entry "Come Back" sung by Jessica Garlick came joint third with Estonia. That was our last good year! We've done appallingly ever since, including coming last with nul points in 2003.

So what are you waiting for. Let the fun begin now in the run-up to the big night in May.

is this to stop it being full of Eastern Euro countries

*WRONG*

Pretty much every word in that sentence is wrong.

were still going to lose! all that money wasted

Well if you're going to put money on our entries then it's your own fault!

Anyone know how this 2 semi finals thing works? I assume it's just like normal but 2 programmes instead of one big one?

This year only the Big Four (Spain, Germany, France, UK) and Serbia (last year's winner and host) have guaranteed places in the final (unlike previous years where the top finishers in the previous year's contest also went straight to the final)

This means there are now two semi-finals - with all but the five guaranteed finalists randomly placed in one of the two semis (a draw was held to decide which semi each country competed in). This, it is hoped, will partially reduce block voting a bit. This means all but 5 countries have to get through the semis - with an equal number of finalists coming from each semi.

The countries competing in the semifinals have to show their own semi and can vote in their own semi. They can also show the other semi (Sweden have announced they will be screening both) - but I don't think they can vote in the second semi - though I may be wrong.

The Big Four have to show one of the two semis (at one point it was suggested they might not have to - though - as in previous years they DO ). Which semi each Big Four country has to show was also decided by a draw - though nothing stops them showing both. I assume that the Big Four can only vote in the semi they are mandated to show - if they can vote in semis at all?

Wonder if the Making Your Mind Up programme will broadcast from Maidstone again this year.

What do we reckon? Hosted by Terry Wogan and Myleene Klass?

Whats that? What do we care? Oh how rude!

The BBC have got a different production team for Eurovision and the selection show this year - and it wouldn't surprise me if the "Song For Europe"/"Great British Song Contest"/"Making Your Mind Up" show got a new name again.

I'd imagine it'll be a completely different show to pick our entry after that shambles last year!

Not wanting to go off on my usual Eurovision rant, but I really do hope that for once we put a decent song forward, and not one that we think is Eurovision-style (ie an anagram of carp). Something that truly reflects the current UK music scene would be nice - it would be interesting to see how it would do.

In my eyes, the reason we've done so badly in recent years is not because we are universally hated (because we aren't!) - it's because our entries have been truly awful.

EDIT: In fact, on reflection, I think the entry should be decided by Radio 1 listeners.

Yep - I agree - though there is the eternal problem of :

1. Britain as a whole doesn't take Eurovision seriously as an international music contest - a lot of other countries entering really do.
2. Therefore British artists at the top of their game have no interest in competing - whereas leading musicians from other countries do. (It isn't unusual for almost all of the Swedish Top 20 to be full of their Eurovision selection show entries...)
3. Othere European countries send some of their countries leading artists - many of whom are fine musicians and popular in their home countries and surrounding countries.

Number 3 partially explains block voting - often the artist is famous across more than one country - and is voted for because they are already known and popular in that region. It is surprising how many non-UK/US groups and solo performers are popular across various countries - touring and performing at festivals across Europe.

We need a big anthem (something like Katrina and the Waves) again, none of this cheesy european crap.