Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008

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]

Eurovision Song Contest 2008
Country Belgium
National selection
Selection processEurosong '08
Selection date(s)Heats:
27 January 2008
3 February 2008
10 February 2008
17 February 2008
Semi-finals:
24 February 2008
2 March 2008
Final:
9 March 2008
Selected entrantIshtar
Selected song"O Julissi"
Finals performance
Semi-final resultFailed to qualify (17th, 16 points )
Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2007 • 2008 • 2009►

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.

Before Eurovision

Eurosong '08

Eurosong '08 was the national final that selected Belgium's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008. The competition consisted of four heats that took place on 27 January, 3 February, 10 February and 17 February 2008, two semi-finals that took place on 24 February and 2 March 2008, followed by a final on 9 March 2008 where the winning song and artist were selected. All seven shows took place at the VRT studios in Brussels, hosted by Bart Peeters and broadcast on Eén.

Format

Four heats took place on 27 January, 3 February, 10 February and 17 February 2008. From each heat, five entries competed and two proceeded to the semi-finals. Out of the remaining non-qualifying acts from the heats, two wildcard acts were selected to proceed to the semi-finals. The semi-finals took place on 24 February and 2 March 2008. From each semi-final, five entries competed and two proceeded to the final. Out of the remaining non-qualifying acts from both semi-finals, a wildcard act was selected to proceed to the final. The final took place on 9 March 2008 where the winner was chosen. The results of all seven shows were determined by public televoting.

During each of the seven shows, a panel of three experts provided commentary and feedback to the artists and selected the wildcard acts to advance in the competition. These experts were:

Competing entries

On 24 April 2007, VRT opened a submission period for artists and composers to submit their songs, with the deadline concluding on 23 November 2007.[2] 450 entries were submitted, and on 17 December 2007, the broadcaster announced the twenty entries selected for the competition.[3][4]

Artist Song Composer(s)
A Butterfly Mind "Lonely Hearts on Wheels" Annelies Cappaert
Brahim "What I Like About You" Brahim Attaeb, Alan Glass
Di Bono "I'm Not Sorry" Frederic Di Bono, Liset Alea
EFR "Your Guiding Star" Sergio Quisquater, Vincent Pierins, Patrick Hamilton
Elisa "Around the World" Ove Andre Brenna
Ellis-T "My Music" Regi Penxten
Esther "Game Over" Alan Ross, David James, John McLaughin, Esther Sels, Ingrid Mank
Eva Darche "We Breathe" Marc Paelinck, Jamie Winchester
Femme Fatale "Decadence" Gerard James Borg, Mik Tanczos, Frank Jordens
Francesco Palmeri "Vagabundo" Francesco Palmeri
Geena Lisa "Wheel of Time" Geena Lisa, Sebastien Duthoit, Yves Barbieux
Ishtar "O Julissi Na Jalini" Michel Vangheluwe
Katy Satyn "Magical Sensation" Jens Engelbrecht, Stina Engelbrecht, Anders Lennartsson, Göran Månsson
Kenza "Breaking All the Rules" Rudolf Hecke
Nelson "If I Can't Find My Love" Nelson Morais
Paranoiacs "Shout It Out" Hans Stevens, Raf Stevens
Raevan "Shut Down the Heatmachine" Michael Garvin, Marc Paelinck
Sandrine "I Feel the Same Way" Michelle Lawson, Peter John Vettese, Felix Howard
Tanya Dexters "Addicted to You" Thomas G:son, Bobby Ljunggren, Henrik Wikström
Tabitha Cycon "Rumour Has It" Marc Paelinck, Marwenna Diame

Heat 1

The first heat took place on 27 January 2008. A public televote determined the top two to proceed to the semi-finals: "Magical Sensation" performed by Katy Satyn and "What I Like About You" performed by Brahim.

Heat 1 – 27 January 2008
DrawArtistSongPlace Result
1Katy Satyn"Magical Sensation"1 Advanced
2Raevan"Shut Down the Heatmachine" 3-4 Eliminated
3Brahim"What I Like About You"2 Advanced
4Eva Darche"We Breathe" 5 Eliminated
5Femme Fatale"Decadence" 3-4 Eliminated

Heat 2

The second heat took place on 3 February 2008. A public televote determined the top two to proceed to the semi-finals: "Addicted to You" performed by Tanya Dexters and "O Julissi Na Jalini" performed by Ishtar.

Heat 2 – 3 February 2008
DrawArtistSongPlace Result
1Kenza"Breaking All the Rules" 3-4 Eliminated
2EFR"Your Guiding Star" 3-4 Eliminated
3Ishtar"O Julissi Na Jalini"1 Advanced
4Esther"Game Over" 5 Eliminated
5Tanya Dexters"Addicted to You"2 Advanced

Heat 3

The third heat took place on 10 February 2008. A public televote determined the top two to proceed to the semi-finals: "If I Can't Find My Love" performed by Nelson and "Wheel of Time" performed by Geena Lisa. The expert panel selected "Rumour Has It" performed by Tabitha Cycon as one of the two wildcard acts to proceed to the semi-finals.

Heat 3 – 10 February 2008
DrawArtistSongPlace Result
1Ellis-T"My Music" 4 Eliminated
2Tabitha Cycon"Rumour Has It"3 Wildcard
3Di Bono"I'm Not Sorry" 5 Eliminated
4Nelson"If I Can't Find My Love"1 Advanced
5Geena Lisa"Wheel of Time"2 Advanced

Heat 4

The fourth heat took place on 17 February 2008. A public televote determined the top two to proceed to the semi-finals: "Shout It Out" performed by Paranoiacs and "I Feel the Same Way" performed by Sandrine. The expert panel selected "Lonely Hearts on Wheels" performed by A Butterfly Mind as one of the two wildcard acts to proceed to the semi-finals.

Heat 4 – 17 February 2008
DrawArtistSongPlace Result
1Francesco Palmeri"Vagabundo"5 Eliminated
2Paranoiacs"Shout It Out"2 Advanced
3Elisa"Around the World" 4 Eliminated
4A Butterfly Mind"Lonely Hearts on Wheels"3 Wildcard
5Sandrine"I Feel the Same Way"1 Advanced

Semi-final 1

The first semi-final took place on 24 February 2008. A public televote determined the top two to proceed to the final: "If I Can't Find My Love" performed by Nelson and "Shout It Out" performed by Paranoiacs.

Semi-final 1 – 24 February 2008
DrawArtistSongPlace Result
1Tanya Dexters"Addicted to You"5 Eliminated
2Nelson"If I Can't Find My Love"1 Advanced
3Paranoiacs"Shout It Out"2 Advanced
4A Butterfly Mind"Lonely Hearts on Wheels"4 Eliminated
5Katy Satyn"Magical Sensation"3 Eliminated

Semi-final 2

The second semi-final took place on 2 March 2008. A public televote determined the top two to proceed to the final: "I Feel the Same Way" performed by Sandrine and "O Julissi Na Jalini" performed by Ishtar. The expert panel selected "What I Like About You" performed by Brahim as the wildcard act to proceed to the final.

Semi-final 2 – 2 March 2008
DrawArtistSongPlace Result
1Geena Lisa"Wheel of Time"5 Eliminated
2Tabitha Cycon"Rumour Has It"4 Eliminated
3Sandrine"I Feel the Same Way"2 Advanced
4Ishtar"O Julissi Na Jalini"1 Advanced
5Brahim"What I Like About You"3 Wildcard

Final

The final took place on 7 March 2008. The winner, "O Julissi Na Jalini" performed by Ishtar, was determined by a public televote.

Final – 7 March 2008
DrawArtistSongPlace
1Brahim"What I Like About You"4
2Paranoiacs"Shout It Out"3
3Nelson"If I Can't Find My Love"5
4Sandrine"I Feel the Same Way"2
5Ishtar"O Julissi Na Jalini"1

At Eurovision

Commentators and spokespersons

Points awarded by Belgium
Points awarded to Belgium (Semi-final 1)
12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points
5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point

See also

References
  1. "Belgium: 450 songs received for Eurosong 2008". Archived from the original on 26 November 2007. Retrieved 24 November 2007.
  2. Royston, Benny (24 April 2007). "Belgium launches Eurosong 2008". Esctoday.
  3. "Belgium 2008".
  4. Royston, Benny (17 December 2007). "Belgium: 20 finalists for Eurosong announced". Esctoday.
  5. "Sandrine geeft de Vlaamse punten op het Songfestival". eurosong.be. Archived from the original on 13 June 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2008.
  6. "RTBF – La 1 – Concours Eurovision de la chanson". rtbf.be. Retrieved 22 May 2008.
  7. "Belgium: Sandrine to announce Belgian votes". Archived from the original on 26 April 2008. Retrieved 23 April 2008.
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