Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008
Ishtar | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected song | "O Julissi" | |||
| Selected songwriter(s) | Michel Vangheluwe | |||
| Finals performance | ||||
| Semi-final result | Failed to qualify (17th) | |||
| Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest | ||||
| ||||
Belgium was drawn to compete in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 20 May 2008. Performing during the show in position 6, "O Julissi" was not announced among the 10 qualifying entries of the first semi-final and therefore did not qualify to compete in the final. It was later revealed that Belgium placed seventeenth out of the 19 participating countries in the semi-final with 16 points.
Background
Prior to the 2008 contest, Belgium had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest forty-nine times since its debut as one of seven countries to take part in
The Belgian broadcaster for the 2008 contest, who broadcasts the event in Belgium and organises the selection process for its entry, was
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 seven shows that commenced on 27 January 2008 and concluded with a final on 9 March 2008 where the winning song and artist were selected. All shows took place at the VRT studios in
Format
Twenty entries were selected to compete in Eurosong. Four heats took place on 27 January 2008, 3 February 2008, 10 February 2008 and 17 February 2008 with each show featuring five entries. The top two as determined by public televoting qualified to the semi-finals, while a panel of experts also selected two wildcards out of the third and fourth placed acts in the heats to advance.[5] Two semi-finals took place on 24 February and 2 March 2008 with each show featuring five entries. The top two as determined by public televoting qualified to the final, while the expert panel also selected a wildcard out of the third and fourth placed acts in the semi-finals to advance.[6] The final took place on 9 March 2008 where the winner was chosen by public televoting.[7]
During each of the seven shows, the expert panel provided commentary and feedback to the artists as well as selected entries to advance in the competition. The experts were:[8]
- Katrina Leskanich – American singer, winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 1997 as part of Katrina and the Waves
- Kris Wauters – musician, represented Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 1991 as part of Clouseau
- Marcel Vanthilt – singer and television presenter
Competing entries
A submission period was opened on 24 April 2007 for artists and songwriters to submit their entries until 23 November 2007.[2] The twenty acts selected by VRT for the competition from 450 entries received during the submission period were announced on 17 December 2007.[9][10]
| Artist | Song | Songwriter(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 |
Shows
Heats
The four heats took place on 27 January, 3 February, 10 February and 17 February 2008. In each show five entries competed and public televoting solely determined the top two that qualified to the semi-finals. An additional two entries were awarded wildcards by the expert panel from the third and fourth placed acts in the heats to proceed to the semi-finals.[11]
| Draw | Artist | Song | Place | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Katy Satyn | "Magical Sensation" | 1 | Advanced |
| 2 | Raevan | "Shut Down the Heatmachine" | 3–4 | Eliminated |
| 3 | Brahim | "What I Like About You" | 2 | Advanced |
| 4 | Eva Darche | "We Breathe" | 5 | Eliminated |
| 5 | Femme Fatale | "Decadence" | 3–4 | Eliminated |
| Draw | Artist | Song | Place | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kenza | "Breaking All the Rules" | 3–4 | Eliminated |
| 2 | EFR | "Your Guiding Star" | 3–4 | Eliminated |
| 3 | Ishtar | "O Julissi Na Jalini" | 1 | Advanced |
| 4 | Esther | "Game Over" | 5 | Eliminated |
| 5 | Tanya Dexters | "Addicted to You" | 2 | Advanced |
| Draw | Artist | Song | Place | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ellis-T | "My Music" | 3–4 | Eliminated |
| 2 | Tabitha Cycon | "Rumour Has It" | 3–4 | Wildcard |
| 3 | Di Bono | "I'm Not Sorry" | 5 | Eliminated |
| 4 | Nelson | "If I Can't Find My Love" | 1 | Advanced |
| 5 | Geena Lisa | "Wheel of Time" | 2 | Advanced |
| Draw | Artist | Song | Place | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francesco Palmeri | "Vagabundo" | 5 | Eliminated |
| 2 | Paranoiacs | "Shout It Out" | 2 | Advanced |
| 3 | Elisa | "Around the World" | 3–4 | Eliminated |
| 4 | A Butterfly Mind | "Lonely Hearts on Wheels" | 3–4 | Wildcard |
| 5 | Sandrine | "I Feel the Same Way" | 1 | Advanced |
Semi-finals
The two semi-finals took place on 24 February and 2 March 2008. In each show five entries competed and public televoting solely determined the top two that qualified to the final. An additional entry was awarded a wildcard by the expert panel from the third and fourth placed acts in the semi-finals to proceed to the final.[12][13]
| Draw | Artist | Song | Place | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tanya Dexters | "Addicted to You" | 5 | Eliminated |
| 2 | Nelson | "If I Can't Find My Love" | 1 | Advanced |
| 3 | Paranoiacs | "Shout It Out" | 2 | Advanced |
| 4 | A Butterfly Mind | "Lonely Hearts on Wheels" | 3–4 | Eliminated |
| 5 | Katy Satyn | "Magical Sensation" | 3–4 | Eliminated |
| Draw | Artist | Song | Place | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geena Lisa | "Wheel of Time" | 5 | Eliminated |
| 2 | Tabitha Cycon | "Rumour Has It" | 3–4 | Eliminated |
| 3 | Sandrine | "I Feel the Same Way" | 2 | Advanced |
| 4 | Ishtar | "O Julissi Na Jalini" | 1 | Advanced |
| 5 | Brahim | "What I Like About You" | 3–4 | Wildcard |
Final
The final took place on 7 March 2008 where the five entries that qualified from the preceding two semi-finals competed. The winner, "O Julissi Na Jalini" performed by
| Draw | Artist | Song | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brahim | "What I Like About You" | 4 |
| 2 | Paranoiacs | "Shout It Out" | 3 |
| 3 | Nelson | "If I Can't Find My Love" | 5 |
| 4 | Sandrine | "I Feel the Same Way" | 2 |
| 5 | Ishtar | "O Julissi Na Jalini" | 1 |
Ratings
| Show | Date | Viewing figures | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominal | Share | |||
| Heat 1 | 27 January 2008 | 1,250,569 | 45.6% | [15] |
| Heat 2 | 3 February 2008 | 1,206,619 | 44.2% | |
| Heat 3 | 10 February 2008 | 1,188,071 | 42.4% | |
| Heat 4 | 17 February 2008 | 1,166,540 | 42.1% | |
| Semi-final 1 | 24 February 2008 | 1,173,015 | 41.9% | |
| Semi-final 2 | 2 March 2008 | 1,227,598 | 43.9% | |
| Final | 7 March 2008 | 1,400,197 | 50.5% | |
Promotion
Ishtar specifically promoted "O Julissi" as the Belgian Eurovision entry by appearing in the Netherlands during the RTL 4 programme Life and Cooking on 4 May 2008.[16] The promotional activity was financially supported by Flemish Minister of Culture Bert Anciaux who conferred a state support of €25,000 to the band.[17]
At Eurovision
It was announced in September 2007 that the competition's format would be expanded to two semi-finals in 2008.
The two semi-finals and the final was broadcast in Belgium by both the Flemish and Walloon broadcasters. VRT broadcast the shows on één with commentary in Dutch by Bart Peeters and André Vermeulen. RTBF televised the shows on La Une with commentary in French by Jean-Pierre Hautier and Jean-Louis Lahaye. All shows were also broadcast by VRT on Radio 2 with commentary in Dutch by Michel Follet and Sven Pichal, and by RTBF on La Première with commentary in French by Patrick Duhamel and Corinne Boulangier.[21][22] The Belgian spokesperson, who announced the Belgian votes during the final, was Sandrine Van Handenhoven.[23]
Semi-final
Ishtar took part in technical rehearsals on 11 and 15 May, followed by dress rehearsals on 19 and 20 May.
At the end of the show, Belgium was not announced among the top 10 entries in the first semi-final and therefore failed to qualify to compete in the final. It was later revealed that Belgium placed seventeenth in the semi-final, receiving a total of 16 points.[27]
Voting
Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Belgium and awarded by Belgium in the first semi-final and grand final of the contest. The nation awarded its 12 points to Armenia in the semi-final and the final of the contest.
Points awarded to Belgium
| Score | Country |
|---|---|
| 12 points | |
| 10 points |  Netherlands
|
| 8 points | |
| 7 points | |
| 6 points |  Estonia
|
| 5 points | |
| 4 points | |
| 3 points | |
| 2 points | |
| 1 point |
Points awarded by Belgium
|
|
References
- ^ "Belgium Country Profile". EBU. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
- ^ a b Royston, Benny (24 April 2007). "Belgium launches Eurosong 2008". Esctoday.
- ^ "BELGIAN NATIONAL FINAL 2008".
- ^ Murray, Gavin (9 March 2008). "Tonight: Belgian National Final". Esctoday. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ Klier, Marcus (27 January 2008). "Tonight: first quarter final in Belgium". Esctoday. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ "Wedstrijdreglement". een.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 7 February 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ "5 Belgian songs fighting for the Belgrade ticket". eurovision.tv. 9 March 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ "Katrina, Marcel en Kris in jury Eurosong 2008". een.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 31 January 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ "Belgium: 450 songs received for Eurosong 2008". Archived from the original on 26 November 2007. Retrieved 24 November 2007.
- ^ Royston, Benny (17 December 2007). "Belgium: 20 finalists for Eurosong announced". Esctoday.
- ^ "UPD Belgium: the results of the fourth quarter final". Esctoday. 18 February 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ Klier, Marcus (25 January 2008). "Belgium: the results of the first semi final". Esctoday. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ Klier, Marcus (3 March 2008). "Belgium: the results of the second semi final". Esctoday. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ "Ishtar for Belgium to Belgrade!". eurovision.tv. 10 March 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ "Kijkcijfers: 'Eurosong'-finale piekt met 1,4 miljoen kijkers". tvvisie.be (in Dutch). 10 March 2008.
- ^ "Ishtar éénmalig op buitenlandse promotietrip". frontview-magazine.be (in Dutch). 9 April 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ a b Romkes, René (19 April 2008). "Belgium: State support for Ishtar". Esctoday. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ "Eurovision: 2 semi finals confirmed!". ESCToday.com. 31 July 2007. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 31 July 2007.
- ^ "Semi-Final Allocation Draw: the outcome!". eurovision.tv. 28 January 2008. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
- ^ Sietse Bakker (17 March 2008). "Belgrade 2008: The running order!". Eurovision.tv. Archived from the original on 18 March 2008. Retrieved 18 March 2008.
- ^ "Sandrine geeft de Vlaamse punten op het Songfestival". eurosong.be. 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.
- ^ Floras, Stella (3 May 2008). "Eurovision 2008: Rehearsal schedule". Esctoday. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
- ^ "Belgians create feel good factor". eurovision.tv. 12 May 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ "From Chisinau to Brussels!". eurovision.tv. 15 May 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ "First Semi-Final of Belgrade 2008". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Results of the First Semi-Final of Belgrade 2008". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- ^ "Results of the Grand Final of Belgrade 2008". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
External links
Media related to Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 at Wikimedia Commons