Bulgaria and Bulgarian National Television (BNT) once again decided to produce a special show to pick the Bulgarian entrant for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, but in a different format than 2008’s EuroBGVision. For 2009, a two-part process was used: the first part, Be a Star, consisting of a nine heats and three monthly finals chose the participants for Evroviziya 2009 which consisted of a semi-final and final and ultimately chose the Bulgarian entrant.

The national final to select Bulgaria’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 took place over two phases. The first phase was Be a Star held between October and December 2008. Nine songs were selected to advance to the second phase, BG Song for Eurovision 2009, where the Bulgarian entry was selected.

Be a Star

Be a Star was the first phase of the national final format developed by BNT in order to select Bulgaria’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. The competition consisted of six heats and three monthly finals between 2 October and 18 December 2008. All shows took place at the National Palace of Culture in Sofia, hosted by Neli Atanasova and Dragomir Draganov and broadcast on BNT 1 as well as online via the broadcaster’s website bnt.bg.

Format

The competition consisted of three heats and a finals taking place each month from October to December 2008. Five songs competed in each heat and three were selected to qualify to the final. The entry placed first by an expert jury panel automatically advanced, while the other two were selected by a public vote from the remaining four entries. In the final, the three entries that advanced to the second phase of the national final were determined exclusively by the public vote. Viewers were able to vote via SMS.

Competing entries

BNT opened a submission period for artists and songwriters to submit their entries from 6 July 2008 to 19 September 2008. Artists were required to have Bulgarian nationality, however songwriters of any nationality were allowed to submit songs. The broadcaster received 54 submissions by the end of the deadline, of which 45 were eligible for the competition. The list of competing artists and songs were announced on 20 September 2008. „Don’t Kiss for Money“ performed by Sahara, which was originally allocated to perform in the fourth heat, was later withdrawn from the competition in order to be selected for the second phase of the national final, however it was revealed to be disqualified due to the song having been performed before 1 October 2008.

Artist	Song	Songwriter(s)
Anna Star	„Stranger“	Johannes Carlsson, Anna Star
Annayah	„Az te chakam“ (Аз те чакам)	Rosi Ovcharova
Antoniya Markova	„Don’t Leave by the Day“	Pepi Pisarski
Biby Michael and Friends	„Vŭlshebni noti“ (Вълшебни ноти)	Biby Michael, Zhiva Kyuldzhieva
Bobi Kokera, Blei and Sunnie	„Tozi pŭt“ (Този път)	Pepi Kostov, Bobi Kokera
Deyan Dzhenkov	„Imam tvoeto ime“ (Имам твоето име)	Rumyana Ivanova, Dani Milev
Emil Sokolov	„Deystvitelnost ili izmama“ (Действителност или измама)	Emil Sokolov, Petar Kamenovski
Emiliya Valenti	„S teb“ (С теб)	Sunnie, Aleks Husev
Fanagora and Milena Peeva	„Love Never Ends“	Ivan Tsanov, Kalina Nanovska
Freeway	„Sama“ (Сама)	Ivan Popov-Iven, Zlatoela Dimitrova
Georgi Varbanov	„Europe Is My Home!“	Georgi Varbanov
Gergana Dimova	„Yasno slŭntse“ (Ясно слънце)	Dimcho Delev
Hari Ot Balgaryia	„Bez dumi“ (Без думи)	Hari
Iliyan Tsvetanov	„Tozi ritŭm“ (Този ритъм)	Alexander Kiprov jr., Alexander Kiprov
Iskra and Misha Iliev	„Dokosni me“ (Докосни ме)	Andro Stubel, Stoyan Stoyanov
Iskren Petsov	„Zashto se varna“ (Защо се върна)	Iskren Petsov
Itso Petroff and Priyateli	„Rokendrol izkustvo“ (Рокендрол изкуство)	Itso Petroff, Konstantin Pashkulev
Ivelina	„Ready for Love“	Lubomir Boyanov, Ivan Laskov
Just Elly	„My Song“	Kiril Yanev, Elka Yankova
Konkurent	„Placha v noshtta“ (Плача в нощта)	Konkurent
Lazar Kisyov	„You’re Not Alone“	Lazar Kisyov
Lorado	„More ot mechti“ (Море от мечти)	Krassimir Krastev, Lorado
Mario Denev	„Lipsvash mi tatko“ (Липсваш ми татко)	Mario Denev
Mario Marinov	„La ragazza che ho lasciato“	Mario Marinov
Martin Aleksandrov	„Mi fai male“	Zhanet
Monika Kirovska	„I Won“	Tsvetan Vlaykov
Moto	„Razstoyaniya“ (Разстояния)	Nikolay Tomov
Perfect Stranger	„I Promise“	Konstantin Varbanov
Petya Hristova	„Sacred Journey“	Petya Hristova, Arnold Herman
Plamen Penev	„Dalechen svyat“ (Далечен свят)	Plamen Penev, Petar Penev
Prima Vista	„Let’s Spread Love“	Ilko Drenkov, Valentin Penzov
Ruth	„Sometimes“	Tomi Stefanov, Zhana Dushkova
Sahara	„Don’t Kiss for Money“	Stefaan Yves Geert Fernande, Ingrid Mank
Stefan Ilchev	„Get Up“	Veselin Kalchev, Iordanka Ivanova
Sunay Chalakov	„Neshto ludo“ (Нещо лудо)	Alexander Kiprov, Sunay Chalakov
Svetozar Hristov	„Borrow from the Shadow“	Svetozar Hristov, Ventsislava Tumangelova
Tedi Slavcheva feat. Teni and Iva	„Don’t Look for Me“	Tedi Slavcheva, Teni Omede
Teodora Kutsarova	„Droga“ (Дрога)	Petko Ivanov, Teodora Kutsarova
Tereza Kolarova	„Samo edno more“ (Само едно море)	Kamen Nikolov
Tsetso Vlaykov	„What Does It Take“	Tsetso Vlaykov
Vatticana	„Sun Is Shining“	Detelin Dimitrov, Rosen Neshkov, Lubomir Dyulgerov, Jan Lund Dahlgren
Venelina Milanova	„Neka s pesen“ (Нека с песен)	Simeon Smolev, Venelina Milanova
X-R@Y	„We“	Nikolay Dimitrov, Veselin Kirev, Nikolay Nikolov
Zheni Karavachebva	„Dumi“ (Думи)	Ivan Lechev, Vanya Shtereva
Zona	„Senki“ (Сенки)	Zona

October heats

The October heats took place on 2 October, 9 October and 16 October 2008. In each heat five entries competed and three qualified to the November selection final, with the jury selecting one entry and an additional two entries selected by public voting to progress to the final.

Heat 1 – 2 October 2008

Draw	Artist	Song	Televote	Place
1	Monika Kirovska	„I Won“	2.28%	5
2	Emil Sokolov	„Deystvitelnost ili izmama“	4.86%	4
3	Ivelina	„Ready for Love“	32.22%	2
4	Perfect Stranger	„I Promise“	38.60%	1
5	Venelina Milanova	„Neka s pesen“	22.04%	3

Heat 2 – 9 October 2008

Draw	Artist	Song	Televote	Place
1	Iskra and Misha Iliev	„Dokosni me“	41.26%	1
2	Prima Vista	„Let’s Spread Love“	17.14%	3
3	Konkurent	„Placha v noshtta“	4.23%	5
4	Mario Marinov	„La ragazza che ho lasciato“	14.40%	4
5	Tereza Kolarova	„Samo edno more“	22.97%	2

Heat 3 – 16 October 2008

Draw	Artist	Song	Televote	Place
1	Iliyan Tsvetanov	„Tozi ritŭm“	28.52%	2
2	Teodora Kutsarova	„Droga“	11.42%	4
3	Ruth	„Sometimes“	6.25%	5
4	Deyan Dzhenkov	„Imam tvoeto ime“	37.21%	1
5	Moto	„Razstoyaniya“	16.60%	3

October selection final

The October selection final took place on 23 October 2008. The nine qualifiers from the preceding three heats competed and three qualified to the second phase of the national final exclusively by a public vote: „Imam tvoeto ime“ performed by Deyan Dzhenkov, „Let’s Spread Love“ performed by Prima Vista and „Dokosni me“ performed by Iskra & Misha Iliev.

Draw	Artist	Song	Televote	Place
1	Prima Vista	„Let’s Spread Love“	19.66%	2
2	Perfect Stranger	„I Promise“	12.98%	4
3	Tereza Kolarova	„Samo edno more“	9.10%	6
4	Ruth	„Sometimes“	2.23%	9
5	Deyan Dzhenkov	„Imam tvoeto ime“	24.14%	1
6	Ivelina	„Ready for Love“	10.43%	5
7	Iliyan Tsvetanov	„Tozi ritŭm“	2.55%	8
8	Iskra and Misha Iliev	„Dokosni me“	13.46%	3
9	Venelina Milanova	„Neka s pesen“	5.45%	7

November heats

The November heats took place on 30 October, 6 November and 13 November 2008. In each heat four or five entries competed and three qualified to the November selection final, with the jury selecting one entry and an additional two entries selected by public voting to progress to the final.

Heat 4 – October 30th

1	More ot ekstaz	A sea of ecstasy	Lorado	2.78%	4th	–
2	Love never ends	Love never ends	Fanagoria & Milena Peeva	28.61%	2nd	T
3	Rokendrol izkustvo	Rock ’n‘ roll art	Itso Petroff & Priyateli	16.67%	3rd	T
4	Yasno slantse	Clear sun	Gergana Dimova	51.94%	1st	J

Heat 5 – November 6th

1	Dalechen svyat	Far away world	Plamen Penev	20.99%	3rd	T
2	Dumi	Words	Zheni Karavacheva	10.50%	5th	–
3	Tozi pat	This way	Bobi Kokera, Bleki & Sunnie	23.91%	2nd	T
4	S teb	With you	Emiliya Valenti	32.94%	1st	J
5	Bez dumi	Wordless	Hari Ot Balgariya	11.66%	4th	–

Heat 6 – November 13th

1	Az te chakam	I’m waiting for you	Annayah	36.99%	1st	T
2	Europe is my home!	Europe is my home!	Georgi Varbanov	5.02%	5th	–
3	You’re not alone	You’re not alone	Lazar Kisyov	13.93%	3rd	J
4	Don’t live by the day	Don’t live by the day	Antoniya Markova	35.84%	2nd	T
5	Lipsvash mi tatko	I miss you Dad	Mario Denev	8.22%	4th	–

November selection final

The November selection final took place on 20 November 2008. Bobi Kokera, Bleki and Sunnie withdrew before the final due to illness of one of the performers. The eight qualifiers from the preceding three heats competed and three qualified to the second phase of the national final exclusively by a public vote: „Yasno slŭntse“ performed by Gergana Dimova, „Dalechen svyat“ performed by Plamen Penev and „S teb“ performed by Emiliya Valenti.

Quarter-Final 2 – November 20th

1	Don’t live by the day	Don’t live by the day	Antoniya Markova	8.83%	5th	–
2	Dalechen svyat	Far away world	Plamen Penev	14.26%	2nd	SF
3	Tozi pat	This way	Bobi Kokera, Bleki & Sunnie	–	–	–
4	Rokendrol izkustvo	Rock ’n‘ roll art	Itso Petroff & Priyateli	3.44%	8th	–
5	You’re not alone	You’re not alone	Lazar Kisyov	4.56%	7th	–
6	Yasno slantse	Clear sun	Gergana Dimova	41.42%	1st	SF
7	Az te chakam	I’m waiting for you	Annayah	8.97%	4th	–
8	Love never ends	Love never ends	Fanagoria & Milena Peeva	6.06%	6th	–
9	S teb	With you	Emiliya Valenti	12.46%	3rd	SF

December heats

The December heats took place on 27 November, 4 December and 11 December 2008. In each heat five entries competed and three qualified to the December selection final, with the jury selecting one entry and an additional two entries selected by public voting to progress to the final.

Heat 7 – November 27th

1	Sun is shining	Vatticana	34.96%	2nd	T
2	Stranger	Anna Star	4.87%	4th	–
3	Borrow from the shadow	Svetozar Hristov	10.40%	3rd	J
4	My song	Just Elly	0.66%	5th	–
5	Don’t look for me	Tedi Slavcheva feat. Teni & Iva	49.11%	1st	T

Heat 8 – December 4th

1	Sama	Alone	Freeway	30.71%	2nd	T
2	Valshebni noti	Magical notes	Biby Michael & Friends	7.47%	3rd	–
3	Zashto se varna	Why did you come back	Iskren Petsov	5.81%	4th	J
4	Neshto ludo	Something crazy	Sunay Chalakov	53.11%	1st	T
5	What does it take	What does it take	Tsetso Vlaykov	2.9%	5th	–

Heat 9 – December 11th

1	We	We	X-R@y	15.09%	3rd	–
2	Get up	Get up	Stefan Ilchev	37.12%	1st	T
3	Sacred journey	Sacred journey	Petya Hristova	3.77%	5th	–
4	Senki	Shadows	Zona	32.70%	2nd	T
5	Mi fai male	You make me bad	Martin Aleksandrov	11.32%	4th	J

December selection final

The December selection final took place on 18 December 2008. The nine qualifiers from the preceding three heats competed and three qualified to the second phase of the national final exclusively by a public vote: „Senki“ performed by Zona, „Don’t Look for Me“ performed by Tedi Slavcheva feat. Teni & Iva and „Get Up“ performed by Stefan Ilchev.

Quarter-Final 3 – December 18th

1	Sama	Alone	Freeway	8.84%	6th	–
2	Mi fai male	You make me bad	Martin Aleksandrov	8.35%	7th	–
3	Borrow from the shadow	Borrow from the shadow	Svetozar Hristov	1.80%	8th	–
4	Neshto ludo	Something crazy	Sunay Chalakov	11.62%	5th	–
5	Don’t look for me	Don’t look for me	Tedi Slavcheva feat. Teni & Iva	18.33%	2nd	SF
6	Senki	Shadows	Zona	20.45%	1st	SF
7	Zashto se varna	Why did you come back	Iskren Petsov	0.98%	9th	–
8	Sun is shining	Sun is shining	Vatticana	12.77%	4th	–
9	Get up	Get up	Stefan Ilchev	16.86%	3rd	SF

BG Song for Eurovision 2009

BG Song for Eurovision 2009 was the second phase of the national final format developed by BNT in order to select Bulgaria’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. The competition consisted of a semi-final and a final on 24 January and 21 February 2009, respectively. Both shows took place at the National Palace of Culture in Sofia, hosted by Neli Atanasova and Dragomir Draganov and broadcast on BNT 1 as well as online via the broadcaster’s website bnt.bg.

Format

The competition consisted of a semi-final and a final. Eighteen songs consisting of the nine Be a Star qualifiers and nine additional songs competed in the semi-final on 24 January 2009 and twelve were selected by an expert jury panel to qualify to the final on 21 February 2009. In the final, twelve songs consisting of the nine semi-final qualifiers and three pre-qualified finalists competed and the winner was determined exclusively by public televoting. Viewers were able to vote via telephone or SMS.

Competing entries

BNT opened a submission period for artists and songwriters to submit their entries from 1 October 2008 to 19 December 2008. Artists were required to have Bulgarian nationality, however songwriters of any nationality were allowed to submit songs. The broadcaster received 38 submissions by the end of the deadline. A jury committee reviewed the received submissions as well as the non-qualifying songs in the heats and finals of Be a Star and selected eighteen songs to advance to the national final. The list of competing artists and songs were announced on 20 December 2008 and among the competing artists, „Ready for Love“ performed by Ivelina and „Razstoyaniya“ performed by Moto were non-qualifiers of Be a Star. On 10 January 2009, „Ring the Bells“ performed by Vesela Boneva was withdrawn from the competition and replaced with „Don’t Break My Heart“ performed by Erilien & Najam Sheraz.

Artist	Song	Songwriter(s)
Dani Milev	„Nyama vreme“ (Няма време)	Dani Milev, Doni
Deyan Dzhenkov	„Imam tvoeto ime“ (Имам твоето име)	Dani Milev, Rumyana Ivanova
Emiliya Valenti	„S teb“ (С теб)	Alex Nushev, Sunnie
Erilien and Najam Sheraz	„Don’t Break My Heart“	Erilien, Najam Sheraz
Gergana Dimova	„Yasno slŭntse“ (Ясно слънце)	Dimcho Delev
Grafa	„Vrag“ (Враг)	Vladimir Ampov-Grafa, Gergana Turiyska
Iskra and Misha Iliev	„Dokosni me“ (Докосни ме)	Stoyan Stoyanov, Andro Stubel
Ivelina	„Ready for Love“	Lyubomir Boyanov, Ivan Laskov
JuraTone feat. Lady B	„Chance to Love You“	JuraTone, Michael Johnson
Krassimir Avramov	„Illusion“	Krassimir Avramov, William Tabanou, Casie Tabanou
Mariana Popova	„Crazy“	Zheni Dzhambazova, Ivan Ivanov, Elina Gavrilova
Moto	„Razstoyaniya“ (Разстояния)	Nikolay Tomov
Nora	„It’s Not Right“	Biser Ivanov, Nora Karaivanova
Plamen Penev	„Dalechen svyat“ (Далечен свят)	Petar Pesev, Plamen Penev
Poli Genova	„One Lifetime Is Not Enough“	Ivan Kutikov, Jim Peterik
Prima Vista	„Let’s Spread Love“	Valentin Penzov, Ilko Drenkov
Sahara	„Don’t Kiss for Money“	Stefaan Yves Geert Fernande, Ingrid Mank
Stefan Dobrev	„Everlasting Love“	Vladi Tosetto, Diana Winter
Stefan Ilchev	„Get Up“	Veselin Kalchev, Iordanka Ivanova
Tedi Slavcheva feat. Teni and Iva	„Don’t Look for Me“	Teni Omede, Tedi Slavcheva
Zona	„Senki“ (Сенки)	Zona

Semi-final

The semi-final took place on 24 January 2009. Eighteen entries competed and nine qualified to the final as determined by a jury panel. „Get Up“ performed by Stefan Ilchev was the only finalist that advanced from Be a Star.

Semi-final – 24 January 2009

Draw	Artist	Song	Result
1	Ivelina	„Ready for Love“	Finalist
2	Moto	„Razstoyaniya“	Finalist
3	Deyan Dzhenkov	„Imam tvoeto ime“	Eliminated
4	Gergana Dimova	„Yasno slŭntse“	Eliminated
5	Stefan Dobrev	„Everlasting Love“	Finalist
6	Prima Vista	„Let’s Spread Love“	Eliminated
7	Erilien and Najam Sheraz	„Don’t Break My Heart“	Eliminated
8	Iskra and Misha Iliev	„Dokosni me“	Eliminated
9	Sahara	„Don’t Kiss for Money“	Finalist
10	Plamen Penev	„Dalechen svyat“	Eliminated
11	JuraTone feat. Lady B	„Chance to Love You“	Finalist
12	Zona	„Senki“	Eliminated
13	Stefan Ilchev	„Get Up“	Finalist
14	Nora	„It’s Not Right“	Finalist
15	Emiliya Valenti	„S teb“	Eliminated
16	Krassimir Avramov	„Illusion“	Finalist
17	Tedi Slavcheva feat. Teni and Iva	„Don’t Look for Me“	Eliminated
18	Dani Milev	„Nyama vreme“	Finalist

Final

The final took place on 21 February 2009. The nine qualifiers from the semi-final and the three pre-qualified entries competed and the winner, „Illusion“ performed by Krassimir Avramov, was determined exclusively by public televoting.

Final – 21 February 2009

Draw	Artist	Song	Televote	Place
1	Stefan Ilchev	„Get Up“	1,038	7
2	Moto	„Razstoyaniya“	132	12
3	Poli Genova	„One Lifetime Is Not Enough“	4,135	2
4	Dani Milev	„Nyama vreme“	843	9
5	Ivelina	„Ready for Love“	890	8
6	Grafa	„Vrag“	1,377	5
7	Sahara	„Don’t Kiss for Money“	1,128	6
8	Mariana Popova	„Crazy“	2,976	3
9	JuraTone feat. Lady B	„Chance to Love You“	715	10
10	Stefan Dobrev	„Everlasting Love“	408	11
11	Krassimir Avramov	„Illusion“	19,553	1
12	Nora	„It’s Not Right“	2,023	4