 | Facts & Figures |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday 24 May 2008 |
| Location | [flag=rs]Belgrade Arena Belgrade, Serbia |
| Broadcaster | Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) |
| Hosts | Jovana Janković & Željko Joksimović |
| Executive Producer | Sandra Šuša |
| EBU Scrutineer | Svante Stockselius |
| Director | Sven Stojanović |
| Opening act | Marija Šerifović performing „Molitva“ (remix) and „Tell Me Why“ |
| Interval act | Goran Bregović (medley: „Gas gas“, „Napile se ulice“ and „Kalašnjikov“); Vlade Divac |
| Winner | [flag=ru]Dima Bilan from Russia |
Returning artists
Bold indicates a previous winner.
| Artist | Country | Previous year(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Roberto Meloni (member of Pirates of the Sea) |  Latvia | 2007 (member of Bonaparti.lv) |
| Dima Bilan |  Russia | 2006 |
| Gisela |  Andorra | 2002 (for  Spain, as backing vocalist for Rosa) |
| Charlotte Perrelli |  Sweden | 1999 |
For the first time in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest, two Semi-Finals will be held to decide which 25 countries will be represented in the Final. The Final of the contest will be taking place on the 24th of May, just like the first ever Eurovision Song Contest in 1956.
The voting during the show
Citizens of each country vote by telephone or SMS. The country’s 10 favourites are awarded 12, 10, then 8 through 1 points based on votes. All 43 countries present their awarded points, totalling to determine the winner.
France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and host country Serbia will be voting in one of the two Semi-Finals. Two of them will vote in one Semi-Final, three of them in the other. Who will be voting in which country will be determined by draw, also on the 28th of January.
About the winner
Russia had been close to winning the contest several times but Dima Bilan brought it home with his second attempt with the song Believe written by American Jim Beanz and Bilan himself. Dima was accompanied by Russian figure skater and Olympic gold medalist Evgeni Plushenko as well as Hungarian violinist Edvin Marton.
Facts and figures
- Ukraine was runner up for the second year running, with third place going to Greece, and 4th to Armenia, it’s best result so far. Norway finished in 5th place.
- Sweden qualified for the Grand Final thanks to the jury vote introduced that year.
- The slogan for 2008 was Confluence of Sound.
The Participants
| # | Representing country | Performer(s) | Song title, writer(s) and composer(s) | Points | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Romania TVR | Nico & Vlad participant profile | Pe-o Margine De Lume | 045 | 20 |
| 02 | United Kingdom BBC | Andy Abraham participant profile | Even If | 014 | 25 |
| 03 | Albania RTSH | Olta Boka participant profile | Zemrën E Lamë Peng | 055 | 17 |
| 04 | Germany NDR | No Angels participant profile | Disappear | 014 | 23 |
| 05 | Armenia AMPTV | Sirusho participant profile | Qele, Qele | 199 | 04 |
| 06 | Bosnia & Herzegovina BHRT | Laka participant profile | Pokušaj | 110 | 10 |
| 07 | Israel IBA | Boaz participant profile | The Fire In Your Eyes | 124 | 09 |
| 08 | Finland YLE | Teräsbetoni participant profile | Missä Miehet Ratsastaa | 035 | 22 |
| 09 | Croatia HRT | Kraljevi Ulice & 75 Cents participant profile | Romanca | 044 | 21 |
| 10 | Poland TVP | Isis Gee participant profile | For Life | 014 | 24 |
| 11 | Iceland RÚV | Euroband participant profile | This Is My Life | 064 | 14 |
| 12 | Turkey TRT | Mor ve Ötesi participant profile | Deli | 138 | 07 |
| 13 | Portugal RTP | Vânia Fernandes participant profile | Senhora Do Mar (Negras Águas) | 069 | 13 |
| 14 | Latvia LTV | Pirates Of The Sea participant profile | Wolves Of The Sea | 083 | 12 |
| 15 | Sweden SVT | Charlotte Perrelli participant profile | Hero | 047 | 18 |
| 16 | Denmark DR | Simon Mathew participant profile | All Night Long | 060 | 15 |
| 17 | Georgia GPB | Diana Gurtskaya participant profile | Peace Will Come | 083 | 11 |
| 18 | Ukraine NTU | Ani Lorak participant profile | Shady Lady | 230 | 02 |
| 19 | France France 3 | Sébastien Tellier participant profile | Divine | 047 | 19 |
| 20 | Azerbaijan İctimai | Elnur & Samir participant profile | Day After Day | 132 | 08 |
| 21 | Greece ERT | Kalomira participant profile | Secret Combination | 218 | 03 |
| 22 | Spain TVE | Rodolfo Chikilicuatre participant profile | Baila El Chiki Chiki | 055 | 16 |
| 23 | Serbia RTS | Jelena Tomašević feat. Bora Dugic participant profile | Oro | 160 | 06 |
| 24 | Russia RTR | Dima Bilan participant profile | Believe | 272 | 01 |
| 25 | Norway NRK | Maria participant profile | Hold On Be Strong | 182 | 05 |
Scoreboard
| Participant | |  | | |  |  | |  | |  |  | |  |  | | | | | |  | |  | | |  |  |  |  | | | | | |  | |  | | |  |  | | | | Points | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romania | 3 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 45 | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United Kingdom | 8 | 6 | 14 | 25 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Albania | 1 | 1 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 55 | 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Germany | 12 | 2 | 14 | 23 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Armenia | 2 | 7 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 1 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 4 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 2 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 199 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | 3 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 110 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Israel | 4 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 124 | 9 | |||||||||||||||
| Finland | 4 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 35 | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Croatia | 2 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 44 | 21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Poland | 10 | 4 | 14 | 24 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iceland | 12 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 64 | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turkey | 10 | 12 | 3 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 138 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portugal | 10 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 69 | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Latvia | 2 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 83 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sweden | 3 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 47 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Denmark | 2 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 60 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia | 10 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 83 | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ukraine | 8 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 230 | 2 | ||||||||
| France | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 47 | 19 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Azerbaijan | 7 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 10 | 132 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Greece | 12 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 12 | 218 | 3 | |||||||
| Spain | 1 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 55 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Serbia | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 8 | 160 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||
| Russia | 6 | 5 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 272 | 1 | |||||||
| Norway | 7 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 182 | 5 |