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:

Katrina Leskanich – American singer, winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 1997 as part of Katrina and the Waves
Kris Wauters – Belgian musician, represented Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 1991 as part of Clouseau
Marcel Vanthilt – Belgian singer and television presenter

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. 450 entries were submitted, and on 17 December 2007, the broadcaster announced the twenty entries selected for the competition.

ArtistSongSongwriter(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

Heats

Four heats took place on 27 January, 3 February, 10 February and 17 February 2008. Five entries competed in each heat and a public televote determined the top two to proceed to the semi-finals. Wildcards were also awarded to two of the eliminated acts which also proceeded to the semi-finals.

Heat 1 – 27 January 2008

DrawArtistSongPlaceResult
1Katy Satyn„Magical Sensation“1Advanced
2Raevan„Shut Down the Heatmachine“3-4Eliminated
3Brahim„What I Like About You“2Advanced
4Eva Darche„We Breathe“5Eliminated
5Femme Fatale„Decadence“3-4Eliminated

Heat 2 – 3 February 2008

DrawArtistSongPlaceResult
1Kenza„Breaking All the Rules“3-4Eliminated
2EFR„Your Guiding Star“3-4Eliminated
3Ishtar„O Julissi Na Jalini“1Advanced
4Esther„Game Over“5Eliminated
5Tanya Dexters„Addicted to You“2Advanced

Heat 3 – 10 February 2008

DrawArtistSongPlaceResult
1Ellis-T„My Music“4Eliminated
2Tabitha Cycon„Rumour Has It“3Wildcard
3Di Bono„I’m Not Sorry“5Eliminated
4Nelson„If I Can’t Find My Love“1Advanced
5Geena Lisa„Wheel of Time“2Advanced

Heat 4 – 17 February 2008

DrawArtistSongPlaceResult
1Francesco Palmeri„Vagabundo“5Eliminated
2Paranoiacs„Shout It Out“2Advanced
3Elisa„Around the World“4Eliminated
4A Butterfly Mind„Lonely Hearts on Wheels“3Wildcard
5Sandrine„I Feel the Same Way“1Advanced

Semi-finals

Two semi-finals took place on 24 February and 2 March 2008. Five entries competed in each heat and a public televote determined the top two to proceed to the final. A wildcard were also awarded to one of the eliminated acts which also proceeded to the final.

Semi-final 1 – 24 February 2008

DrawArtistSongPlaceResult
1Tanya Dexters„Addicted to You“5Eliminated
2Nelson„If I Can’t Find My Love“1Advanced
3Paranoiacs„Shout It Out“2Advanced
4A Butterfly Mind„Lonely Hearts on Wheels“4Eliminated
5Katy Satyn„Magical Sensation“3Eliminated

Semi-final 2 – 2 March 2008

DrawArtistSongPlaceResult
1Geena Lisa„Wheel of Time“5Eliminated
2Tabitha Cycon„Rumour Has It“4Eliminated
3Sandrine„I Feel the Same Way“2Advanced
4Ishtar„O Julissi Na Jalini“1Advanced
5Brahim„What I Like About You“3Wildcard

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

Ishtar came 17th in the 1st ESC Semi-Final.