:: Eurovision 24 :: Oslo 2010

Representatives from 22 countries will sing their song entirely in English. Six more will sing their songs in a mix of English and a national language; Armenian, Hungarian, Catalan (Andorra), Spanish, Hebrew and French. The Romanian representatives will sing in a mix between Romanian and Italian. Participants from Serbia, Albania, San Marino (Italian), Finland, Portugal, Montenegro, Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Turkey, Croatia, Cyprus (Greek) and Switzerland (Italian) will sing in their local language. The Estonian group Kreisiraadio will sing in a mix between Finnish, German and Serbo-Croatian 'tourist dialect'. The Belgian group Ishtar will sing in an imaginary language. Since 1999, the European Broadcasting Union allows participants to sing in the language of their choice. Despite the fear of critics that this would heavily harm language diversity at the Eurovision Song Contest, a large number of languages is represented at the contest nowadays. Those who questioned i...

Dustin the Turkey was in Barcelona last night where he was interviewed by Andreu Buenafuente on his late night show aired on Spanish TV channel La Sexta. The Irish representive met Rodolfo Chikilicautre and was more than happy to dance to the beat of Baila el Chiki Chiki. A special puppet show featuring puppets depicting Rodolfo and Buenafuente was held along with Dustin the Turkey.

ESC Today reports that the Governing body of the Eurovision Song Contest, the European Broadcasting Union's Eurovision Song Contest reference group has asked the Irish delegation to alter slightly Dustin's performance lyrics for the upcoming event in Belgrade. Dustin the Turkey will represent Ireland this year at the Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade with the song Irelande douze pointe . The lyrics of the song contains a list of European countries, which includes a name check for Macedonia. However the EBU has declined to confirm that the request had come from Greek broadcaster ERT, who which other websites report; have taken offence at the mentioning of Macedonia, rather than their preferred "Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia" the name under which the country joined the United Nations and which is still used by the EBU, albeit in an abriviated form on Eurovision scoreboards - "FYR Macedonia." The EBU reference group have requested that the official na...

Interesting article by Alekas Supranavicius for OIKOTIMES.com Read full article

Macedonia Online reports that the Eurovision song of Irish representative Dustin the turkey, must be changed because Macedonia is mentioned. This was the note the Irish representative received from the EU Radio Comission. The EU Radio Comission wouldn't confirm if the pressure came from Greece. "We did not mean to offend Macedonia or Greece with our song. Geography is not our strong side. You probably noticed that because in our song we claim the Danube river goes through France." said the Irish Eurovision representative Dustin the turkey. The "problematic" verse, that the EU Radio Commision felt it must be changed, is shown below: Eastern Europe we love you Do you like Irish stew? Or goulash as it is to you? Shake your feathers Listen Bulgaria we love you Belarus, Georgia, Montenegro, Moldavia, Albania, Croatia, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, MACEDONIA , Love you Turkey Hungary, Estonia, Slovakia, Armenia, Bosnia Herzegovina And don’t forget the Swiss!

Today, the draw of the running order for the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest took place in Belgrade.

Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovenia, Germany (voting only), Spain (voting only).

Albania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, FYR Macedonia, Georgia, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, France (voting only), Serbia (voting only), United Kingdom (voting only).

The fifteen song national final was held on February 2nd at the LRT studios in Vilnius, following two semi-finals. The winner was be chosen by televoting and in one of the closest contests of the year "Nomads In The Night" sung by Jeronimas Milius won the selection.

The United Kingdom became the first country to select an automatic finalist when "Eurovision-Your Decision" was staged on March 1st. Six acts competed over three rounds of voting with the public eventually choosing the entrant in a two song "super-final". Former "X-Factor" runner-up Andy Abraham will represent the U.K. in Belgrade with a song which he co-wrote titled "Even If".

NTU has persuaded one of Ukraine's biggest stars to represent them at Eurovision. Ani Lorak sang five potential Eurovision entries in a special show on February 23rd and a combination of a televote and a jury chose "Shady Lady" written Philip Kirkorov (Russia 1995) and Karen Kavaleryan, the team that wrote the entry from Belarus in 2007.

Turkish broadcaster TRT caused a surprise in December by announcing that alternative rock band Mor ve Ötesi would would represent the country in Belgrade. The song was chosen internally by TRT after the band presented three potential Eurovision entries. The song was presented on February 15th as part of an evening news show on TRT and is called "Deli" (Crazy).

This year, Spanish broadcaster TVE tried a different approach, asking potential acts to upload their entries to MySpace . Ten songs participated in the Spanish final on March 8th, five chosen by a jury, five by the public from the Myspace entries. The overwhelming winner chosen by a public televote was "Bailar El Chiki Chiki" (Dance The Chiki Chiki) by comedian Rodolfo Chikilicuatre.

The Slovenian EMA, was held on February 3rd in Ljubljana. Before the final there were two semis on the previous evenings reducing the field to ten. In the final, the winner was chosen over two rounds of televoting, one to select the top two and the second to pick the winner. Despite losing the first round, "Vrag Naj Vzame" (Let The Devil Take It) sung by Rebeka Dremelj goes to Eurovision.

The Host countries national final, delayed due to the political situation in Kosovo, was staged on March 10th, after a semi-final on the previous evening reduced the field from 20 entries. The winner was chosen by a combination of a jury and a public televote. The winner of both sections was "Oro" sung by Jelena Tomasevic.

Sanmarinese broadcaster TRSM enters the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time. An internal selection chose the entry, and on March 11th it was announced that the band Miodio, which comprieses of two members from San Marino and three from Italy. Their song which was written by the band is titled "Complice" (Accomplice).

This year broadcaster RTR will represent Russia at Eurovision and in contrast with Channel 1, they staged a national final rather than have an internal selection. On March 9th, a massive 27 entries competed in the biggest national final of 2008. The winner was chosen by a combination of a jury and televoting, and the winner of both categories and gaining the ticket to Belgrade was 2006 Eurovision runner-up Dima Bilan and "Believe".

Romanian broadcaster TVR repeated the formula of the last few years with two semi-finals on 9th and 16th February before a national final staged on February 23rd. A 50/50 mix of televoters and a jury chose the song for Belgrade and the ballad "Pe-o Margine De Lume" (On The Edge Of The World) sung by Nico & Vlad Mirita will represent Romania in May.

Portuguese broadcaster RTP decided to have another national final, to select its entry for Belgrade, despite a run of poor results. Ten producers and songwriters and the "Festival da Canção" took place on March 9th with the winner selected by televote. Vania Fernandes and "Senhoro Do Mar" (Woman Of The Sea) will be the 2008 Portuguese enty.

Polish broadcaster TVP once again decided to have a national final with a 50/50 mix of televoters and a jury selecting the entry. Ten of the songs competedin the "Piosenka Dla Europy" staged in Warsaw on February 23rd. The winner chosen by a cambination of a jury and a televote is Isis Gee and the ballad "For Life".