Posted January 28, 200817 yr Semi Final One: Tuesday 20th May 2008 (in alphabetical order) * Andorra * Armenia * Azerbaijan * Belgium * Bosnia & Herzegovina * Estonia * Finland * Greece * Ireland * Israel * Moldova * Montenegro * The Netherlands * Norway * Poland * Romania * Russia * San Marino * Slovenia * Germany (voting rights, will not participate) * Spain (voting rights, will not participate) Semi Final Two: Thursday 22nd May 2008 (in alphabetical order): * Albania * Belarus * Bulgaria * Croatia * Cyprus * Czech Republic * Denmark * Macedonia * Georgia * Hungary * Iceland * Latvia * Lithuania * Malta * Portugal * Sweden * Switzerland * Turkey * Ukraine * France (voting rights, will not participate) * Serbia (voting rights, will not participate) * United Kingdom (voting rights, will not participate) --- 9 from each group will go through based on televoting and 1 from each based on the jury votes ^_^
January 28, 200817 yr the good songs from Malta and Czech Republic are in the semi-final that we can vote in :)
January 28, 200817 yr It's good to see the countries who traditionally vote for each other have been split up pretty well. We should have pretty fair semi-finals with the better songs genuinely qualifying for the final. The problem remains in the final though. With all 43 countries voting, the block voting will be right back again.
January 28, 200817 yr Woo-hoo: Greece and Cyprus in separate semis. Ireland are f***ed, though. Why is that? If they have a good song then maybe not. OK so they don't have the UK to vote for them, but remember, no country has that many of their "friends" in the same semi to vote for them. So Ireland aren't at that much of a disadvantage.
January 28, 200817 yr Good to see that Latvia and Lithuania are drawn away from Ireland. :D Shame we can't vote for Andorra though! :lol: My fave so far. :w00t:
January 28, 200817 yr ESC Today has also given us this analysis... The following countries that traditionally give each other many votes and couples, where one country usually gets many points from the other, will NOT be in the same semi final: Turkey and the Netherlands Turkey and Belgium Germany and Turkey Cyprus and Greece Sweden and Norway Finland and Sweden Sweden and Estonia Estonia and Lithuania Estonia and Latvia Gerogia and Armenia Montenegro and Serbia Ireland and the United Kingdom Lithuania and Ireland Russia and Belarus Portugal and Spain Switzerland and Germany the United Kingdom and Greece Ukraine and Poland The following countries that traditionally give each other many votes and couples, where one country usually gets many points from the other, will be in the same semi final: Moldova and Romania Romania and Spain Israel and Romania Romania and Ireland Latvia and Lithuania Finland and Norway Andorra and Spain Belgium and the Netherlands United Kingdom and Malta United Kingdom and Cyprus Albania and F.Y.R. Macedonia Latvia and Lithuania Croatia, F.Y.R. Macedonia and Serbia Bosnia & Herzegovina, Slovenia and Montenegro Iceland and Denmark Scandinavia Finland and Norway will take part in the first semi final, Sweden and Denmark in the second semi final which shows equal chances for all four countries (although Finland usually gives less points to the Scandinavian countries than the other three). On the other hand, Iceland, which usually gives many points to the Scandinavian countries, especially Denmark, is in the second semi final which might slightly raise the chances of Sweden and Denmark. Former Yugoslavia Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Slovenia will take part in the first semi final, Serbia, Croatia and F.Y.R. Macedonia will vote in the second one. Since Serbia is only voting and not participating, mathematically, the Croatian and F.Y.R. Macedonian chances are slightly higher to reach the final if Serbia follows the voting patterns of recent years (nevertheless, it is highly unlikely that this will affect the results at all). Former USSR Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Estonia and Russia will be in the first semi final, Belarus, Georgia, Lithuania, Latvia and Ukraine in the second one - again a fair allocation. The most neigbourly friendly couples - Georgia & Armenia and Russia & Belarus have been split. Apart from that, Poland, a country usually giving top marks to Ukraine is not in the same semi final as Ukraine. Czech Republic Czech Republic scored only one point on their 2007 debut at the Eurovision Song Contest. Without neighbours Slovakia and nearby austria, it's hard to tell where their friendliest countries will come from. Their song this year is about having fun, and Poland seem to like 'party' songs. Unfortunately, Poland is in the other semi final and so is Estonia, the country that gave that one single point in 2007. Switzerland There may be a few more nerves in Switzerland after the draw today. After chosing an Italian language song, the only other remaining Italian speaking country, San Marino, was placed in the other semi final. Malta, however has a high percentage of Italian speakers and may vote for the Swiss song. Switzerland may also miss neighbours, Austria, who withdrew from the competition earlier this year after claiming that the results were too political. Serbia will miss their 12 points.
January 30, 200817 yr Scandinavia Finland and Norway will take part in the first semi final, Sweden and Denmark in the second semi final which shows equal chances for all four countries (although Finland usually gives less points to the Scandinavian countries than the other three). On the other hand, Iceland, which usually gives many points to the Scandinavian countries, especially Denmark, is in the second semi final which might slightly raise the chances of Sweden and Denmark. It's such a shame that the first word of the analysis shouldn't belong there - Finland isn't in Scandinavia. The Finns also don't consider themselves Scandinavian.
January 30, 200817 yr It's such a shame that the first word of the analysis shouldn't belong there - Finland isn't in Scandinavia. The Finns also don't consider themselves Scandinavian. Hmm I suppose a better sub-title would be 'Nordic countries' actually. :lol:
January 31, 200817 yr Hmm I suppose a better sub-title would be 'Nordic countries' actually. :lol: Yup - especially since Iceland isn't in Scandinavia either.
March 10, 200817 yr Looking at these semi-finals, the first is by far the strongest of the two imo. I've bolded some of the "more favoured" songs with bookies and polls and $h!t... * Andorra * Armenia * Azerbaijan * Belgium * Bosnia & Herzegovina * Estonia * Finland * Greece * Ireland * Israel * Moldova * Montenegro * The Netherlands * Norway * Poland * Romania * Russia * San Marino * Slovenia Semi Final Two: Thursday 22nd May 2008 (in alphabetical order): * Albania * Belarus * Bulgaria * Croatia * Cyprus * Czech Republic * Denmark * Macedonia * Georgia * Hungary * Iceland * Latvia * Lithuania * Malta * Portugal * Sweden * Switzerland * Turkey * Ukraine
March 10, 200817 yr Here are the countries I think will go through from each semi: Semi Final 1 * Armenia (easy qualification) * Azerbaijan (too ridiculous not to sail through surely?!?) * Bosnia & Herzegovina (good song + many neighbours=guaranteed qualification) * Greece (they always do well and as usual they have a great song) * Ireland (The Turkey's sure to get though) * Moldova (Awful song but I'm sure they'll pick up loads of points regardless) * Norway (If they don't get the public vote I think this song will get the sole jury vote of the semi) * Romania (I don't like it but many people will) * Russia (Dima + Timbaland + Neighbours =guaranteed qualification) * Slovenia (better song than last year and that qualified so why not?!?) Andorra will be this year's Kate Ryan, Selma... Semi Final 2: * Albania (Not sure about this one but I think it has a good chance of qualifying) * Belarus (Nowhere near as good as last year but I think it will go to the final) * Bulgaria (Great song, almost as good as Water, again I think it should scrape through) * Macedonia (It will go through and then finish 12th/13th in the final but what's new there?) * Latvia (Fun novelty pop, should sail through with ease) * Malta (Not sure if this will qualify, they've lost a lot of momentum in the last couple of years...might come 10th) * Sweden (How could the best country not qualify for the final!) * Switzerland (Hopefully pick up loads of televotes but if not the jury will put it through) * Turkey (Diaspora, not a bad song, easy qualification) * Ukraine (Yet another good song from Ukraine will ease them through) Iceland will be the fan favourite that fails here I should think...
March 10, 200817 yr Well they are practically going to be always guaranteed top 5 from now on...Dima was massive in 2006, Timbaland is massive worldwide...I might put my money on Russia or Bosnia-Herzegovina
March 10, 200817 yr Here's what I think will happen in the first semi... * Andorra - I reckon this might just sneak into the top nine, a douze from Spain should be on the cards too! * Armenia - Definate qualification. Amazing song, lots of neighbours, lots of immigrants etc. * Azerbaijan - I don't know about this... it probably will go through, but I'm not 100% tbh. Romania might get the "flambuoyant" vote. * Belgium - I reckon this will qualify. It's such a funny little song, and I think it might do alright! * Bosnia & Herzegovina - I see this flopping. :o Like much of the Balkan countries this year. Only Montenegro and Slovenia voting in this one too... * Estonia - Just $h!t. I can't see it getting the novelty vote. * Finland - Can't see this appealing to many. Might get the goth vote though which benefitted Lordi somewhat in 2006! * Greece - Will qualify due to it being Greece I suppose. Not their strongest song, but top nine for sure. * Ireland - Qualification for Ireland on the cards! * Israel - This will do well. Definate qualification I reckon and should do as well as Shiri Maymon tbh... * Moldova - A few points from Romania perhaps, nothing more. * Montenegro - Forgettable flop from the Montenegrins. * The Netherlands - Ok song, forgettable though and won't qualify. * Norway - This really needs to qualify. Will get the jury vote though should it somehow miss the top nine. * Poland - I quite like this song, though I can see it falling flat on its face in Belgrade tbh. * Romania - Qualification for sure... won't win the whole thing but will do well. * Russia - Definate qualification again. * San Marino - Who knows? I'm guessing not though purely on the basis that is has tough competition! * Slovenia - I think this will just miss out... I like the song, but the competition it faces will round off a poor night for the Balkan states.
March 10, 200817 yr I really can't see the Balkan states flopping. I think most of them will qualify regardless of song quality
March 10, 200817 yr I really can't see the Balkan states flopping. I think most of them will qualify regardless of song quality Well not nescessarily, as they don't have as many friends to help them out. That said, I can see Bosnia-Herzegovina getting through and possibly Croatia, since there aren't that many novelties in the second semi.
March 11, 200817 yr Author Russia are going to win it this year, Moscow 2009 here we come :cheer: :party: :cheer: :dance:
March 11, 200817 yr Russia are going to win it this year, Moscow 2009 here we come :cheer: keep the fingers crossed.... HELL YEAH!!! :w00t:
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