EU-DIGEST

Eurovision Song Contest Serbia 2008 - Tonight: Bosnia & Herzegovina's song presentation

Tonight in a special BH Eurosong 2008 TV show programme in which the public will hear Elvir Lakovic Laka's song Pokusaj (Try It) for the first time. Laka will represent Bosnia-Herzegovina at the 53rd Eurovisin Song Contest in Belgrade on 20th May 2008 in the first semi final. After he spent seven days in Zagreb, recording the final version of the song Pokusaj in the studio owned by one of the most popular and most productive rock producers, Denis Mujadzic - Denyken, on 16th February Laka had a mini-concert in Profil Megastore in Zagreb, within the promotion of his first album Zec, published by Menart productions in Croatia.

Some 120 million television viewers across Europe tuned in to watch last year's winner, 23-year-old Marija Serifovic from Serbia, take home the crown with "Molitva", a love song about the uncertainties between God and man.

In May, the eyes of Europe will be focused on Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, for the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest. A record of 43 countries take part in the 53rd running. Schedule - First Semi-Final: Tuesday, 20th of May; Second Semi-Final:
Thursday, 22nd of May; and the Final: Saturday, 24th of May

Labels: Bosnia and Herzegovina, EU, Euro Song Festival, Eurovision, Serbia

Eurovision Song Contest Serbia 2008 - parties in The Netherlands and Belgium

On Friday, February 29 a Eurovision party will be held in Utrecht, the Netherlands. The party will be organized by www.songfestival.web-log.nl, OGAE Netherlands, www.12points.tv and songfestivalcafé. It's the perfect chance for fans to meet up and dance all night long to old and new Eurovision hits. Besides that, Bea Records will be present as well. Bea Records can be considered as the world's biggest on-line shop for Eurovision music.

The Dutch party will be held in De Grote Catacomben, Oudegracht 219, Utrecht. Doors open at 21.00 hrs and admission is free until 23.00 hrs. After 23.00 hrs the admission price will be € 3,00. For further information you can send an email to ogaenl@live.nl

Labels: EU, Eurovision, Serbia

Serbia - Eurovision Song Contest a sign of things to come: "New Europe and Asia grow, Britain losing influence" - by Stephen King

"What about Britain's influence in the continent's affairs? For an approximate answer, you have my daughter, Helena, to thank; or, more precisely, her geography teacher, a Mr Harris. He was the one who suggested Helena and her classmates conduct an analysis of voting patterns in last week's Eurovision Song Contest. Mr Harris clearly believed the voting would be biased, reflecting the jingoistic tendencies in individual countries. In reality the Serbs were helped out by other countries whose populations appear to have fond and long-lasting memories of the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires.

Nevertheless, the voting patterns show how Europe's political map has been redrawn since the fall of the Berlin Wall. This has all sorts of implications but, from Britain's point of view, the most obvious is a gradual loss of influence elsewhere in the world.

The world is changing. Eurovision is just one sign of things to come." Stephen King is managing director of economics at HSBC

Labels: Economy, Eurovision, Political

Serbia With "Prayer" Wins Eurovision 2007 Song Festival

Europe voted in Eurovision 2007 festival and gave the winning vote to Serbia. Serbian singer Marija Serifovic performed the song "Prayer" which became favorite of the European voters. Top 5 of Eurovision 2007 are shared between Serbia, Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and Bulgaria. The Fins organized the contest in a highly organized, friendly and spectacular way. Twenty four contestant countries, mostly from Eastern Europe competed for the vote of European music lovers.

France voted in an interesting fashion, giving 10 points to Armenia and 12 to Turkey. Last year Turkey gave high point to neighboring Armenia. Two countries do not even have diplomatic relationship. This year, Turkey again amazed everyone by giving the highest 12 points to neighbor Armenia. Armenia gave no votes to Turkey.

Note EU-Digest: More than 100 million people watched one of the world's largest music events, a state-funded potpourri of ethnic rhythms and bubble-gum pop that is the Eurovision Song Contest. Contestants from 42 countries travelled to the Finnish capital to compete in the flagship of the European Broadcasting Union's light entertainment programming on Saturday night. To host the event Helsinki pulled out all the plugs and was transformed for this year's event with giant outdoor screens erected for fans not lucky or rich enough to secure a ticket to the final at the Hartwall Arena.

Labels: Eurovision, Serbia

Eastern European countries among surprise winners in Eurovision Song Contest semifinals

At the semifinals of the Eurovision Song Contest, which were held on Thursday night at the Helsinki Arena, ten countries were chosen from a total of 28 to move on to the finals on Saturday. The new finalists are Bulgaria, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Serbia, FYR Macedonia, Hungary, Slovenia, Turkey, and Latvia. They will join 14 other countries that already have a place in the finals.

Unexpectedly large numbers of votes went to Macedonia, Moldova, Hungary, and Bulgaria.

Belarus and Serbia, which had been favourites in a poll taken at the contest’s media centre, went into the finals also. Representing Belarus is Dimitri Koldun, the winner of the Russian Idols talent search television programme, with the song Work Your Magic. Serbia’s entry was Molitva, a touching ballad by Marija Serifovic. Another advance favourite to get into the finals was the fast-paced Shake it up Shekerim by Turkey’s Kenan Dogulu. The main event will be on Saturday evening from Helsinki in Finland. Consult your local TV guides on the time when the show will be broadcast in your area.

Labels: Dimitri Koldun, Eurovision, Kenan Dogulu, Marija Serifovic

Eurovision Betting Odds 2007: Moldova, Montenegro & Netherlands - Stuart Heritage

It might just be us, but this year's Eurovision Song Contest could just be the most violent in history. There's a song about starting a nuclear war, a song called Leave Me Alone, no end of songs about dying, and now Fight by Natalia Barbu. And Natalia Barbu doesn't even look like the fighty type - the only fight she should be having is with the cosmetic surgeon who pumped her lips so full of collagen that she can barely open her mouth. But Natalia Barbu doesn't want us to fight each other, oh no: "Fighting anywhere we go/ To face this cruel world/ We gotta just fight forever" she sings, not realising that a song about everyone bundling a planet is about as likely to win Eurovision as, well, Scooch. Current Eurovision betting odds - 50/1

Labels: Eurovision