Belarus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008

Eurovision Song Contest 2008
Country	Belarus
National selection
Selection process	Eurofest 2008
Selection date(s)	Semi-final 21 December 2007 Final 21 January 2008
Selected entrant	Ruslan Alekhno
Selected song	"Hasta La Vista"
Finals performance
Semi-final result	Failed to qualify (17th)
Belarus in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2007 • 2008 • 2009►

Belarus chose their entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 through a public selection, organized by BTRC, that took part in two phases. The competition "Eurofest" consists of a semifinal round on 21 December 2007, and a final a month later on 21 January 2008. The first phase of the selection was the semifinal round in which 15 singers showcased their abilities as performers to the viewers and a professional jury. The televote winner, Ruslan Alehno, was secured a place in the final, while the jury selected the bands Litesound and Po Glazam, and singer Gunesh Abasova.^[1] These four competitors had the choice to proceed with the song they performed in the semifinal or choose a different song. In the final round, the decision fell in the hands of the jury who also tooke into consideration the televoting results when they choose the winner. Ruslan Alekhno won with the song Hasta la vista.

National final

Semi-final

The semifinal of Eurofest took place at the BTRC television studios. The professional jury consisted of Mikhail Finberg, Anatoliy Yarmolenko, Vasily Rainchik, Yadviga Poplavskaya, Irina Dorofeeva, and others.^[2] After the conclusion of the fifteen songs, viewers were able to televote for their favorites free of charge. Originally, two or three performers are chosen, however the jury decided to include three artists in addition to the televote winner creating a total of four.

Final

Artists competing in the final still have the choice to change their songs.

At Eurovision

Belarus took part in the second semi-final on 22 May 2008, but failed to qualify to the final.

Points Awarded by Belarus^[3]

Semi final 12 points  Ukraine 10 points  Georgia 8 points  Portugal 7 points  Croatia 6 points  Latvia 5 points  Albania 4 points  Denmark 3 points  Turkey 2 points  Bulgaria 1 point  Iceland

Final 12 points  Russia 10 points  Ukraine 8 points  Azerbaijan 7 points  Armenia 6 points  Georgia 5 points  Norway 4 points  Israel 3 points  Turkey 2 points  Greece 1 point  Serbia

Spokespersons

For the 2008 contest the spokesperson for the Belarus broadcast was Olga Barabanschikova.^[4]

References

See also

• Belarus in the Eurovision Song Contest

Belarus in the Eurovision Song Contest
Participation 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Artists 2000s Aleksandra and Konstantin Angelica Agurbash Polina Smolova Dmitry Koldun Ruslan Alekhno Petr Elfimov 2010s 3+2 Anastasia Vinnikova Litesound Alyona Lanskaya Teo Uzari & Maimuna Ivan
Songs 2000s "My Galileo" "Love Me Tonight" "Mum" "Work Your Magic" "Hasta La Vista" "Eyes That Never Lie" 2010s "Butterflies" "I Love Belarus" "We Are the Heroes" "Solayoh" "Cheesecake" "Time" "Help You Fly"
(Note: Entries scored out are when Belarus did not compete)