After an exciting first semi-final with 10 excited winners and 9 disappointed faces, it's now time for the second semi-final for the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest which will take place tomorrow CET 21:00! Eurovision.tv gives you an update about the 19 hopefuls which also hope to reach the grand final on Saturday.
This afternoon, the first dress rehearsal for the second semi-final of the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest will take place in the Belgrade Arena. It will be followed by two more, one tonight and one tomorrow afternoon before it gets serious in the gigantic arena tomorrow night! The second semi-final has been characterized by most fans and media as harder to predict than the first one even if some countries have been named as favourites more than others.

The biggest media-campaign in the second semi-final was organised by the Ukrainian team. Ani Lorak was the big star of the Ukrainian party some days ago and the delegation spared no costs so far! Last year's Ukrainian entry, Verka Serduchka, was flown in to perform here in Belgrade and to support Ani Lorak's song Shady Lady which is already topping the Ukrainian charts as this very moment.

Another highly popular entry is Charlotte Perrelli's Hero. Having won the 1999 Eurovision Song Contest, the Swedes are determined to win it again this year with their extremely catchy song which fills every dancefloor here in Belgrade at the moment. Charlotte Perrelli is at the height of her popularity at the moment in her native country with both her single and her recently released album having received a golden disc some weeks ago.

Swiss Latin lover Paolo Meneguzzi - who is a household name in Italy - is hoping to break through into other European markets with a good performance and placing in the second semi-final tomorrow night. His Era Stupendo has been named as favourite by several European fan-clubs who hope that a song in Italian will pass to the final.

The biggest outsider in the second semi-final tomorrow is probably the Portuguese song Senhora Do Mar (Negras �guas) by the incredibly talented Vânia Fernandes will guarantee Portugal's first qualification for the Eurovision Song Contest final since 2003. The song was composed by veteran Andrej Babi� who is the first composer ever in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest to have entered songs for four different countries: Croatia in 2003, Bosnia & Herzegovina in 2005, Slovenia in 2007 and now Portugal in 2008!

ok, eurosong became a visual show. Music is no more of some value... last night, i saw bosnian theatric show, russian show-off with world's top ice skater and hungarian violinst with stradivarius, and singer was sooo of tone...
Finland was so-so (buzz's quote: Bring LOrdi back!), Israel was damn good (is it me, or that guy sang with Sting in Desert Rose?) and Netherlands had a fine summer hit, but they went home. Poland's wannabe Celine Dion was awesome (she write and produce her songs!!), and Ireland...
Genious!!!
I can't wait to see again Verka Serdyuchka, 'cause he's with Ukraine as sidekick this year...
That's it for now...
Serbia has another ethno-oh-the-moonlight-oh-devastation song... Like every year...

damn... i forgot to mention that angel-devil brother WHOA show from Azerbaijan...
Romania was cool, they had some opera tune...

Yes...I have to admit I was a little scared when that first angel clad guy started singing. His voice was so high I though he was going to hurt himself!

I get drawn into watching this thing every year...why, I'll never know!

tonight is second semi-final. i hope that i'll hear some music... at least verka serdyuchka is here!!

As an Irishman, I am extremely happy that Dustin the Turkey was booted out before the main event. Eurovision has its problems but if we aren't going to take it seriously we might as well just withdraw. This year's entry was a disgrace. I wouldn't even call it a song.

Hopefully next year we will get back to focusing on music instead of gimmicks.

Yeah that was a wee bit strange Fra! But, last night we just had the finals for American Idol here and I can honestly say that it was the dumbest, most boring, poorly produced show I've ever seen in my life. And I actually kind of like the show in general. At least Eurovision is fun to wathc. Maybe the music isn't exactly stellar, but it doesn't suck and it's presented in an entertaining albeit over the top way. I don't know...what can I say? I'm fascinated by it!

And, Wow! The guy from Lithunia sure was dramatic. Off key but dramatic!