53rd Eurovision took place in Belgrade, Serbia, on May 24, 2008. For the first time two semifinals were intoduced. All the countries apart from
the host and the "Big Four" automatically qualify into the final. This year was very lucky for Russia. Europvision wasn't an exception.
Dima Bilan, who was chosen by the Russian public to represent Russia again 2 years after 2nd place behind "Lordi" rockers, finally won the Eurovision Song Contest and it meant that
Eurovision 2009 will taking place in Moscow. This was Bilan's second attempt on the show. But i believe it was the last one. because he told that will not be competing in such way anymore.
Ukraine finished second for the second time in a row, which slowly brought it to the "strength of Eurovision" list. Definitely,
part of such list should be Russia with 5 Top 3 finihses in the last 10 years and Greece with seven Top 10 and four Top 3 finishes.
This time Ukraine went in a different way and sent a sexy female singer ani Lorak who immediately became the favourite with the bookmakers few weeks prior to the contest.
Greece was represented by Kalomira, who looked and sounded fantastic. It was a well-deserving third place for such an amazing performance.
Sirusho who were representing Armenia (already becoming one of the most successful countries) came 4th with 199 points that could cost a win in 2002, for example.
The performing number - 5th - drew bad luck and sirusho managed to only be 4th that night.
And, finally, 5th place was taken by a beaituful Norwegian female artist Maria Haukaas Storeng with the song called "Hold On Be Strong" who was by the way attempting to represent Sweden the following year by participating in
Melodifestivalen but unfortunately she could not go over the Semifinal stage.
   
| 01. |  | Russia | Dima Bilan | Believe | 272 |
| 02. |  | Ukraine | Ani Lorak | Shady Lady | 230 |
| 03. |  | Greece | Kalomira | Secret Combination | 218 |
| 04. |  | Armenia | Sirusho | Qélé, Qélé | 199 |
| 05. |  | Norway | Maria Haukaas Storeng | Hold On Be Strong | 182 |
| 06. |  | Serbia | Jelena Tomašević | Oro | 160 |
| 07. |  | Turkey | Mor Ve Ötesi | Deli | 138 |
| 08. |  | Azerbaijan | Elnur And Samir | Day After Day | 132 |
| 09. |  | Israel | Boaz Ma'uda | The Fire In Your Eyes | 124 |
| 10. |  | Bosnia & Herzegovina | Laka | Pokušaj | 110 |
| 11. |  | Georgia | Diana Gurtskaya | Peace Will Come | 83 |
| 12. |  | Latvia | Pirates Of The Sea | Wolves of the Sea | 83 |
| 13. |  | Portugal | Vânia Fernandes | Senhora do mar (Negras Águas) | 69 |
| 14. |  | Iceland | Euroband | This Is My Life | 64 |
| 15. |  | Denmark | Simon Mathew | All Night Long | 60 |
| 16. |  | Spain | Rodolfo Chikilicuatre | Baila el Chiki-chiki | 55 |
| 17. |  | Albania | Olta Boka | Zëmren E Lamë Peng | 55 |
| 18. |  | Sweden | Charlotte Perrelli | Hero | 47 |
| 19. |  | France | Sébastien Tellier | Divine | 47 |
| 20. |  | Romania | Nico and Vlad | Pe-o margine de lume | 45 |
| 21. |  | Croatia | Kraljevi Ulice and 75 cents | Romanca | 44 |
| 22. |  | Finland | Teräsbetoni | Missä miehet ratsastaa | 35 |
| 23. |  | Germany | No Angels | Disappear | 14 |
| 24. |  | Poland | Isis Gee | For Life | 14 |
| 25. |  | United Kingdom | Andy Abraham | Even If | 14 |
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