| Eurovision Song Contest News - 2008 Belgrade, Serbia 

Stephane Cools

Became a real ESC fan in 1983, although I caught some of the previous editions, such as the 1977 edition - Comme un enfant - and the 1978 edition - Abanibi. I definitely regret that all songs are not performed in the countries' national languages anymore and was really happy that Serbia won with a song in Serbian. Thanks to those countries that still sing in their national languages! A lot of good songs from the former Yugoslavia area in the past few years in my opinion.

Most exciting ESC so far: 1998. The suspens was so intense and Dana International won it on Israel's 50th anniversary! I remember we thought she wouldn't make it when we heard her sing it live, and the voting process was nerve-wrecking to the very last minute! We couldn't help but open a bottle of champagne and celebrate!

Some of my uttermost favorites:

1983 : Ami Aspelund, Fantasiaa (Finland) / Ofra Haza, Hai (Israel)
1985 : Adelaide Ferreira, Penso em ti (Portugal)
1986: Doris Dragovic, Zeljo moja (Yugoslavia)
1990:Rita, Shara ba'r'hovot (Israel)
1991: Bebi Dol, Brazil (Yugoslavia) / Duo Datz, Kan (Israel) / Azucar Moreno, Bandido (Spain)
1992 : Extra Nena, Ljubim te pesmama (Yugoslavia) / Dafna Dekel, Ze rak sport (Israel)
1993 : Fazla, Sva bol svijeta (BiH)
1994: Youdiph, Vechnyi Strannik (Russia) / Cat cat, Bye bye Baby (Finland)
1995 : Anabel Conde, Vuelve conmigo (Spain)
1996 : Gina G, Ooh Aah Just a little bit (UK)
1997 : Tanja Ribic, Zbudi se (Slovenia)
1998 : Dana International, Diva (Israel)
1999: Doris Dragovic, Maria Magdalena (Croatia)
2001 : Antique, Die for you (Greece)/ Nusa Derenda, Ne ni res (Slovenia)
2002 : Sestre, Samo ljubezen (Slovenia)
2003 : Everyway that I can (Turkey) / Claudia Beni, Vise nisam tvoja (Croatia)
2004 : Lena Philipsson, Det gör ont (Sweden) / Lane moje (Serbia) / Marta Roure, Jugarem a estimar-nos (Andorra)
2005 : Shiri Maimon, Hasheket shenish'ar (Israel) / Ledina Celo, Neser shkoj (Albania) /Zauvijek moja (Serbia)
2006 : Hari Mata Hari, Lejla (BiH) / Sibel Tüzün, Superstar (TR)
2007 : Alenka Gotar, Cvet z Juga (Slovenia) / Evridiki, Comme-ci comme-ça (Cyprus) / Rijeka bez Imena (BiH)
2008 : My 12 points go to :

12 : Boaz Mauda, Ke'ilu kan (Israel)
10 : Rebeka Dremelj, Vrag naj vzame (Slovenia)
8 : Charlotte Nilsson-Perrelli, Hero (Sweden)
7 : Jelena Tomasevic, Oro (Serbia)
6 : Olta Boka, Zemren e lame peng (Albania)
5 : Ani Lorak, Shady Lady (Ukraine)
4 : ?? Ireland ??
3 : ?? Portugal ??
2 : ?? Russia ??
1 : ?? Iceland ??