| Eurovision Song Contest News - 2009 Moscow, Russia 

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 in 2007. Thanks to those countries that still sing in their national languages! A lot of good songs from the former Yugoslavian nations 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!

2009 favorite songs:
12: Urban Symphony, Randajad (Estonia)
10: Svetlana Loboda, Be my Valentine (Ukraine)
8: Akhino'am Nini & Mira Awad, Enayikh (Israel)
7: Anastasya Prokhidko, Mamo (Russia)
6 atricia Kaas, S'il fallait le faire (France)
5: Soraya, La noche es para mi (Spain)
4:Malena Ernman, La Voix (Sweden)
3:Alexander Rybak, Fairytale (Norway)
2: Flor-de-Lis, Todas as ruas do Amor (Portugal)
1: Kejsi Tola, Carry me in your dreams (Albania)

Some of my uttermost favorites (1983 - 2008):

1983 : Ami Aspelund, Fantasiaa (Finland) / Ofra Haza, Hai (Israel)
1985 : Adelaide Ferreira, Penso em ti (Portugal)
1986: Doris Dragovic, Zeljo moja (Yugoslavia)
1987 : Vicky Rosti, Sata Salamaa (Finland)
1988 : Yardena Arazi, Ben-Adam (Israel)
1989 : Da Vinci, Conquistador (Portugal)
1990:Rita, Shara ba'r'hovot (Israel)/ Azucar Moreno, Bandido (Spain)
1991: Bebi Dol, Brazil (Yugoslavia) / Duo Datz, Kan (Israel)
1992 : Extra Nena, Ljubim te pesmama (Yugoslavia) / Dafna Dekel, Ze rak sport (Israel)
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) / Jalisse, Fiumi di parole (Italy)
1998 : Dana International, Diva (Israel)
1999: Doris Dragovic, Maria Magdalena (Croatia)
2001 : Antique, Die for you (Greece)
2002 : Sestre, Samo ljubezen (Slovenia)
2003 : Everyway that I can (Turkey) / Claudia Beni, Vise nisam tvoja (Croatia)
2004 : Lena Philipsson, Det gor 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 : Sibel Tuzun, Superstar (TR)
2007 : Alenka Gotar, Cvet z Juga (Slovenia) / Evridiki, Comme-ci comme-ca (Cyprus) / Rijeka bez Imena (BiH)
2008 : Ani Lorak, S neba v nebo (Ukraine) /Rebeka Dremelj, Vrag naj vzame (Slovenia)/Boaz Mauda, Ke'ilu kan (Israel)