Eurovision 2008 - Serbia

Oro
Jelena Tomašević

Music: Željko Joksimović
Lyrics: Dejan Ivanović


History (1956 to 2007):

Serbia's previous appearances: 1 year(s) out of 52
Years participated: 2007-
Best result: 1st (2007)

2007 might mark Serbia's first Eurovision appearance as an independent nation, but the country has a long history of participation - first, with Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Montenegro, as part of Yugoslavia (27 entries between 1961 and 1992), and more recently (2004 and 2005) under the flag of Serbia & Montenegro. Indeed, in terms of their Eurovision selection processes, independence has made little difference to either Montenegro or Serbia; broadcasters RTCG and RTS will still hold their Montevizija and Beovizija festivals respectively, but with the winner in each country now guaranteed a place in Helsinki rather than having to brave a combined - and usually controversial - Serbia & Montenegro final, Evropesma.

Serbia & Montenegro's Eurovision presence might have been shortlived, but it was certainly successful, being the only country other than Greece to manage top ten placings in both 2004 and 2005. In 2004, Željko Joksimović performed 'Lane moje', winning the Semi Final, but having to be content with the runner up's position in the Final.

2005 brought further success, with Montenegrin boyband No Name and 'Zauvijek moja' mustering 137 points, including three 12s, and a very respectable 7th place. However, the flaws in the Evropesma voting process were already beginning to show, with Montenegrin judges accused of favouring their own act at the expense of Serbia's Jelena Tomaševic. A year later, these rumblings came to a head at Serbia & Montenegro's 2006 Evropesma, held on 11 March. Technically, the competition - and a place in the Eurovision Final in Athens - was once again won by Montenegro's 'No Name', singing 'Moja ljubavi'. However, while the Montenegrin jurors gave no points at all to the Serbian acts, the Serbian jurors awarded just enough points to the Montenegrin acts to inadvertently scupper the chances of the Serbian favourites, Flamingosi. No Name's victory was therefore not recognised by Serbian broadcaster RTS, while Montenegro's RTCG refused to budge - No Name, it could be argued, won on the basis of the voting system that was set out, even if that system was inherently flawed and open to abuse. Sadly, with the two nations unable to agree on a winner, Serbia & Montenegro had no option but to withdraw from the 2006 Contest. Shortly afterwards, Montenegro's vote for independence ensured that there would never be another Serbia & Montenegro entry at Eurovision; however, we will never know to what extent the Eurovision furore contributed, as some have claimed, to Montenegro's narrow decision to go it alone. Nevertheless, despite their strained Eurovision history, it would be foolish to bet against Montenegro and Serbia exchanging 12 points with each other in the 2007 Semi Final.

In 2007 Serbia won the Eurovision Song Contest, with the song ,,Molitva".


This year's entry:





My opinion & prediction:

Can Serbia do it again? Serbia is sending a ballad as nice as ,,Molitva” last year, and its composed by the 2004 Serbia & Montenegro representer who is also the presenter of the 2008 Contest.

My prediction for the Semi Final: N/A
My prediction for the Final: 2nd to 6th, possible winner