Sasha Son

The results of both semifinals have now been released by the EBU. They make interesting reading. The jury overturned the telephone vote to save countries in each of the semifinals. Quite annoying if your country finished 10th in the phone vote.

In a contest which nobody could call close, Norway won the 54th Eurovision Song Contest in the Olympiyskiy Arena in Moscow. He scored a record 387 points, leaving him a long way in front of Iceland and Azerbaijan in second and third places respectively.

After Tuesday’s semifinal, this evening, we discovered who would fill the remaining places in the final on Saturday. Nineteen countries, including favourites Norway, competed for the ten available places. The hosts were Andrey Malakhov and Natalia Vodianova, who also hosted the first semifinal.

Today’s rehearsals were the last opportunity for individual rehearsals before attention turns to the first rehearsal of the first semifinal. The countries who automatically qualify for the final were on stage for the second consecutive day.

The tradition of Belarussian party continues, as it impresses with its lavishness.  A galaxy of Eurovision stars past and present, including Koldun, Polina Smolova, and Ruslan Alehno entertained thousands of delegates at a party that will be talked about for years to come.

Day 4 saw the remaining participants from the second semifinal rehearse for the first time, followed by the obligatory press conference. Slovenia were the early risers this morning, Dutch group, De Toppers brought the day to a close.

Last week, we at Eurovisionary gave our predictions for the first semifinal. Now we turn our attention to the second semifinal.

Having previously announced that the public televote will be combined by a jury vote, the EBU have now announced details of how this new system will work.

Last night, Ukraine chose its representative for the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. Fifteen songs fought it out and at the end of the night Be My Valentine by Svitlana Loboda was declared the winner.