Azerbaijan at Eurovision Song Contest 2010
Eurovision Song Contest 2010
"Eurovision 2010" redirects here. For other uses, see Eurovision 2010.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2010 will be the 55th Eurovision Song Contest. The contest will take place at the Telenor Arena, in the municipality suburb of Bærum, Akershus county, which is situated in the western part of the Greater Oslo area in Norway. This follows Alexander Rybak's win at the 2009 Contest with "Fairytale". It will be the third time Norway has hosted the contest, having previously done so in 1986 and 1996. The semi-finals will take place on 25 and 27 May 2010, with the final on 29 May 2010. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has announced that the voting system used in the semi-finals will change from previous years to balance jury voting with televoting, while the return of the orchestra is also being proposed. 39 countries will take part in the contest, with Georgia returning to the contest, with Andorra, the Czech Republic,Hungary, and Montenegro withdrawing. Lithuania originally announced their withdrawal from the competition, but was later among the 39 participants confirmed by the EBU.
Venue
150 million Norwegian kroner (€17 million) was originally the venue budget agreed upon by Trond Giske and Hans-Tore Bjerkaas, respectively the Norwegian Minister for Culture and the head of Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK). This represents a larger budget than that allotted in the 2007 Contest in Helsinki, but is not as much as the budget in Moscow for 2009.The revised estimated cost for the concert now stands at 211 million kroner (€24 million).
At a press conference in Oslo on 27 May 2009, it was announced that the show will be held in the Oslo metropolitan area. NRK argued that Oslo was the only city with the required capacity, venues, and infrastructure to hold the show. On 3 July 2009, it was decided that the venue will be the newly constructed Telenor Arena, in the municipality of Bærum neighbouring Oslo. The Oslo Spektrum was ruled out to host the contest due to its smaller size and capacity.
Visual design
NRK announced the theme art, slogan and design for the Contest on 4 December 2009, during the Host City Insignia Exchange between the Mayors of Moscow, Oslo and Bærum, marking the official kick-off of the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 season. The theme art, a series of intersecting circles, was selected to "represent gathering people and the diversity of emotions surrounding the Eurovision Song Contest." In addition to the base colour of white, the logo was created in black, gold, and pink.
Presenters
There was discussion within the Norwegian media on possible presenters for the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest. Existing NRK hosts Jon Almaas and Fredrik Skavlan of Nytt på nytt and Først & sist, respectively, were amongst the ones being discussed, while the popular TV 2 duo Thomas Numme and Harald Rønneberg came in first during a voting-campaign that Dagbladet had posted on its website where readers could vote on the celebrity they wanted to present the contest. The well known TV 2 presenter Dorthe Skappel had expressed interest in presenting the contest ceremony, and came second on Dagbladet's poll.
NRK announced the hosts of the contest on 10 March 2010. Those chosen were Erik Solbakken, Haddy Jatou N'jie, and Nadia Hasnaoui. Solbakken and N'jie will open the three shows, introduce the artists, and report from the green room during the voting, with Hasnaoui presenting the voting section and scoreboard announcements. This will be the second time that more than two hosts will present the shows, after the 1999 Contest.
Format
Voting
See also: Voting at the Eurovision Song Contest
On 11 October 2009 the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced that the format of the semi-finals will be changed so that the results will be determined by a combination of 50% national jury and 50% televoting, making it more consistent with the final. Each country's votes will be determined by combining the jury votes and the televoting results; the countries with the top ten highest points in each semi-final will qualify to participate in the final of the contest. This replaces the semi-final format used in the 2008 and 2009 contests in which the countries with the top nine highest points from the televoting results in each semi-final qualified for the final. The tenth semi-final place was then given to the country with the highest number of points from the jury's votes which had not already qualified for the final from the televoting results. On 26 October 2009 the EBU announced that the voting would be open throughout the competition and would conclude 15 minutes after the end of the very last song.
Possible return of the orchestra
A number of fans began a campaign on social networking site Facebook to return the orchestra to the Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo, for the first time since 1998, with close to 5,000 people joining. The orchestra, used from the first contest in 1956, was dropped after the 1998 Contest due to rapid developments in music technology, which made backing tracks more useful. The debate on whether to return the orchestra to the contest has occurred since, with no such change planned by the EBU. Jan Fredrik Heyerdahl of the Norwegian Radio Orchestra has said that they would be interested in participating in the 2010 contest, given that the EBU and NRK agree.
Interval
During the interval act, pre-recorded flashmobs from all across Europe will be displayed on-screen. Peter Svaar, Head of Press for the contest on behalf of broadcaster NRK, said: "We want to share the Eurovision Song Contest, rather than just broadcast it."
Pot allocations
On Sunday 7 February 2010, the draw to decide which countries will appear in either the first or second semi-final took place. Participating countries were separated into five pots as determined by voting patterns in previous contests. A draw then took place from the five pots to determine which countries will participate in the first semi-final or second semi-final, as well as which half of the draw they will perform in, in order for delegations to know when rehearsals will begin for their respective countries. The draw also determined which semi-final the "Big Four" countries (France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom) and the host country, Norway, would have voting rights in. The draw for the running order of the semi-finals, finals, and the order of voting, took place on 23 March 2010.
Pot 1 Albania
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Croatia
Macedonia
Serbia
Slovenia
Switzerland
Pot 2
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
Iceland
Latvia
Lithuania
Sweden
Pot 3
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Georgia
Israel
Moldova
Russia
Ukraine
Pot 4
Armenia
Belgium
Cyprus
Greece
Malta
Netherlands
Turkey
Pot 5
Bulgaria
Ireland
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Participating countries
A total of 39 countries have confirmed their participation for the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest, including Georgia, which returned to the contest after its withdrawal in 2009 when its entry, "We Don't Wanna Put In", was disallowed owing to political references which violated contest rules.
The EBU announced that they would work harder to bring back Austria, Italy, and Monaco to the 2010 Contest. In September 2009 the EBU's director Bjørn Erichsen stated during an EBU press conference that "Austria will be back", and that the EBU "has reasons to believe that Luxembourg and Monaco" will also participate and that "now we are only missing Italy".In late October 2009, the 2010 Contest project manager Ola Sand has stated that "countries such as Monaco and Luxembourg have indicated that they wish to participate in next year's competition in Norway".However, the representatives of broadcasters of Austria, Monaco and Luxembourg denied participation in the 2010 contest. Wolfgang Lorenz, the programme director of the Austrian broadcaster Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF), informed Austria will not take part in the competition stating that the contest has been "ruined by the regulations".Télé Monte Carlo (TMC) has also declared that Monaco will not be returning to the Eurovision Song Contest for the 2010 Edition, mainly due to a lack of finances to send a Monegasque entry.The RTL Group had announced that they were having serious discussions regarding a possible comeback for Luxembourg in the contest for the first time since 1993, but later confirmed that the country will not be present for the 2010 Contest either. San Marino also considered returning to the competition in 2010. However after deliberations with Italian artists, including Italian sister duo Paola & Chiara, Sammarinnese broadcaster Radiotelevisione della Repubblica di San Marino (SMRTV) was informed to withhold returning after failing to receive funding from the Sammarinnese parliament or sponsors.
EBU had talks to Liechtenstein's only broadcaster 1FLTV (1 Fürstentum Liechtenstein Television) for them to join the EBU, and become a part of the Eurovision Song Contest. 1FLTV's programme director Peter Kolbel had confirmed interest in Liechtenstein's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest as soon as full EBU membership is granted, which may have happened in December 2009. Thus they were getting ready to debut in 2010, considering a national final concept similar to the German version of the Idol series – Deutschland sucht den Superstar (DSDS). In November 1FLTV decided against applying for EBU membership in December for financial reasons, ruling out a debut in at the 2010 contest. The broadcaster will now look at other options for funding EBU membership in the future.
From July to December 2009, five countries who participated in the 2009 contest announced that they will withdraw, and not take part in the 2010 contest. The Czech Republic declared that it will withdraw due to a lack of interest from Czech viewers after three successive semi-final failures since their debut in 2007.
Andorra's broadcaster Ràdio i Televisió d'Andorra (RTVA) announced a 10% reduction in its spending budget for 2010. RTVA had submitted a preliminary application to take part in the contest.However, being unable to secure extra funds by 11 December 2009, they have decided to withdraw from the 2010 Contest. After their withdrawal many former Andorran Eurovision Song Contest contestants expressed their "disappointment" in RTVA's decision to withdraw, and the lack of publicity the country will now receive by not being contestants in the contest.Hungary will withdraw from the 2010 Contest, due to financial difficulties of the national broadcaster Magyar Televízió (MTV). Montenegro and the Montenegrin broadcaster Radiotelevizija Crne Gore (RTCG) will also withdraw due to financial problems, in a way to reach financial consolidation after three years as an independent state.
Lithuania's broadcaster Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) initially announced their formal withdrawal from the contest after failing to achieve the necessary funds of 300,000 litas (€90,000) for participation. It was later confirmed by the EBU that Lithuania would indeed participate in Oslo. Funding was eventually given by Lithuanian company Teo LT, which allowed Lithuania to participate in the contest.
Countries in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010
Albania · Armenia · Azerbaijan · Belarus · Belgium · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Georgia · Germany · Greece · Iceland · Ireland · Israel · Latvia · Lithuania · Macedonia · Malta · Moldova · Netherlands · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Russia · Serbia · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden · Switzerland · Turkey · Ukraine · United Kingdom
Results
Semi-finals
Thirty-four countries will participate in the semi-finals of the contest. The semi-final allocation draw took place on 7 February 2010, while the draw for the running order was held on 23 March 2010.
Semi-final 1
The first semi-final will take place in Oslo on 25 May 2010.
The ten countries in this semi-final with the highest scoring points, according to a combination of televotes and jury votes from each voting country, will qualify for the final.
FranceGermany and Spain will vote in this semi-final.
Draw Country Language Artist Song English translation
01 Moldova English SunStroke Project and
Olia Tira "Run Away" —
02 Russia English Peter Nalitch Band "Lost and Forgotten" —
03 Estonia English Malcolm Lincoln and
Manpower 4 "Siren" —
04 Slovakia Slovak Kristina "Horehronie" Horehronie
05 Finland Finnish Kuunkuiskaajat "Työlki ellää" One can work for a living, too
06 Latvia English Aisha "What For?" —
07 Serbia Serbian Milan Stanković "Ovo je Balkan"
(Oво je Балкан) This is the Balkan
08 Bosnia and Herzegovina English Vukašin Brajić "Thunder and Lightning" —
09 Poland English, Polish Marcin Mroziński "Legenda" The legend
10 Belgium English Tom Dice "Me and My Guitar" —
11 Malta English Thea Garrett "My Dream" —
12 Albania English Juliana Pasha "It's All About You" —
13 Greece Greek Giorgos Alkaios and
Friends "OPA" (ΟΠΑ) OPA
14 Portugal Portuguese Filipa Azevedo "Há dias assim" It's one of those days
15 Macedonia Macedonian Gjoko Taneski "Jas ja imam silata"
(Јас ја имам силата) I have the strength
16 Belarus English 3+2 "Butterflies" —
17 Iceland English, French Hera Björk "Je ne sais quoi" I don't know what
Semi-final 2
The second semi-final will take place in Oslo on 27 May 2010.
The ten countries in this semi-final with the highest scoring points, according to a combination of televotes and jury votes from each voting country, will qualify for the final.
Norway and the United Kingdom will vote in this semi-final.
Draw Country Language Artist Song English translation
01 Lithuania English InCulto "East European Funk" —
02 Armenia English Eva Rivas "Apricot Stone" —
03 Israel Hebrew Harel Skaat "Milim" (מילים) Words
04 Denmark English Chanée and N'evergreen "In a Moment Like This" —
05 Switzerland French Michael von der Heide "Il pleut de l'or" It's raining gold
06 Sweden English Anna Bergendahl "This Is My Life" —
07 Azerbaijan English Safura Alizadeh "Drip Drop" —
08 Ukraine English Alyosha "Sweet People" —
09 Netherlands Dutch Sieneke "Ik ben verliefd (Sha-la-lie)" I'm in love (Sha-la-lie)
10 Romania English Paula Seling and Ovi "Playing with Fire" —
11 Slovenia Slovene Ansambel Roka Žlindre
and Kalamari "Narodnozabavni rock" Folk rock
12 Ireland English Niamh Kavanagh "It's for You" —
13 Bulgaria Bulgarian Miro "Angel si ti" (Ангел си ти) You're an angel
14 Cyprus English Jon Lilygreen and
The Islanders "Life Looks Better in Spring" —
15 Croatia Croatian Feminnem "Lako je sve" Everything is easy
16 Georgia English Sopho Nizharadze "Shine" —
17 Turkey English maNga "We Could Be the Same" —
Final
The final is scheduled to take place on 29 May 2010 in Telenor Arena, Bærum, Akershus, Greater Oslo, Norway.
'The Big Four' and the host country, Norway, are directly qualified to the final.
From the two semi-finals on 25 and 27 May 2010, twenty countries will qualify to the final. A total of twenty-five countries will compete in the final.
The voting system used will be the same as the 2009 Contest, with a combination of televotes and jury votes.
Draw Country Language Artist Song English translation
01
02 Spain Spanish Daniel Diges "Algo pequeñito" Something tiny
03 Norway English Didrik Solli-Tangen "My Heart Is Yours" —
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12 United Kingdom English Josh Dubovie "That Sounds Good to Me" —
13
14
15
16
17
18 France French Jessy Matador "Allez Ola Olé" Come on! Ola! Olé!
19
20
21
22 Germany English Lena Meyer-Landrut "Satellite" —
23
24
25
Voting during the final
Countries will reveal their votes in the following order:
Romania
Ireland
Germany
Serbia
Albania
Turkey
Croatia
Poland
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Finland
Slovenia
Estonia
Russia Portugal
Azerbaijan
Greece
Iceland
Denmark
France
Spain
Slovakia
Bulgaria
Ukraine
Latvia
Malta
Norway
Cyprus
Lithuania
Belarus
Switzerland
Belgium
United Kingdom
Netherlands
Israel
Macedonia
Moldova
Georgia
Sweden
Armenia
