Join esctoday.com this evening as we follow the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 in Belgrade. With a song-by-song account of the evening, we'll be with you until the tense finish as the last ten safe places are read out.

The music strikes up, and we’re off on the way to finishing the qualifying rounds. The hall now looks much fuller than yesterday as the cameras make their initial sweeps across the crowds – a real improvement on Tuesday. And as we get closer to the final, it seems the staging gets grander too, as we are treated to an epic introduction to Serbian culture in song and dance.

The hosts are as calm and professional as ever, giving a faultless welcome to the thousands assembled before them.

Iceland

The crowd get into this one straight away, clapping along as soon as the music begins. It’s smiles and energy all around for three techno-infused minutes on stage. There are elements of a turbo-charged Fame (Sweden 2003) here, and the audience clearly love it. Fun, fun, fun and the pair are having a ball on stage; a fantastic performance, and a superb opening to the show.

Sweden

It’s blues, blacks and whites again for the beginning of the first huge favourite of the night. After a subdued start from Charlotte, she soon gets into it, belting it out with the power and confidence we expect from her. Things really pick up as she is joined by her support group, and powerful visuals and laser lighting look amazing on screen. Amazing cheers from the crowd.

Turkey

Giving a performance full of the dark intensity San Marino hinted at on Tuesday, the band turn in a professional, strong vocal performance. The pyros work really well as they work up into a big finish.

Ukraine

Just two songs on from the first big favourite, we have another. In a dress not dissimilar to Charlotte’s, Ani oozes sex appeal on screen. The wind machine is at full blast again, and the confidence and professionalism of the performance continue the comparison with Charlotte. However, the performance is much busier – lots is going on compared to the no-nonsense performance from Sweden. Still, a big finish and a big, big cheer.

Lithuania

A total change of mood next, with intense melodrama and a lone Jeronimas on stage with no gimmicks. He gives it his all, and gives the last, long note a lot of emotion. The audience are delighted by his cry of ‘hvala’ before he leaves the stage!

Albania

With a sensitivity and maturity in performance which gives lie to her young years, Olta sings strongly and movingly in an impressively gimmick-free, simple but beautiful entry. A slight shake of the hand is the only sign of the enormity of such a task for a 16-year-old; otherwise, she has everything to be proud of, and Albania can be happy at their representation. The stage is alive with greens, reds, blues and golds in what must be one of the most technicoloured contests of all time.

Switzerland

The anticipation in the hall is audible as Paolo takes to the stage during his postcard. And so begins an entry which many fans have been waiting for. Gone are the vocal worries that beset some of the rehearsals, as he launches into the song, note perfect. His face full of emotion, he sings the slow intro wonderfully before the crowd cheer him into the uptempo bars. The high notes are great; Paolo looks drunk on happiness both throughout and as he finishes. “Like a Swiss Michael Bublé”, is one verdict.

Czech Republic

The troupe look fantastic on stage in full bling dresses, and the flames set this off brilliantly. The vocal could be more consistent, though; at times Tereza seems slightly off key, although by the end of the song this had sorted itself out.

Belarus

Ruslan could almost be Dima’s younger brother in style, looks and performance; there is something very familiar in this performance! But it works very well, with the dark staging and blue lighting contrasting nicely with the majority of bright, colourful entries. A solid, dependable performance; perhaps Ruslan is saving his very best for the final, should he get through! But the audience are behind him, and he gets a big hand.

Latvia

The colour is back for a jolly ho-ho-ho of an entry. Pantomime hits Europe! And it actually works very well on screen. If Europe rides this on the back of the Pirates of the Caribbean craze, this could do very well. A telescope visual gimmick is slightly cheesy, but this is well in fitting with the entry. If anything, Latvia definitely stands out, screaming ‘remember us!’ tonight.

Croatia

It’s a slice of Eurovisions past with the crooning tones of Croatia. The pace considerably slows down after the high energy piracy of the last entry, and we wonder whether this robs Croatia of some of the power of its entry. But the audience disagree; by the end of the song, they are clapping along, and give the crew a great cheer.

Bulgaria

Almost immediately, the stage is full of energy again, and the lighting strobes eratically as the hall fills with electricity. The flaming record decks look fantastic on stage, although sadly the laser synth is lost in dark lighting. Overall a solid vocal, although Joanna seems to oversing it a little at the end, sounding slightly sharp. Expectedly, a big hand in the hall.

Denmark

Simon is dripping with laid back confidence on stage, and it works brilliantly with the style of the song. Turning in a good, strong vocal performance, the audience are joining in with the obligatory clapping along and foot-tapping that this entry demands. This is Denmark in traditional happy Eurovision mode, and it is very gratefully received by the hall!

Georgia

There is something in the music and staging of this entry that is reminiscent of Finland’s 2005 entry Why. A song with a message, movingly delivered. The costume change is seamless, almost like a conjuror’s trick, and Diana performs throughout strongly. Very well received in the hall.

Hungary

Hungary’s staging is the stuff of stock Eurovisions of old, and the traditional Euro-ballad is popular with the crowd, arms swaying in the air. Czesy is charming on stage, and sings beautifully.

Malta

As soon as the first frantic bars strike up, the audience are already working themselves up into a frenzy of flag waving for Morena. And she looks every inch the crazy, sexy rock chick on screen, getting right into it straight away. To this mix, she adds a great vocal, working the crowd expertly. She is jubilant at the final bar.

Cyprus

Note perfect in her introduction, the stage turns cabaret for three fantastically camp minutes. There is something of Minnelli about Evdokia tonight, and it comes across nicely on television. The camera angles capture the table-opening rose-blossoming moment wonderfully. Much clapping along from the audience, following by appreciative cries.

FYR Macedonia

Classy styling is the first thing that hits the viewer in a slick staging from FYR Macedonia. A competent, powerful vocal from a country which has never failed to pass through a Eurovision Song Contest semi-final. An impressive performance without over-reliance on props.

Portugal

The cheers which pepper the performance of this song throughout confirm the appreciation and fascination the Portuguese entry holds amongst fans. And Vania does not disappoint; in possibly the most emotive performance of both semi-finals, she sends shivers down the spine. A dramatic piece of musical theatre; for the first time, we get the feeling that the wind machine is actually used appropriately and symbolically as the song builds to its stunning climax. Portugal could not possibly have a better chance of qualifying for the first time.

And that’s it – the televoters now decide. And appropriately, it’s Lys Assia who we see next, the spiritual mother of the contest; perhaps one of the previous nineteen songs will follow her into the list of former winners.