Week 20: A review of the last seven days

Counting from the first Bulgarian heat on 1st October, this was already the 20th week in the national final season for the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. Over the week, a series of live shows were held and we now know another six entries that will compete in Moscow.

Germany

On Monday, it was announced that the group Alex Swings Oscar Sings will represent Germany in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest with the song Miss kiss kiss bang. The entire entry, which mixes dance and swing music, leaked on the internet later in the week.

• You can read more here.
• You can listen to the entry here.

Hungary

For the second time already, the artist announced to represent Hungary in Moscow withdrew from the competition. As is was annonced on Tuesday, Kátya Tompos will not participate withher entry Magányos csónak.The jury will now once again gather to select a new song out of the 105 entries that were submitted.

• You can read more here.

Armenia

The first semi final that was held on Saturday was the Armenian one. 21 acts competed in the slightly arcane selection and the jury and the televotersdecidedto send the sisters Inga and Anush Arshakyan to Moscow with the song Nor par. The entry is performed in English and Armenian, just like the Armenian entries in 2007 and 2008.

• You can read more and listen to the song here.

Moldova

The Moldovan national final was the second one that started on Saturday. 20 acts competed and the two juries and the televoters agreed to send Nelly Ciobanuto Moscow with the song Hora din Moldova. If the lyrics are not changed, it will be the first Moldovan entryentirely performed inRomanian, the country's native language.

• You can find the live report here.
• You can read more and listen to the song here.

Norway

After three semi finals, the 'last chance' round was held in Norway. After two round with six duels, it was decided that Publiners and Espen Hana will get another chance in the national final next Saturday. The two entries that had been chosen as wildcards for the last chance show were both eliminated after the first round.

• You can find the live report here.
• You can find the complete results here.

Sweden

The second semi final was held in Sweden on Saturday. Another eight acts presented their songs and the televoters decided to send H.E.A.T. and Måns Zelmerlöw to the national final. Lili & Susie and Amy Diamond will get another chance to qualify during the second chance round.

• You can find the live report here.
• You can find the complete results here.

Lithuania

After three quarter finals and two semi finals, the Lithuanian selection for the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest came to a conclusion on Saturday. Regional televoting decided that Sasha Sonwill represent the country in Moscow with his own composition Pasiklydes zmogus.

• You can read more and listen to the song here.

Poland

Poland held its national final on Saturday. From the ten contestants, it was decided that Lidia Kopania will represent the country is Moscow. With her song I don't wanna leave, shewon the televote and finished second in the jury vote.

• You can find the live report here.
• You can find the complete results and listen to the song here.

Iceland

The eight qualifiers from the four Icelandic semi finals competed for the ticket to Moscow on Saturday. Eventually, the televoters decided that Jóhanna Guðrún Jónsdóttirwill represent the country in 2009 with her ballad Is it true?.

• You can find the live report here.
• You can find the complete results and listen to the song here.
• You can find an interview with the singer after the show here.

Spain

At 22:30 CET the first Spanish semi final was held. During the show, which lasted about four hours, it was decided that Melody y los Vivancos, La La Love You and Noelia Cano will take part in the national final. Gran Baobab will get another chance to qualify in the second chance round.

• You can find the live report here.
• You can find the complete results here.

Azerbaijan

While it was announced during the week that AySel will perform her song Always as a duet with composer Arash, a first snippet of the song appeared online on Sunday.

• You can read more and listen to the snippet here.

Slovakia

The country that will return after eleven years hold its first of five semi finals on Sunday. Only nine instead of ten acts competed and Andrea Zimányiová and Robo Šimko & Mass Riot qualified through the SMS voting while VIP, who finished last in the publisc vote, were saved by the jury.

• You can find the live report here.
• You can find the complete results here.

Week 21: A preview

The following live shows with voting will be held next week:

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The latest four songschosen for the Eurovision Song Contest:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72BYRKioEUQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_vCGk9Qw3A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HQyPs0ldpo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZdIa4cIcAQ