The semi final of Eurofest, the Belarussian selection for the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest, is about to take place. You can watch the webcast by following one of the links below.

WEBCAST 1(steady)

WEBCAST 2(erratic, but working)

This article will be constantly updated.

The show has started!

After the opening performance, the jury (consisting of five men and two women) is introduced.

1. The Champions – Drive me crazy

Musically and visually, 50 Cent and Emininem seem to be the duo's idols. It's an American rap song which is well performed, but there is an obvious lack of recognition value since the overall performance seems to be mainly an imitation of American rap artists.

2. Lena Voloshina – That's all I feel

That's all I feel sounds like a Spice Girls song that has been mixed with some hip-hop. The performance is simple but effective and works wellwith song although Lena's black trouser suit is not a real eye catcher. A nice entry, but probably not one of the favourites.The vocals were ok, but could be improved in some parts.

3. Yuliya Guseva– Maybe

Number three is a rock ballad and musically pretty interesting. The rock star performance is simple but also works very well with the song. The vocals are very good actually but because of therough English pronounciation theysound worse than they are.

4. Anya Sharkunova& German Titov – My budem pervye

The singers are wrapped in a huge red band (well, it worked for Turkey in 2003, didn't it?) but are untied towards the end by the two bakground dancers who are dressed like Koldun's in Helsinki. The show lack a surprise element. The song is nice ballad but probably not special enough for the Eurovision Song Contest.

5. Ruslan Alehno – Hasta la vista

Up-tempo pop rock. The stage showis very static and features only the singer standing on stage, barely moving. There are no dancers and no backgroundsingers which is very surprising for a song of the genre. The hooklineisprobably too chumming up, especially since we already has Hasta la vista, baby for Ukraine in 2003.

6. Oksana Kovalevskaya – Vsegda odna

The first song in Belarussian tonight (out of three only). The singer looks a lot like Ruslana but there are no wild dances on stage, which probably would not fit well with the laid-back ballad. The song is pretty interesting but probably not catchy enough for Belgrade.

7. PinCode – You can

A very catchy and slightly camp up-tempo song. Again the vocals appear to be worse than they are because of the English pronounciation. The choreography is complex and entertainig but could need some more colourful clothing.

8. Victor Pshenichniy – Baby Blue

We don't know if the baby is blue because it's suffocating or because it's sad, both would not be very nice. The The song is a catchy up-tempo tune and the performance complex, although the meaning of him taking of his jacket and the background singers dressed as Marie Antoinettes is not clear.

9. Gunesh – I can't live without you

Gunesh is dressed in black and red like the devil herself and has brought her hell on stage (illustrated by the flames!). She sings in a very aggressive way but that fits well with the rock song. Strong vocals.

10.Skandal – Everybody

We stay in hell when the 10th song is performed. The devil disappears quickly and the band stays on stage, dressed in classic white. The song is ok, but rather forgettable, never a good sign for Eurovision.

11. Po glazam – Devochka tryohtysachnih let

The second song in Belarussian – no it's not. It's in English. The singer has some flags on her dress (as if it was THAT easy to get some votes!) and is moving on the stage as if she didn't know where to go. The song talks about a 3000 year old girl and is rather punkish in style.

12. Palats – Kola mlyna

Time for some ethnic music and some more infernal atmosphere. The song is rather repetitive and has no obvious hook and the static performance that shows the singers sitting on chairs doesn't help either.

13. Dali Silver – Sky

More rock music. It is musically probably one of the strongest songs of the genre tonight but not the one with the highest recognition value. Very good vocals and this song is not only in English but partly in Belarussian.

14. Katrine – Follow me

Follow me is a mid-tempo ballad with a blues guitar loop. The vocals are very good and suit the song well. It is a pretty catchy entry with an artistic performance that is probably slightly over-the-top.

15. Litesound – Do you believe

Fireworks for the last performance tonight. Would you believe this is the most catchy pop rock song tonight. The wind machine adds some Eurovision feeling but doesn't fit very well in the performance. Nevertheless, this is probably the favourite tonight and very likely to reach the final.