Palace of Sports, Kyiv, Eurovision Song Contest 2005 Semi-Final
The 2005 Eurovision Song Conest Semi-Final took part in Ukraine's capital Kyiv. It was the first big event after the country's so-called Orange Revolution, which took place only months before the Eurovision Song Contest circus turned the capital city into the most cheerful place in Europe.
Heading for Kyiv
After the success of the 2004 Semi-Final and Final in Istanbul, with over seven millions telephone and SMS votes cast, it was decided that this new system for the Eurovision Song Contest would stay the same. The so called 'Big Four' (Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Spain) would compete automatically in the Final just as the ten best placed countries from the 2004 contest. Kyiv would see the arrival of two new countries: Bulgaria and Moldova. Another old friend - Hungary - would return to the contest for the first time since 1998. Lebanon was on the initial list of interested countries, but pulled out when it appeared they could not meet the requirements neccessary to take part.
The 2005 Semi-Final featured 25 songs altogether, of which only ten would proceed to the Final. Press and the fans were divided about who would qualify, and lots of people were surprised about the outcome as favorites like the Dutch entry My Impossible Dream by Glennis Grace and runner-up of the 1999 Song Contest Selma from Iceland didn't make it to the Final.
The singer for Belarus, Angelica Agurbash, embarked on a huge promotion campaign in Kyiv throwing a glamorous party for all the delegations, media and fans, but she also failed to qualify for the Final. The Swiss entry Cool Vibes by popular Estonian girlgroup Vanilla Ninja did make it to the Final though. Composer David Brandes thus had two songs in the Final, as he was also responsible for the German entry Run And Hide, performed by Gracia.
