San Marino in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008

San Marino debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008, held in Belgrade, Serbia. The Sammarinese national broadcaster Radiotelevisione della Repubblica di San Marino (SMRTV) officially confirmed San Marino's participation in the contest in November 2007 after deliberation amongst the broadcaster's shareholders.

Eurovision Song Contest 2008
Country San Marino
National selection
Selection processInternal selection
Selection date(s)11 March 2008
Selected entrantMiodio
Selected song"Complice"
Selected songwriter(s)
  • Nicola Della Valle
  • Francesco Sancisi
Finals performance
Semi-final resultFailed to qualify (19th)
San Marino in the Eurovision Song Contest
2008 • 2011►

The pop-rock band Miodio with their Italian language song "Complice" (Italian pronunciation: [ˈkomplitʃe]; transl. "Accomplice") was selected internally by SMRTV to represent the nation. Promotion of the entry relied heavily on the internet, with a music video being created and interviews from the band to the press being published in the lead up to the Eurovision Song Contest 2008. San Marino performed fifth in the first semi-final, held on 20 May 2008, and placed last, receiving just five points.

Background
Main article: San Marino in the Eurovision Song Contest

Radiotelevisione della Repubblica di San Marino (SMRTV) announced in mid November 2007 that they were considering entering the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in 2008, pending approval from the shareholders of SMRTV.[1] At the time, half of the stock of SMRTV belonged to Radiotelevisione Italiana (RAI), the broadcaster of Italy, which had last participated in 1997.[2][3] Despite this, SMRTV received approval to take part and officially announced its participation in late November 2007.[4] SMRTV Head of Delegation Alessandro Capicchioni stated that San Marino's motivation for entering the contest was to promote tourism and to bring attention to the nation, as "a lot of the world knows neither where San Marino is or if it even exists".[5] For its first Eurovision appearance, SMRTV sought to host an internal selection process.[6]

Before Eurovision

Internal selection
Alessandro Capicchioni served as the Head of Delegation for San Marino and was a member of the selection panel.

SMRTV opened a submission period for interested artists and songwriters to submit their entries for the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 until 25 February.[6][7] 50 songs were submitted and an expert panel consisting of Little Tony, Vince Tempera, Pasquale Panella, Michele Mangiafico, Michele Bovi, Giuseppe Cesetti, Alessandro and Marco Capicchioni and Roberto Moretti reviewed the submissions and selected San Marino's entry.[8][9] Alessandro Capicchioni stated they chose an entry that would "bring Italian and Sanmarinese culture to Europe - a melodic song from our tradition".[5] On 11 March 2008, SMRTV announced Miodio as the first Sammarinese entrant with the song "Complice", sung in Italian.[10][11][12] Miodio consists of Nicola Della Valle (vocals), Paolo Macina (guitar), Andrea Marco 'Polly' Pollice (bass), Francesco Sancisi (keyboard) and Alessandro Gobbi (drums).[9][13][14] The song was written by band members Sancisi and Della Valle.[9] Upon the announcement of their participation, the band stated that they embody "a new way of thinking, born by anger and the will to react [to what] each individual carries in their ego".[13]

Among the submissions received by SMRTV included Italian duo Jalisse (who represented Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest 1997), Valentina Monetta, Massimo Bertacci, Michele Imberti, as well as those from different Eurovision national selections in other countries, including "If You Never Back" by Elnur Hüseynov and "We Are One" by Alexa from the Azerbaijani and Moldovan national finals, respectively.[9][13][15]

Promotion

To promote the entry, a music video was filmed and released as part of the song's presentation on 15 March 2008.[16] In an interview in March 2008 with ESCToday's Yiorgos Kasapoglou, Miodio stated that they were relying on the internet to get their song and name out.[17] By May, they had performed the song live on television through Radio Television of Serbia and granted interviews to the press in the lead up to the Eurovision Song Contest 2008.[18][19]

At Eurovision

The Eurovision Song Contest 2008 took place at the Belgrade Arena in Belgrade, Serbia. It consisted of two semi-finals held on 20 and 22 May, respectively, and the final on 24 May 2008.[20] According to the Eurovision rules at the time, all participating countries, except the host nation and the "Big Four", consisting of France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom, were required to qualify from one of the two semi-finals to compete for the final; the top 10 countries from the respective semi-finals would proceed to the final.[21]

Miodio performing "Complice" in the first semi-final.

On 28 January 2008, an allocation draw was held that placed each country into one of the two semi-finals, with San Marino being placed into the first semi-final.[22] The 2008 contest was the first to feature two semi-finals, a change intended to reduce the problems of neighbourly and diaspora voting that occurred in years past.[23] Countries that normally would vote for each other were placed into separate semi-finals.[23][24] Once all of the competing songs for the Eurovision Song Contest had been released, the running order for the semi-finals was decided by the delegation heads of the 43 participating countries of the contest rather than through another draw; the nation was assigned position five, following Moldova and preceding Belgium.[25] Though only participating in the first semi-final, SMRTV aired both semi-finals and the final, which in turn allowed parts of Italy within its broadcasting area to watch the contest, despite the country itself not participating.[2] Lia Fiorio and Gigi Restivo served as commentators for the television broadcasts, which were also streamed online,[2][26] while Emilia Romagna provided commentary for Radio San Marino.[2]

Miodio performed in the first semi-final on 20 May 2008, appearing fifth out of the 19 countries. The performance featured the band wearing black suits, but with each member wearing it in a different style.[21][27] Aniko Pusztai, set designer and dancer at La Scala in Milan, joined the group on stage. SMRTV stated that they believed that choreography was as important as the song itself, deciding to use what they referred to as emotional impact for the performance. The broadcaster said that Pusztai would move on the words of the text, merging the music with dance, a sort of angel, a white that will contrast with the dark soul of Miodio.[28] The background on the large television screens on stage was a wavy light blue colour.[21]

Voting

Below is a breakdown of points awarded to San Marino in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2008, as well as by the country in the semi-final and final. Miodio's performance did not manage to inspire the crowd and San Marino only managed to receive five points with its debut entry: two points from Andorra and three points from Greece, placing the nation last of the 19 entries and not qualifying for the final.[29][30] Moretti was the Sammarinese spokesperson announcing the country's voting results.[21][26]

Points awarded to San Marino
Points awarded to San Marino (Semi-final 1)[31]
Score Country
12 points
10 points
8 points
7 points
6 points
5 points
4 points
3 points  Greece
2 points  Andorra
1 point

Points awarded by San Marino

References
  1. Viniker, Barry (11 November 2007). "San Marino planning 2008 entry". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  2. "Eurovision Song Contest 2008" (in Italian). Eurofestival News. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  3. "Italy - Eurovision Song Contest". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  4. Hondal, Víctor (21 November 2007). "Exclusive: San Marino in Belgrade confirmed". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 29 September 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  5. Osborn, Michael (19 May 2008). "San Marino's big musical moment". BBC News. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  6. Floras, Stella (25 February 2008). "San Marino calls for songs - ends today!". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 5 November 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  7. "La Repubblica di San Marino per la prima volta all'Eurofestival" (in Italian). San Marino RTV. 12 February 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  8. "Eurofestival: Little Tony presidente della giuria per la selezione del cantante" (in Italian). San Marino RTV. 12 February 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  9. Sanabria-Rangel, Álvaro (17 June 2020). "Eurovision 2008: San Marino's Miodio in focus". Eurovisionary. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  10. "Eurofestival, saranno i Miodio a rappresentare San Marino a Belgrado" (in Italian). San Marino RTV. 11 March 2008. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  11. Lewis, Cole (11 March 2008). "San Marino: Miodio for debut Nation". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2008.
  12. Bakker, Sietse (11 March 2008). "Exclusive: Mi Odio represents San Marino!". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  13. Floras, Stella (11 March 2008). "San Marino: More about Miodio". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2008.
  14. "San Marino's first ever entry!". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 11 May 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  15. Lewis, Daniel (3 March 2008). "San Marino: Listen to Massimo Bertacci's bid for Eurovision". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 31 January 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2008.
  16. Paul (15 March 2008). "Miodio launch official video of 'Complice'". Eurovisionary. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  17. Kasapoglou, Yiorgos (19 March 2008). "Exclusive: The Miodio interview". ESCToday. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
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  19. "Eurofestival, verso la semifinale: intenso lavoro per i Miodio" (in Italian). San Marino RTV. 16 May 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  20. "Eurovision Song Contest–Belgrade 2008". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 30 April 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  21. Eurovision Song Contest 2008. Belgrade, Serbia: European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 20–24 May 2008.
  22. "Semi-Final Allocation Draw: the outcome!". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 28 January 2008. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  23. Osborn, Michael (20 May 2008). "Sweden tipped to win Eurovision". BBC News. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  24. Viniker, Barry (28 January 2008). "The Eurovision Song Contest semi final draw". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  25. "Belgrade 2008: The running order!". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 17 March 2008. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  26. "SM TV San Marino: confermatbei i conduttori per l'Eurovision 2013" (in Italian). Eurofestival News. 28 March 2013. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  27. Viniker, Barry (19 May 2008). "Eurovision 2008: The first Eurovision dress rehearsal". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 31 January 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2008.
  28. "Eurofestival a Belgrado: i Miodio sul palco con una ballerina della Scala" (in Italian). San Marino RTV. 13 May 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  29. "First Semi-Final of Belgrade 2008". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  30. Klier, Marcus (25 May 2008). "Voting analysis (1): the first semi final". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 16 September 2008. Retrieved 3 October 2008.
  31. "Results of the First Semi-Final of Belgrade 2008". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  32. "Results of the Grand Final of Belgrade 2008". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
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