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Voting analysis (4): the finale
- You can find the analysis of the first semi final here.
- You can find the analysis of the second semi final here.
- You can find the "What if...?" analysis here.
- You can find the scoreboard on eurovision.tv here.
Quick stats
Placings
- Russia won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time having competed eleven times before.
- For the eighth year in a row, a country won the contest that had never won it before.
- The United Kingdom finished last for the second time in the history of the contest (the other time being in 2003). If the tie-break rule were not taken into account, Germany would have finished last for the sixth time and the fourth time on a shared last place. Poland would have finished last for the first time.
- The following countries achieved their best placing so far: Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan (as a debutant) and Georgia.
- The following countries have achieve their worst placing so far: Poland, Croatia and Serbia.
- For the fifth time in the history of the contest, the top three songs were all performed entirely in English (this had previously happened in 1992, 2000, 2002 and 2005; in 2001 this almost happened but the Greek entry was partly performed in Greek).
- For the second year in a row, a ballad won the contest.
- Dima Bilan is the first male soloist to win the contest since Toto Cutugno in 1990 and Believe is the seventh winning song by a male soloist (the ninth winning song, if the Israeli performance of 1978 is not seen as a group performance).
Points
- No country got points from all other countries. Russia and Greece got points from the highest number of countries: 36 of 42 each. All countries got points from at least two other countries.
- Dima Bilan scored 272 points. That is the third highest score in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest.
- Armenia, which only finished 4th, is the country that scored 12 points the most times: eight times. Russia scored 12 only seven times, Greece six times and Ukraine even only once.
- 17 countries, which means almost 70% of the competing 25 received at least one set of 12 points.
- Russia scored an average of 6.48 points. The record of the highest average score is kept by the Brotherhood of Man who won for the United Kingdom in 1976 with an average of 9.65.
- Russia won with 42 points ahead of the entry from Ukraine. This is the second biggest winning margin since the semi final was introduced in 2004. Curiously enough, the biggest winning margin in this era was in 2006 when Dima Bilan finished 44 points behind Lordi from Finland.
- Both in the semi final and in the final, the United Kingdom gave no points to the winning song.
The running order
Nothing has changed when it comes to the running order: the top three songs have all been performed in the second half although four songs from the first half reached the top ten (but only one song the top five: the Armenian entry). After a top five finish for Israel in the first semi final, the #2 was no lucky number for the United Kingdom and brought the country a last place. #3 Was not successful either: Albania finished 17th. Only one of the last six songs performed and only two of the last eight songs performed finished outside the top ten.
Friendly neighbours and diaspora voting
Five countries did not award any points to Russia, all of them from Western Europe: Iceland, United Kingdom, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden and San Marino. Two countries gave only one point to Russia, those were also from Western Europe: the Netherlands and France. The story continues with the only 3 points Russia got which came from Belgium (Russia never scored two). On the other hand, five of Russia’s six sets of 12 points came from former USSR countries. Another 12 came from Israel, a country with a strong Russian diaspora. Other countries that might have profited by diaspora voting are Turkey (10 points from Germany, France, the Netherlands and Belgium) and Armenia (12 points from France, Belgium and the Netherlands) to name two examples. However, these statistics are always pretty unsure as nobody knows who votes for which country.
Five of the six former Yugoslav countries gave their twelve points each other, only F.Y.R. Macedonia gave its top mark to their neighbours from Albania. The Nordic countries also sticked together: Norway got its 12 points from Finland and Sweden, Finland got 14 of its 38 points from Iceland, Norway and Sweden (but no points from Denmark). Although Charlotte Perrelli’s highest vote came from Malta, the second, third and fourth highest marks came from Denmark, Norway and Finland. Iceland got its only 12 points from Denmark.
Related polls
- ISRAEL: Your favourite song in the national final?
- SERBIA: Your favourite in the national final?
- UK: Your favourite in the national final?
- GERMANY: Your favourite in the national final?
- SWEDEN: Your favourite in the national final?
- ESTONIA: Your favourite in the national final?
- GREECE: Your favourite song in the national final?
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Reactions
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Once again .... bring back the juries otherwise we will have fromer Yugoslav or former USSR winners from now on!
The Eurovision Song Contest needs new rules!!!
...and I have one examplare!!!
what should brings europe when in the final can vote all 43 countries????
NOTHING!
we have seen it!
at first:
I would like to see the full program with the points from
1-12 by the spokersperson!
the voting part is the most greatest highlight in the show!
please bring it back!!!
we everyone know it!!!! and we wish this back!
please let just the participating countries in the final to vote!
please bring juries to the event, too!
this new rule could help against the diaspora!
if we will see next year 2 semi finals again...
the voting should be change!
-the countries from the semi 1 should vote in the final only for these countries from semi 1 + big four and host country AND not more!!!
-the countries from the semi 2 should vote in the final only for these countries from semi 2 + big four and host country AND not more!!!
-the big four should be divide in two... two of them to vote for the participating countrys from one semi final which has passed in the final!
-only the host country should vote for all participating countries in the final.
-countries that has not passed in the final should't have to vote!
the idea with the voting like this idea would be perfect!
and when juries come back, we would have a real winner without diaspora!
and this is the next new rule:
JURIES PART!
okay, jury system is not 100% against the diaspora
but it could helps 50%!
-after all given points from the participating countries
the juries could give their votes.
-only one jury from each country can give just once the highest "12" point for a country
that came in TOP 10!
-the jury have to search only one country from top 10
and these country gets from the jury the 12 highest point!
this could be the new rule of the voting part from the jury!
and finally europe has a maybe a real winner!
Just a point about Portugal cause it was great and I was confused as to why it did not do better (not that I would expect it to win). Portugal was right after the break! Most countries get adverts during that time and that means people changing channels!!! By the time their back they have missed at least the first song after the break. This how Belgium suffered in 2004 when it had one of the hot favourities in the final. Regardless, well done Portugal. We need some more entries like tis one from you and nothing like we had in the past!!!
Like someone said here before, imagine Dima Bilan from Portugal and Vânia from Russia - things would be the total opposite. Dima would have stayed in the 13th and Vânia would have stayed in the 1st place!
Another example, Marija Serifovic wouldn't have won if she was representing Portugal. (i do not say that complaining about the victory of Serbia 'cuz i like Molitva very much, it is just an example)
I don't care if people like or not Senhora do Mar. There is something everybody can notice: the main part of the comments talk about Portugal, good or bad! Portugal is not anymore a small country in the point of Europe. Senhora do Mar made Portugal standed up! In the last years nothing was said about my country but now Portugal is in the comments of lots of people who also use it to compare with strong countries in this competion. This year Portugal was one of the favourites to win since it got 2nd place in the final! This never happened before! Along with Ukraine, Greece and Russia, Portugal was, before the Finale, one of 4 favourites!
"SENHORA DO MAR" WAS, AND IS, A MARK IN THE PORTUGUESE HISTORY IN THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST!
I'm so proud of this entrie that i could see Portugal out of ESC, for me this would be the PERFECT end for the "old-fashioned" participation (as some people say) of my country in ESC!
Since the drop of a live orchestra in 1999 and all countries able to sing in any language, the contest has become a Euro wide "talent" contest and nothing to do with songs. initially the COMPOSER got the award, not the artist, I know sometimes the writer and performer are the same person. On;y finalists should vote infinal.The six people on stage should contribute vocally or musically only, the 50/50 jury phone vote would hopefully curb neighbourly biased. And even with seeded semi finals and all 43 countries able to vote in final the "vote for your neighbour" was still evident. I sat with friends and got EVERY 12 points awarded correct. Also I feel that FULL details of the phone voting be made available, especially as Serbia held the contest and the company running the phone vote is based in the winning country, Russia. Even just to reassure no "rigging" and confirm the credabilty of the EBU. I prepared for a Russian win in 2008 when they won the contract last year
How can it be possible! If nobody likes the music winner of this year, how can it be wonned? I´m chocked with this!
the Eurovision Song Contest needs new rules!!!
it's too big to see many countries will participating!
43 countries!!! next year it will be 45? - kosovo will maybe enter and maybe uzbekistan or turkmenistan???
is this the Eurovision Song Contest???
NO, NO - STOP!!!
one evening, one Eurovision Song Contest! not more!
it was okay to saw just one semi final to choice the top 10 in the final. but the system with 2 semi finals didn't work...
it's too much!!!
and what should brings europe when in the final can vote all 43 countries???? NOTHING!
we have seen it!
at first:
I would like to see the full program with the points from 1-12 by the spokersperson!
the voting part is the most greatest highlight in the show!
please bring it back!!!
please let just the participating countries in the final to vote!
please bring juries to the event...
50% juries / 50% televoting - this could help against the diaspora!
if we will see next year 2 semi finals again...
the voting should be change!
-the countries from the semi 1 should vote in the final only for these countries from semi 1 + big four and host country AND not more!!!
-the countries from the semi 2 should vote in the final only for these countries from semi 2 + big four and host country AND not more!!!
-the big four should be divide in two... two of them to vote for the participating countrys from one semi final which has passed in the final!
-only the host country should vote for all participating countries in the final.
-countries that has not passed in the final should not have to vote!
I think we will never see an Eurovision Song Contest with only 24 or 26 participating countries!
the idea with the voting like this idea would be perfect!
and when juries come back and we would see 50% juries voting and 50% televoting we would have a real winner without diaspora!
i will be very curious to see the results of the backup juries for the final
they should be made public after the competition too
Shame that Sweden made it to the final after finishing 12th of the semi : Bulgaria deserved the final more than Miss Botox
THIS IS SVANTE'S EMAIL... IF YOU WANT THINGS TO CHANGE IN THIS CONTEST WRITE HIM ABOUT HOW RIDICULOUS THIS CURRENT FORMAT IS! LET'S UNITE FANS OF ESC;
stockselius@ebu.ch
Dear Portuguese,your song concerning the quality was much better than the greek one.Unfortunately most of the people who vote are young,even children.So next time.....
I would recommend a change to the voting system. IE this year we had 43 countries, so I think all the countries should
give points to Every single participant. There was 25 countries taking part in the final, so the country that comes
last in one's televoting would get 1 point, whilst the country that comes first getting 24 points. This way the voting
would be fairer, because currently most of the available points are being wasted on voting for neighbours etc..
This is a serious suggestion, and I believe this would make the contest far more fairer than it has ever been. 
This way Any country would have a proper chance, and would not finish last, as long as the song is a decent one.
I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE TALK ABOUT GREECE/CYPRUS GIVING 12 PTS TO EACH OTHER WHEN ALL THE USSR VOTES WENT TO RUSSIA?!? HOW DO YOU THINK DIVA BILAN WON??? WITHOUT THE USSR VOTES... IT WAS
GREECE - 188
RUSSIA - 174
UKRAINE - 160
BUT OF COURSE... THEY DIDNT WANT TO HAVE GREECE HOST THE COMPETITION AGAIN... SO RUSSIA SANG A SONG THAT WAS PRODUCED BY TIMBALAND, HAD A FAMOUS VIOLINIST AND FIGURE SKATER COME AND PERFORM THE MOST GAY THING I'VE SEEN IN MY LIFE..
political votes s*ck
I will never accept Dima as a real winner
Write Svante about your concerns;
stockselius@ebu.ch
the Eurovision Song Contest needs new rules!!!
it's too big to see many countries will participating!
43 countries!!! next year it will be 45? - kosovo will maybe enter and maybe uzbekistan or turkmenistan???
is this the Eurovision Song Contest???
NO, NO - STOP!!!
one evening, one Eurovision Song Contest! not more!
it was okay to saw just one semi final to choice the top 10 in the final. but the system with 2 semi finals didn't work...
it's too much!!!
and what should brings europe when in the final can vote all 43 countries???? NOTHING!
we have seen it!
at first:
I would like to see the full program with the points from 1-12 by the spokersperson!
the voting part is the most greatest highlight in the show!
please bring it back!!!
please let just the participating countries in the final to vote!
please bring juries to the event...
50% juries / 50% televoting - this could help against the diaspora!
if we will see next year 2 semi finals again...
the voting should be change!
-the countries from the semi 1 should vote in the final only for these countries from semi 1 + big four and host country AND not more!!!
-the countries from the semi 2 should vote in the final only for these countries from semi 2 + big four and host country AND not more!!!
-the big four should be divide in two... two of them to vote for the participating countrys from one semi final which has passed in the final!
-only the host country should vote for all participating countries in the final.
-countries that has not passed in the final should not have to vote!
I think we will never see an Eurovision Song Contest with only 24 or 26 participating countries!
the idea with the voting like this idea would be perfect!
and when juries come back and we would see 50% juries voting and 50% televoting we would have a real winner without diaspora!
Can we agree on 1 thing, that in no country do the emigrants/diaspora count 4 half of the population? Can we agree that the diaspora in any country is not more than 15% either? In most countries the emigrants count from 2/3-10/15% max and even then it`s not a single nationality that counts 4 so much, the 15% is many different nationalities and many of them aren`t even from European countries (meaning their homeland is not participating in ESC)… can we agree on this so far?
So then u say that it`s normal if let say Danish ppl vote 4 the Norwegian song coz they have similar taste or that UK use 2 vote 4 Ireland b4 coz again they have similar language and cultural taste… so it`s normal that u c this countries share points coz they understand and like each other music better, so then why is it so hard 2 understand that lets say Turks in Germany will like the Turkish music better? Sure they vote 4 it coz of patriotism but can it also be (like the westerners) that they also understand the music better and like it better? Can it be that the Armenians in Belgium really liked and understood the Armenian music much more than the Belgian song? So it`s both ppl, both that they 2 like and understand music and also coz of the patriotic reasons.
Then u go on and complain that Western countries don`t win and eastern countries get more points coz of Diaspora voting (neighbor vote is still more understandable coz of what I mentioned b4… and this seems more fair in this unfair system, but diaspora voting is the worse 4 most of u). But if u so want 2 win or get better place in the final why don’t u just move ur lazes asses and vote? Why don`t u watch it more? Coz I`m sure the 3-15% of the emigrants in Belgium (and I`m sure it`s less than that, it`s 3-15% not just Armenians but Turks, Greeks, Somalia, Iran u name it) couldn`t give 12points 2 Armenia if the native ppl voted 2. U don’t watch it, u don’t talke it seriously, u don’t vote and then u come here and complain that u didn’t get a better place in the final? If u don’t watch, don’t vote ect why do u care if u win or get a better place? WHY? The emigrants watch it and love it and vote 4 it so why shouldn`t they get 2 c their countries in the Finial and have their country win? They r after all most of the active viewers, so why isn`t it fair that all Armenian watching it and being active with voting and then c Belgium win it when Belgian ppl didn’t even watch, didn’t really vote and don’t even care?
The 2-semis system worked (more or less), but in the final there was the same old story.
I think that there should be a mechanism that would prevent countries from voting for the same countries year after year. A significant number of countries always gives away the same set of 8, 10 and 12. Juries would solve only one half of a problem. Friendly countries would still exchange points.
BUT, if there were a formula to convert the number of televotes into actual marks, a formula that would take into account the voting history of a country, then it would be much fairer. For instance, the total number of televotes gets multiplied (or divided) by a quotient that shows how much points the receiving country has been given during the last, say, 3 years. Simple, transparent, and solves both diaspora and neighbour vote problems.
Bravo, Arian Khenefeld.Your message is great!!!
I do not understand all this East-West frenzy... It is true that Dima Bilan owes his victory also to the Soviet solidarity, but all in all the song was great. Ukraine had a stage performance that could overshadow famous popstars. Greece was catchy, fresh and colourful and the singer sold the song in the best possible way. Armenia was oriental and bombastic. Norway was classy and emotional. Serbia was powerful. Turkey was original and made a huge impact. AND SO ON.... Of course Portugal was also excellent quality, though a bit outdated (Portuguese people, please don't tell me this is the kind of songs you party with or you cry with), and Iceland was really cool with lovely performers, and Romania had excelent voices... Not everyone can be top 5 let alone a winner in such a competitive contest though.
But one thing is clear: The United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany, Ireland, Belgium and Andorra (typical western countries) said crap songs and/or untalented singers and got exactly what they deserved (Spain clearly got more than that). Switzerland was outdated with terrible vocals. The Netherlands had a stage performance that was an insult to viewers. Unless the Western countries invest more into this contest, the ESC is staying in the East. Until the East also gets bored with the contest and then we'll see what happens!
Hi Europeans! I'm greek living in Greece. I voted for Croatia and Turkey.I would vote for Portugal as 7th-10th.About all of you who mention the voting way between Greece and Cyprus: That's just 12 points.I do'nt like the greek song too,but there are many people except for Cypriots who do like it.I don't like extreme and unfair voices.....
Good Evening Europe!
Let me start by saying I’m from Portugal and I’m really proud of Vania and the whole team behind “Senhora do Mar”. I was very pleased to read all the positive coments from so many people all trough Europe. I was also very pleased with the 2nd place in the semi-final and the chance to take part in the final. On the other side, I’m very very disappointed with the results of this years final of ESC. It strikes me as very unfair for several resons.
I gather Russia had a good song, - but not the best, - which was overperformed and presented and so, didn’t deserve to win. I would rather see the Ucraine, Israel, Norway, Turkey or Portugal in the 1st place. But that’s just my opinion.
Eurovision Song Contest means a competition of songs representing European countrys. I won’t go into the European countries issue, questioning why countries like Israel or Azerbaijan should or not take part. But I genuinely think that there is no longer a competition of songs in Eurovision.
Due to very well know problems in the voting process only a few countries have a real chance of winning. These countries are easy to find: they are dominant within a political/geographical/cultural block and/or have a big immigrant community spread through out Europe. All the other participants are there just attending, and that kills the fair competition.
And since what matters is the origin and not the quality of the song and it’s performance, the big issue becomes politics, and not entertainement, art or culture as it should.
Though some things have been made to invert this situation, I think it’s not enough. We can see the results of the semi-final, when the block were split, and I think it was very positive. It’s a start.
There are no innocent countries in this process. Portugal always gives 12 point to Ukraine since there’s a televote, due to it’s massive presence of Ukrainian immigrants. But then Portugal always gets high scores from it’s neighbours, Spain and Andorra, and from countries where there’s a big Portuguese diaspora: France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands.
The reintroduction of juries could be a valid solution to change this kind of things, but I can remember the time when the Portuguese jury always gave 12 to Spain, which returned the favour. As did the UK and Ireland. As did the Nordic Countries. As did Cyprus and Greece.
And what abou the existence of four countries that buy their direct participation in the final?! Europe may be the home of Democracy, but Eurovision appears to have never heard of such concept.
What I want is EBU to show the ESC viewers and fans that it cares about the outcome of the contest at least as much as with the money it gets from the televoting and other businesses around the event.
So, my appeal is to all the ESC fans, that don’t feel happy about what the contest became, to gather in a platform, which can ask the EBU for the much needed changes in the contest’s regulation and procedures, in order to make the Eurovision Song Contest an event the brings people together, celebrating the culture, the creativity and diversity of the European people, the way it once did.
ESC fans of Europe unite!
Pedro Correia
I hope next year will cange something, more than something!!!
good night guys!!!
we see us - we talk more ;-)
Ciao Sinan
I totally undsertand your point of view.
For example last year, i support my country too, but i wasn't so dissapointing because i knew the song was weak. But this year, wether people like it or not, Vânia blew them away! Her performance was passionate and strong as she is!
This thing will happen year by year. Voting is no longer exciting, we can predict the points.
From the TOP5 last night just Norway diserved the 1st place!
And fortunately, at least, Maria Haukaas Storeng got a 5th place!
(even tough Ukraine performed very very well)
Ciao Sinan
I totally undsertand your point of view.
For example last year, i support my country too, but i wasn't so dissapointing because i knew the song was weak. But this year, wether people like it or not, Vânia blew them away! Her performance was passionate and strong as she is!
This thing will happen year by year. Voting is no longer exciting, we can predict the points.
@joao...
90% of the voting was diaspora - neighbour - immigrants - votes!!!
I hate it!!!
I would like to see once time in my life the real winner!!!
just the real winner!!!
the real winner in my heart was this year portugal!!!
I am a turk, living in germany... was born here and and and...!
half turk/half german young man! but I don't use the voting part to call and call and call and call again for turkey!
why??? turkeys entry was for me a really good song but not a winning song. dima's song was a no-winning song, too!!!
but he won...!
fucking fuucking fuuucking !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
each year the same shit!!!
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