Eurovision Song Contest
Final
S54 • E3 May 16, 2009 3h 16m
4.8
Channel One Russia hosted one of the biggest contests in the event's history. The stage was spectacular, using one-third of the world's available LED screens at the time. Then-Prime Minister Vladimir Putin even visited the Olympic Indoor Arena during preparations.
A major rule change saw the re-introduction of national juries, which accounted for 50% of the result alongside televoting.
Georgia's entry was deemed to have broken contest rules, leading the country to withdraw rather than submit a different song. Estonia achieved a credible sixth place with "Rändajad", the first song performed fully in Estonian since 1998. The United Kingdom scored its best placing since 2002; Jade Ewen's "My Time", written by Dianne Warren and composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, finished in fifth place.
A major rule change saw the re-introduction of national juries, which accounted for 50% of the result alongside televoting.
Georgia's entry was deemed to have broken contest rules, leading the country to withdraw rather than submit a different song. Estonia achieved a credible sixth place with "Rändajad", the first song performed fully in Estonian since 1998. The United Kingdom scored its best placing since 2002; Jade Ewen's "My Time", written by Dianne Warren and composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, finished in fifth place.
