World Song Contest

For the first time since the contest was launched, all the continents were represented in this edition. 35 participants, one more than in WSC .06, battled for the crown, including two entries from Africa. So for the first time the World Song Contest really was a WORLD song contest. But with 35 songs it also meant that some songs had to leave before the final. After WSC .06's fiasco, a new system of qualification was chosen. No more semi finals but a qualifying round which led to the elimination of 9 songs.

Once again, Germany and Austria failed to achieve a good result, being stopped before the final. Originality didn't pay this time as well as folk songs. This time the contest was dominated by rock songs, this could seem crazy as rock song usually didn't reach the top. It eventually worked for some countries and didn't for other... Turkey tried it and finally reached a first top 10 position. So what's the secret ? Certainly not being represented by a star: Shania Twain for Canada, Ricky Martin for Puerto Rico and the Pussycat Dolls with their worldwide hit Don't Cha couldn't help to win.

In fact, the final results didn't led to suspense with the Netherlands winning the contest for the second time, receiving 12 points from 7 countries and beating the highest score so far with 171 points. Serbia & Montenegro took the second place, far behind with 123 points... Australia completed the top three, with another good result after a victory in WSC .06. With no possible protest the victory was given to Angels, sung by Within Temptation.

4. Sweden

5. Cyprus

7. Russia

8. Denmark

Goth metal stars Within Temptation marry the guitar-driven force of hard rock with the sweep and grandeur of symphonic music, and the results have made them one of the most popular bands ever in the Netherlands. Within Temptation were formed in 1996 by guitarist Robert Westerholt and vocalist Sharon den Adel, who are partners on stage and off. Within Temptation's early material caught the attention of the Dutch label DSFA, and they signed the group to a record deal; their first album, Enter, was released in 1997. Up until this time, Within Temptation had been a studio project, but the success of the album led to invitations to play several live shows, including the Dynamo Music Festival, one of the biggest live music events in the Netherlands. Within Temptation demonstrated their strength as a concert act, and began playing Germany, Austria, Belgium, and the Czech Republic. Booked to play Dynamo's main stage in 1998, Within Temptation felt recording new material was in order, and they released the Dance EP for the occasion. Shortly afterwards, Within Temptation went on hiatus as the group's members dealt with personal commitments and Westerholt and den Adel built a studio for their ambitious recording projects.  In late 2000, Within Temptation returned with their second full-length album (and first for Sony), Mother Earth, and the band continued to appear at major music festivals in Europe and the Netherlands; the album was a major commercial success, and the song "Ice Queen" was released as a single, rising to number two on the Dutch charts. After several years of steady touring (including major festival appearances in France and Mexico), Within Temptation returned to the studio to record their third album, 2004's The Silent Force, an ambitious project featuring a full orchestra and 80-voice choir accompanying the band. It was their first disc to be released simultaneously in Europe and the Netherlands, and became a major commercial success, going platinum at home and reaching the Top Ten in Germany, Belgium, Spain, and Finland. Having become the Netherlands' best-selling international act, Within Temptation finally landed an American record deal with the venerable metal imprint Roadrunner, which released their fourth album, The Heart of Everything, in 2007. Black Symphony, a live CD/DVD recorded at the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam with a full choir and orchestra followed in 2008.

Official website

Lyrics 

Sparkling angel I believed
you were my saviour in my time of need.
Blinded by faith I couldn't hear
all the whispers, the warnings so clear.
I see the angels,
I'll lead them to your door.
There's no escape now,
no mercy no more.
No remorse cause I still remember

Chorus:
You took my heart,
deceived me right from the start.
You showed me dreams,
I wished they'd turn into real.
You broke your promise and made me realize.
It was all just a lie.

Sparkling angel, I couldn't see
your dark intentions, your feelings for me.
Fallen angel, tell me why?
What is the reason, the thorn in your eye?

I see the angels,
I'll lead them to your door
There's no escape now
no mercy no more
No remorse cause I still remember
the smile when you tore me apart

Chorus:
You took my heart,
deceived me right from the start.
You showed me dreams,
I wished they'd turn into real.
You broke the promise and made me realize.
It was all just a lie.
Could have been forever.
Now we have reached the end.

This world may have failed you,
it doesnt give you reason why.
You could have chosen a different path in life.

The smile when you tore me apart.

Repeat chorus