Ishtar (Belgian band)

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Ishtar performing in Belgrade, May 2008

Ishtar is a Belgian folk band who represented Belgium at the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest with the song O Julissi, sung in an imaginary language. They competed in the first semi-final on May 20, 2008.

[edit] O Julissi

O Julissi
Eurovision Song Contest 2008 entry
Country	Belgium
Artist(s)	Ishtar
Language	Imaginary
Composer(s)	Michel Vangheluwe
Lyricist(s)	Michel Vangheluwe
Lyrics	Lyrics
◄ LovePower (2007)

"O Julissi" is a song by Ishtar. The band's site [1] claims that the song is in an imaginary language. There is, however, a certain similarity to Ukrainian; in particular, the first line is fully understandable (Ukrainian "Ой у лісі на ялині", meaning "Oh, in the forest on a spruce"). The folk song will represent Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008, to be held May 24, 2008, in Belgrade. The single was released March 14, 2008. The song entered the Belgian Ultratop at #7. In its second week, O Julissi topped the list.

Ishtar's song was elected after they won the final of Eurosong 2008. Ishtar, until then an unknown band, defeated better known artists, like pop singers Sandrine and Brahim. The other contestants in the final were rock group Paranoiacs and Nelson, who had written a ballad.

Ishtar performed their song during the semi-finals on May 20, 2008, but did not proceed to the finals.