| Eurovision Song Contest 2008 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country |  Hungary | |||
| National selection | ||||
| Selection process | Eurovíziós Dalverseny 2008: Magyarországi döntő | |||
| Selection date(s) | 8 February 2008 | |||
| Selected artist(s) | Csézy | |||
| Selected song | "Candlelight" | |||
| Selected songwriter(s) |
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| Finals performance | ||||
| Semi-final result | Failed to qualify (19th) | |||
| Hungary in the Eurovision Song Contest | ||||
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Hungary participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 with the song "Candlelight" written by Viktor Rakonczai, Jánosi and Imre Mózsik. The song was performed by Csézy. Songwriter Viktor Rakonczai represented Hungary in the Eurovision Song Contest 1997 as part of the band V.I.P. where they placed twelfth in the competition with the song "Miért kell, hogy elmenj?". The Hungarian entry for the 2008 contest in Belgrade, Serbia was selected through the national final Eurovíziós Dalverseny 2008: Magyarországi döntő, organised by the Hungarian public broadcaster Magyar Televízió (MTV). 15 entries competed in the national final where "Szívverés" performed by Csézy was selected as the winner based on the votes of a four-member jury panel as well as the votes from the public. The song was later translated from Hungarian to English for the Eurovision Song Contest and was titled "Candlelight".
Hungary was drawn to compete in the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 22 May 2008. Performing during the show in position 15, "Candlelight" was not among the 10 qualifying entries of the second semi-final and therefore did not qualify to compete in the final. It was later revealed that Hungary placed nineteenth (last) out of the 19 participating countries in the semi-final with 6 points.