by Michael Osborn BBC News Online entertainment staff

Belarus's Alexandra & Konstantin did not make the final

However not all of them will make it to the big stage, as Wednesday's semi-finals whittled the final figure down to 24.

But this did not deter the budding newcomers.

Andorra, Albania, Belarus as well as Serbia and Montenegro took to the stage for the first time - just a year before the musical event reaches its 50th birthday.

But only Albania and Serbia and Montenegro made it through to Saturday's grand final.

Albania may be one of the poorest countries in Europe, but 17-year-old Anjeza Shahini has the honour of singing for her country for the first time.

The business of Eurovision is not a cheap one, but help from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has made the Albanian dream come true.

While the British tend to dismiss Eurovision as a comic jamboree, it is serious business for up-and-coming nations.

"It will improve our image," a spokesman for Albania's embassy in London told BBC News Online.

See all this year's songs on the BBC's Eurovision website, including Andorra's Marta Roure

"We do everything to promote our cultural heritage, and this is why we've made the effort."

"Eurovision will make us known everywhere," he added.

The Pyrenean principality of Andorra also made its first appearance on the Eurovision stage, and was optimstic about how it would benefit from Eurovision.

"The exposure of Eurovision will promote our country, its tourism industry, attracting more people to come here," said an Andorran embassy spokeswoman.

The new Eurovision format has even tempted a much-loved veteran of the contest out of musical hibernation.

The tiny principality of Monaco first took part in 1959, and captured a memorable win in 1971.

Monaco return to the contest, with Maryon, after a 25-year break

It withdrew from the contest in 1979 - and has just returned after 25 years in the wilderness.

Maylis Carcabal, communications manager for Television Monte Carlo who launched Monaco's comeback, said the revival is "symbolic".

"It's good for international appearances that we are back in. There is a lot of support for Eurovision and it is popular with the government and royal family," added Ms Carcabal.

However it was also voted out in the semi-final.

'Limited finances'

While some countries embrace the contest with open arms, there are others who remain firmly Eurovision-sceptic.

Despite its place at the heart of the Europe, the Czech Republic has never taken part in Eurovision.

Czech TV, which would be responsible for a musical bid, said limited finances are used elsewhere.

"There are plenty of musical projects in Europe, however our programming department's specialists have not chosen Eurovision yet," said Martin Krafl, a spokesman for the Czech broadcaster.

Absent Italy

Perhaps the biggest absentee from Eurovision is Italy, whose final appearance in the competition was in 1997.

The country's San Remo festival was the inspiration behind the first song contest back in 1956.

The event stopped being screened on Italian television in 1998, forcing fans to hire out a cinema to follow events via satellite from Switzerland's Italian language broadcaster.

There is a lot of support for Eurovision and it is popular with the government and royal family Maylis Carcabal, Monaco TV

The fans' main objective is to bring their country back to the song contest - but that could be some way off yet.

In the main European arena, only Bulgaria, Moldova, San Marino and Leichtenstein remain Eurovision virgins.

Perhaps next year's milestone 50th contest will finally tempt them in from the cold.