O Julissi was the Belgian entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 in Belgrade performed by Ishtar. The song is notable for being the second time Belgium used an imaginary language for their entry, the other being in 2003.
This song is based off of the Ukrainian folk song "Oj, u lisi na jalyni" (English: "Oh, in a forest on a spruce), the song is about a poor girl Marusyna who asks her sister to help her lull her babies, the sister refuses saying that she should have listened to their mother and father who warned them about the noble guy that makes girls fall for him and leaves them with misbehaved children.
It was performed 6th in the first semifinal following San Marino and preceding Azerbaijan. At the close of voting, it finished in 17th place with 16 points, missing the final.
Lyrics[]
O julissi na jalini
O julissi na ditini
O bulo diti non slukati
Sestrone dina katsu
O julissi na ti buku
O julissi na katinu
Dvoranu mojani bidna
Marusi naja otcha tu
(Pokoli sestro moja kona) Moja kona
(Pokoli meni dita boja) Dita boja
(Jalina pitsu marusinja) Marusinja
(Kolosali) Krokodili
O julissi na jalini
O julissi na ditini
O bulo diti non slukati
Sestrone dina katsu
O julissi na ti buku
O julissi na katinu
Dvoranu mojani bidna
Marusi naja otcha tu
(Pokoli sestro moja kona) Moja kona
(Pokoli meni dita boja) Dita boja
(Jalina pitsu marusinja) Marusinja
(Kolosali) Krokodili
O julissi na jalini
O julissi na ditini
O bulo diti non slukati
Sestrone dina katsu
O julissi na slukati
O julissi na kotchali
Od nu je dvorian ne si bili
Precko sti budo najali
O julissi na ja
O julissi na jalini
O julissi na ditini
O bulo diti non slukati
Sestrone dina katsu
O julissi na jalini
O julissi na ditini
O bulo diti non slukati
Sestrone dina katsu
Videos[]
Ishtar - "O Julissi" (Belgium)
Ishtar - O Julissi (LIVE) - Belgium 🇧🇪 - First Semi-Final - Eurovision 2008