Tonight Latvia is selecting its representative to Eurovision Song Contest for 11th time in the history of the country.
How to watch?
A webcastis provided by eurovision.tv here (requires Octoshape plugin).
The show
The show starts with a trio called Lady Sweets performing a song about the joys of wintertime inspired by hot latino rhythms. The hosts are Kristine Virsnite and Ugis Joksts are introducing the public with the participants and juryconsisting ofUldis Marhilevics (composer, the head of the jury), Artis Volfs (radio journalist), Intars Busulis (singer, represented Latvia at Eurovision Song Contest 2009), Niks Matvejevs (composer), Daina Markova (LTV, musicologist).
The hosts offera little flashback – a video of the Latvian Eurovision saga started ten years ago, in 2000 when Brainstorm sang My Star in Eurovision final inStockholm. There are memorable moments (vistory of Marie N, hosting the Eurovision in 2003, etc) from the Latvian Eurovision history presented throughout the show.
Participants
1. PeR – Like a mouse
Current poll result – 4.7% (7th)
The three PeR guys are supported by three backing vocalists Agnese Barone, Ruta Reinika, Marta Kukarane aka Vanilla who have also participated in Eirodziesma national finals in previous years.
2. Trianas parks – Lullaby for my dreammate (Diamond lullaby)
Current poll result – 7.0% (5th)
Trianas Parks participates in the national final for the third year in a row. The artistic, extravagant image of Agnese Rakovska and the group always surprises the public. The group members were sitting around her as forming her skirt, but showing themselves only at the end of the performance. It might be the most unusually creative composition and symbiosis of both music and the image of the performance.
3. Aisha – What for? (Only Mr. God knows why)
Current poll result – 27.9% (1st)
Aisha is surrounded by her backing singers doing laundry on the stage, asking the existential question "What for?" The trademark of the song is the accordion sounds thus there is also musician playing this instrument on the stage, too. According to the bookmakers from betsafe.com, Aisha has the biggest chances (60%) to win the national final.
4. Lauris Reiniks – Your morning lullaby
Current poll result – 23.8% (2nd)
Lauris Reiniks performs a song he has penned himself. He has already stood on Eurovision stage in 2003 in Riga representing Latvia with trio FLY. Hope is the theme of Your Morning Lullaby. The performance is focussed on the song and its message more than on the show which still exists but does not overshadow the vocals.
5. Dons – My religion is freedom
Current poll result – 4.1% (8th)
Dons has returned from London to participate in Eirodziesma. While he took part in one of the first Latvian "Talantu fabrika" (Star Factory), he announced he wanted and was going to be world famous musician. Don is the second favourite among the bookmakers with 25% chances to win so he might be on his way to fulfil his dreams.
Vocally the performance was strong but it was somewhat disturbed by the choreography of the backing vocalists what did not represent freedom at all.
6. Projekts Konike – Digi digi dong
Current poll result – 0.6% (10th)
Projekts Konike are dressed in a sack like outfits with prints of trees and flowers on which coincides with the idea of the song – people are to live in accordance with the ways of nature. They have developed the story of a tribe which speaks the language they sing in. Eurovision has a precedent when a song in an artificial and imaginary language reached high results – in 2003 in Riga when Urban Trad sang Sanome and took the third prize.
7. h2o – When I close my eyes
Current poll result – 5.2% (6th)
h2o are implementing the etno music elements in their performance. Besides the group, there are three peopledressed in the Latvian national costume and playing the traditional instruments on the stage. It is an unexpected micture of pop and etno music.
8. Kristine Karkla-Purina – Rišti räšti
Current poll result – 7.6% (4th)
In a nutshell – Kristine is singing about the blue sky and green grass in Livonian language. Four sets of different drums are played on the stage. By the final of the song Kristine is swinging in the swings.
9. Ivo Grisnins – Grislis – Because I love you
Current poll result – 2.3% (9th)
Some Latvian media representatives were cracking a joke that it would be intersting if Because I love you won the national final to experience how international media struggles pronouncing Ivo Grinsins – Grislis. On the serious note, this performance depicted what the contest is about – the song. Latvia has been there before with guys with the guitars on the stage. Will this pattern work again?
10. Kristina Zaharova – Snow in July
Current poll result – 16.9% (3rd)
Kristina Zaharova already has international Eurovision experience becoming the runner up at the Irish national final in 2009 with a song written by Lauris Reiniks, her competitor this year. Snow in July has reached the third place among betsafe.com prognosis. Bookmaker’s and esctoday.com opinions coincide.
Ten minutes were given to vote for the favorite songs. Top 3 songs will compete at the Gran Final where the winner of Eirodziesma will be selected by televote and the jury.
While waiting for the three songs to enter the final competition, Swiss Michael von der Heide performed his Eurovision entry. When intervieved earlier he admitted he hopes Switzerland goes to the final in Oslo meanwhile he feels like home in Latvia. The video greeting from Polish Marcin Morzinski singing Legenda wished good luck to the Latvian musicians.
Grand Final songs:
Dons – My Religion is Freedom
Ivo Grisnins – Grislis – Because I love you
Aisha – What for?
The three final songs will be performed again in the above mentioned order.
Your opinion
- Our poll results arehere.
In 2009, Latvia was represented by Intars Busulis, who finished last in the second semi final thus not making it to the final. In 2010, the country will compete in the first semi final of the Eurovision Song Contest on 25th May.
