Tonight the first semi final of Eirodziesma 2008 took place. Five songs to enter the national final on 1st March have been selected.
During a live show hosted by Ugis Joksts and Kristine Virsnite, the videos of the 10 semi finalists were shown. According to the rules of the national selection, the televote is to determine three songs to enter the final competition, but the jury chosen by the Latvian Broadcaster decides the other two entries. The five songs of first Latvian semi final are:
Jury favourites
- Funky Drivers – Summertime
- Elizabete Zagorska –Take me home
Televote
- Pirates Of The Sea – Wolves of the Sea – 12010 votes
- Sabīne Berezina – If I only knew – 3765 votes
- Déjà vu – I'm a part of you – 2947 votes
The televoters and the jury had both chosen Sabine Berezina as one of their favourites, thus the jury had the opportunity to promote one more of their aces, Elizabete Zagorska, to the final. Pirates of the Sea won thetelevote by a vast margin of 12010. The project consists of 3 creative and adventurous people – Roberto Meloni (he has Eurovision experience as one of Bonaparti.lv), Aleksandra Kurusova (she won the Latvian version of Strictly come dancing with Lauris Reiniks known as F.L.Y member) and Janis Vaisla (he has sailed around the world).The favourites of the jury are Déjà vu which is a new project but some of its members are previously seen on Eirodziesma stage in other musical formations as VIA Meitenes and 4.elements. The ladies performed I'm a part of you composed by Martins Freimanis (F.L.Y – Eurovision Song Contest 2003). Elizabete Zagorska became popular by participating in a television show "The Factory of Talents" which was successefully followed by the cooperation with Roberto Meloni as well as taking part in the Latvian editions of musicals Westside story and Les miserables.
Stay tuned as the Latvian audience and jury selects the other Topfive on 9th February, but decides the winner of Eirodziesma 2008 on 1st March. In 2008, Latvia will enter the second semi final of the Eurovision Song Contest to be broadcast on 22nd May.
