All songs for the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 have been selected. During the weeks between the national final season and the actual Eurovision Song Contest, we will introduce all 39 entries in random order. Part twenty-three of the series is dedicated to the Latvian entry.

Basic information

Performer:	Aisha
Song:	What for?
Language:	English
Music:	J�nis Lūs�ns
Lyrics:	Guntars Ra�s
Draw:	6th in the first semi final

The song

What for? is an mid-tempo R&B style pop song. Through the lyrics, the singer asks philosphical questions about life and she ackowledges with a slightly ironic undertone that only "Mr. God" knows the answers. Aisha herself says about the lyrics: "Throughout our lives we ask many questions, search for answers. Some of them are answered, some of them are just sensed, but no matter what the reply is, we always have a hope for the better to come and happen."

So many questions now
With no reply
What for do people live until they die?

What for are we living?
What for are we crying?
What for are we dying?
Only Mr. God knows why
(But) His phone today is out of range

The performer

Aisha, whose real name is Aija Andrejeva, has been singing since her childhood. She became famous in Latvia when she won the televised talent search Fabrika Musical Theatre. Following her victory, she went on tour with the band Opus Pro. In 2006, she released her first album Tu un es, which was followed by Viss k�rtīb�, Mincīt! in 2008 and Dv�selīte in 2009. Furthermore, she competed in the Latvian edition of Strictly come dancing and she also gathered some experience as an actress and as a TV presenter.

Aisha has taken part in every Latvian national final for the Eurovision Song Contest since 2007. In 2007, she was eliminated in the first semi final performing the song Close your eyes. In 2008, she did qualify for the final, where she finished second behind Pirates of the Sea with You really got me going. Last year, she joined forces with G Point performing the song Hey hey hey hey and they finished equal fourth in the first round of the final having already placed third in the semi final.

In 2010, Aisha could eventually win the Latvian national final with the song What for?, which was originally known under its longer title What for? (Only Mr. God knows).

The songwriters

The Latvian entry was written by J�nis Lūs�ns (music) andGuntars Ra�s (lyrics). J�nis Lūs�ns is a popular music artist in Latvia, probably best known for his experimental electronic music group Zodiaks. Their 1980 album Disco alliance is said to have been one of the most sold records in the Soviet Union. Guntars Ra�s is an author of song lyrics and poems but he has also enjoyed success as a playwright. Two of his songs have represented Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest: Dziesma par laimi in 2008 (17th in the semi final) and I hear your heart in 2006 (16th in the final).

The national selection

For the first time in many years, Eirodziesma was held as a one evening national final. Ten acts presented one song each and the winner was chosen in two rounds of voting with televoting narrowing down the contestants to a top three in the first round.

Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest

Latvia was the last Baltic country to debute in the Eurovision Song Contest when they did so in 2000. Brainstorm finished third in Stockholm with the song My star marking it one of the most impressive debuts to that date. In 2002, Marie N won the contest with I wanna and after disappointing results in 2003 and 2004, Latvia would be in the final for the following four years.However, the country has been finishing outside the top ten since 2006 and achieved their first last place in the second semi final in Moscow.

Nov�lam Latvijai un Aishai pan�kumus un veiksmi Oslo!

Videos

Live performance in the national final:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyMTWax3IPg

The preview video:

Aisha in Eirodziesma 2008:

Aisha with Dziesma pustums�:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCuC6-TcsUA

Tomorrow, we will take a look at the Serbian entry.

Previous parts of this series:

1. Ireland
2. Belarus
3. Albania
4. Denmark
5. Russia
6. Bulgaria
7. Switzerland
8. FYR Macedonia
9. Armenia
10. Spain
11. Poland
12. Croatia
13. Finland
14. Greece
15. Ukraine
16. Lithuania
17. Belgium
18. Norway
19. Portugal
20. Moldova
21. The Netherlands
22. The United Kingdom