LTV, Latvian Broadcaster, has announced 20 songs to compete at Eirodziesma 2011 for the opportunity to represent the country at Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Dusseldorf.

The jury consisting of the experts chosen by LTV, selected 20 out of 71 submitted songs to proceed to the semi finals of Eirodziesma 2011. Like in previous year, only the songs penned by Latvian authors were allowed. This decision has been taken to encourage the Latvian musicians to creativity. The efforts have paid off as there are many new as well as young preformers and authors among the names qualified for the sem finals.

The songs:
(in order of submitting)

Beautiful World – Juris Ludzenieks
Look Back At Me Again – Elina Krastina-Grence
Live On! – Oksana Lepska
Banjo Laura – Lauris Reiniks
Upside Down – Agnese Rakovska ("Trianas Parks")
Magnet – Dace Upite
Positively Thinking – "Crazy Dolls"
Angel In Disguise – Marats Ogleznevs, Emils Balceris
Rough Enough – Girts Zebulins, Atis Zviedris (Flame)
Daylight – Kaspars Timanis & "Labveligais Tips" (demo)
Let Me Be – Emils Balceris
Cinderella – Ivo Grisnins – Grislis
It's Not Easy – Dace Upite, Nikolajs Puzikovs
Love Is Like An Aeroplane – Liene Bronusa (Candy)
Don't Stop The Dance – Evija Sloka
Walking On My Tiptoes – Ineta Rudzite, Uldis Timma
Summer Night – "The Secretz"
You Are – "Pienenu vins" (Dandelion Wine)
Let It Be Me – Janis Stibelis
Hop – "Blitze"

The Selection

The Latvian Broadcaster returns to the pattern used two years ago when the song for Eurovision Song Contest was selected during two semi finals. Five songs from each semi final 10 entries will qualify for the final – three of these songs will be determined by the televote, but two will be chosen by the jury. There is also a novelty – The Second Chance Round where the 10 songs not qualified for the final compete. Only two entries, one chosen by televote and the other by jury, will pass to the final.

The first semi final is taking place on February 5, 2011, the second – on February 12, 2011, the Second Chance round – on February 19, 2011, but the final of Eirodziesma 2011 will be broadcast from Ventspils theatre hall "Juras Varti" on February 26, 2011.

Listen to the Latvian songs here