Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest

Template:Infobox song contest country

Latvia has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 22 times since making its debut at the contest in 2000, where the group Brainstorm finished third with the song "My Star". Latvia won the contest in 2002, with Marie N and the song "I Wanna", defeating Malta by 12 points. Latvia is the second former Soviet country to win the contest. The 2003 contest was held in the Latvian capital Riga. The country achieved its third top 10 result in 2005, when Walters and Kazha finished fifth with "The War Is Not Over".

Latvia did not participate in the final from 2009 to 2014, when they failed to qualify from the semi-finals for six consecutive years, including finishing last on three occasions, in 2009, 2010 and 2013.[1][2] Latvia qualified for the final for the first time since 2008 at the 2015 contest with Aminata and the song "Love Injected". Her sixth place in the final is Latvia's fourth top 10 finish and best result in the contest since 2005. Latvia made its 10th appearance in the final in 2016.

Latvia has the distinction of having finished last in the Eurovision semi-finals more than any other country. Since its introduction in 2004, Latvia has finished last in five semi-finals, with Intars Busulis (2009), Aisha (2010), PeR (2013), Triana Park (2017) and Samanta Tīna (2021).

Participation overview

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All of Latvia's entries have been performed in English, except for three entries. In 2004 Fomins and Kleins performed "Dziesma par laimi" in Latvian, in 2007 Bonaparti.lv performed "Questa notte" in Italian and in 2009 Intars Busulis, having won Eirodziesma 2009 with "Sastrēgums" in Latvian, performed the song in Russian as "Probka".[3] With the exception of "The Moon Is Rising" by Samanta Tīna in 2021,[lower-alpha 1] all Latvian Eurovision entries have been chosen through a national final.

Table key
1
Winner
2
Second place
3
Third place
Last place
X
Entry selected but did not compete
Upcoming
Year Entrant Song Language Final Points Semi Points
2000 Brainstorm "My Star" English 3 136 No semi-finals
2001 Arnis Mednis "Too Much" English 18 16
2002 Marie N "I Wanna" English 1 176
2003 F.L.Y. "Hello from Mars" English 24 5
2004 Fomins and Kleins "Dziesma par laimi" Latvian Failed to qualify 17 23
2005 Walters and Kazha "The War Is Not Over" English 5 153 10 85
2006 Vocal Group Cosmos "I Hear Your Heart" English 16 30 Top 11 previous year[lower-alpha 2]
2007 Bonaparti.lv "Questa notte" Italian 16 54 5 168
2008 Pirates of the Sea "Wolves of the Sea" English 12 83 6 86
2009 Intars Busulis "Probka" (Пробка) Russian Failed to qualify 19 ◁ 7
2010 Aisha "What For?" English 17 ◁ 11
2011 Musiqq "Angel in Disguise" English 17 25
2012 Anmary "Beautiful Song" English 16 17
2013 PeR "Here We Go" English 17 ◁ 13
2014 Aarzemnieki "Cake to Bake" English[lower-alpha 3] 13 33
2015 Aminata "Love Injected" English 6 186 2 155
2016 Justs "Heartbeat" English 15 132 8 132
2017 Triana Park "Line" English Failed to qualify 18 ◁ 21
2018 Laura Rizzotto "Funny Girl" English 12 106
2019 Carousel "That Night" English 15 50
2020 Samanta Tīna "Still Breathing" English Contest cancelled[lower-alpha 4] X
2021 Samanta Tīna "The Moon Is Rising" English Failed to qualify
17 ◁
14
2022 Citi Zēni "Eat Your Salad" English 14 55
2023 Sudden Lights "Aijā" English[lower-alpha 5] Failed to qualify To Be Announced

Hostings

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Year Location Venue Presenters
2003 Riga Skonto Hall Marija Naumova and Renārs Kaupers
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Heads of delegation

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Year Head of delegation Ref.
2018 Zita Kaminska
2023 Guntars Gulbiņš

Commentators and spokespersons

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Year Commentator Spokesperson Ref.
1998 Kārlis Streips (lv) Did not participate
1999
2000 Lauris Reiniks
2001 Renārs Kaupers
2002 Ēriks Niedra
2003 Ģirts Līcis
2004 Lauris Reiniks
2005 Marie N
2006 Mārtiņš Freimanis
2007 Janis Šipkevics
2008 Kristīne Virsnīte
2009 Roberto Meloni
2010 Kārlis Būmeisters
2011 Valters Frīdenbergs, Uģis Joksts Aisha
2012 Valters Frīdenbergs (all), Kārlis Būmeisters (final) Valters Frīdenbergs
2013 Anmary
2014 Valters and Kaža Ralfs Eilands
2015 Valters Frīdenbergs (all), Toms Grēviņš (final) Markus Riva
2016 Toms Grēviņš
2017 Aminata Savadogo
2018 Toms Grēviņš (all), Magnuss Eriņš (final) Dagmāra Legante
2019 Toms Grēviņš, Ketija Šēnberga Laura Rizzotto
2021 Toms Grēviņš (all), Marija Naumova (final) Aminata Savadogo
2022 Toms Grēviņš, Lauris Reiniks Samanta Tīna
2023 Toms Grēviņš (all), Lauris Reiniks (final) To Be Announced
Lauris ReiniksMarija NaumovaKetija ŠēnbergaMagnuss EriņšToms GrēviņšKārlis BūmeistersUģis JokstsValters FrīdenbergsKārlis Streips

Photogallery

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Eurovision Song Contest 2009 Semi-Final (2). Eurovision.tv.
  2. ^ Eurovision Song Contest Semi-Final 2013 (2). Eurovision.tv.
  3. ^ Floras, Stella (2009-03-01). Latvia: Sastregums to be performed in Russian. ESCToday.
  4. ^ Aarzemnieki - Latvia — Copenhagen 2014 - Eurovision Song Contest. EBU.
  5. ^ THE VOTING RESULTS OF THE 2ND SEASON OF DEPI EVRATESIL (26 February 2018).
  6. ^ 🇱🇻 Latvia: Delegation Reflect on Rehearsals So Far & Lost Luggage Updat (30 April 2023).
  7. ^ Diva.lv - Eirovīzijas Dziesmu konkursa Nacionālā atlase.
  8. ^ Eirovīzijas Dziesmu konkursa Nacionālā atlase (lv). Digitalizētie Video un Audio (DIVA).
  9. ^ Streips kā dalībnieks debitē "Eirovīzijā" (lv). Delfi (9 November 2011).
  10. ^ a b Latvia – Stockholm 2000. European Broadcasting Union.
  11. ^ Eirovīzijas Dziesmu konkursa Nacionālā atlase (lv). Digitalizētie Video un Audio (DIVA).
  12. ^ Streips kā dalībnieks debitē "Eirovīzijā" (lv). Delfi (9 November 2011).
  13. ^ Streips kā dalībnieks debitē 'Eirovīzijā' (lv). Delfi (9 November 2011).
  14. ^ Latvia – Copenhagen 2001. European Broadcasting Union.
  15. ^ Streips kā dalībnieks debitē 'Eirovīzijā' (lv). Delfi (9 November 2011).
  16. ^ Latvia – Tallinn 2002. European Broadcasting Union.
  17. ^ Streips kā dalībnieks debitē 'Eirovīzijā' (lv). Delfi (9 November 2011).
  18. ^ Bakker, Sietse (22 May 2003). Girts Licis: press conferences and Latvian votes. ESCToday.
  19. ^ Latvia – Riga 2003. European Broadcasting Union.
  20. ^ "www.eurovision.tv", Diena, 22 May 2003. (in lv) 
  21. ^ Bakker, Sietse (14 May 2004). And here are the votes from... the spokespersons. ESCToday.
  22. ^ Streips kā dalībnieks debitē 'Eirovīzijā' (lv). Delfi (9 November 2011).
  23. ^ Philips, Roel (17 May 2005). The 39 spokespersons!. ESCToday.
  24. ^ 'Walters & Kazha' iekļūst Eirovīzijas finālā (lv). Delfi (20 May 2005).
  25. ^ Bakker, Sietse (20 May 2006). Meet the spokespersons for tonight's voting!. ESCToday.
  26. ^ Eirovīzijas pusfināls noskaidro vēl desmit finālistus! (lv). LTV (19 May 2006).
  27. ^ Streips kā dalībnieks debitē 'Eirovīzijā' (lv). Delfi (9 November 2011).
  28. ^ Jau rīt – Eirovīzijas pusfināls: Latvija, turam īkšķus! (lv). LTV (10 May 2007).
  29. ^ Streips kā dalībnieks debitē 'Eirovīzijā' (lv). Delfi (9 November 2011).
  30. ^ Eirovīzijā triumfē Dima Bilans no Krievijas, Pirāti – vienpadsmitie / divpadsmitie.
  31. ^ LTV preses konference: "Pirates of the Sea" dodas uz Belgradu un laiž klajā singlu! (lv). LTV (13 May 2008).
  32. ^ Pirāti šovakar cīnīsies par iekļūšanu finālā. Diena (22 May 2008).
  33. ^ Streips kā dalībnieks debitē 'Eirovīzijā' (lv). Delfi (9 November 2011).
  34. ^ Eirovīziju vairs nekomentēs Streips; Latvijas balsojumu paziņos Aisha (lv) (29 April 2011).
  35. ^ Anmary šovakar aizstāvēs Latvijas godu Eirovīzijā (lv) (22 May 2012).
  36. ^ Noskaties, kādas dziesmas piedalīsies Eirovīzijas finālā (lv) (26 May 2012).
  37. ^ LTV atklāj, kas komentēs 'Eirovīzijas' tiešraides (lv). Delfi (9 May 2013).
  38. ^ Granger, Anthony (9 May 2013). Latvia: Anmary Will Announce The Votes. Eurovoix.
  39. ^ 'Eirovīziju' atkal komentēs Valters un Kaža (lv). Delfi (4 May 2014).
  40. ^ Granger, Anthony (10 May 2014). ESC'14: Voting Order Announced. Eurovoix.
  41. ^ Eirovīziju komentēs Grēviņš un Frīdenbergs (lv) (7 May 2015).
  42. ^ Granger, Anthony (23 May 2015). Latvia: Markus Riva Is This Years Spokesperson. Eurovoix.
  43. ^ Zināmi pirmie desmit 'Eirovīzijas' finālisti; Igaunija no cīņas izstājas (lv). Delfi (10 May 2016).
  44. ^ a b Granger, Anthony (21 April 2018). Latvia: Toms Grēviņš Takes Over As Lead Commentator. Eurovoix.
  45. ^ Zināms, kas komentēs 'Eirovīzijas' tiešraides (lv). Delfi (27 April 2017).
  46. ^ Granger, Anthony (28 April 2017). Latvia: Aminata Announced as Spokesperson. Eurovoix.
  47. ^ "May we have your votes please?". EBU (11 May 2018).
  48. ^ Rit Eirovīzijas dziesmu konkursa fināls; notiek punktu sadalīšana (lv) (18 May 2019).
  49. ^ Eurovision 2019 Spokespersons – Who will announce the points? (18 May 2019).
  50. ^ Programma / LTV.LV (18.05.2021).
  51. ^ Programma / LTV.LV (20.05.2021).
  52. ^ Programma / LTV.LV (22.05.2021).
  53. ^ Granger, Anthony (15 May 2021). 🇱🇻 Latvia: Aminata Savadogo Revealed as Eurovision 2021 Spokesperson.
  54. ^ Eirovīzijas nedēļā LTV – raidījumi ar "Citiem zēniem", diskusijas un konkursa tiešraides (lv). LSM (5 May 2022).
  55. ^ Grace, Emily (8 May 2022). Latvia: Toms Grēviņš And Lauris Reiniks To Commentate On Eurovision 2022. Eurovoix.
  56. ^ Eirovīzijas nedēļā Latvijas Televīzijā – “V.I.P.” ar “Sudden Lights”, diskusijas un krāšņas konkursa tiešraides no Liverpūles (lv) (2023-05-02).

References

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Template:Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest Template:Eurovision Song Contest


Cite error:
  1. ^ Tīna won Supernova in 2020, but that year's Eurovision was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and she was later internally selected to represent her country in the following year instead.
  2. ^ According to the then-Eurovision rules, the top ten non-Big Four countries from the previous year along with the Big Four automatically qualified for the grand final without having to compete in semi-finals. For example, if Germany and France placed inside the top ten, the 11th and 12th spots were advanced to next year's grand final along with all countries ranked in the top ten.
  3. ^ Contains some phrases in Latvian.[4]
  4. ^ The 2020 contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  5. ^ Contains phrases in Latvian
  NODES
INTERN 1
Note 3