“Dziesma” -Latvian Eurovision Selection 2014. Photograph courtesy of LTV

The closing date for submissions to the Latvian Eurovision 2014 selection was yesterday. On LTV’s official Facebook page they revealed the details of the entries that they received.

Last year 122 entries were received by LTV (Latvian National Broadcaster). How does this compare to this year? There has been a drop in 49 submissions as only 73 songs were received.

This year saw a revision in the rules for the national selection where only Latvian authors were allowed to submit entries. Another reason could a potential lack in interest from local songwriters as Latvia has failed to qualify for the Grand Final of Eurovision for the past 5 years. The last times they did so was in 2008 when the band Pirates of the Sea came 12th with the song “Wolves of the Sea” – which ironically was written by Swedish composers.

According to LTV’s website, the 73 songs received were submitted in the following languages : 60 songs in English, 11 in Latvian, 1 in Russian and 1 surprisingly in French.

An internal Jury at LTV will now select 24 entries to compete in the semi finals of “Dziesma” on the 18th and 19th of January. December the 2nd will see the 24 semi finalists revealed to the press.

Author/Website co-founder and Editor in Chief Garrett Mulhall

Source : LTV and Eirovizijalv