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

LATVIA – Tonight Sunday February 2nd is the second semi final of the Latvian National selection for Eurovision 2014. You can follow our live rolling blog HERE at 20:40 (CET). Just refresh this page for our comments on the 12 songs competing in the second semi-final.

You can watch the show HERE and HERE

The 12 Acts competing for the 6 places in the Grand Final are 

1. Ralfs Eilands and Valters Pūce – Revelation

2. Katrine Lukins – You are the reason

3. Mad Show Boys – I need a soul-twin

4. Markus Riva – Lights on

5. Anete Volmane – Breathe slow

6. Rolands Ūdris – What if it was

7. Katrīna Bindere – Moment and tomorrow

8. Andris Kivičs – Pa vidu tu

9. Dons – Pēdējā vēstule

10. Sabīne Vidriķe – Is it possible

11. Sabīne Berezina – Pressure

12. Eirošmits – If I could (get away)

Tonight you are in the capable hands of Miss Elaine Dove – so brace yourselves! Enjoy

LIVE BLOG

I’m back folks – first blog of the 2014 season and love that it is one of my favourite countries Latvia. Hope you are all as excited as I am.

We start tonight with a performance from Latvian Voices – winners of 2012 World Choir Games – I think the Von Trapp children want their curtains back tho :-)

All participants have been called to the stage and what an eclectic mix they are – anything could happen (im sure I saw the cast of Wicked making their way up)

OK here we go

1. Ralfs Eilands and Valters Pūce – Revelation

It’s a passionate performance from Ralfs as he starts singing, face pressed up close to the camera. Revelation has come!!!! It definitely comes over better as a performance than it does as a song – it is not what you call a catchy number yet he is very striking and I didn’t take my eyes off him. Felt very political – giving his manifesto to the masses but I cannot see him emulating his success of last year when he represented Latvia with his group Per. Interesting start to the show though. You have my attention!

2. Katrine Lukins – You are the reason

Katrine is performing in a striking red top but unfortunately it is the only thing that sticks out from this performance. The tuning was very dodgy from the first note and perhaps im being a bit harsh since I’ve started my singing lessons but it all sounds a bit nasally. A run of the mill pop/rock song but I can not see this having much impact on the voters. She is not the reason i would be voting tonight im afraid.

3. Mad Show Boys – I need a soul-twin

I have been waiting for this. It is no secret that I was gutted when “Music Thief” never made it through to represent Latvia in 2012 – will they go one better this year?

We are taken on a journey of famous couples whilst the lead singer laments that he has not yet found his soul twin!!! Everyone who is everyone gets a mention – Marge and Homer, Bonnie and Clyde, Elaine Dove and Paul Jordan :-) Happily he eventually finds his Queen – who pops out from behind Freddie Mercury lol – what can I say? It is fun but it is not a patch on their previous entry. I hope it qualifies because they will bring some entertainment to the final but I don’t see them making it to Copenhagen.

4. Markus Riva – Lights on

Well I love the “lights on” the microphone stands. The diva in me wants one for the bedroom. The chorus of this song is quite catchy but the vocal is not the best. I could see this being a great song for the Euroclub dancefloor but he lacks a little bit of charisma for my liking. The lights are on but I am not sure whether anyone is at home. Could be a borderline qualifier.

5. Anete Volmane – Breathe slow

A wee see through chiffon white skirt certainly grabs the attention here Anete. This is a very slow pop song. I think she has a decent voice but the song seems to have a funny pitch which makes it all sound a bit screechy. There is a techno beat in the background and I think they are trying to replicate the type of sound created by Margaret Berger – Norway 2013 but it falls very short I am afraid.

So far nothing has jumped out and grabbed me – the qualifying spots are still there for the taking I think

6. Rolands Ūdris – What if it was

Hmmm do this group call themselves U.K.? Great to see U.K. in a national final :-) – they have gone back to nature with their costumes – no I don’t mean birthday suits but there is a lot of branches evident in the headdresses. This song is very striking and it alternates between an English lyric and a very ethnic refrain/chant for the chorus. It will not be to everyone’s taste but I really enjoyed this. My favourite song so far.

7. Katrīna Bindere – Moment and tomorrow

Ah yes we have a wind machine – I feel a power ballad coming on. Katrina gives a good performance of the song. It is a decent song but not jump of the stage, punch you in the face memorable. It has a sing a long chorus that will please some and everything about it was nice – but I don’t think “nice” wins the Eurovision Song Contest. It is a contender to reach the final but I don’t see it challenging for 1st place.

8. Andris Kivičs – Pa vidu tu

Now this is a more uptempo number and it grabs your attention. Andris is decked out in a military style jacket and he has a slightly cooky looking, big haired lady in a red dress painting on the stage “Can you guess what it is yet?” Unfortunately the song has far more charisma than the singer – he does not really perform the song and I am really confused as to the role of the lady painter – but hey it made for an interesting 3 minutes and there is an interesting “package” to keep the eagle eyed entertained.

9. Dons – Pēdējā vēstule

For me this has been one of the best vocal performances of the night. It is an uptempo male ballad and sung very well. Dons is sporting and impressive set of eye brows too and we know from last year, eyebroworgraphy is very important in the Eurovision world. Just ask Roberto Bellarosa and Andrius Pojavis. I think this has a great chance of making the final.

10. Sabīne Vidriķe – Is it possible

A dance anthem – first one of the night. Sabine gives a great performance whilst attempting to seduce the slightly geeky looking boy sitting on the floor wearing braces and reading a book. This is full of fun and would get many people up cutting some shapes on the floor. The good news is she got her man at the end too so I might have to steal some of her moves. Another contender.

11. Sabīne Berezina – Pressure

You wait around all night for a Sabine and then 2 come along at once – typical. I always wondered what happened to the woman from The Scottish Widows advert now I know – she picked up her hooded cloak and headed to Riga. To be fair this song builds towards the end and Sabine sings it very powerfully but you can’t help but think all the way through the song – What is under the cloak? – well ………. Little Grey riding hood – my my what a big fish tail you have! The late draw for this song might help it over the line but not one of my favourites.

12. Eirošmits – If I could (get away)

Well I have seen some impressive beards at Eurovision before (ive even been accused of being one ;-) but this is hilarious. A guy decked out in leather jacket, cowboy hat and aviators joined by 3 guys with fabulous mullets and giant fake beards. Big uptempo rock song and I LOVED IT. One of the most memorable songs of the night. It’s a qualifier for me.

My top 6 is a tough decision as it was not the best choice of songs ever in a Latvian Semi but I would go with the following if it were my decision

1. Ralfs Eilands and Valters Pūce – Revelation

3. Mad Show Boys – I need a soul-twin

6. Rolands Ūdris – What if it was

9. Dons – Pēdējā vēstule

10. Sabīne Vidriķe – Is it possible

12. Eirošmits – If I could (get away)

Well folks that was fun. I loved being back in the hot seat – hope you enjoyed it too. Nothing is more bonkers than a National Selection – u get a bit of everything. I’ve given you my opinion – now it is over to the televoters and the juries. Will they agree with me? I doubt it very much ha ha.

There were several interval acts although the 2 most widely known were Aija Andrejeva and Sinplus. Aija is more widely known as Aisha who represented Latvia in 2010 in Norway with her song What For? She showed she is still a powerful performer with a great voice. Unfortunately she was last in her semi final in 2010 and did not qualify for the final.

Sinplus then performed their song from Eurovision 2012 – Unbreakable. This was another non qualifier for the final although it narrowly missed out in 11th place. Which of tonight’s representatives can progress to the final on 22nd February and hopefully go one step further than Aisha and Sinplus???

The qualifiers are, in order they were drawn out:

9. Dons – Pēdējā vēstule

7. Katrīna Bindere – Moment and tomorrow

12. Eirošmits – If I could (get away)

1. Ralfs Eilands and Valters Pūce – Revelation

4. Markus Riva – Lights on

2. Katrine Lukins – You are the reason

Oh well a 50% prediction – not too bad. 2 of the qualifiers I had as borderline so not a bad nights work. Well done to the qualifiers and best of luck on 22nd February in the Final of Dziesma 2014

Author: Elaine Dove

Source : Eurovision Ireland