Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Latvia will have it's semifinals this weekend. Two semifinals with 12 songs, and six of them from each semifinal will go to the final of Dziesma on February 22, 2014. With a couple of listenings I shortisted my favorites and at this point they are MyRadiantU, Mad Show Boys, Dons, Rolands Udris and Olga & Ligo. Bubbling under are Markus Rivas, Aarzemnieki, Andris Kivics.... Let's wait and see if they will go all the way to the final, and maybe even Copenhagen - I have no idea how Latvians will vote! Listen all the songs here . Semi-final 1 - February 1, 2014 DJ Dween & Sabīne Berezina - Dejo Tā  Crazy Dolls - Bučas Tamara Rutkovska - I am happy Niko - Here I am again Ivo Grīsniņš Grīslis - I've got Aarzemnieki - Cake to bake Oskars Deigelis - Just stop Samanta Tina - Stay MyRadiantU - Going all the way Aminata Savadogo - I can breathe Dāvis Matskins - I need more Olga & Līgo - Saule riet (Take away) Semi-final 2  - Februar...

Two years ago Mad Show Boys participated in the Latvian national selection with Music thief that combined catchy song and some crazy humour bringing on  stage Marilyn Manson, Pet Shop Boys, Elton John, Beatles and even Lordi and I'm not going to even count the references in the song lyrics and the arrangement. There's a thin line of being funny or ridiculous but I liked it and thought it was besides catchy also rather brilliant. They had stolen with grace. They came third. Now they are back with I need a soul-twin that has the same recipe: very catchy and lyrics filled with references to famous couples in the history, faitytales, TV, show biz.... You name it! And one again it's one of the best songs in offering in Dziesma 2014 among all those plastic EDM's written Eurovision in mind. Or what do you think? Listen all songs here .

Just like last Saturday also to night's it's a busy night! Two finals and three national semifinals (all times CET): 19.55-21.50 Norway - FINAL - read more here 20.00-22.00 Finland - FINAL- read more here 20.00-21.30 Sweden - semifinal 2 - read more here 20.15-21.50 Hungary - Heat 2 - read more here 20.25- 22.40  Latvia - semifinal 2 - read more here And this time it's a lot trickier than last week when one could catch up the results one after another. Now most everything is happening at the same time! But one can catche the results in Sweden just before the Norwegian winner that happens just before the Finnish one. And then you can go to Latvia to catch up the results as well. Hungary seems to be the one left in shadow this tonight... I will concentrate on Finland's UMK 2013 final of course with live blogging here, but will update post other results and comments asap as well so stay tuned. And have a great evening!

Six songs qualified last night to the Latvian final and another 12 are trying to get one of additional six tickets tonight. And what a strange division LTV has made! One could almost skip all the ones in the first semifinal as all the goodies are in this second one. Ieva, Andris, Martins, Aiwink.... even PeR and Pieneņu vīns, who both have two songs have their better one in this one.... Weird. Anyways, listen to the songs and judge yourself here . I stick to my initial favorite and say only hey, hey! Update: Another night of weird choices in Latvia! Highlighted ones made it to the final.... Ieva Sutugova - Cold heart Dāvids Kalandija & Dināra - Fool in love Rūta Dūduma - Here I am PeR - Here we go Andris Kivičs - Hey, hey! Marta Ritova - I am who I am Mārtiņš Ruskis & 4 vēji - Joey Framest - Let the night belong to the lovers Aiwink - Now or never Nico - One Kristīne Šomase - Phoenix fly Pieneņu vīns - The One

Latvia starts its search for the song for Malmö 2013 tonight. Two semifinals , the second one tomorrow night,  with 50-50 televote-jury and six will make the final from both of them. You can listen to all the songs here . I must admit the first hearing left me rather indifferent to these songs in this first semifinal but if I have to save some... Ivo, Liene... maybe Antra and Sabine. And I guess fans will go crazy for Fox Lima but I think it needs still a lot of work.... But then, everything may change on stage.... The fun starts at 20.15 CET here . Update : The results are down and the highlighted ones made it to the final. Rather weird choices but then I'm already getting used to be wrong all the time this year.... or was I? Three out of six right and I was pretty sure that PeR would make it, too so that's actually four :-)   Pieneņu vīns - Better than you Ivo Grīsniņš-Grīslis - Give me a try Dominic Okolue - Good woman Liene Candy - Higher and higher Samanta...

Last night I was too busy with Sanremo to care for the other selections so here we go. Latvia. First I ust say two my favourites made the top-3 and one of them won. Beautifl song was my favourite ever since I heard the audio. When I saw the semifinal performnce I wasn't thrilled I Hoped they would change it and they did, to this . I don't know which one is more horrid and it's a shame because the song is catchy and good with rather clever lyrics (well, sort of...). I think they should just stick to singing without playing the theatre on stage. At least she needs to stop rolling those eyes, it's scary! Anyways, Mad Show Boys came third and favourite by many, PeR didn't make the superfinal which I'm only happy for. 1. Beautiful song - Anmary  2. I want you back - Samanta & Davids 3. Music Thieves - Mad Show Boys

Latvia will have its final tonight. Ten songs made it this far after two semifinals earlier. The first part of the show starts at 18.00 CET and the second with three superfinalists at 20.00 CET. Amongst guest stars we have the only Latvian Eurovision winner Marie N, this year's Swiss entrants Sinplus (yes, they sure make the rounds!) and Musiqq. My favourites by far are Anmary (even if they need to better the staging a lot!), Roberts and Mad Show Boys (who on the other hand don't need to change a thing) but we can't rule out PeR unfortunately either. Andris could have a chance as could Elizabete. UPDATE: Beautiful song is the winner. With a new staging. But it still doesn't work I'm afraid. Just sing and drop the show! 1. My world - Ruta Duduma 2 . I want you back - Samanta Tina & Davids Kalandija 3. Disco superfly - PeR 4. Stars are my family - Trianas Parks 5. Celebration - Paula Dukure 6. We can change the world - Andris Abelite 7. Beautiful...

Latvia had its second (and better) semifinal tonight and happily I can announce all the songs I wanted and/or predicted for the final did it. A jackpot! Anyways, we also saw on stage something very weird when Mr Lordi emerged from Dima Bilan's piano during Mad Show Boys performance! And when you thought you had seen it all.... 1. Miks Dukurs & NBC –  Sweet For Me 2. Valters Gleške & Lība Ēce –  Better World 3. The 4 –  Get It Started 4. Anmary – Beautiful Song 5. Paul Swan –  Wanna Be With You 6. Roberts Pētersons – She’s a Queen 7. Samanta Tīna –  For Father 8. Elizabete Zagorska – You Are a Star 9. Mad Show Boys – Music Thief 10. Triānas parks – Stars Are My Family They will join the following acts in the final on February 18, 2012 Samanta Tina & Davids Kalandija – I want you back Paula Dukure – Celebration Andris Abelite – We can change the world Ruta Duduma – My world Group ‘PeR’ – Disco Superfly

Tonight the first semifinal in Latvia will take place. Some familiar names are in the line up like Andris who was part of Bonaparti.lv and Ruta was last year on Eurovision stage as a backing singer. I would lie if I said my favourites are in this semi but this said the demos we hear on LTV's website may have been reproduced to something good. Or then not. Frankly, I wouldn't send any of these to the final. Luckily there are beautiful songs and music thieves in the second semifinal :-) You can listen all the songs here . 1. Dancer  - Atis Ieviņš 2. Mīlestības nevar būt par daudz  - Nikolajs Puzikovs 3. No Limits To Dream  - Maia 4. I Want You Back   - Samanta Tīna & Dāvids Kalandija 5. Rollin’ Up  - Angelina & Alisa May 6. Freakin’ Out  - Laura Bicāne & Romāns Sladzis 7. Celebration   - Paula Dukure 8. We Can Change The World   - Andris Ābelīte 9. My World - Rūta Dūduma 10. Disco Superfly - PeR UPDATE: Apparently th...