Tonight in Latvia, the Supernova 2018 began, with the first seven songs performed. After months of waiting the action is finally happening in Riga with two performers through to the final on February 24.
The winner of Supernova 2018 will represent Latvia at the Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon, Portugal in May.
The Hosts
Back to let you hear his heartbeat, Justs Sirmais hosted the show along with model and Latvian TV star, Dagmara Legante. The green room was hosted by Toms Grēviņš. Justs, of course, represented Latvia at the 2016 contest in Stockholm, Sweden. To remind us of this he reprised the song, Heartbeat at the start of the show.
The Show
Triana Park returned next to give a performance of Line. Judging by the audience response they have been forgiven for their poor results last year. Agnese was even one of the judges. The queen of Latvia, Aminita, then gave a rousing performance of Love Injected, dressed in a very nice red suit. As there are only seven songs in this show tonight, and it lasts two hours, there was a lot of needless time filling talking. Everyone is on edge in case that beaver appears.
The Songs
Katrīna Gupalo and The Black Birds – Intoxicating Caramel
Opening this years competition was Katrīna and her blackbirds. Described to EuroVisionary by Katrīna herself, the song is a form of art pop style, which can break down boundaries. The song is a mix of jazz and circus. Katrīna’s vocals were on point, both singing and shrieking and the burlesque nature of the song made it the perfect opener.
Rahu The Fool – Oh Longriver
From the circus, we head to a Tennessee old-time honky tonk bar next. This acoustic driven song was perhaps a joke, to begin with. However now that the song has made the TV show, things start to get a bit more serious. With its fiddle playing all the way through to the finish, it’s a song to be danced to after a good nights drinking.The six-piece folk band had a blast and invite you all out for a drink should they make it to Lisbon.
DVINES – More Than Meets the Eye
The twins have a more subtle song than the previous two entries. The song was described to EuroVisionary by the twins, as a mid-tempo classic song with harmonies and background vocals. The song lived up to its expectations with the ladies performing some pretty complex harmonies. The title was perhaps repeated a few too many times, but already only three songs into the show, it is easy to see the diversity in Latvia’s choices this year. The twins sang perfectly.
Agnese Stengrevics – You Are My World
Next up Agnese, whose song of obsessive love seemed like it would be difficult to perform live. Instead, Agnese breezed through the song, drawing you in, as she became more involved with the man who is her world. A reasonable song to dance to, although it does have quite a few tempo changes. This is begging for a 12-inch version, the song is over too soon. Agnese had a pair of boots to compete with Lithuania’s Kotryna. Her two hoodie-clad backing dancers did just fine too.
Sudden Lights – Just Fine
The first pop-rock group in the competition. This featured a guitar playing the same refrain all the way through. The group performed as competently as any chart making group, with the song building as it progressed. This is a little Radiohead, a bit Brainstorm. The group hasn’t done as much promotion as some of the other acts, so this might be its downfall or its blessing.
Edgars Kreilis – Younger Days
Edgars has a powerfully strong voice. The upbeat song which tells the story of a young life living with arguing parents was performed with conviction. Edgars sang the song with no frills trying to project the story. He succeeded despite tonight’s first appearance of a pair of red shoes.
Liene Greifāne – Walk the Talk
With an already impossible task of picking only two acts, Liene makes the choice even harder. Closing the competition with another strong song and possible finalist, she performs the song with the attitude it deserves. The vocals were faultless.
The Results
The Latvian public and the panel of jurists chose the two artists going to the final. They are Liene Greifāne and Edgars Kreilis.
Latvia In The Eurovision Song Contest
This year will be the nineteenth appearance for Latvia at the Eurovision Song Contest. Debuting in 2000, only Denmark and Russia stopped Latvia from winning in its first year with My Star by Brainstorm.
The following year Arnis Mednis was a little Too Much for the judges and it finished in 18th place, meaning Latvia would have to miss the 2002 competition.
However, this year’s hosts, Portugal didn’t fancy appearing in the 2002 show, so the organizers had a slot to fill. Promising not to send another song like the previous year, Latvia was allowed to fill the vacant slot.
To the chagrin of Malta, Marie N performed second to last and won the European public over. Latvia won Eurovision on its third time lucky attempt with I Wanna.
Below is Liene’s Video for Walk The Talk.
