The year of Ampelman in Eurovision – will Don hit the top ten with the ballad “Hollow”? / Script

IN SHORT:

Four good achievements in 23 years

In 2000, Latvia made its debut in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “My Star” by “Prāta vētras” and won the high third place. This was followed by the appearance of Arņi Medņas with the composition “Too Much” and the 18th place, and then also the triumph of Latvia, when in 2002 Marija Naumova won the laurels with the song “I Wanna”.

After Marija Naumova’s victory, Latvia had good results two more times – in 2005, when “Walters&Kaža” won 5th place, and ten years later, when Aminata won 6th place.

So, in total, during the 23 years since Latvia has participated in the competition, there have been four good achievements, the other participants have either remained in very low places in the finals or, for the most part, have not reached the finals at all.

Music columnist Sandris Vanzovičs, who has been closely following Eurovision since Latvia’s participation, and was also on the selection jury a few years ago, believes that it is very good that we participate in this event, because it is one of the rare opportunities for our musicians to show themselves internationally.

However, precisely as a competition, this event is not Latvia’s strong point, but we shouldn’t be worried about it either, believes Sandris Vanzovičs: “Obviously, the “Good Guy” was right that “Europe will not understand us”. We are somehow not on the right track with this competition from a competitive point of view, if we want to achieve something there, we have to lower our quality levels, because we see what happens in this event, which I call simply a television show.

It is strange from our side that we watch it as a show, perceive it as a show, we are happy about it, we laugh and for some reason we want some high results there. That is exactly how it should be perceived.

On the other hand, if we want to perceive it as a competition, then we have to approach it according to completely scientific principles, we have to calculate what the average European person will have on his mind next year, about what topics he will be angry about – whether it is about electricity tariffs or about the green environment, or something else. It happens to us that we are a year behind in these topics and then we are surprised that we do not get anything there. But I would invite you not to calculate or think about anything there, just to perceive it as an entertainment event in which we participate. If ours make it to the finals, that’s cool – we have more to sympathize with in the finals, well, they don’t – what’s the difference? It’s just easier to perceive it all, as Lauris Reiniks already said.”

The show as a political tool

Eurovision has long ceased to be just a song contest and show, but also a kind of political instrument, although it is not officially recorded in any document. Sometimes it is politics that plays the biggest role in the success or failure of a song – according to Juris Millers, an expert on Eurovision events, music producer: “This is evidenced, for example, by the fact that at a time when rapprochement with the European Union was very important for us, two Baltic countries two years after reached the first places – Estonia won in 2001, and Latvia in 2002. Let’s remember that in the past, when support for Israel was needed after the assassination of the prime minister, then there was a victory for Israel, while during the Ukrainian war, Europe clearly expressed political support for Ukraine and so on. So, we can definitely see and evaluate such political parallels in the context of this competition very deeply.”

The songs themselves, on the other hand, according to the rules of the contest, no direct political messages may be expressed, reminds Juris Miller: “We remember that there were problems with the Ukrainian singer with the stage name “Verka Serdyučka”, he was not allowed to sing “Russia Goodbye”, he had to sing “Lasha Tumbai” “. The Georgians, on the other hand, had the political message “We Don’t Wanna Put In”, which they weren’t really allowed to sing, even though they were talking about something else, not a person with the surname Putin. There have been many such exchanges historically.”

This year, the organizers of the contest ordered to remove several lines from the song “Hurricane” by Israeli representative Eden Golan, because they touch on war themes.

Will Don be noticed?

In addition to the political vote, the results of the competition can be influenced by a number of other factors, for example, neighbors tend to vote for their neighbors, and the Balkan countries are particularly supportive in this regard. Similarly, success or failure can be hidden even in the order of performance and in other cases also in the principle of contrasts, when a song stands out precisely because of its difference from the others. Thus, at one time a contemplative ballad can win, and at another – roaring heavy metal, as, for example, was the case with the scary masked “Lordu” song from Finland.

This is the time when the Latvian representative Don’s song is really significantly different from the majority of songs – admits a long-time fan of Eurovision, now for the third year also the head of the press service of the Latvian Eurovision delegation Edgars Bāliņš, the only question is how it will play on the audience: “Last year, the representative of Finland Käärijä came with such an unprecedented show and entertainment, which I think resonates a lot this year.

This year has seen a lot of what I call them, funny performance. Fun performance. So in a way, Don has hit the top ten with his laid-back ballad, which will be in short supply this year. And then you will be able to stand out from the rest.”

The duller the better?

Eurovision has also changed a lot over the years – admits director Dita Torstere, creator of Eurovision traditions in Latvia and known as the godmother of Eurovision.

If when Latvia started its participation in the competition, it seemed that the countries were trying to show their really best singers, now there is a feeling that the priorities are completely different. That’s the impression Dita Torster got after watching all of this year’s applications, among which Don’s performance really stands out for its quality: “Looking at it now, I got the impression that the dumber the better. Let’s say, I don’t understand Lithuanians at all this year, Estonians are just complaining. I don’t know, is it profitable for the country to send ampelmans to such an expensive event, because it is very expensive for the country. But it is in fashion, and now we need to impress. We dress naked and do all kinds of things on stage… But speaking of Don, I am very happy that Don has made such a decision to participate in Eurovision. First of all, this contest is absolutely worthy of him, secondly, it is a huge opportunity to show his talent. And I am sure that I will not be ashamed of Latvia. but we find the song and the artist that we are not ashamed of, because these artists already represent the country.

And I absolutely do not care which seat he gets. Because the whole of Latvia will benefit, because we have sent a very good artist. And Don will be a winner too, because he is finally honored where he deserves to be.”

Music reviewer Sandris Vanzovičs has similar thoughts. Don really offers a good song in a quality performance, that’s why it doesn’t fit into the trends of this year’s competition, but most of us would hardly want to fit into these trends at all, Sandris Vanzovics thinks: “What the bookies at least predict in the first places, I find it difficult in such a censored name describe. But Don stands out in my opinion. But apparently it will not be in demand this year. And in general, how can they know it corresponds to the real results. Well, and then we can see who is in the first place – Switzerland, which we will also be able to see in our semi-finals. Well, dear viewers, look at this performer, who can be seen in a ballerina skirt, at least and look at Don who sings with quality and power.And then think if you want to be in the final with a song like Switzerland, or if you’d rather be on the verge of a semi-final/final with a performer like Don, which at least we won’t be ashamed of. I prefer the second option.”

Experts agree that the new competition procedure, when the finalists are no longer determined by the joint evaluation of the audience and the jury, but only by the audience’s vote, because, for example, Don could quite certainly earn the attention of the jury, is not beneficial to Latvia’s results.

But – as we know – Eurovision also tends to bring various unpredictable turns, how will it be this time and how will the Latvian representative Don be – we will find out already on Thursday.

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CONTEXT:

37 countries have confirmed their participation in the upcoming 2024 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, Sweden.

31 countries will compete in two semi-finals – on May 7 and 9, and in the final – on May 11 – 26 countries will fight for places.

From each semi-final, 10 countries will advance to the Eurovision final, bringing 20 countries to join Eurovision 2024 winner Sweden and the ‘big five’ of Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and France.

The one who will represent Latvia in Eurovision is decided every year by the jury and the audience in the “Supernova” competition of Latvian Television. This year, Don became the winner with the song “Hollow”, it will be performed in the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest on May 9.