The bookies were wrong only once
After Don’s rather unexpected entry into the Eurovision final, Latvian listeners threw stones in the garden of bookmakers with undisguised jubilation, who had predicted Latvia to take almost the last place – hey, how are we! In fact, there is no reason to celebrate, because the bookmakers had predicted the top 10 of the second semi-final almost exactly, only the “forecasted” Latvia at the bottom of it pushed Belgium out of the Top 10. I have to admit, at one point, while watching the competition, I had really bad thoughts about Don’s chances, because it seemed that he would disappear against the background of the general terrible “European mess”, but the excellent performance will not be appreciated by European listeners, because in Latvia Don is Don, but outside of Latvia – just a singer with a good the voice and stage persona of Vince Diesel. Not lost, appreciated.
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It is interesting that Don’s chances in the final are even better than in the semi-final, because the judging of the decisive events in all countries also takes part in the jury, which will definitely note (will be forced to note) the qualities of “Hollow”. If we talk about the luck factor, Don should not lack it: on May 9 he performed in the semi-finals with the number 9, and on May 11 in the final he will take the stage eleven…
When the worse is the better…
Before seeing the contestants “live”, the all-knowing bookmakers ranked Switzerland in the first place (we will remind you – a man in a ballerina bra), Croatia in the second place, a “European” from the Netherlands in the third place, but Latvia and Estonia in the overall ranking were far behind the Top 20. When the participants went on stage in rehearsals , the situation started to change for the better, however, the fact that the judges in the semi-finals were only spectators with their own geographical sympathies caused concern. Some nuances in the predictions suggested that the bookmakers might have been wrong – for example, the weak Armenians were placed in our semi-final top ten, but Denmark, which meets all the criteria, and the energetic San Marino were left behind. However, it turned out that the Danish girl (like the Czech girl) – an absolute Eurovision format of this decade – is not capable of “pulling” her song, but Armenia had a pretty pretty girl who liked the listeners even with her Eastern market vibes. Don – it was immediately clear there that he will show with his charisma that a normal old man has stepped on the stage, besides, the semi-finalists included Estonia, Denmark and Norway, who usually support us, as well as the Netherlands, but one thing – ours was too… normal.
And here we come to the heaviest section of Eurovision 2024 – such a mess as this year has never been experienced before. Already after the first semi-final, the only recorded rating in the reviewer’s block in front of four or five songs was “what a horror…”, but in the second semi-final a bunch of others joined them. It seemed that Finland should go home with its tail asleep in the crotch, but no – it turned out that their thong performer is worthy of the final! Ireland with pentagram and burning circles, non-binary performers, etc., etc. – the Finnish “Lords”, always called Eurovision scandalists, can rest! True, Australia with its “feminine brothers” did not make it to the final – perhaps even the Eurovision viewer still has some kind of quality bar.
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The work of the Latvian jury raises questions
Returning to the Eurovision contender determined in the course of “Supernova” – it is clear that Don was the superior of the head courts this year, and on the stage in Malmö, theoretically, only Katrina Gupalo with her “cat song” could be imagined in his place. But even before Eurovision, the experienced music manager Guna Zučika drew attention to something: “This week, the question arises for me about what we already “squeezed out” in social networks and in our bubbles when “Supernova” took place – namely, about the incomprehensible selection of 15 songs for the semi-final. Why am I saying this? Because today the artists “YŪT” represented by “Every Little Thing” (Guna’s agency – author) with their debut song “Tuvu” are in the first place among the most played domestic musicians on Latvian radio stations, and we submitted this song to the competition. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have global pain that the song was not picked up – it has already exceeded all expectations, and the goal was also to introduce the group to the world of Latvian music. Rather, it is a misunderstanding about the selection of songs by the jury and the event, because – what is the purpose (except to send one song to Eurovision)? I am very happy, like everyone else, about the shining of the group “Vēstulēs” through this competition, but I have not seen any success stories from the other songs.”
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Guna would not want to agree about “Vēstuleim” – where has this group shone, minus one song?! But there is a question about the work of the jury. As you know, “Vēstulēs” came in second place both in the evaluation of the audience and the jury, so if it weren’t for Don, these young people/children would be delegated to represent Latvia in the international competition. OK, viewers have always come out with weird votes, but that’s why there’s already a jury to prevent possible mistakes. And now imagine the sight of two Latvian children taking the stage in Malmö alongside all these non-binary, brothers who think they are sisters, with half-naked behinds dancing around the stage, etc., etc. Brr… So you can say Don saved everyone.
The burden of responsibility is lifted from the shoulders, the future can only be better
Currently, Estonia and Latvia are allocated a place at the bottom of the Top 20 (Lithuanians are quoted a little higher), but the main favorite is the Croatian “Baby Lazanja”, who is copying last year’s second place winner Karij from Finland. In total, in the competition of 26 countries, the silver medal is currently surprisingly predicted for the Israeli, who perfectly coped with the stress of the events outside of Eurovision, the third place is allocated to Switzerland, while Ireland sensationally flew up to the high fourth place. In the further places – Italy, France, Ukraine and the Netherlands. After his triumph, Don himself expressed the obvious in an interview with LTV: “If we’re already that far [tikuši], then we show what we can do! Let’s go and just enjoy!”
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Nowadays, the burden of responsibility has been lifted from the shoulders, and the results of “Hollow” can only surprise with a plus sign. It is hoped that compatriots in Ireland, the British Isles and elsewhere will join the ranks of supporters, but we will find out who voted for whom after the final. On the evening of the Eurovision final, on May 11, at 9:10 p.m., Jānis Pētersons from the group “Citi zēni”, as well as producer Kaspars Ansons and members of the group “Vēstulēs”, will invite you to the screens for a fun and informative discussion “Iešūpo Eurovision!” discuss how Don is doing in the competition this year and what to expect in the finals. There will also be an opportunity to look behind the scenes of the competition and listen to the representatives of the Latvian delegation. On the other hand, at 22.00 there will be time to feel the developments in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest. “The official Eurovision slogan ‘United in music’ reflects the power of music, which brings together people from all over the world, and diversity will be one of the main features of this year’s contest, celebrating diversity not only in music, but also in emotions,” said LTV.
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