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About Latvia...
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2004 Result
Points in Semi Final: 23
Position in Semi Final: 17th
Points in Final: Failed to qualify
Position in Final: Failed to qualify
2005 Contest: Must compete in Semi Final
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History (1956 to 2003)
Latvia's previous appearances: 4 year(s) out of 48
Years participated: 2000-
Best result: 1st (2002)
Latvia has had one of the best starts of any Eurovision country. It secured 3rd place at its first attempt in 2000, with Brainstorm's quirky 'My star', and won the contest with Marie N's 'I Wanna' in 2002 (the less said about the intervening 2001 entry by Arnis Mednis, the better). In 2003, however, Latvia came down to earth with a bump - despite being the host nation, 'Hello from Mars' could only muster 24th place and 5 points, all of those from neighbours Estonia. Perhaps it was the white suits and scary dancing that did it? Needless to say, Latvia find themselves in the unusual position of having to qualify in order to reach the Eurovision Song Contest proper.
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This year's entry
Position in Semi Final draw: 4
Position in Final draw: Failed to qualify
What I said prior to the Semi Final:
"After singing in English for the last four years, Latvia try something different by performing a song in their own language. 'Dziesma par laimi', or 'Song about happiness' is actually rather good - it has a very catchy chorus, nice guitar interludes and strong female backing vocals. With gravelly vocals provided by Fomins & Kleins, it sounds rather like Ich Troje (Poland, 2003) performing Birgitta's 'Open Your Heart' (Iceland, 2003), if you can imagine that combination... Another victory for Latvia, then? "
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What I predicted...
My prediction for Semi Final: 14th to 17th
My prediction for Final: Unlikely to qualify
What I predicted prior to the Semi Final:
"Probably not, unfortunately. Performed after three memorable English language songs (Finland, Belarus and Switzerland), it's difficult to see Latvia standing out. I really like the song in Latvian, though singing a verse in English might make it appeal more widely to Europe's televoters. There's little doubt in my mind that this song deserves to reach the Final, but I think the chances of it doing so are slim."
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What you thought...
Final Poll Ranking: out of 36 ()
(Updated 15 May 2004; change refers to movement over final week)
In the run up to the Contest, over 5,000 visitors to this site voted for their favourite song in the Soult.com Eurovision Poll.
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What actually happened
Having already sat through dodgy performances from Finland, Belarus and Switzerland, Latvia had a chance to make a good impression on the televoters at home. Looking like a less wrinkly version of the Rolling Stones with their big hair and vests, Fomins and Kleins' performance came across well. The problem, perhaps, was that the song was good, but just not good enough.
And what is this? A correct prediction? Surely not!!! Having got my predictions for the first three semi-finalists wrong, it's a relief to be able to claw back some credibility. I said that Latvia would finish between 14th and 17th (it finished 17th), and would be "unlikely to qualify" for the Final (it didn't). So that's good.
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What the bookies thought...
 | Latvia to win: | 15/05/04 (prior to Final) | - |
| | 13/05/04 (after Semi Final) | - |
| | 11/05/04 | 66-1 |
| | 08/05/04 | 50-1 |
| | 06/05/04 | 50-1 |
| | 04/05/04 | 50-1 |
| | 31/04/04 | 50-1 |
| | 24/04/04 | 50-1 |
| | 17/04/04 | 50-1 |
| | 07/04/04 | 40-1 |
| | 24/03/04 | 40-1 |
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Latvia began the Eurovision season at 40-1, before slipping to 66-1 - as far as the bookies were concerned, Latvia's failure to reach the Final was not much of a surprise.
(Odds quoted here were those offered by Coral.co.uk. 'F' indicates favourite, 'JF' joint favourite.)
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Links
 http://www.micrec.lv/en/artists.asp?Makslinieks=011
 http://www.eirovizija.lv/
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Notes (see 'History' above)
- The 1956 Contest (where each country had two songs) is counted as a single appearance;
- Countries eliminated in the 1993 preliminary heat (EE, HU, RO, SK) ARE NOT counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest;
- Countries eliminated in the 1996 preliminary heat (DE, DK, HU, IL, MK, RO, RU) ARE NOT counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest;
- Countries eliminated in the 2004, 2005 and 2006 Semi Finals ARE counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest.
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Your comments (7)
From The Superunknown, LATVIA
Added 4:38:33 2004-5-10
In my mind, this is our (Latvija's) best song ever in the Eurovision. But I fear that there isn't much chance of it winning- but then again, I though the 2002 Latvian entry was rubbish!
From ausra, LITHUANIA
Added 0:1:30 2004-5-8
Don't worry Latvia, our song is terrible too:)
From Panayotis, GREECE
Added 3:26:4 2004-5-6
I am not into so much into Rock/"Rock-ish" stuff, but I like this one. I am afraid it won't make it, though...but let's just wish good luck to Latvia and we'll know on the 12th!
From Mark, GERMANY
Added 26/04/2004 16:59
Absolutely agree with that language-rules. With one single difference: I just love to hear other countrys in their native language. Isn't that, what it always made it so intersting? You can made the german EBU-Member Meyer-Beer made responsible for that wrong Decision.
The song so far is a bit mainstream-rock and i think too, they won't do it to the final, but would like to see them ther. More than those boring boy from Greece in every way.
From T.G.Beck, ICELAND
Added 07/04/2004 13:00
nice song. the lyrics are in latvian, which makes it better already (if you ask me, eurovision went down the toilet when they put out that 'free choice of language' rule), because then you can't hear how lousy they are :p and when the lyrics aren't bugging me, i can swing along a bit. nice power.
From Sérgio Rego, PORTUGAL
Added 06/04/2004 16:56
Nice to see Latvia singing in their own language for the first time!
I agree with Graham, the chances of seeing Latvia in the final are slim. Let's not forget that 12 countries will go home earlier and only 10 will qualify.
From boog, ITALY
Added 05/04/2004 16:48
Same 'hook' as Iceland 2003, the only band in the semi, and as 2 out of the top 3 last year were sung in languages other than english... the worm has turned! :o) My televote in the semi guaranteed.
(Although I'm disappointed with their new sanitised version)
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Latvia
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