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About Latvia...
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2005 Result
Points in Semi Final: 85
Position in Semi Final: 10th
Points in Final: 153
Position in Final: 5th
2006 Contest: Directly qualified to Final
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History (1956 to 2004)
Latvia's previous appearances: 5 year(s) out of 49
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' by FLY 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? In 2004, Latvia therefore found itself in the unusual position of having to qualify in order to reach the Eurovision Song Contest proper. Unfortunately, while it's contribution to the evening's entertainment - 'Dziesma par laimi' by Fomins & Kleins - was lively enough, 17th place was not good enough to qualify. Consequently, Latvia must get through the Semi Final if it is to stand a chance of winning Eurovision for a second time.
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This year's entry
Position in Semi Final draw: 5
Position in Final draw: 23
What I said prior to the Semi Final:
"Turning his hand to songwriting instead of scary dancing, Martin Freimanis of FLY seems to have come up trumps - 'The war is not over', performed by male duo Walters & Kazha (both members of the Latvian band Putnu Balle), is really rather lovely. It's a pretty - and thought-provoking - ballad, performed Re-union-style (Netherlands, 2004) with the two guys sat on stools playing their guitars, harmonising with each other. This kind of song is always a gamble - with no lively backing track or visual shenanigans to fall back on, it really is all about the voices. With a good vocal performance, this ought to go far; with a dodgy performance, Latvia will guarantee itself a place in 2006's Semi Final. Hopefully it will be the former, as this song really is one of my favourites - truly wonderful stuff."
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What I predicted...
My prediction for Semi Final: 14th to 16th
My prediction for Final: Unlikely to qualify
What I predicted prior to the Semi Final:
"15 of the 25 Semi Final songs will fail to reach the Final, and though I feel that the Latvian entry is absolutely deserving of qualification, it may get buried among other songs that simply have a more immediate impact. However, I will be very happy to be proved wrong, and the bookies' odds of 28-1 give cause for optimism."
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What you thought...
Final Poll Ranking: out of 39 ()
(Updated 22 May 2005; change refers to movement over final week)
In the run up to the Contest, 27,998 visitors to this site voted for their favourite song in the Soult.com Eurovision Poll (up from 5,000 in 2004!)
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What actually happened...
With its sheer simplicity, gentle tone, and good-looking young boys, the Latvian performance in the Semi Final certainly provided a contrast to the Moldovan entry that preceded it. To be honest, though Walters and Kazha's performance was sweet and endearing, the vocals were not great, and watching it on TV my initial feeling was that Latvia had scuppered its chances of reaching the Final. So, when Latvia's name was drawn out as one of the ten qualifying countries I was surprised but pleased.
A review of the Final performance will appear here later.
Securing an excellent 5th place in the Final with 153 points, it only became apparent afterwards - upon publication of the full Semi Final results - just how close Latvia had come to missing the Final all together. With 85 points in the Semi Final, Walters and Kazha gained the 10th and final qualifying place, just 4 points ahead of Poland in 11th. So, in contrast to the 2004 Dutch song, whose support collapsed between the Semi Final and the Final, Latvia's 2005 entry shows that it is also possible to build support over those two songs - dependent on the strength of the performances, the position in the draw, and as long as you manage to qualify in the first place. It also shows that my predictions are capable of being completely wrong.
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What the bookies thought...
 | Latvia to win: | 21/05/05 (prior to Final) | 25-1 |
| | 19/05/05 (after Semi Final) | 25-1 |
| | 19/05/05 (prior to Semi Final) | 28-1 |
| | 16/05/05 | 28-1 |
| | 15/05/05 | 28-1 |
| | 08/05/05 | 28-1 |
| | 02/05/05 | 28-1 |
| | 24/04/05 | 25-1 |
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The dark horse of the Contest - little noticed by fans or punters prior to the Semi Final, middling odds of 25-1 failed to reflect the Latvian song's eventual 5th place success.
(Odds quoted here were those offered by Coral.co.uk. 'F' indicates favourite, 'JF' joint favourite.)
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Links
 http://www.putnuballe.lv/
 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 (264)
From sigita, Lithuania
Added 09:55:13 2007-01-04
i am lithuania,me like aya music walters 8 kazha,long sing you music,super music,good friend latvia and lithuania ,i have messenger,my msn aralecy@one.lt
From giedrute , Lithuania
Added 16:43:12 2006-03-09
walters and kazha wonderful...!
From rudakia, Lithuania
Added 22:40:56 2006-02-04
amm.. ;DD~~ not bad :D
From Vilius;], Lithuania
Added 17:30:12 2006-02-04
great job latvians!!!
Latvia and Lithuania da best friends in da world!!!!
yaaah...;D
From Aurelija (Shpelkooote...:)), Lithuania
Added 16:3:40 2005-12-19
hi everyone! i'm Aurelija and i'm from Lithuanian. Walter and Kazha in LIthuanian are the best singers in the life! i like them very very much...:) Walter and Kazhka was yesturday in the Vilnius. it is the bigest city in Lithuanian. they sang with group Putnuballes. And i like them. They sang for the "Gerumo akcija" and for child (they don't have mum or dad).
I love them... much very much...
From agne and egle, Lithuania
Added 13:8:50 2005-12-16
we love kazha
From Karina, LITHUANIA
Added 16:56:53 2005-12-11
Walters and kazha 4-ever!!!!!!
From Daumante, LITHUANIA
Added 16:32:35 2005-12-5
hi, im like valters =)
REPLY FROM GRAHAM: You're not alone... ;)
From ruta, LITHUANIA
Added 19:43:52 2005-12-3
hello boys:) I am very sad that one of you is ill:( but I will be waiting february, because this month you will come to siauliai. get well :) bye:)
From gabriele, LITHUANIA
Added 8:6:58 2005-11-11
walters and kazha is best.
From Almighty, LITHUANIA
Added 14:29:30 2005-10-17
The song maybe is beautiful but when they were in lithuania they were singing terrible by TV. They can sing just this one song losssserssssss. And latvia is **** ****...I'm embaresed about you my lithuanian brothers:((((
From eglija, LITHUANIA
Added 13:39:4 2005-10-15
valters and kazha is winner////
From Dalia, LITHUANIA
Added 17:21:14 2005-10-14
I love Walters & Kazha. My wish to have got their song acords. If you know it write to me, please!!!!!!!
From Taruline, FINLAND
Added 14:58:20 2005-10-6
Walters and kazha is the best!!!
Latvia rulez!!!I wanna msn/a-mail friends please write me but I hope, that you are putnu balle/walters and kazha fan and 13-16 years old okey my address is: taruline@hotmail.com
From gintare, LITHUANIA
Added 12:1:0 2005-9-23
i love your songs guys!!!!
From Laurys, LITHUANIA
Added 11:25:45 2005-9-17
Pleas send me Walters & Kazka acords. Thanks:)Lawryzz@one.lt
From nadia, AUSTRALIA
Added 8:22:11 2005-9-7
YOU ARE THE BEST IN THE HOLE WORLD. GO GO WALTER AND KAZHA.
From nadia, AUSTRALIA
Added 8:19:15 2005-9-7
I think Walter and Kazha where the best if any one think so too write to me funnyyoume@hotmail.com
From Maria, IRELAND
Added 18:16:39 2005-8-27
I LOVED this song. I voted for it loads of times. Ireland sent it 12 points. YEAH!!! Valters is SO SO SO SO cute. I loved the sign language. Ten out of ten.
From nima, IRAN
Added 17:20:10 2005-8-27
i need more information about soult
REPLY FROM GRAHAM: That's nice - what do you want to know about me? :)
From Migle, LITHUANIA
Added 9:27:21 2005-8-23
Hello,Valters,my name is Migle,i am 15 years old and i live in Vilnius.First,i want to ask you,do you get my letter?i send it before 5 or 6 weeks to Microphone records.Maybe,we can meeet,when you will be in Vilnius?I have a ticket to your concert.I am realy waiting for september 1st.My e-mail is:Miglutekri@yahoo.com Please,answer to me. i am writing because i want coresponding with you,what do you think?write to me nd tell about yourself:)don't think that i am writing to you because you are popular and famous.You are interesting to me like a human,you are so inteligent,not arrogant,sincere.I realy like you:) please answer to me,miglutekri@yahoo.com
From lale, TURKEY
Added 17:41:37 2005-8-14
you are number one latvia ý LOVE you latvia and kazha or walters
From indre, LITHUANIA
Added 7:28:26 2005-8-7
hellow=) i like Walter & Kasha and their all songs. I very happy, because they was come to Palanga. every sunday i lisen to M-1, because THE WAR IS NOT OVER is number 1. i would like to say GOOD LUCK=)))))))))))
From monika, LITHUANIA
Added 13:4:47 2005-7-31
i think Walter AND Kazha is cool!!!!!!!they song is beutiful...and Walter and Kazha is beutiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From VALTERS FAN, CROATIA
Added 21:5:27 2005-7-30
I LOVE THAT GUYS AND THE SONG TOO.
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