LATVIA

The Latvian Final was held on February 8th, hosted by Toms Grevinš and Ketija Šenberga. The winner, chosen by televoting & internet voting, was Samanta Tīna with the song "Still breathing"

Samanta is joined on stage by 3 female backing singers to her right. They are dressed in black leotards with what seems like blue visors. Samanta is in a red tasselled jumpsuit, not dissimilar to the one Salome wore in 1969. Samanta is animated and shows a lot of personality whilst she is singing but doesn't move about unnecessarily. During the instrumental parts she is much more active. These levels of activity are also reflected in the backdrop. Most of the time there are slowly strobing horizontal lines behind them, usually red and white but the in the instrumental breakdown the strobing is blockier, faster and more random. Samanta's voice is very strong and powerful and demands attention. The power seems to eminiate throughout her range and even in the higher,longer notes she is able to maintain tone. One thing she may have to work on is her pronunciation, especially of the title which she sometimes doesn't quite get right.

The structure of this song on first listen sounds rather regular but there are some subtle complexities that make this different. It starts with the repetitive chant by the 3 backing singers, something with anchors the song within all its different parts. This is another song where the verse/chorus line is very much blurred - made more muddled by what seems like the verse containing the title of the song, something usually done in the chorus! After a short burst of singing the backing singers refrain comes in again. At this point the music changes as does the tune and the song reaches a high point before the ten second breakdown. This pattern repeats again but this time instead of going into an instrumental, Samanta does a bit of rapping before the refrain comes in again. There is then one last instrumental before ending with the refrain once more.

The show is one that very much works in the hall as a stage show but I think needs a few more tweaks as a television performance. During the main singing parts Samanta's dancing is quite controlled, with shades of flamenco in her stance. But once into the breakdown, Samanta's dancing becomes very frantic and the backing singers sway rhythmically from side to side. This pattern repeats again but this time instead of going into an instrumental, Samanta does a bit of rapping and at this point the backing singers unleash their secret weapons - bottles of cleaning fluid (or at least that's what it looks like!) I think the concept of the show is a good one but one that needs work. It feels odd that the backing singers are dressed as they are yet barely any light shines on thento seen the intricacies of the costumes. Similarly, Samanta's dancing can barely be seen because the flashing takes you eyes away from her and costume absorbs the light and this part feels rather like an opportunity or moment has been wasted. Maybe a Poli-esque light up number is required?

Samanta is well known to the Eurovision watching public as she has been competing for the ticket to Eurovision in Latvia and Lithuania for a decade - and finally she's won! In addition, Samanta wrote the song with help for former Latvian Eurovision start, Aminata, which will also make this song a firm fave in the Eurovision fandom. Although this isn't my kind of music, it certainly grabs your attention and the backing singers refrain will be in your head for weeks! I certainly appreciate that this song is being very insistent and positive on making an impression rather than sending something good but forgettable.
I guess that younger viewers who are into this kind of music will vote for this as will her long tem fans. I don't honestly know how this will fare in Eurovision because so much depends if anything similar also gets chosen. For many casual watchers of Eurovision this may well be a bit too much but conversely might also remind people that we are well into the 21st century!

Artist - Samanta Tīna

Song - Still breathing

Composers - Samanta Tīna

Lyricists - Animata Savadogo