Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006

{{main|Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

Prior to the 2007 contest, {{lang|lv|Latvijas Televīzija|i=no}} (LTV) had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest representing Latvia seven times since its first entry in 2000.{{cite web |title=Latvia Country Profile |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-country/country?country=29 |access-date=6 November 2014 |publisher=EBU}} It won the contest once {{esccnty|Latvia|y=2002|t=in 2002}} with the song "I Wanna" performed by Marie N. Following the introduction of semi-finals for the 2004, it was able to qualify to compete in the final in 2005 with the entry "The War Is Not Over" performed by Walters and Kazha.

As part of its duties as participating broadcaster, LTV organises the selection of its entry in the Eurovision Song Contest and broadcasts the event in the country. The broadcaster has selected its entries for the contest through a national final. Since their debut in 2000, LTV had organised the selection show {{lang|lv|Eirodziesma}}. The broadcaster organised {{lang|lv|Eirodziesma 2006}} in order to select its entry for the 2006 contest.{{Cite web |date=15 September 2006 |title=Eirovīzija 2007 |url=http://www.eirovizija.lv/lat/aktualitates/1384/ |access-date=21 May 2022 |website=eirovizija.lv |language=lv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070113231330/http://www.eirovizija.lv/lat/aktualitates/1384/ |archive-date=13 January 2007 |url-status=dead}}

{{lang|lv|Eirodziesma 2006}} was the seventh edition of {{lang|lv|Eirodziesma}}, the music competition organised by LTV to select its entries for the Eurovision Song Contest. The competition commenced on 4 February 2006 and concluded with a final on 11 March 2006. All shows in the competition were hosted by Uģis Joksts and Kristīne Pekule and broadcast on LTV1.{{Cite web |title=LATVIAN NATIONAL FINAL 2006 |url=http://natfinals.50webs.com/90s_00s/Latvia2006.html}}{{Cite web |date=24 January 2006 |title="Eirovīzijai" jauna mājas lapa |url=https://www.apollo.lv/4791781/eirovizijai-jauna-majas-lapa |access-date=23 May 2022 |website=apollo.lv |language=lv}}

The format of the competition consisted of three shows: two semi-finals and a final. The two semi-finals, held on 4 and 11 February 2006, each featured ten competing entries from which five advanced to the final from each show. The final, held on 11 March 2006, selected the Latvian entry for Athens from the remaining ten entries over two rounds of voting: the first round selected the top three songs and the second round (superfinal) selected the winner.{{Cite web |date=19 December 2005 |title=Participants Latvian selection devided into semifinals |url=https://esctoday.com/5281/participants_latvian_selection_devided_into_semifinals/ |access-date=23 May 2022 |website=Esctoday}} Results during the semi-final shows were determined by a jury panel and votes from the public. The songs first faced a public vote where the top three entries qualified. The jury then selected an additional two qualifiers from the remaining entries to proceed in the competition.{{Cite web |title=LATVIAN SEMI-FINALS 2006 |url=http://natfinals.50webs.com/90s_00s/Latvia2006SF.html}} In the final, a public vote exclusively determined which entry would be the winner. Viewers were able to vote via telephone or SMS.{{Cite web |title=Paziņoti 2006. gada «Eirovīzijas» dziesmu konkursa pusfinālisti |url=https://www.apollo.lv/4778592/pazinoti-2006-gada-eirovizijas-dziesmu-konkursa-pusfinalisti |access-date=23 May 2022 |website=Apollo.lv}}

Artists and songwriters were able to submit their entries to the broadcaster between 20 September 2005 and 22 November 2005.{{Cite web |last=Medinika |first=Aija |date=24 September 2005 |title=Latvian submission deadline 22nd November |url=http://esctoday.com/4998/latvian_submission_deadline_22nd_november/ |website=Esctoday}} A record 93 entries were submitted at the conclusion of the submission period. A jury panel appointed by LTV evaluated the submitted songs and selected twenty entries for the competition. The jury panel consisted of Ruslana (who won Eurovision for {{esccnty|Ukraine|y=2004|t=Ukraine in 2004}}), Arsen Shagiev (Manager of Mumiy Troll –who represented {{esccnty|Russia|y=2001|t=Russia in 2001}}–), Igor Volk (Russian producer), Manolo Dias (President of EMI Spain), Ramūnas Zilnys (Lithuanian music journalist), Walters and Kazha (who represented {{esccnty|Latvia|y=2005|t=Latvia in 2005}}), Toms Grēviņš (radio DJ), Uldis Rudaks (music critic), and Daiga Mazvērsīte (musicologist).{{Cite web |title=Latvia 2006 |url=https://esckaz.com/2006/lat.htm}} The twenty competing artists and songs were announced during a press conference on 6 December 2005.{{Cite web |last=Bakker |first=Sietse |date=6 December 2005 |title=20 songs Latvian 2006 selection announced |url=http://esctoday.com/5236/20_songs_latvian_2006_selection_announced/}} On 20 January 2006, LTV announced that the song "Day or Night" would be performed together with Amberlife by Anna Polanski instead of Jenny May after she was selected with more than one song.{{Cite web |last=Bakker |first=Sietse |date=20 January 2006 |title=Latvia: Amberlife sings with Anna Polanski |url=https://esctoday.com/5417/latvia_amberlife_sings_with_anna_polanski/ |access-date=23 May 2022 |website=Esctoday}}

The two semi-finals took place on 4 and 11 February 2006. The live portion of the show was held at the LTV studios in Riga where the artists awaited the results while their performances, which were filmed earlier on 26 and 28 January 2006, were screened.{{Cite web |date=24 January 2006 |title=Filmēs "Eirovīzijas" pusfināla dalībnieku videoklipus |url=https://www.apollo.lv/4791356/filmes-eirovizijas-pusfinala-dalibnieku-videoklipus |access-date=22 May 2022 |website=apollo.lv |language=lv}} In each semi-final ten acts competed and five entries qualified to the final. The competing entries first faced a public vote where the top three songs advanced; an additional two qualifiers were then selected from the remaining seven entries by the jury. The jury panel that voted in the semi-finals consisted of Marija Naumova (who won Eurovision for {{esccnty|Latvia|y=2002|t=Latvia in 2002}}), Egons Reiters (DJ at Radio SWH and director of LTV), Aigars Dinsbergs (producer), Edgars Kots (Deputy General Director of LTV) and Raimonds Pauls (composer).{{Cite web |date=11 February 2006 |title=Noskaidrojies Eirovīzijas nacionālās atlases fināla otrais piecnieks! |url=http://www.eirovizija.lv/lat/aktualitates/592/ |access-date=23 May 2022 |website=eirovizija.lv |language=lv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060216152303/http://www.eirovizija.lv/lat/aktualitates/592/ |archive-date=16 February 2006 |url-status=dead}}

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{{legend-inline|navajowhite|Public vote qualifier}}

{{legend-inline|paleturquoise|Jury qualifier}}

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The final took place at the Olympic Center in Ventspils on 11 March 2006. The ten entries that qualified from the preceding two semi-finals competed and the winner was selected over two rounds of public televoting. In the first round, the top three songs advanced to the second round, the superfinal. In the superfinal, "I Hear Your Heart" performed by Cosmos was declared the winner. In addition to the performances of the competing entries, guest performers included the group Putnu balle, Ivo Fomins (who represented {{esccnty|Latvia|y=2004|t=Latvia in 2004}}) with the group Borowa MC, Walters and Kazha (who represented {{esccnty|Latvia|y=2005|t=Latvia in 2005}}), Sandra Oxenryd (who would represent {{esccnty|Estonia|y=2006|t=Estonia in 2006}}), Brian Kennedy (who would represent {{esccnty|Ireland|y=2006|t=Ireland in 2006}}), and Fabrizio Faniello (who would represent {{esccnty|Malta|y=2006|t=Malta in 2006}}).{{Cite web |date=11 March 2006 |title=Kurš no desmit? |url=https://www.apollo.lv/4873961/kurs-no-desmit |access-date=23 May 2022 |website=apollo.lv |language=lv}}

According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country, the "Big Four" (France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom) and the ten highest placed finishers in the {{escyr|2005||2005 contest}} are required to qualify from the semi-final in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from the semi-final progress to the final. As one of the ten highest placed finishers in the 2006 contest, Latvia automatically qualified to compete in the final on 20 May 2006. In addition to their participation in the final, Latvia is also required to broadcast and vote in the semi-final on 18 May 2006. On 21 March 2006, a special allocation draw was held which determined the running order and Latvia was set to perform in position 4 during the final, following the entry from {{esccnty|Israel|y=2006}} and before the entry from {{esccnty|Norway|y=2006}}. Latvia placed sixteenth in the final, scoring 30 points.{{cite web |title=Grand Final of Athens 2006 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/athens-2006/grand-final |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421055517/https://eurovision.tv/event/athens-2006/grand-final |archive-date=21 April 2021 |access-date=21 April 2021 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}

The semi-final and the final were broadcast in Latvia on LTV1 with all shows featuring commentary by Kārlis Streips. LTV appointed Mārtiņš Freimanis as its spokesperson to announce the Latvian votes during the final.{{fact|date=March 2025}}

Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Latvia and awarded by Latvia in the semi-final and grand final of the contest. The nation awarded its 12 points to {{esccnty|Russia|y=2006}} in the semi-final and the final of the contest.

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{{Reflist}}

{{Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest 2006}}

2006

Category:Countries in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006

Eurovision