Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007

{{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, Latvia was able to qualify to compete in the final {{esccnty|Latvia|y=2005|t=in 2005}} with "The War Is Not Over" performed by Walters and Kazha and {{esccnty|Latvia|y=2006|t=in 2006}} with "I Hear Your Heart" performed by the vocal group Cosmos.

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 confirmed its intentions to participate at the 2007 contest on 15 September 2006.{{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}} LTV has selected its entries for the Eurovision Song Contest through a national final. Since their debut in 2000, it had organised the selection show {{lang|lv|Eirodziesma}}. Along with its participation confirmation, the broadcaster announced that they would organise {{lang|lv|Eirodziesma 2007}} in order to select its entry for the 2007 contest.

{{lang|lv|Eirodziesma 2007}} was the eighth edition of {{lang|lv|Eirodziesma}}, the music competition organised by LTV to select its entries for the Eurovision Song Contest. The competition commenced on 27 January 2007 and concluded with a final on 24 February 2007. All shows in the competition were hosted by Uģis Joksts, Kristīne Virsnīte and Kārlis Streips, and broadcast on LTV1.{{Cite web |date=21 February 2007 |title=Eirodziesmas-2007 fināls piedāvās intriģējošu un daudzveidīgu šovu! |url=http://www.eirovizija.lv/lat/aktualitates/3352/ |access-date=21 May 2022 |website=eirovizija.lv |language=lv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070226102338/http://www.eirovizija.lv/lat/aktualitates/3352/ |archive-date=26 February 2007 |url-status=dead}}

The format of the competition consisted of three shows: two semi-finals and a final. The two semi-finals, held on 27 January and 3 February 2007, each featured ten competing entries from which five advanced to the final from each show. The final, held on 24 February 2007, selected the Latvian entry for Helsinki 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 |last=Medinika |first=Aija |date=11 December 2006 |title=Latvian finalists announced |url=https://esctoday.com/6972/latvian_finalists_announced-2/ |access-date=21 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. 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 |last=Medinika |first=Aija |date=4 February 2007 |title=The Results: Latvian finalists selected |url=https://esctoday.com/7524/the_results_latvian_finalists_selected/ |access-date=21 May 2022 |website=Esctoday}}

Artists and songwriters were able to submit their entries to the broadcaster between 4 October 2006 and 20 November 2006.{{Cite web |date=4 October 2006 |title=Publiskots Eirovīzijas-2007 Nolikums! |url=http://www.eirovizija.lv/lat/aktualitates/1399/ |access-date=19 May 2022 |website=eirovizija.lv |language=lv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070529051808/http://www.eirovizija.lv/lat/aktualitates/1399/ |archive-date=29 May 2007 |url-status=dead}} A record 106 entries were submitted at the conclusion of the submission period, including songs in Latvian, Russian, Swedish, English, Spanish, and Finnish.{{Cite web |date=11 December 2006 |title=Jautājums "Kuras no 106?" noskaidrojies! |url=http://www.eirovizija.lv/lat/aktualitates/1414/ |access-date=21 May 2022 |website=eirovizija.lv |language=lv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070529091704/http://www.eirovizija.lv/lat/aktualitates/1414/ |archive-date=29 May 2007 |url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |last=Royston |first=Benny |date=21 November 2006 |title=103 songs for Latvia |url=https://esctoday.com/6789/103_songs_for_latvia/ |access-date=21 May 2022 |website=Esctoday}} A jury panel appointed by LTV evaluated the submitted songs and selected twenty entries for the competition. The jury panel consisted of Wig Wam (who represented {{esccnty|Norway|y=2005|t=Norway in 2005}}), Zdob și Zdub (who represented {{esccnty|Moldova|y=2005|t=Moldova in 2005}}), Andrius Mamontovas (who represented {{esccnty|Lithuania|y=2006|t=Lithuania in 2006}} as part of LT United), Mario Galunič (Slovenian television presenter), Cosmos (who represented {{esccnty|Latvia|y=2006|t=Latvia in 2006}}), Guna Zučika (representative of MTV Baltic) and Sandris Vanzovičs (music journalist).{{Cite web |title=Latvia 2007 |url=https://esckaz.com/2007/lat.htm}} The twenty competing artists and songs were announced during a press conference on 11 December 2006.{{Cite web |date=11 December 2006 |title=Eirovīzijas pusfinālistu rindās šogad liela dažādība |url=https://www.delfi.lv/kultura/news/music/eirovizijas-pusfinalistu-rindas-sogad-liela-dazadiba.d?id=16316239 |access-date=21 May 2022 |website=delfi.lv |language=lv}}{{Cite web |date=25 November 2006 |title=Noskaidrotas pusfinālā iekļuvušās dziesmas |url=http://www.eirovizija.lv/lat/aktualitates/1428/ |access-date=21 May 2022 |website=eirovizija.lv |language=lv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061217011130/http://www.eirovizija.lv/lat/aktualitates/1428/ |archive-date=17 December 2006 |url-status=dead}}

The two semi-finals took place on 27 January and 3 February 2007. 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 at the Riga Film Studio in Riga on 18 and 20 January 2007, were screened.{{Cite web |date=19 December 2006 |title=Eirodziesmas pusfināla ieraksti notiks Rīgas Kinostudijā |url=http://www.eirovizija.lv/lat/aktualitates/1462/ |access-date=21 May 2022 |website=eirovizija.lv |language=lv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070108121425/http://www.eirovizija.lv/lat/aktualitates/1462/ |archive-date=8 January 2007 |url-status=dead}} 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.{{Cite web |title=LATVIAN SEMI-FINALS 2007 |url=http://natfinals.50webs.com/90s_00s/Latvia2007SF.html}} The jury panel that voted in the semi-finals consisted of Mirdza Zīvere (singer and director), Elita Patmalniece (costume designer), Baiba Šmite (director of LTV1), Uldis Rudaks (music journalist), Juris Kulakovs (musician), Kārlis Auzāns (producer and composer) and Mārcis Gulbis (producer).{{Cite web |date=27 January 2007 |title=Pirmais nacionālā fināla piecinieks noskaidrots! |url=http://www.eirovizija.lv/lat/aktualitates/3280/ |access-date=21 May 2022 |website=eirovizija.lv |language=lv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070203093315/http://www.eirovizija.lv/lat/aktualitates/3280/ |archive-date=3 February 2007 |url-status=dead}}

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The final took place at the Olympic Center in Ventspils on 24 February 2007. 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, "{{lang|it|Questa notte|i=no}}" performed by Bonaparti.lv was declared the winner.{{Cite web |title=LATVIAN NATIONAL FINAL 2007 |url=http://natfinals.50webs.com/90s_00s/Latvia2007.html}} In addition to the performances of the competing entries, guest performers included singer Jenny May together with the group Double Faced Eels, singer Ella together with the dance group Dzirnas, the group Labvēlīgais tips, Cosmos (who represented Latvia in 2006) and The Jet Set (who represented {{esccnty|Poland|y=2007|t=Poland in 2007}}).

File:Bonaparti 2007 Eurovision.jpg

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|2006||2006 contest}} are required to qualify from the semi-final on 10 May 2007 in order to compete for the final on 12 May 2007. On 12 March 2007, a special allocation draw was held which determined the running order for the semi-final. As one of the five wildcard countries, Latvia chose to perform last in position 28, following the entry from {{esccnty|Austria|y=2007}}.

The semi-final and the final were broadcast in Latvia on LTV1 with all shows featuring commentary by Kārlis Streips. LTV appointed Jānis Šipkevics as its spokesperson to announce the Latvian votes during the final.

Bonaparti.lv took part in technical rehearsals on 4 and 6 May, followed by dress rehearsals on 9 and 10 May.{{Cite web |last=Floras |first=Stella |date=27 April 2007 |title=Rehearsals and Press Conferences schedule |url=https://esctoday.com/8379/rehearsals_and_press_conferences_schedule/ |access-date=21 May 2022 |website=Esctoday}} The Latvian performance featured the members of Bonaparti.lv wearing suits with a top hat and appearing on stage one by one carrying white roses.{{Cite web |last=Holyer |first=Steve |date=10 May 2007 |title=What's in the colour of the rose |url=https://esctoday.com/8633/whats_in_the_colour_of_the_rose/ |access-date=21 May 2022 |website=Esctoday}} The stage colours were in white and gold with the LED screens displaying a set of golden rings with hints of red accompanied by bright beams of light shooting from the roof to the stage and the surrounding areas of the arena.{{Cite web |last=West-Soley |first=Richard |date=4 May 2007 |title=28. Latvia wraps it up |url=https://esctoday.com/8491/28-_latvia_wraps_it_up/ |access-date=21 May 2022 |website=Esctoday}}{{Cite web |last=West-Soley |first=Richard |date=6 May 2007 |title=UPD 28. Bathed in sunshine: Latvia's light show |url=https://esctoday.com/8555/upd-_28-_bathed_in_sunshine_latvias_light_show/ |access-date=21 May 2022 |website=Esctoday}}

At the end of the show, Latvia was announced as having finished in the top 10 and subsequently qualifying for the grand final. It was later revealed that Latvia placed fifth in the semi-final, receiving a total of 188 points.{{cite web |title=Semi-Final of Helsinki 2007 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/helsinki-2007/semi-final |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422064518/https://eurovision.tv/event/helsinki-2007/semi-final |archive-date=22 April 2021 |access-date=22 April 2021 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}

The draw for the running order for the final was done by the presenters during the announcement of the ten qualifying countries during the semi-final and Latvia was drawn to perform in position 14, following the entry from {{esccnty|France|y=2007}} and before the entry from {{esccnty|Russia|y=2007}}. Bonaparti.lv once again took part in dress rehearsals on 11 and 12 May before the final and performed a repeat of their semi-final performance during the final on 12 May. Latvia placed sixteenth in the final, scoring 54 points.{{cite web |title=Grand Final of Helsinki 2007 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/helsinki-2007/grand-final |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422064603/https://eurovision.tv/event/helsinki-2007/grand-final |archive-date=22 April 2021 |access-date=22 April 2021 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}

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|Estonia|y=2007}} in the semi-final and to {{esccnty|Ukraine|y=2007}} in the final of the contest.

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{{Reflist}}

{{Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest 2007}}

2007

Category:Countries in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007

Eurovision