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Latvia’s Supernova 2018 continues to move on at a rapid pace. We’ve already had one public round and a jury preview (in a mall, no less). Now, the 21 semi-finalists for the show have been revealed a whole month early!

There’s a number of familiar faces in the list. Markus Riva returns for the fourth straight year, singing “This Time”. This makes him the only artist to participate in every edition of Supernova!

Katrine Lukins also qualifies with “Running Red Lights”, which won our longlist poll. And though it wasn’t as popular, the reggae-tinged “STOP THE WAR U2” by Riga Reggae makes it as well!

You can see all the 21 qualifiers below:

Supernova 2018 — Semi-Finalists

Other entries that stand out on the list include Jenny May with “Soledad”. Will the Spanish language song appeal to the Latvian voters?

The only other entry not in English is “Esamiba” by MADARA. The instrumental-heavy song was a big favourite when it was performed at the live jury preview. It certainly stands out amongst the pack, which could really help it as the competition continues.

There’s also a return to the contest for Aminata. Once again though, she’s taking a role behind the scenes. She’s the co-author of “What I Had With You”, performed by Ed Rallidae.

Supernova 2018: Live show format changes

We’ve already seen the Supernova format change slightly this year, but a further change was confirmed today. In previous years, we’ve seen four shows, consisting of two heats, a semi-final and the grand final of Supernova.

We’re still getting the same number of shows, but simply as three semi-finals. Two qualifiers from each will then move straight in to the grand final. All it means is that the fight to be Latvia’s representative in Lisbon just got that much harder!

What do you think of the semi-finalists for Supernova 2018? Who’s your favourite – and do you think any songs got missed out? Let us know all your thoughts in the comments section below!

Read more Latvia Eurovision news here

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Ted
Ted
6 years ago

My favorite is SOLEDAD – JENNY MAY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6FregkdWN4

Marc
Marc
6 years ago

Madara with ‘Esamiba’ is the main stand-out song and performance. It goes beyond the typical melody and offers aspects that we rarely, if ever, see at Eurovision.

Sandis
Sandis
6 years ago

Beautiful song, I hope Latvian fans will make the right choice and send to Eurovision 2018 Madaru Fogelmani

GRAHAM
GRAHAM
6 years ago

Many have been removed from youtube now

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago
Reply to  GRAHAM

Yup. Copyright secret police at work, as usual. :-X

Fortunately some songs have been quickly restored, if you know where to look. Madara’s “Esamiba”, for one.

sam
sam
6 years ago

i genuinely could see esamiba bringing latvia a top 5 placing in the grand final and possibly even take the contest back to riga

Colin
Colin
6 years ago

Such a mixed bag here. Some of the songs are amazing, some are awful, some are in between. For me, Esamiba deserves to win. Just Fine, Funny Girl, Walk the Talk, You Are My World and Intoxicating Caramel are a nice alternative too. On the other hand, More Than Meets The Eye, Oh, Longriver, Lovers Bliss, Who’s Counting… seriously? I guess it’s an interesting selection because, depending on who they choose, Latvia might end-up VERY high or very low on my annual list.

X
X
6 years ago

Soledad 4 the win!

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

I feel this year’s national selection in Latvia is weak. There are some of the songs I like in the list, but most of them are average.

Siranush
Siranush
6 years ago

I’m so glad that Funny Girl and Intoxicating Caramel made it, but no Flashbacks or Baltic?! 🙁

Agrael
Agrael
6 years ago

I’m so happy Esamiba made it. I will be rooting for it to win. It’s my clear favourite in this year’s Supernova.

Laura Rizzotto
6 years ago

Hi everyone! Here is the brand new Lyric video for Funny Girl: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YLCVG-kg6w

Iain
Iain
6 years ago

Where is Staccato on this list? Urgh. Thought it was a sure fire for the finals!

Héctor
Héctor
6 years ago

The start of National Final season has me very busy as I try to listen all the songs when they are “released”. I said I would listen to them, when the official Supernova entries were revealed. Well, said and done. As yesterday with Albania’s FiK, these are my favs for the win (I like first songs the most, but there’s no specific order for now) MADARA — “Esamiba”: Some Latvian realness here. Such a peaceful song, I don’t understand anything, but I could listen her fragile voice and this peaceful music trought hours. This is going to work really well… Read more »

Lazarevfan95
Lazarevfan95
6 years ago

I want This Time or Just Fine to win. Hope that crappy Despacito rip-off doesn’t win.

DenizNL
DenizNL
6 years ago

I love Younger days and the rest isn’t that bad either. A good selection.

esc freak
esc freak
6 years ago

WOW, I did not expect them so early! Monta – “1000 Roses” <3
And what a great surprise "Funny Girl" is back!

Rita
Rita
6 years ago

I am so glad Esamiba made it! I am rooting for her to get to Eurovision.

Piotr
Piotr
6 years ago

I don’t understand this “euphoria” over Esamiba – this song is boring and there is nothing special about it. There’s nothing surprising or developing in the song…

sam
sam
6 years ago
Reply to  Piotr

people said that about salvador as well.

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago
Reply to  sam

@sam: You beat me to it. Like I said in April, sometimes a song stands out by NOT standing out. That is what made “Amar Pelos Dois” a dangerous contender from the start, and I even predicted that Portugal would finish in the top 5 for the first time.

It’ll be quite interesting to hear the studio version of “Esam?ba”. That is, if it isn’t circulating around YouTube now.

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago
Reply to  CookyMonzta

My bad. I wrote that last paragraph BEFORE I saw that “Esamiba” had a YouTube link.

I must say this song reminds me of Carl Espen’s “Silent Storm”, and he finished 8th for Norway at ESC 2014.

If Madara wins at Supernova, I can imagine the work they will put into making the music video as appropriate as possible.

Erasmus
Erasmus
6 years ago

I want Esamiba to win so badly! The other songs aren’t bad, like I really like Running Red Lights or This Time, Funny Girl.. But I’m not sure how far would they go in Eurovision

Zolipop
Zolipop
6 years ago

That’s only FOUR of my top 21… I mean come on, how unlucky am I!? The songs’ order from worst to best according to the ranking I made roughly a mount ago : 63. – Oh Longriver // 60. – Who’s Counting // 57. – This Time // 54. – Just Fine (I like it more now – still, Eyes was my 2nd) // 51. – 1000 Roses // 41. – You Are My World // 40. – Sunset // 38. – Pray // 35. – Younger Days // 33. – What I Had With You // 31. – Running… Read more »

Zolipop
Zolipop
6 years ago
Reply to  Zolipop

I just realised your list missed Morning Flight – that’s make my Top21 having 5 representative, as it was 13th on it!
And I missed Lovers Bliss in addition to that, which would be 36th.

Zolipop
Zolipop
6 years ago
Reply to  Zolipop

One more mistake of mine I noticed, Soledad would be 53rd.

sam
sam
6 years ago

if esamiba doesn’t win i will be so upset, the song leaves me speechess

West
West
6 years ago

My winner is deffinitely Agnese Stengrevics with You Are My World. No doubt about it. But I also like Younger Days and Pray.

Trans Mermaid
Trans Mermaid
6 years ago

ESAMIBA NEEDS TO WIN,the rest of the latvian selection is boring and unoriginal.

Jac
Jac
6 years ago

Staccato?

Jac
Jac
6 years ago

Staccato?

Takasa
Takasa
6 years ago

I will miss Eyes and Baltic. But i like 1000 Roses, Esamiba and You.

thespb01
thespb01
6 years ago

Thank god Funny Girl made it through – I thought it was eliminated from the long list.

KYLLITO
KYLLITO
6 years ago
Reply to  thespb01

What happened with two of my favorites FUNNY GIRL and SUNSET had to be this…..they were so good, that they were automatically sent to SUPERNOVA and didn’t have to perform live in a shopping mall to further convince judges of their worthiness. YES!!!! Also, YOU ARE MY WORLD is one of my favorites.

Matthew ESC
Matthew ESC
6 years ago

welp. most of my favs from the online voting are gone.

Esamiba or intoxicating Caramel for the win

mocosuburbian
mocosuburbian
6 years ago

why choose Just Fine over Eyes :/// also wow Funny Girl made it back into the game alright

I don’t see any of these becoming my favorite Divi Cilveki was wronged

Datme
Datme
6 years ago
Reply to  mocosuburbian

Agree with Eyes! Was probably my favourite English language song in the selection.

Henning
Henning
6 years ago

Can someone tell me who sang the song “Pilites” that was in Supernova this year???

Mark
Mark
6 years ago

San Marino gets over a thousand submissions and Latvia can’t even get a hundred.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  Mark

Latvia probably removed the trolls before the voting part.

Alex
Alex
6 years ago
Reply to  Mark

Im Sanmarino they made that every country can submit their songs, but in Latvia it’s that only latvian can submit their song!

Dimitri De Groodt
Dimitri De Groodt
6 years ago

A little off topic, but did you guys ever find out who was behind the Supernova entries ‘Say My Name’ and ‘Baltic’? Would be superb to know who the artists were.

Colin
Colin
6 years ago

Wondering the same. Baltic reminds me of the style of Estonian singer Sandra Nurmsalu, but I would be surprised if it was her due to language used. Also, I am wondering whether it’s sung by a compact band or two soloists in a duet. Or, perhaps a female version of Jacques?

Marco
Marco
6 years ago

Esamiba FTW!!!!!

Calum Macleod
Calum Macleod
6 years ago

Cannot believe that they chose Just Fine over Eyes for Sudden Lights! Eyes was so much better!

Great to see the return of Funny Girl. I’ll be rooting for that and Younger Days.

Calum Macleod
Calum Macleod
6 years ago
Reply to  Calum Macleod

Also can’t believe that Circles and Weekend Warriors were eliminated over the likes of Stop the War U2 and Who’s Counting.

JEFFERSON LAMAS
JEFFERSON LAMAS
6 years ago

You!!!!!!!!!

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

Esamiba FTW! ^^

Josie Russell
Josie Russell
6 years ago

I’m still absolutely disappointed that Staccato didn’t get through! That song was by far the catchiest out of the lot (but yay for Soledad!)