Earlier this spring, after Latvia picked its Eurovision 2015 entry, fans cheered in joy. After silly songs about being born in 1987 and traffic jams, Latvia’s new selection method produced a classy act that warrants no laughs, but which does cause jaws to drop. Aminata Savadogo brings a petite body but a big voice, and many are saying that her house ballad “Love Injected” is top 10 material. With pop divas a dime a dozen this year, Aminata brings something different with a more soulful flavor and more minimalistic production.
“Love Injected” is still a Latvian left-field entry, but not in the way we normally regard them. The sparse instrumentation is modern and allows Aminata to show off her amazing voice, and without any gimmicks to speak of as of yet, Latvia seems to be super serious about it this year.
We could owe this to Supernova, in which the primary goal was to find an international sounding, radio-friendly song that would double as their Eurovision entry. They’ve certainly succeeded in that. “Love Injected” is ready to hit the Adult Contemporary Top 40!
The Baltic country has not qualified for the final since 2008, when Pirates of the Sea sailed into Saturday night with a cheesy song and a makeshift ship. Before that, Bonaparti.lv warbled a (very cheesy) love ballad in true Italian opera style. They brought a robot on stage in 2006, and sang peace songs in 2005.
wiwibloggs wants to know from you: is Aminata the best singer to come out Riga to date? Will “Love Injected” inject itself onto the left side of the scoreboard? What is the strongest part of the song, and the weakest? How does this compare with Latvia’s previous entries?
Aminata: “Love Injected”
“Love Injected” Lyrics – Aminata
You bring the light to my darkest side, babe
The day, the night split to cure the sight, ooh
You care, you animate
You guard me bare, bring up the heart rate
Your love revives my soul
And I know you’ll choose it whole overall
Your eye’s a good mirror
Look under the cover
Love is above all
I’m safe into your hands
Let’s move away, the edges expand
Your love revives my soul
And I know you’ll choose it whole overall
Show me the source of the light
I’m becoming affected
Seeing the glow of the white
Is what I have detected
Feeling again I’m alive
It’s your shining reflected
Love injected, love injected
Your love revives my soul
And I know you choose it all over all
“about being born in 1987 and traffic jams” – well, but these at least are different topics. Love songs get boring, you know. Especially the ones with oh-oh-oh instead of lyrics. And I don’t care about the stage and the looks, I usually listen to songs with my eyes closed and I open them only if a song sounds terrible. If a song sounds good, then I let my imagination create perfect scenes, much better than anything possible on stage.
I think “Love Injected” is a brilliant song but it is not my favourite ESC from Latvia. I totally love PeR’s “Here We Go” which was also my favourite song in the whole ESC2013 competition.
It’s a good song, for sure, but holy s***, guys, this is not Brainstorm. “My Star” is not just easily the greatest latvian entry ever, it’s also a top ten pick for best eurovision song ever. This is good, but it doesn’t stand a hint of a chance against that masterpiece.
Too much screaming.
2000 and 2005 are the bests entries of Latvia. They both could win in the years they we’re competing. (But in 2005 Switzerland could win too, in my opinion).
But Love Injected is a good song, of course, and Aminata is a good singer.
I hope that qualifies.
YES IT CLEARLY IS! <3
I said this before here but the first time I heard the song — and i quote — “It gives me life!”
And it still does, it is simply a refreshing song compared to the rest of Latvia’s choices and frankly Im surprised it isn’t doing well in polls or odds. If this was Sweden, it would be a contender — sorry not sorry, but its true.
Technically yeah. But i still stand by what i’ve said before, Marie N and “I Wanna” is probably one of the most iconic and influential winners, currently my (tied for) 2nd favorite winner. So its really hard, both songs are soo good…i’d probably have to wait until Aminata’s eurovision performance to say whether it beats marie n to my fave or not
Of course she is, the best by a very large margin, I would say.
She reminds me a bit of Margaret Berger and how everybody said her song was too “now” for Eurovision, and she ended up coming fourth! I’m not sure if Aminata will do that well, but left side of the scoreboard for sure.
I watch Eurovision since 2010 and I say: Yes! It’s the best song from Latvia since I watch Eurovision! Hope they reach the final the first time since 2009! Good luck 🙂
Absolutely. Best Latvian song ever and best song of 2015. A rare masterpiece in Eurovision terms. I’m afraid it might be too avant-garde for all those Schlagger loving judges, though.
this is obviously the best latvian entry since … EVER
Unfortunately, Latvia is overall among my least favourite countries at Eurovision. I can’t even recall Latvian entries from the past, except 2000 and 2002 (what is sad – both these songs were not in my taste). Interestingly, to my mind, Latvian Eurovision of 2003 in Riga has been one of the most memorable and marvellous hostings in the history. This year’s song is very ambitious and modern, but I still can’t remember the melody, therefore it is not a good indication for my rating. I’m also not convinced if this song is appropriate for Eurovision. It sounds too different. On… Read more »
The chorus is impressive but the verses are a complete waste of everybody’s time. It tries to be a bit too clever for its own good. The song leaves me a little cold and dissatisfied. On the other hand, Latvia’s best ever entry (Brainstorm, 2000) was full of charm.
I guess that would make it Latvia’s second best entry. A reality that says more about Latvia than the quality of the song.
Of course. It is a pure masterpiece.Bringing diversity with a fantastic performer. With no doubt the best Latvian entry to date and my second favorite of the year losing only to Norway. I really hope Latvia get’s what it deserves this year ’cause they have been really underrated recently.
No, because I absolutely loved Musiqq (2011). In fact it was my favourite song of the entire year by a big margin. Sorry Aminata but I don’t even think you’ll qualify. That first “YOUR LOVE” is going to scare people off.
This is my favourite and I’m going to use the phrase Eurovision fans hate but this is too good for Eurovision and will be overlooked for the obviously europop songs form Sweden and Russia Etc
It’s simply art. Latvia has sent those kinda songs you skip on the CD, but this year it makes me have goosebumps. Sadly, I think it won’t reach the top 15, it’s way too artistic and complex for Eurovision, as I thought about Lena’s entry after her German victory. Anyway, Congratulations Latvia, and hope I will say: congratulations Latvia for this wonderful (2016) show!
Best Latvia entry, my favourite this year.
I agree. ‘Love injected’ is my favourite Latvia’s entry ever
Well NO 4 me…
*Love Injected* is from the good latvian entries but i don’t consider it the best ever latvian entry…I have it 13th/17 on the 2nd SF & 28th/40 on my top ranking 4 the record..
4 me the best latvian entry is *Beautiful Song* of 2012…My 2nd most favorite is *Angel In Disguise* of 2011..
I agree! I would still agree even if MNTHA’s Nefelibata had been chosen!
Can’t believe how popular this is in the previous comments. For me it is somewhere between 21-30 in my rankings of the 40 songs.
And Marie N is a million times better. Definitely not the best Latvian entry, but definitely their best one in a long time… which isn’t saying much.
2011 was 100% better than this. I can’t even finish this horrid squealing.
No contest, this entry is unbelievable. Too good for Eurovision standards, imo.
I even want this to win! This is really my ,ost favorite song from latvia ever
No, this si not best entry for Latvia
For me best 5
1. 2000
2. 2002
3. 2007
4. 2009
5. 2001
I think it is the best Latvian entry ever (and also my third favourite Eurovision entry ever), but Latvia has sent actual great songs in the past that people have seemed to forget about. “My Star” and “The War Is Not Over” come to mind. I don’t think people realise that Latvia used to always qualify in the final and place fairly decent (3 top five entries).
NO WAY! Cake to Bake was a winner, and I stand my ground on that!
Love Injected might be my favourite Eurovision song ever if it is performed amazingly in Vienna. <333
She is absolutely the best Latvian entry ever. I just don’t think she’ll make the final (Although, I really want her to). This may be the Mei Feingold of the year along with Malta
Send the remix version to vienna an she will get my 12 points!
It seems like Latvia only wants to send good entries every 5 or so years (2000, 2005, 2011, 2015)…
Brainstorm was definitely the best
I would say so, it goes up with their 2000 and 2005 entries 😀
Undoubtedly Latvia’s strongest entry ever, and also my favourite song this year. Absolutely amazing.
Arguably the best entry sent from Latvia, along with 2005.
Certainly the best they’ve sent in a while.
Personally, I love it!
Bring back Brainstorm.
I hold that “Love Injected” is both Latvia’s best entry ever and the best entry of 2015. The dynamic changes, massive pitch jumps, strange orchestrations, and emotional journey command attention and applause. Oh, and that last “your LOOOOOOOOVE” is one of my favorite notes at Eurovision perhaps ever.
I am not a fan, still like their 2003 and 2005 entries way more.
Not my taste of music at all – I just don’t like all that screaming – but well… maybe from an objective point of view and considering that Latvia’s previous entries often were more a “joke-entry” than a serious attempt of winning, this really might be one of the best ones. BTW, I still don’t understand how such a dull song like Marie N’s “I wanna” could be a winner…
i totally agree
this is my favorite latvian eurovision song ever
and that is lot because latvia has been on my top 10 every year since they debuted in 2000
This is such a dark horse candidate. She is very charismatic when she perfroms this one and obviously this song is very different compared to others this year.
Personally, Latvia is my NO 1 favourite and I hope she will bring similar performance from the national selection to Eurovision.
Great to hear something modern. A massive potential.
Totes Amaze!
“Love Injected” is by far the best Latvian entry to date.