In October producers of Supernova — Latvia’s Eurovision 2018 national selection — launched a “People’s Jury” that allowed anyone and everyone to like and dislike each of the 63 song submissions.
And dislike they did, resulting in an overall negative impression of the songs on show. Of the 152,082 evaluations that producers received, a whopping 110,316 of them were Nepatik — the thumbs down. That’s more than 72% of all ratings. Just 41,946 ratings were Patik — the thumbs up.
However, in any wide-open submission process you’re going to get plenty of dross. What’s more important is that a handful of songs have managed to find widespread support. Apparently one song in the People’s Jury is the clear leader, while second position is occupied by nine songs with very similar ratings.
We’d wager a bet that the song at the front of the pack is “Esamiba”, which instantly stood out to us — and many of you — for its spiritual and classic qualities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n0zM9BkgFQ
During the open listening period we heard a lot of tropical house, songs of self-confidence, a few love love peace peace tunes, and a reggae number with the unusual title “Stop The War U2”.
The overall rankings will now be passed on to the Supernova selection panel. They’ll meet on November 5 at the Alfa shopping mall to listen to the entries and decide which ones deserve a spot in the semi-finals. The auditions are open to the public, who, while surely being respectful, will test the acts in their own way and help gage whether they have what it takes to perform live in front of an audience.
“It is important for us to give different tasks to participants at the very beginning of the competition in order to test them in different, not so comfortable situations,” says producer Ilze Jansone. “So the first year of hearing is organized in the Alfa shopping mall.”
Last year a total of 22 songs made it to the heats.
What do you think of the overall negative impression of the songs? Which ten songs do you think are clustered near the top? Let us know in the comments box below.
Esamiba is so beautiful, the cello reminds me a cinematographic music.
Also it reminds me Nocturne- Secret Garden and The Voice- Eimear Quinn. Both won.
Esamiba is amazing!
And then It will come up differently when the audition will happen…
I’m not surprised about this. I didn’t heard all 63 songs, but none of them really stood up for me. Sure I will discover some goods sings when the chosen ones for the heats are revealed.
I kinda like ‘Esamiba’. I see why it stood out!
How come Nobody here likes Not Afraid?? Most YouTube tops I saw had it in Top 22!! Plus we need some variety right?
I wonder if Latvian Despacitogot more Patiks or Nepatiks…
Latvia is nothing without Aminata
Actually a lot of songs in this selection looks like what she does : forgetable songs with little or no music, just weird electronic sounds, no melody and a screaming singer.
So is Latvia nothing without her?
Maybe sometimes nothing is better than just something bad…
This ‘forgettable song with little or no music’ earned Latvia 6th place finish in ESC (2nd with juries), so I’m afraid there are not so much people thinking like you. By the way, do you really think ‘Love injected’ was forgettable ???
Because Eurovision is a competition where the one who screams the most gets the most points. And in the middle of all the screaming women of ESC 2015 she only stood out because she screamed the loudest. But if I had to give 100€ to every person who would be able to tell me how her’s song’s melody is like after only listening to it once in the grand final I wouldn’t lose a lot of money.
She sang, not screamed. And she was phenomenal. Please.
“Esamiba”? That song is garbage. Do you like garbage?
We let you hang you. So…
I actually love Garbage. I’d wish they represented the UK in Eurovision some day…
Wow, that song Esamiba is beautiful. So i doubt it will be chosen
I love Esamiba, Divi Cvilek(something like that), Baltic, Running Red lights and Staccato. But I really hope to see Latvian language, I haven’t heared it yet on ESC stage, since I watch it since 2010. And anyone who’s says that Esamiba is a copycate of Amar pelos dios, is wrong, they have completly diffrent atmosphere, instruments are diffrent, langauge is diffrent, I don’t think it’s even in the same genre…so yeah. It’s like you would call Fly with Me a copy of LoveWave or I Feel Alive a copy of Golden boy..
Wow, I’m surprised. Most of the songs in this collection aren’t horrible and even if the songs weren’t my favorite, I still liked it. I heard a couple of qualifiers but no winner. I think people just liked what they really loved and the okay songs got a dislike.
I had liked 17/63 so 72% dislikes seems about right to me.
I think Running red lights/ You are my world / Younger days is the percentage leader. The other two must be in the second spot and so is probably Esamiba/ Baltic / Staccato / Divi Cilveki / 1000 roses / Flashbacks
Running Red Lights, Staccato, and Divi Cilveki were the standouts on first listen to me. I don’t get the appeal with Esamiba tbh..
I hope for Sapnu Dziezma it sounds so good!
I haven’t heard the songs, but I can see why out of 60+ entries for Latvia not many were appreciated. Or maybe it was just reciprocal sabotage from the artists.
It doesn’t matter. Only one song matters in the end.
I’m curious about the likes/dislikes result of the people’s jury. Will it be revealed at all – after Latvia has found its 2018 representative?
I just hope this year is more fair and transparent. Last year I absolutely loved Toms Kalderauskis’ Song and it didn’t even qualify from its semi, losing out to some truly horrific songs. Plus all that Spotify voting nonsense – the whole thing was a total mess that ended up with a mediocre song winning and coming last in the actual competition.
Essamiba is such a dreary and dull song and I think people are only getting behind it because it’s in Latvian and because of Portugal’s victory.
Some songs were good but nothing spectacular, mind blowing or a potential winner… I’m rooting for Younger Days, the only decent song, in my opinion. The biggest mistake Latvia may do is to pick a ballad (there will be many Salvador copycats, and up-tempo songs will stand out). Usually only the great ballads pass on, though no one can guarantee that (see Finland 2017 Blackbird)…
Well, of course you only give a like for your favourites and not EVERY song you like
Yikes! I “nepatik” (don’t like) all this harsh criticism! 🙁
Disliking them really isn’t disliking them. I for instance voted for the kinds I wanted to hear at Eurovision. It doesn’t give any negative impression. If everything was ‘patik’ the producers will have a harder time.
Rooting for Younger Days!
That sounds about right for the quality of songs at this stage. There were some good ones, but most of them were pretty bad.
The songs were mostly not good, so that makes sense. I gave thumbs up to like 20% of the songs.
Essamiba is the first of what will be many emotional songs with less electronic sounds that will fill this years contest inspired by Amar Pelos Dois.
Couldn’t agree more with you
It needs to win Supernova first
I appreciate the transparency in releasing those figures and the fact that the prospective participants need to cross a few hurdles on their way to the semis. That’s the way to go and I wish other countries follow Latvia’s example.
Wow people were tough! I basically gave a thumbs up to every song that wasn’t absolutely terrible. I think the leader of the pack is Running Red Lights(also wiwi fan poll winner), Younger days, Sapnu Dziezma, Staccato, or You are my world. I think Essamiba is probably up there but I can’t see it leading the pack.
Staccato won’t be leading….except the chorus the song doesn’t really do much.
I’m definitely rooting for “Esamiba”. It sounds amazing, plus it’s in the Latvian language!
“Esamiba” and “Baltic” better be in the finals!
That’s because people, like myself, probably didn’t “like” all the songs they find decent, but only ones that would be a top 10 contenders in Lisbon. I “liked” only 22 out of 62, but in reality, 40-ish among them are okay.
I rooting for:
Flashbacks
Running Red Lights
Staccato
You are my world
Younger Days
I can see the merits in all these songs….all were given a like by me.