After a week where spreadsheets caused controversy – and Markus Riva returned to the competition – the heats of Latvia’s Supernova 2018 drew to a close tonight, with the third and final semi-final.

Seven acts took to the stage, all hoping to get one of two spots up for the grabs in the final. In the end, it was Laura Rizotto and Lauris Valters came out on top of the competition, leaving the other five semi-finalists in the dust.

Laura Rizotto – “Funny Girl”

Lauris Valters  – “Lovers Bliss”

In our pre-competition Wiwi Jury the two acts fared very differently: Laura was our runner-up with an admirable 7.46/10, whereas Lauris ranked significantly further down the table, making it onto the leaderboard with a distinctly average 5.29/10.

Our readers are likely to be both pleased and disappointed by tonight’s turn of events. When we asked you who should win Supernova 2018, Laura placed in the top five, taking fourth place with 5.18% of all votes cast.

Unfortunately, Lauris was actually your least favourite of all 21 acts in Supernova 2018, placing bottom of the pile with only 0.44% of all votes cast.

SUPERNOVA 2018 – SEMI-FINAL 3 RUNNING ORDER

  1. Jenny May – “Soledad”
  2. Ed Rallidae – “What I Had With You”
  3. Katrine Lukins – “Running Red Lights”
  4. Lauris Valters – “Lovers Bliss”
  5. MIONIA – “You”
  6. Kris & Oz – “Morning Flight”
  7. Laura Rizzotto – “Funny Girl”

Tonight’s qualifiers join Liene Greifane, Edgars Kreilis, MADARA, Ritvars and Markus Riva in the Supernova 2018 final. The show takes place next Saturday, as Latvia’s search for its Eurovision 2018 act comes to a close.

What do you think of tonight’s qualifiers? Who do you now think will win Supernova 2018? Let us know all your thoughts in the comments section below!

Read more Latvia Eurovision news here

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guitaristbl
guitaristbl
6 years ago

Laura was really good, great performance, very good song. Esamiba is kind of overrated imo,although it is not bad either. I prefer Laura and Markus over Madara personally. And please Latvia stay as far from Liene Greifane as possible.

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

My 2 favourites qualified! I really like both songs!!

Kris
Kris
6 years ago

What’s with the random I love laura comments here!

Margot
Margot
6 years ago
Reply to  Kris

Cause she it the best! Get ready for Riga 2019!

hobos
hobos
6 years ago

FunnyGirl is without some originality at all, remember me from far 80th – Whytney’ Houston “Saving all my love for you… nothing special, sorry! If you like her singing its ok, but song….? First all judges and latvian people speak about singing, but eurovision is a song contest, no? Speaking frankly the singing also was mediocre to compare with world level, really “nothing special” little better like others maybe…this song push me back to 80th really, little improved arrangement, thats all!

Marios
Marios
6 years ago

“Funny girl” was a good act, indeed. But, come on, we have seen tons of things like that in MF, for example.

Dansk
Dansk
6 years ago

Great choice Latvia! JUst listened to both songs on youtube and already added to my Spotify list.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
6 years ago

This was one of the best heats/semi-finals/finals of the entire Eurovision season so far (Maybe up there with Hungary’s semi final today). Every single one of the performers brought it vocally and with their performances. It is a shame that Latvia put all of these guys in the same semi-final because I think most of them would have qualified had they been in 1 or 2.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
6 years ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

For what it is worth, Mionia was probably the best, in my opinion, but any choice would have been deserved!

Frifri
Frifri
6 years ago

Wiwii’s, please make the poll asking who should win the wildcard. I am pretty confident that Sudden Lights should. I think top 3 will be: 1:Madara (She has by far the most spotify listens, Laura is far behind). 2. Laura, 3: Sudden Lights ( because they are 2nd most listened act in Spotify!).

Colin
Colin
6 years ago
Reply to  Frifri

I fully support Sudden Lights winning the wildcard! My second favorite song of Supernova 2018.

So far, my top 7:

1. Esamiba
2. Funny Girl
3. Walk the Talk
4. Younger Days
5. This Time
6. Lovers Bliss
7. Who’s Counting

Poet
Poet
6 years ago

Laura and Lauris were the performances of the Semi 3.

Sabrina
Sabrina
6 years ago

Laura was flawless. I loved her song since the first time I’ve listened to it, but it got even better when she performed it live. I still think that “Esamiba” is wonderful and it’s the song that really give me goosebumps, but I would be also glad if they pick “Funny Girl”. It’s classy and charming. I’m sad that Katrine hasn’t moved forward, but her performance wasn’t that good and I blame the staging. That little dance with the baseball bats was very awkward. Lauris Valters used the advantage of having 5 people on the stage very cleverly. The song… Read more »

Colin
Colin
6 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

I agree, Esamiba FTW! Laura is my second now. She and Katrine should have qualified!

suuperman
suuperman
6 years ago

So, no wildcard? The Markus Riva mess-up just removed that opportunity?

Edijs
Edijs
6 years ago
Reply to  suuperman

No there will be a wild card. Next week they will let you know buddy

Kocin
Kocin
6 years ago

Yay, Laura! Eurovision 2018 winner, maybe?

No wonder Lauris qualified. A positive, energetic song about love combined with a funny performance was a breath of fresh air after all the other songs about pain and heartbreak.

Anna
Anna
6 years ago

Anyone looking for a good song for Eurovision this year? Latvia has two.
Madara’s and Laura’s songs are so different, but both great Hard to decide which one should go to Lissabon.

Sabrina
Sabrina
6 years ago
Reply to  Anna

It’s a huge pity that one of them won’t make it. But that’s how the game works!

AzeriChico
AzeriChico
6 years ago

I like “Funny girl”, it’s a very good song and the performance was just outstanding tonight. It can give Top 10 result to Latvia in the grand final. BUT… I think that “Esamiba” would be a much better option and it actually could be a chance for Top 5 for Latvia after so many years.

Pff… Wouldn’t it be better if we had one of these songs in Supernova 2017? LOL. Both of them are masterpieces compared to last year’s Latvian entry IMO.

Felix
Felix
6 years ago
Reply to  AzeriChico

I don’t want another Blackbird, dude. Just for Laura!

up!
up!
6 years ago

I like Funny Girl a lot. Very interesting song. But I still cross all my fingers for Madara…

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

Katrine Lukins is out! Nooooo! 🙁

sorry, dude
sorry, dude
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Her live performance was bad. 🙁

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

I am sad, too.
Good for Lauris though! I like his style of music. So quirky!

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

Happy for Laura since I’m also half Brazilian by citizenship ^^
Those two performances were the best in the SF, btw.

Polyna
Polyna
6 years ago

If not existence of queen Madara I would support Ms. Risotto just to have another Laura at Eurovision :P.

esc.hurricane
esc.hurricane
6 years ago

Laura deserves to go to Eurovision imo. She’s an amazing performer and with a slight revamp, “Funny Girl” can be a strong song that will really stand out. I’m rooting for her 🙂

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

So I’ve just listened to all of the seven finalists, and they aren’t that bad. I expected worse. Esamiba should win comfortably, even though it’s Amar pelos dois in Latvian it does stand out.

Axel
Axel
6 years ago

Esamiba got nothing to “Funny Girl.” Have you checked Latvian social networks? Everyone is here just for Laura and not for Madara. Sadly, but true.
P.s. Markus Riva is becoming a Latvian meme.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  Axel

Funny Girl didn’t really impress me–it’s a cute song, but it lacks any charm. Either way as long as it’s not Markus I’ll be fine.

Axel
Axel
6 years ago

But Latvians are in love in this song.

Marios
Marios
6 years ago
Reply to  Axel

Latvians are so OFTEN wrong, after all.

Edijs
Edijs
6 years ago

Perhaps not the song is what Latvians are so hyped about it is the performance that she delivers. No one else in this Supernova has that factor on stage that she has. I personally like Madara’s song more but maybe it is not sometimes all about the song that we send.

Polyna
Polyna
6 years ago
Reply to  Axel

Oh, so you’re saying Latvija wants to make a huge mistake? Okaaaay, their neighbours did it last year, so I guess Latvia wants to do it too…

Kelly
Kelly
6 years ago
Reply to  Polyna

Mistake? What do you want instead? Madara or Riva? XD

Polyna
Polyna
6 years ago
Reply to  Kelly

> Riva

Do not insult me.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  Polyna

Does anyone even like his song? I think everyone here agrees that singing isn’t for him.

Oisín T
6 years ago

I, for one, quite like it.

Edijs
Edijs
6 years ago
Reply to  Polyna

How many times it has been shown that if you deliver a great performance you will succeed more than any better song. Take Justs as an example. Song so hyped top 10 for sure but somehow performance let’s it down. And meanwhile same year Laura from Belgium bad song but top 10. I just want our country to be represented well. Many times we send something that could do well but it doesn’t reach its potential. With Laura Rizzotto this year it would be guaranteed a great performance.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  Edijs

Justs qualified and finished 15th, which is great for Latvia.

Edijs
Edijs
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

It was cool song and good place for Latvia but the performance didn’t feel natural. That song would have done much better if the performance was good

Polyna
Polyna
6 years ago
Reply to  Edijs

> Take Justs as an example.

OK, I take Justs as an example. Triana Park as a second one. And my conclusion is that Latvia tends to rather fsck-up their performances than improve them.

And please don’t compare Laura Tesoro to anybody, even another Laura – the former is too awesome for that :P.

Edijs
Edijs
6 years ago
Reply to  Polyna

I just compared the song vs the performance 😉
As said in previous replies Latvia usually does send the right song recently but doesn’t make the performance memorable or natural.
That is the biggest obstacle and that is why I would pick Laura in front of Madara only because she can deliver a banging performance. Madaras song is better but I reckon it is time for Latvia to favor the performance much more

AndrisF
6 years ago
Reply to  Axel

Next week final. Then both songs will stand besides. And we will see, wich one Latvians will choose.

FUNNYGIRLSQUAD
FUNNYGIRLSQUAD
6 years ago

I was so worried that Laura would be underrated but she made it!! I’m sooooooo happy for her! She slayed so hard, I hope she wins the whole thing

Yep
Yep
6 years ago

So realistically speaking it’s going to be Madara vs Laura Rizzotto next week, right?

Eliza
Eliza
6 years ago
Reply to  Yep

100%, I don’t see concurents for them.

Eddie
Eddie
6 years ago

For Latvia to succeed at the Eurovision I guess you have to have only 50% Latvian genes.

Axel
Axel
6 years ago
Reply to  Eddie

That’s racist, dude.

Mariah
Mariah
6 years ago

#FunnyGirlSquad <3

esc_latvia
esc_latvia
6 years ago

Laura won the semi final, by the way. She is going to win, because she has to do it!! #FunnyGirlSquad

Joel
Joel
6 years ago

I’m still wondering, who after the Laura’s perfomance is supporting Madara? Like it’s day vs night.
Just my opinion, nothing else 😀

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  Joel

Probably most people.

oJ
oJ
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

Most people of Latvia are supporting Laura, not Madara, that’s for sure

Edijs
Edijs
6 years ago

Laura smashed it. Truly a dark horse. Song might not be the best however her live performance is world-class.

Bendors
Bendors
6 years ago

Yay! Double L is in! 😀

P.s. #FunnyGirlSquad