He’s the hunky hitmaker that’s entered Latvia’s Eurovision selection every year since 2014. And, all going to plan, Markus Riva will make yet another appearance at Supernova 2020.
Markus Riva at Supernova 2020
While many spent 26 December digesting dinner from the day before, Markus took to Instagram for a Q&A with his fans. When asked about Supernova 2020, the X Factor Latvia host replied:
“I get asked a lot about this. So, thank you. Yes, I have submitted a song. So, fingers crossed and I hope it’s going to be all good”.
Riva doesn’t offer any further hints regarding the song title or the team behind it.
However, he was recently seen hanging out with Aminata Savadogo — Latvia’s most successful Eurovision artist and songwriter of recent years. She wrote and performed “Love Injected” in 2015, coming sixth. She also wrote “Heartbeat” in 2016, the last time the Baltic nation reached the final.
Could the pair be teaming up for Supernova? Perhaps Savadogo is just what Markus needs to finally get him over the winning line?
In all his attempts, Riva has reached the national final almost every time. However, his best results came in 2015 and 2019 when he came second with “Take Me Down” and “You Make Me So Crazy” respectively.
Samanta Tīna at Supernova 2020
If social media speculation is to be believed, Markus isn’t the only familiar name to submit an entry to the 2020 Latvian selection.
Following an interview with Sejas, Samanta Tīna is also being pegged as a Supernovacontender.
When asked about the last dream she could remember, Samanta glibly responds that she had a nightmare where someone else performed her new single “Still Breathing” at Eurovision. Reading between the lines, many have concluded that she plans to sing it herself.
Such speculation is fueled by the fact that the song is within Eurovision’s three-minute time limit and the lyrics are written by Aminata.
Tīna is also a regular in Latvia’s selection process. Between 2012 and 2014 she never finished outside the top three. She also took part in the 2016 edition of Supernova.
Latvia at Eurovision 2020
In early December, Latvia’s broadcaster LTV confirmed that the 126 entries submitted to Supernova 2020 have been whittled down to a shortlist of just 28 songs. This number is to be reduced again, with LTV saying that fans will be able to listen to the competing songs in January.
Presumably, both Markus Riva and Samanta Tīna are on the 28 song shortlist. Whether they make it further remains to be seen.
Are you excited to have Markus and Samanta back at Supernova? Who else would you like to see? let us know in the comments.
Markus Riva’s best entry was “Take Me Down” but there was no chance he was going to beat Aminata. He should’ve saved that song for another year where he could have definitely won it; I haven’t liked any of his other entries, they all sound like cheaply produced Russian pop with bad lyrics and poor English enunciation. Samanta should’ve gotten to Eurovision in 2014 with “Stay,” don’t know how she lost to that cake baking trash. This song is not bad at all and could have an interesting staging but I can’t get over her very poor English enunciation; I… Read more »
That last sentence is everything! If I, as a native English speaker can’t understand you, don’t sing in English. There’s nothing wrong with your native tongue.
can you understand everything Ariana Grande sings?
This could also apply to several Belorussian singers who often butcher their songs. One of the prime examples is last year’s finalist Eva Kogan. I suspect her song wasn’t even that bad, but her accent made it unintelligible. I think she has a nice voice, but why did she have to sing in English? Examples of heavy accents are plenty, but I remembered her for being completely off to the point of not understanding most of the lyrics.
Samanta actually speaks better in English than she sings in English. It’s her singing technique which makes it difficult to understand.
kinda off topic, but if only the 6 people rule wouldn‘t exist so Aminata could enter with Dzivot Citadak feat. Tautumeitas, that song is so good 🙁
Aminata hung out with Markus Riva, because she performed in X Factor Latvia twice
Markus Riva aka the Aly Ryan of Latvia
Is this Markus 7 attemps at national selection? If yes he give me Sanna vibes
8th
I like M., he is very likeable, but calling him “a hunk” is bit of a stretch…
He is, though. He looks like a sweet guy, and his real name just made him even more charming, not gonna lie.
Each year the same story …..they re both old fashionned …. and their songs are trash
Samantha Tina is talented and authentic when it comes to her singing and her songs. But these songs of her make it hard for me to love them. It needs to be something that can stand out and be loved among many people. With regards to her newly released song that is written by Aminata, I am still doubtful about it but hoping for the best that she will finally get selected. Otherwise, I will also root for Markus Riva as he is in my top picks per year.
Expecting a bland selection, so I’ll be rooting for him anyway, don’t ask me why.
Let them try. I’m not too keen on retuuuuuurning performers, but these two always try and improve.
The song Aminata wrote last year was actually my favourite in Supernova. So yeah, good news if it were true.
Isn’t he tired of trying? This man has no voice and no talent…. He’s only good looking, but that’s not enough to get votes from the juries and the televoters (if he’ll represent Latvia)…
As the saying goes: “Never say die”.
Sanna Nielsen never got tired of trying lots of times in Melodifestivalen. If she can do that lots of times, why can’t Markus do something that is almost the same as what she did?
Yeah, but Sanna could sing.
Have u seen her first rehearsal of undo at ESC ? Of cource she can sing, but sometimes her vocals are not good enough !
What? haha Her vocals are the best. So? The first reheasel is not singing 100%. Its about other stuff to. I thought you knew these kind of things.
He is very hard working and has improved a lot over the years. Sometimes hard work is more important than talent.
So? should i quit my job if i have worked there 8 years and like it? Or should i stop watching ESC after 8 years and take a break for 1? haha same stupid argument. And he have talent. Not all are live singers.
We clown them, but honestly? I can’t pity them for trying. They want to make their countries proud. It isn’t just thirstiness. Gotta respect the hustle and I hope one of them is finally in for their first taste of Eurovision (if the song’s good enough – Still Breathing doesn’t do much for me, personally, but let’s see what happens).
aminata only did the trick once, all her other attempts weren’t as good as love injected. y’all need to stop hatin on markus riva btw
Heartbeat was a bop too
Deserved top 10 at least. Only thing about her songs is that they require strong voices that can project due to her minimalist production- don’t know if Markus is a good vocal fit.
I guess you’ve never listened to her albums then…the girl is talented and the best songwriter Latvia has.
I’m one of the few who like Markus Riva, I don’t know what’s wrong with trying?! Hoping he may win, if no other song is better than his!
Samantha Tina basically confirmed that she is singing still breathing in supernova 2020. In the YouTube comments under the MV she loved comments telling her she’d do well and should go to eurovision
I never would have guessed. I hope he improved and won’t be an Olivia Lewis in the making. Competing forever, then finally getting a pity NF victory only to completely blow it at Eurovision. Yes, I went for an old example instead of the Claudia Faniello case because I still believe ‘Breathlessly’ was wonderful.
Ironically 2007 is the year Claudia most deserved to win MESC
I love Samanta’s new supernova song!
I am really looking forward to listening to 28 competing songs. I hope they could be released in these last days of December or at least in very early January. We’d need time to analyze them and there will be a lot of other lists in Late January – Late March. I wish all the best to both Markus Riva and Samanta Tina. I know how they really want to participate, so this might be their year. I just hope that Markus learned from his recent mistakes and that he submitted something that isn’t generic, middle-of-the-road pop song he usually… Read more »
There won’t be 28 songs. The shortlist is going to be cut further
“This number is to be reduced again, with LTV saying that fans will be able to listen to the competing songs in January.” The info isn’t clear as to whether we’ll listen to them (perhaps vote online?) and *then* they’ll be cut further, or it’s the other way around. First they’ll be cut down, and then we’ll hear whatever is left. Not sure, really.
the auditions of all 28 shortlisted songs will be released in 2nd week of January
In 2017 Samanta competed in Atranka in Lithuania with a duet in Lithuanian (that wasn’t very good and didn’t do very well), she didn’t compete in Supernova that year
I don’t know why they don’t just select Aminata again!
You don’t want to be reliant on a single singer/songwriter- it’s not sustainable for the long run
Plus, I think that Supernova still has the rule that the winners can’t compete as performers but as songwriters
you can’t rely on just Aminata alone, otherwise ur same as san marino who had valentina countless times