This year it was quality over quantity with just nine acts competing in the stand-alone grand final of Supernova 2020. And in the end, Samanta Tīna won with her song “Still Breathing”. She will go on to represent Latvia at Eurovision 2020 in Rotterdam.
It was sixth time lucky for Samanta Tīna. After trying at five previous editions of the Latvian national final, she finally won over Latvian viewers with “Still Breathing”.
The song is an ode to life as a modern woman, balancing the demands of work, family and personal life. Samanta was joined on stage by three backing singers wearing black leotards accessorised with head visors and pink bottles of household cleaner.
“Still Breathing” was co-written by Aminata Savadogo who represented Latvia in 2015 with “Love Injection”. She also co-write Latvia’s 2016 song “Heartbeat”.
Second place went to former Aarzemnieki Katrīna Dimanta. She wooed audiences with her saucy song “Heart Beats”. Third place went to ANNNA and her commentary on fast fashion, “Polyester”.
Edgars Kreilis finished seventh, but he was wearing a memento of Eurovision 2016. He wore the white moto jacket that Donny Montell had worn as part of his “I’ve Been Waiting For This Night” wardrobe in Stockholm. Donny is currently Edgars coach on The Voice of Lithuania.
Supernova 2020 – Results
- Samanta Tīna – “Still Breathing”
- Katrīna Dimanta – “Heart Beats”
- ANNNA -“Polyester”
- Miks Dukurs – “I’m Falling for You”
- Bad Habits – “Sail with You”
- Seleste – “Like Me”
- Edgars Kreilis – “Tridymite”
- Katrīna Bindere – “I Will Break Your Heart”
- DRIKSNA – “Stay”
What do you think? Are you happy that “Still Breathing” will be Latvia’s song for Rotterdam? Tell us your thoughts below!
I can tell Aminata Savadogo, whom I will see live in concert next month in Riga, is behind the music of Samanta Tina’s winning entry. Well done Samanta Tina! Perseverance paid off!
I love this song. A very strong perfomance as well. Latvia should be in the final
Powerful performance from Samanta. She has an amazing voice.
An alternative song that approaches EDM and hip hop styles at times. I miss some melody at some points but this is definitely memorable. I like it.
I mean it’s an ok choice but tbh when I heard her live at the beginning I wasn’t entirely sure whether she was speaking English or not…
Wasn’t it Latvian then English? Lol
The top 3 are different genre lol
This is basically what everyone expected from Darude last year
A lot of people saying this is a good song right now are looking at the other Latvian national finalists and feeling justified in that assessment. However, I want to know how many of those same people are going to be saying the same thing when they’re comparing “Still Breathing” to the best that 40 other countries have to offer.
Wow. I have now seen this for the first time and I don’t know anything at all about this song or artist. My first reaction was… what…. : o …. then yes and the thought that comes to my mind is ..this is why I love ESC so much. Songs and expressions that I never ever would hear here in Sweden. Music that surprise me.I felt that it was a little crazy and little messy but modern and wow. What a singer.
Good luck
Talking about over the top in a bad way. Desperate mess. Oh well, at least one entry with meme potential 🙂
ITS SOOOO GOOD:) MY OPINION:)
I’m really happy for Samatha finally winning but the song is a complete mess. It would have been so much better without that electronic part. Not every mess is beautiful. But it’s still better than any other song they had. And I’m surprised Katrina came second, why so many voted for her?
Katrina was my winner, it’s a good song. People who thought that Samantha was too much, voted for Katrina, simple.
Samata Tina was a surprise winner.
She brought dancers, energy, moves, modern beats, voice, message… and she forgot a little thing called melody. The chorus (refrain) is an instrumental dubstep break down. That’s not good! You can’t sing along or hum it, there’s no melody. This is Hvala, ne gone insanely wrong. It’s a textbook case of what NOT to do in ESC.
Oh yes,Alexander Rybak taught us how to write a song. A cringe way. So, indeed, this is absolutely wrong way. ?
LOL! It seems that no artist has learnt from his advice.
Being experimental and different doesn’t mean that the song will be any good. I agree with all the posts saying that it’s a mess. It doesn’t have any structure to it and the instrumental break is all over the place. It’s trying to be a fun song but at the same time being really cool and avant-garde. It succeeds in being neither. She does have a good stage presence and the vocals are strong so there are some positives.
This could be used for torture.
Ever heard of the Geneva Convention?
Are you asking him or Latvia?
I not undrsetend a word from sher singing ??nice dancing ?????
love injected not injection , for god.
Is this the girl from last year Northmacedonia? I like this song more than last year!
Not the girl from North Macedonia. That was Tamara Todevska
It’s funny how one country picking Carousel one year and Samanta Tina the next. They’re bipolar. Best of luck to you Samanta. Looking forward to seeing you live in Rotterdam.
LOL
Well, Carousel ended up last from what I remember, so maybe they’re like “Fvck it, we’ll do 180 this year”
Telemoveis meets Rain of Revolution xD With some touches of Hvala, Ne and maybe Raiven’s Kaos?
A bit too messy, she’s a bit too shouty but it might surprise somehow
Good luck :3
Genuinely love this song! It slaps and is the kind of wacky entry eurovision needs, I really hope it gets to the final! While I can’t help it out of the semis I’d definitely vote for it if it’s in the final!
First bop. Yaaaas kween.
What a MESS! This song just makes no sense! It changes a million different melodies. It’s just a mess. Nothing comes together. And her vocal is wayyyyy too overpowering on song like this
It’s a beautiful mess!
you love boring generic songs but hate this? haha okey. i love it
good choice but maybe not the best option – annna has remembered me to german “fraeuleinwunder” lena – the chance doing a “maedchenwunder” job as in 2010 is away.
I have not followed the Latvian national final but when I read on here that this was the best song of the bunch and the only logical pick, I seriously question the quality of the national selection….I think this is a bit of a mess and it seems most fans are just into it because of her name and history…I can’t understand a single word of what her or her backing singers are saying…this is messy messy….if Conan from Portugal couldn’t get points from the jury last year, not sure how this can either
Great voice and performance. But this song is a complete mess and all over the place.
Seems very experimental.
Kind of like the type of art that Armenia is known for sending.
This will kill on stage I’m sure, I expect lots of fire.
One of those made with staging in mind songs.
Songwise, it’s not really something I would listen to outside of Eurovision but this might grow on me, probably in May.
I expect it to qualify easily from its undeniably easier semi.
Welcome back to the final Latvia!
The staging most likely won’t be that good, Latvian artists always work on a budget when it comes to background effects
España 8/10
Letonia 7/10
República Checa 5/10
Australia 3/10
Albania 2/10
well this was the least tragic option they had, but still a likely nq…
NEVER. she will Q
In your dreams
Well done, Latvia! Excellent choice! Samanta Tina is a great singer and an amazing performer.
2020 has so far turned out to be the year of the unexpected unique songs! Who knew it would evolve like that?
I really like the song. It is perhaps a to messy and over the top at times and could do with a better structured? staging but overall a great sound! So far the best out of all chosen!
Edgar’s 7th? Are we serious? The winner was good…. but Edgars brought something very unique and different …. come one! He was top 10 potential… no top 10 for Latvia,thisyear, final though .. congrats ??????
His performance wasn’t strong enough.
First time to hear this song and not sure how I feel about it yet. It’s very out there. Didn’t like the presentation here but that all can be fixed. Quirky, different and fair play to Latvia for taking the risk
It’s not for me this song. Not my genre. Good luck to Latvia
Bold and risky, well done to Latvia and good luck to Samanta! I’m definitely supporting this one to go through to the final.
FINALLY LATVIA CHOOSE SOMETHING MEMORABLE (jk). Congrats for Samanta, i can already see her slaying the stage in Rotterdam and maybe bring Latvia back to the Final
Latvia/Samantha Tina – so much confidence, charisma and commitment! She will deliver the Uber-fuego in Rotterdam! Cannot wait!
This is in the same semi as Finland and Serbia- where the current fan favourites to win the national finals are Erika and Hurricane. Cicciolina and Hasta La Vista will poach a lot of would be fans of Still Breathing.
Given that Lithuania, Russia and Ireland are in SF1, Latvia may have actually had better chances had it been in the bloodbath semi.
2020 said “it’s unconventional eurovision songs time” and i’m loving it
she rly went and *did* that, good for her
Aminata Savadogo is the reason why this national selection still exists. This girl is so talented
Agreed!!
Unique but far from fabulous
Good choice in Latvia, congratulations !
great choice
Very unique.. perfect choice latvia! Congrats, u r in the final!
“Still Breathing” isn’t my cup of tea but will probably grow on me, but I guess Samanta Tina finally winning is revenge for her robberies in 2013+4!
As a Latvian i actually don’t know. In X factor he was low too. There are always someone who outshines him. I think there are just some people who don’t get votes. And this time everyone was hyped and waiting for Samanta.
P.S. if Samanta is going to Eurovision then Markus can do it too. Samanta has better reputation though, but i think that Markus is slowly growing.
She’s hot!
Feel horrible that Edgars finished in 7th but oh my god I’m so happy for Samanta I was gonna throw a fit if she didn’t win. YES
great performance but i think the song needs a revamp because it’s quite messy
I agree.
1. Albania
2. Spain
3. Czech Republic
4. Australia
5. Latvia
I like her, she’s got a good voice, the song is not bad. But what’s with the clown clothing? First Australia, now Latvia, too? Hope Samantha will change the outfit a.s.a.p and get a sexy dress for Eurovision stage…
Unfortunately I don’t like “Still Breathing” at all. The song is not bad per se, but I find it repetitive and unpolished, it’s kinda like a demo that still needs some work. The lyrics are simple, almost simplistic; they convey the message in a very blatant way, which I find a bit irritating. Samanta is an awesome singer but she has to work on her pronunciation, at times I had trouble understanding what she was singing. Her dance routine gives me so much joy though, that energy… In any case best of luck to Latvia, their return to the final… Read more »