Last week she released her Eurovision 2021 entry “The Moon is Rising”. Now Latvian diva Samanta Tīna has delivered the first live performance of her song, giving clues as to how it might be presented in Rotterdam this May.

Samanta Tīna delivered the debut performance at the 2021 Zelta Mikrofons (the Golden Microphone Awards) — Latvia’s annual music honours. As well as honouring the finest in Latvia’s music industry, the show was also the perfect opportunity for Samanta Tīna to bring her song for Rotterdam to the live stage.

Samanta Tīna performs “The Moon Is Rising” live

Samanta Tīna took to the Golden Microphone stage with a posse of strong women. She was joined by a dozen dancers, who delivered similar choreography to what is seen in the song’s music video.

One of Samanta’s outfits from the music video also made an appearance on the live stage. Samanta Tīna wore a regal taupe jacket with puffy sleeves. Underneath that she wore an oversize white shirt. From the waist down, Samanta wore only white cowgirl boots — but when you’ve got the moves, why should more clothes get in your way?

The song’s minimalist musical arrangement meant that there was little room for vocal mistake. Samanta has to deliver — and she did. The Latvian star was joined by three backing singer who mostly provided atmosphere and contrast, rather than needing to beef up Samanta’s vocal.

But with 16 performers on stage, Team Latvia will have to ditch at least ten for the Eurovision performance. One option would be to use pre-recorded backing vocals and have five dancers join Samanta, but her backing vocalists have always been a strong part of her live performances.

Samanta Tīna’s journey to Eurovision

It’s been a long road for Samanta Tīna to make it to Eurovision. She made five previous attempts at Latvia’s national final — and two attempts in neighbouring Lithuania — before finally winning Supernova 2020 with “Still Breathing”.

After Eurovision 2020 was cancelled, there was initial uncertainty if Samanta would get a return ticket to Rotterdam. But in a special show ahead of Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light, Samanta was surprised with the good news that she had been internally selected for Eurovision 2021.

She will finally have the chance to take her musical eleganza to Rotterdam in May 2021

What do you think of Samanta Tīna’s live performance? What sort of staging should she bring to her performance in Rotterdam? Tell us your thoughts below!

Read more Latvia Eurovision news here

31 Comments
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Mr X
Mr X
3 years ago

It´s a real grower – finally reached in my top 10.

So far better than Malta or Azerbaijan.

lasse braun
lasse braun
3 years ago

i see in this song (the music of course) a little bit from latvia & belgium 2015 too. very strong voice like aminata but complety different timbre and the pa-ra-ra part remains me positive to the belgium song part and these 2 progressive songs have surprised a lot of people in the final. both 2015 songs were avantgarde pop and this and latvia 2020 are too. i would be very surprised,if the jurys do not vote (very) high for the voice,which is a vulcano with a lot of fire. samanta has the skills bringing her powerful voice 1:1 from the… Read more »

GuyGuy
GuyGuy
3 years ago

Not my cup of tea and probably won’t win, but still, it is preformed very well and it’s different, so I can see it standing out and doing well in Rotterdam.
Best of luck

notyourtoy
notyourtoy
3 years ago

I don’t get why there’s so much hate on that song. This song is not something usual at Eurovision

eurana
eurana
3 years ago
Reply to  notyourtoy

Exaggerated a lot, a lot. It’s too much

Fatima
Fatima
3 years ago

That’s my favourite bit too.

stefjov
stefjov
3 years ago

Where is article about live acoustic of Loco Loco by Hurricane? Can I write about it? ?

Jimmy Smit
Jimmy Smit
3 years ago
Reply to  stefjov

Seeing as it’s been an hour, I’d say write your article and email it to them, stefjov.

Jimmy Smit
Jimmy Smit
3 years ago
Reply to  Jimmy Smit

Oh well—an article has just been posted about Hurricane—so please check that first, stefjov. I’d suggest emailing William/the team anyway, if you are interested in writing articles—I’m sure they’d be happy to hear from you.

stefjov
stefjov
3 years ago
Reply to  Jimmy Smit

Thanks for the info, I saw the article, William was quick enough and wrote it perfectly!

Poet
Poet
3 years ago

She certainly can sing.

I can see this doing really well in Rotterdam, potentially Top 5.

Doris
Doris
3 years ago

Allow up to 15 people on stage and backsingers on stage manadatory. This is what Eurovision should look now. These 6 people rule is so outdated with now so big stages. This was setted because of past small stages.

If this was Destiny and Malta singing this song everyone would be OMG this is good and number one in the odds. Slim and blonde is now a disadvantage. What a strange world we live.

WannaEatMySpaghetti
WannaEatMySpaghetti
3 years ago
Reply to  Doris

Even though I agree with you on the fact that the 6 persons rule is stupid, go to a psychologist to cure this addiction to Destiny. It’s getting scary. I hope you don’t dream about her too much at night.

Darren
Darren
3 years ago

I think she thinks she’s actually better than she is in reality.
This song does nothing for me and it’s even worse live than in the video.
I’m sorry Latvia, i can’t warm to this at all. But Eurovision is a crazy beast, she might even win LOL!

Jimmy Smit
Jimmy Smit
3 years ago
Reply to  Darren

In a way, we’re all better than we are in reality 😉

…but I know what you mean, she has the voice and charisma to win a lot more people over with a more appealing song.

Last edited 3 years ago by Jimmy Smit
Honesty
Honesty
3 years ago

Go_A gave the first live performance of “Shum”, by the way.

Euromess
Euromess
3 years ago

Watching this performance is like looking at the screaming goat meme

Jimmy Smit
Jimmy Smit
3 years ago

I really like Samanta, she’s fierce but without taking herself too seriously. It’s charming how she always has a smile and a wink for the camera, she wants to connect with her audience. It’s clear she cares passionately about her work and probably knows it’s not going to be everyone’s ‘cup of tea’. Her vocal was undeniably strong and reliable in this live performance. I liked the staging and camerawork, particularly at parts like 2:40. I also liked how much fun Samanta appeared to be having. The song isn’t an ideal sound for me but there’s something fabulous about it… Read more »

Berco
Berco
3 years ago

What a powerful voice! Such a shame she got wasted with this non-melodical bunch of words ( not a song tho )

Last edited 3 years ago by Berco
WannaEatMySpaghetti
WannaEatMySpaghetti
3 years ago

She’s on point vocally. Let’s hope the staging and the camera angles will be too in May because this is the only way to enter into the song. I like the song but without a good staging there is no way it will go to the final :/

Candy
Candy
3 years ago

Are you trying to joke?

Boreal
Boreal
3 years ago

Samanta sounds great live; the staging really translates into the atmosphere in the videoclip. Since in Rotterdam she won’t be able to have these many dancers, it would great if they replicate the dancers in the sort of mirrors used by Sergey and Tamara in Tel Aviv. We know Samanta is very energetic and knows how to own a stage, although in this live performance she was somehow holding back? I’m sure they’re just trying things out. It’ll be great to see her slaying in Rotterdam.

Last edited 3 years ago by Boreal
kir
kir
3 years ago
Reply to  Boreal

But not the way Gaitana did in 2012. Samanta really reminds me her. I hope Latvia manages to avoid the mistakes of Ukraine.

Jamie
Jamie
3 years ago

This song has no instrumental.

Ashton Schier
Ashton Schier
3 years ago

and u call me boring LMAO

Erasmus
Erasmus
3 years ago

this just isn’t my taste at all. She has great energy, but voice, but I can never take her entries seriously.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
3 years ago
Reply to  Erasmus

i appreciate the unintentional comical value she has a lot, i root for her for this reason

zheng
zheng
3 years ago

Wow! Great performance , Samanta is on fire!!

Lollipopmonster ESC
Lollipopmonster ESC
3 years ago

Samanta Tina is hot !

Last edited 3 years ago by Lollipopmonster ESC
Ende
Ende
3 years ago

She looks like Chandelier in the Beauty and the Beast

Esc addict
Esc addict
3 years ago

Perfect vocals, very powerful, perfect performance, Samanta slays and it’s so cool to have such good performers like her on the Eurovision stage.