During last week’s Supernova 2023 semi-final, fourteen acts became ten. And tonight those ten acts battled it out to become Latvia’s Eurovision 2023 contestant. At the end of the voting in Riga, Sudden Lights emerged the winner and will represent the country with “Aijā” in Liverpool.
Tonight’s final saw Supernova regular Markus Riva attempting with his song “Forever” as well as newcomers and fan favourites Patrisha and Sudden Lights. However, at the end of the road, Sudden Lights was victorious.
The winner of Supernova 2023 was chosen through a mix of televoting from the Latvian public and a jury.
Latvia’s Supernova 2023 final contestants and songs
- Alise Haijima – “Tricky”
- Luīze – “You to Hold Me”
- Raum – “Fake Love”
- Toms Kalderauskis – “When It All Falls”
- Artūrs Hatti – “Love Vibes”
- Patrisha – “Hush”
- Sudden Lights – “Aijā”
- 24. Avēnija – “You Said”
- Avéi – “Let Me Go”
- Markus Riva – “Forever”
Latvia’s Supernova 2023 final results
- Sudden Lights – “Aijā”
- Patrisha – “Hush”
- 24. Avēnija – “You Said”
- Markus Riva – “Forever”
- Avéi – “Let Me Go”
- Raum – “Fake Love”
- Toms Kalderauskis – “When It All Falls”
- Alise Haijima – “Tricky”
- Artūrs Hatti – “Love Vibes”
- Luīze – “You to Hold Me”
Are you happy with the result? Will your favourite from Supernova 2023 represent Latvia at Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool?
Not too shabby but nothing really outstanding.
Pfff… this should be my kind of music and I don’t particularly like it….
Verse in 5/8…chorus in 6/8…!!!
Yaaas! Fantastic!
Wow! At first I was kinda disappointed that Patrisha didn’t win, but few listens have proved that Aija is actually really good. It is an interesting choice, I must say. When I heard about Sudden Lights, I thought it was just going to be midtempo pop and stuff like that. But wow the song is quite unusual and beautiful! It might take me some time to get fully used to it, but i really hope this breaks Latvia’s nq streak!!
It’s really nice that we’re having more alternative entries in esc as well as nfs!!
My favourite of the night was You Said, but congrats to Aija! I may not have fully connected with the song but I can see the quality in it.
This actually sounds like a quite tasteful song, there’s something special here. The performance might need some tweaks to make it more powerful, but it does sound good and original.
Very alternative, very Latvia. It’s really not bad. BUT, this performance has to go. This song is melancholic and cold, not orange lights-type of vibe. A gray theme would go so well with this. Something like Bulgaria 2017.
It may worth remembering that is a lullaby. I like seeing it with warm lights, because the strange blurry lines between warm and cold, soft rock and lullaby are what makes this song unique.
Hey Latvia, you are sending tasteful stuff. I love this! Great voice, interesting music, interesting lyrics, convincing performance.
So far the two lullabies are my favourites. Spain slightly in the lead.
Third place is my guilty pleasure Gustave.
It’s a bummer we didn’t get the Krut lullaby too.
For sure, Krut would have formed a clear top 2 along with Blanca Paloma for me so far. Such an uninspired decision to send TVORCHI instead…
Krut and Madame have what I consider to be the two masterpieces of this season so far. Blanca Paloma is not far behind (it’s my #1 currently in the field). I sense that our likes are pretty similar except for my far greater tolerance for dumb pop songs 🙂
Unfortunately we must go with what we got.
They seem like guys with decent taste who are paying homage to their influences, it’s a respectable effort but it would have been smarter to have the whole thing in Latvian and it also seems like the kind of entry that really suffers because of that 3-minute rule, would have benefited from offering all the different sections a little more room to breathe. All in all, yeah, it does kinda sound like a group of Radiohead fans trying to write something in that vein and ending up as a lesser version, but I’m going to cut them some slack since… Read more »
I think the neat trick that Sudden Lights manages is taking that electronic post-Kid A sound and making it as accessible as the earlier Radiohead records. I’m really into it. I would probably also be into their albums where they might get more of a chance to breathe, as you say.
I’m mostly quite gripped by this song, but I don’t think the end is very impactful. The opening is absolutely wild and gripping, and I do like the chorus. I don’t actually mind the end, I just wish it wasn’t at the end of the song, as especially after the guitar solo it feels like a bit of a let down, and like the song wasn’t building. But maybe that’s thematically appropriate! Overally this is pretty high in my rankings so far (although I haven’t fully caught up from last night)
The ending part has to be at the end, because 1. it’s a lullaby (it has to be calming towards the end), 2. the song literally tells the world to calm down, so a “calm after the storm” is the perfect ending
Otherwise it just wouldn’t make sense… like you say, it’s thematically appropriate.
I agree with Pete. I also believe they are dping some smart move by giving the audience some space to breathe between this amd the next song.
Obvious NQ from Latvia this year again, what a shame.
Love the song, so happy that this band can gain some international following as well.
As a Latvian, I say let’s take a rest from Supernova and work on producing a quality entry that can actually qualify for the final.
Like they did with The Moon Is Rising?
The Moon is Rising was not quality. We can do better.
Still Breathing could have potentially done well, definite qualifier at least Imo but unfortunately the contest was cancelled.
“The Moon Is Rising” is the result of what happens when latvians try writing songs.
They had 1 whole year to come up with a brand new song…
it’s staggering to me how lithuania and especially estonia always have a few strong entries in their nf (they don’t necessarily win every year, but they’re there), and then there’s latvia with a considerably worse lineup.
I agree
I was driving from Riga airport last summer and listened to some local radio. It’s like a never-ending edition of Supernova. I think Latvian music is just is like that. Not necessarily bad, just very alternative. Too alternative for Eurovision even. I don’t think Supernova is the problem here.
It’s more calm, almost scandi-slower than the average American hit.
It’s easier said than done. I don’t think the world works that way. Lat ia has been one of the most experimental countries in Europe. I may be wrong, but I believe it’s because of some tough times in NQ, but that makes also the highs of Aminata, Justs and Brainstorm.
Cmon. Moon is rising was all Samantha. But I agree. I would be happy to see something ethnic. Maybe Tautumeitas?
Good song, although not a winner, nice to have a song which is Alt. Rock.
this goes nowhere, but nothing from the latvian selection went anywhere to begin with.
Latvia 8/12
I don’t follow Latvia’s NF so only just got to this – I wasn’t sure at the start but then things really started to kick in, and I think this is great! Huge improvement on last year IMO.
Latvia 7/12 – could really be a grower !
Interesting sound, it will be appreciated by juries and quite a few televotes. That’s a good song, no matter how far or high it ends up.
Those saying Patrisha was robbed – bruh, I d?nt want to see Latvia being represented by a Pro-Russian antivaxxer, which she is.
Why do you have problems with people opposing dangerous gene therapy and discrimination of being undergoing an experiment that already has more than 1000 scientific researches proving that it’s absolutely disastrous for health, especially heart and blood citculation. Why so many eurofans became so radical intolerant of other people view points?
Erased part of the sentence:
*people opposing discrimination against those who are not undergoing an experiment…
Spot on choice, Latvia! Sudden Lights have their unique sound, and it works on the stage. Everything seems to work really well together. 2 tips for the big Eurovision stage: 1 no lip-syncing for the band members. Citi zeni did it last year, and jury did not seem to like it. You can still be engaged without lip-syncing. This song is too good to be lip-synced on the stage. 🙂 2 Love the voice, shades and moves of the lead singer. If there’s a chance to work on the strength of the voice (or adjust the mic to make the… Read more »
Wow 4 of the 7 songs in the first half of semi 1 are bands. Super interesting with the number of bands getting through. Wondering if it’s the maneskin effect. I think semi 1 is such a tough semi with so many typically strong countries in there. But anything can happen. But Alessandra will definitely stand out.
What is this genre even called? I mean… What type of rock would this classify as?
Genres: Art rock, alternative rock, electronica, experimental rock
(Basically I just went to the Radiohead wiki page and copied. 🙂 )
Alt. Rock or Alternative Rock
I would name it poprock
Definitely NOT poprock.. It is way more experimental and alternative. Ireland is poprock!
Finally my favorite actually won a NF
Sudden Lights is one of my favorite bands and one of the really few I kept following through the years, after their previous entry Just Fine in supernova 2018. Most of their song are really unique and in a way feel handcrafted, not amateurish, but made with the attention each unique piece deserve. Really happy they will represent Latvia this year. This years song is really fresh and different and in some paths personal. Hope it will translates as good at the big stage in Liverpool. Greetings from Greece.
These guys have such an understated sense of authenticity and a refreshing vibe, something that feels lacking in other male bands this year, such as Ireland’s Wild Youth. These guys are not making up for boring, generic anthemic pop music with Harry Styles/ Maneskin faux fashion styling. Instead, they have a lead singer in a simple red shirt and with a great voice, simple but effective studio lamp staging and clearly very talented instrumentalists in the band. And an absolute earworm of a song, which I can’t stop singing! I so hope they qualify, they bring something unique to the… Read more »
Red jacket, not shirt, sorry.
GUYS THEY ARE AMAZING IRL AND THEY CAN SING … THEY LITERALLY WENT AS WARM UP ACT ON TOUR OF LATVIAS MOST FAMOUS BAND BRAINSTORM IN 2018 THEY PERFORMED IN FRONT OF THOUSANDS AND IVE HEARD THEM THERE AND ON THEIR OWN CONCERT … THEY ARE AMAZING PLEASE DONT BE SO ARROGANT .. I WISH MY BOYS ALL THE BEST I AM VERY PROUD OF THIS ACHIEVMENT AND YOU ALL BETTER BE PROUD OF UR OWN COUNTRIES ENTRIES AS WELL CUZ ITS NOT COMPETITION ANYMORE ITS TIME WHEN MUSIC JOINS US ALL TOGETHER FOR GREAT TIME ?
Unexpected…
Aww, sad about Patrisha! This isn’t bad, but extremely forgettable. I can’t really see this qualifying as it doesn’t have a memorable moment televoters can click with. They ARE in a weaker semifinal though, so maybe they could just slip through, though in 2018 it didn’t work in their favor either when they were also in a crappier semifinal
Before they announce the winner when it came down to Sudden Lights or Patrisha i was very happy, because i liked them both. I wish they could both represet Latvia, but it doesnt work this way. Good luck to Sudden Lights in Eurovision. I really like their indie style and vision.
Patrisha was robbedddddd
i love the verses but the refrain is such a let down. sorry
this is quality from latvia I hope it won’t have the same fate as Triana Park or Carousel tho… latvia deserves so much more and don’t wanna see them withdraw !
I wasn’t too keen on Supernova this year but Aija was definitely the best of the night!
Also, it’s great to see Latvian again at the contest! I’m sure they’ll make it through this time around 😀
I’m usually the pessimistic Latvian but mark my words we will qualify this year. They just need to elevate the song on the bigger stage.
Its a quality song. I feel, if you pull thru and get out from the semi with the public, you will get much better result in the final with some jury love combined.
No we won’t
Really pleased to see this one winning – it feels so epic and gives me Keane vibes. Lots of people in Liverpool will appreciate this.
Oh yes…. Interpol, Keane definitelly something we need in Eurovision. I think it can be top 10
Indeed, Keane are also one of my biggest influences. 🙂
100% mate, definitely giving 2000s indie rock mixed with a little britpop and melodic pop. Very refreshing and welcome in the competition.
Decent
Congrats Sudden Lights ! Good indie rock song i love it ! Thanks Latvia !
Wow. All the songs picked today are disappointing af. At least Italy will come through. Europe, you can do better.
Estonia’s is a good ballad
Just tell the truth that YOUR favorites did not win.
Out of the the NFs today, I was only following Romania, and they too picked a horrendous song. For the other countries, it’s the first time I listen to their song, and wow, what a terrible year this is turning out to be. At least we have Spain and the Czech Republic.
I didn’t even check out any of the competitors in tonight’s countries. It’s just an exceptionally bad set of choices, all of which deserve to be buried deep in the semis.
Now this is music. Take note Spain.
Let me guess your favorite was Agoney…..
Latvia and Spain makes up my current top 2. Both of them represent great music, each in its own way.
Fair enough, but Spain for me is a screaming mess.
My 1 and 2 so far as well.
The only thing is not music is Croatia
With the right staging this could give Latvia a qualification to the final. It also kind of remind me of music from a band called Postal Service. Personally great choice!
In my opinion “Raum – Fake love” was the most competitive song that Latvia could have sent to Eurovision.
Guys i know how you feel but give it another try, after my second and third listen i changed my mind. And now i have this on a high position in my list
Not half bad, best entry Latvia have had in a while.
I don’t get it, but good luck.
A potential NQ
A potential NQ, sure
Better than the average latvian guaranteed NQ
That will depend on the competition in semifinal one
Now, I wasn’t already a big fan of Ireland’s song, but with this one being in the first half of the first semi final, ireland is pretty much dead at this point lol. I was feeling Hush a little bit more, but this a great rock entry, they just need to make sure the staging is not so generic and uninteresting cause the song keeps growing on me the more I listen.
Latvia might finally be back in the final after years of failure.
LATVIA — “Aij?”
I’m worried that I don’t quite understand this one. Everything seems very disjointed, particularly in the staging, but even the song itself seems like its lurching forward and then freezing for a second or two at a time. The vocals are good live, and I love how Latvia does what Latvia wants and doesn’t conform to anyone else’s Eurovision style, but I’m afraid this one slightly misses for me.
Score: 5/10.
This sounds great, Latvia. And has it’s own style. Exactly what we need for this year.
I’m personally very happy with this winner. Even if it doesn’t qualify in the extremely competitive ESC semi final 1, I’ll still love it. Thank you Latvia.
We’ll see if this qualifies.