May 22, 2012
For the second year in a row, Latvia has failed to advance to the final of the annual Eurovision Song Contest, which this year takes place in Baku, Azerbaijan.
“Beautiful Song,” a tune performed by singer Anmary, did not impress television viewers and professional juries in the May 22 semi-final of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
A total of 18 countries competed in the first of two semi-finals, but just 10 could get into the final. A second semi-final on May 24 will pit 18 more countries—including Estonia and Lithuania—against each other, also for 10 spots in the final. The final contest is slated for May 26 and will include those 20 contestants plus five core countries that automatically are slotted (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) and the host, Azerbaijan.
Anmary (whose real name is Linda Amantova) won Latvia’s national Eirodziesma competition on Feb. 18. The tune, “Beautiful Song,” is an homage to the Eurovision Song Contest and was composed by Ivars Makstnieks with lyrics by Rolands Ūdris.
Last year’s entry, performed by the duo Musiqq, also did not make it past the Eurovision semi-finals.
Latvia’s Marija Naumova won the contest in 2002 with the song “I Wanna.”
Andris Straumanis is a special correspondent for and a co-founder of Latvians Online. From 2000-2012 he was editor of the website.
