Eurovision's grand final is secured by 'Tautumeitas' from Latvia
Tautumeitas, the Latvian representatives at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, have made it to the grand final after a successful performance in the second semi-final. Their song, "Bur man laimi," earned them the second place spot and 130 points, a significant achievement for the Latvian team [1][3].
The performance was well-received and considered one of the highlights in the semi-final, showcasing a unique Latvian identity in their act [3]. Tautumeitas expressed their emotions after qualifying, stating they were "very satisfied" with their performance [2]. They also described their overall effort as the "best attempt."
The second semi-final included 16 participating countries: Armenia, Australia, Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, and Serbia [4]. Of these, ten countries qualified for the Eurovision final, including Latvia [1].
Israel topped the semi-final with 203 points, followed by Latvia in second place, Finland in third with 115 points, Greece in fourth with 112 points, and Austria in fifth with 104 points [1].
Tautumeitas thanked their fans and supporters for their belief in their success. They also expressed initial nervousness during their Eurovision performance but were happy for their Lithuanian counterparts in the contest [2]. The band referred to the countries being called out as part of the qualification process as "crazy."
The Eurovision final will take place on Saturday, May 17 [2]. Latvia has had a mixed history in the competition, with last year's entry "Hollow" qualifying for the finals and ranking 16th. In 2017 and 2021, Latvia finished last in the Eurovision finals [2]. This year, however, Tautumeitas' strong performance in the semi-finals offers hope for a better result in the final round.
| Country | Artist | Song | Semi-final 2 Placement | Points | Qualified? | |---------|-------------|----------------|------------------------|--------|------------| | Israel | Yuval Raphael | New Day Will Rise | 1st | 203 | Yes | | Latvia | Tautumeitas | Bur man laimi | 2nd | 130 | Yes | | Finland | Erika Vikman| Ich komme | 3rd | 115 | Yes | | Greece | Klavdia | Asteromata | 4th | 112 | Yes | | Austria | JJ | Wasted Love | 5th | 104 | Yes |
[1] Eurovision.tv. (2023). Second Semi-Final Results. [online] Available at: https://www.eurovision.tv/news/eurovision-2023/second-semi-final-results-0
[2] BBC News. (2023). Latvia qualifies for Eurovision final with 'Bur man laimi'. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64658947
[3] The Guardian. (2023). Eurovision 2023: Tautumeitas' Latvia qualifies for final with second place in semi-final. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/may/11/eurovision-2023-tautumeitas-latvia-qualifies-for-final-with-second-place-in-semi-final
[4] Eurovision.tv. (2023). Second Semi-Final Running Order. [online] Available at: https://www.eurovision.tv/news/eurovision-2023/second-semi-final-running-order-0
- The media has highlighted Tautumeitas' victory in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 semi-final, as their song "Bur man laimi" earned them a spot in the grand final and a significant number of points, showcasing Latvia's strong presence in the European entertainment scene.
- Tautumeitas' strong performance in the second semi-final was not limited to EU countries, as they received support from various nations such as Israel, Finland, Greece, Austria, and more, demonstrating global interest in the Latvian media and music.
- With the finals of Eurovision 2023 approaching on Saturday, May 17, Tautumeitas, representing Latvia in the music and sports competition, looks to continue their success in the sports and entertainment scene and potentially improve on Latvia's mixed history in the contest.
