Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2000
Encyclopedia
Latvia was represented by Brainstorm
, with the song '"My Star", at the 2000 Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 13 May in Stockholm
. "My Star" was chosen as the Latvian entry at the national final, Eirodziesma
, on 26 February and marked Latvia's Eurovision debut, some years after fellow Baltic nations Estonia
and Lithuania
had first joined the fold.
"My Star" was widely praised for its indie
style, which at the time brought a fresh, new and previously unheard type of song to Eurovision. The song went on to bring Latvia one of the most successful Eurovision debuts ever, and remains very well regarded.
in Riga
, hosted by Dita Torstere. Ten songs took part with the winner being chosen nominally by a mix of an "expert" jury and televoting, although the split was approximately 93:7 in favour of the jury. All songs but one were presented in English.
and preceding Turkey
. Lead singer Renārs Kaupers
gave an energetic and memorable performance, and at the close of voting "My Star" had picked up 136 points (including maximum 12s from Belgium
, Estonia, Finland and Norway
), placing Latvia third of the 24 entries, a placement as a debuting country bettered only by Poland
in 1994. The 12 points from the Latvian televote were awarded to contest winners Denmark
.
Brainstorm (Latvian band)
Brainstorm is a Latvian pop/rock band. The band became popular internationally in 2000, when they finished third in the Eurovision Song Contest 2000 with the song "My Star"....
, with the song '"My Star", at the 2000 Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 13 May in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. "My Star" was chosen as the Latvian entry at the national final, Eirodziesma
Eirodziesma
Eirodziesma is Latvia's national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. The show is produced by Latvijas Televīzija.-Eirodziesma Top 3:-See also:*Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest*2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004...
, on 26 February and marked Latvia's Eurovision debut, some years after fellow Baltic nations Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
and Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
had first joined the fold.
"My Star" was widely praised for its indie
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
style, which at the time brought a fresh, new and previously unheard type of song to Eurovision. The song went on to bring Latvia one of the most successful Eurovision debuts ever, and remains very well regarded.
Final
Eirodziesma was held at the studios of broadcaster LTVLatvijas Televizija
Latvijas Televīzija is the state-owned public service broadcasting television company in Latvia.The company is funded by grant-in-aid from the Latvian government , and gaining the rest from showing television commercials . Although moving LTV to licence fee funding has long been debated, this has...
in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, hosted by Dita Torstere. Ten songs took part with the winner being chosen nominally by a mix of an "expert" jury and televoting, although the split was approximately 93:7 in favour of the jury. All songs but one were presented in English.
| Draw | Artist | Song | Votes | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marija Naumova Marija Naumova Marija Naumova is a Latvian singer. Under the stage name Marie N, she sings a broad range of music ranging from pop to musical theatre and jazz, and has recorded several albums, with songs in Latvian, French, English, Russian and Portuguese... |
"For You My Friends" | 114 | 2 |
| 2 | Yana Kay | "Waterfall" | 81 | 6 |
| 3 | Jānis Stībelis | "I Will Return" | 62 | 8 |
| 4 | Dace Pūce, Aigars Grāvers & Nataradža | "Tāda zeme" | 67 | 7 |
| 5 | Arnis Mednis | "Everyday in Circle" | 82 | 5 |
| 6 | Madara Celma | "Close to You" | 49 | 10 |
| 7 | Brainstorm | "My Star" | 147 | 1 |
| 8 | Linda Leen | "Let's Go Insane" | 108 | 4 |
| 9 | Agnese | "Knowing Love and Loss" | 51 | 9 |
| 10 | Yana Kay | "Set My Heart on Fire" | 109 | 3 |
At Eurovision
On the night of the final Brainstorm performed 21st in the running order, following FinlandFinland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
and preceding Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. Lead singer Renārs Kaupers
Renars Kaupers
Renārs Kaupers, artistic name Reynard Cowper is a Latvian pop singer and songwriter.He is the lead singer of the Latvian pop/rock band Brainstorm, which came third at the Eurovision Song Contest 2000 with their song "My Star"...
gave an energetic and memorable performance, and at the close of voting "My Star" had picked up 136 points (including maximum 12s from Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Estonia, Finland and Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
), placing Latvia third of the 24 entries, a placement as a debuting country bettered only by Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
in 1994. The 12 points from the Latvian televote were awarded to contest winners Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.