Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2003

Latvia, as the host nation, was represented by F.L.Y. with the song "Hello From Mars" at the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 24 May 2003 in Riga, Latvia.

Eurovision Song Contest 2003
Country Latvia
National selection
Selection processEirodziesma 2003
Selection date(s)1 February 2003
Selected entrantF.L.Y.
Selected song"Hello From Mars"
Finals performance
Final result24th, 5 points
Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2002 • 2003 • 2004►

Before Eurovision

Eirodziesma 2003

Eirodziesma 2003 was the fourth edition of Eirodziesma, the music competition that selects Latvia's entries for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Competing entries

Artists and songwriters were able to submit their entries to the broadcaster until 4 November 2002. 57 songs were submitted at the conclusion of the submission period, and a ten-member international jury panel evaluated the submitted entries and selected 15 entries to compete in the national final.[1] The fifteen competing artists and songs were announced on 15 November 2002.[2] The song "Lead Me to Your Heart" was due to be performed by Madara Celma and Normunds Rutulis, however Celma was replaced by Ieva Kerēvica shortly before the final due to her having to perform more than one song in the contest.[3]

Final

The final took place on 1 February 2003 at the Olympic Centre in Ventspils, hosted by Ilze Jaunalksne and Ģirts Līcis. The winner was selected over two rounds of public televoting. In the first round, the top five entries were selected to proceed to the second round. In the second round, "Hello from Mars" performed by F.L.Y. was declared the winner.[4]

First Round – 1 February 2003
Draw Artist Song Songwriter(s) Televote Place
1 Ieva Kerēvica & Normunds Rutulis "Lead Me to Your Heart" Madara Celma 1,562 13
2 F.L.Y. "Hello from Mars" Mārtiņš Freimanis, Lauris Reiniks 43,922 1
3 Nicol "One More Dance" Nicol 6,770 6
4 Tatjana Timčuka "Roses and Tears" Sergejs Kugeļevs 10,235 4
5 4.elements "Long Way to Run" Arnis Mednis 2,361 10
6 Finally Switched On "Another Way" Dāvis Kolbergs, Mārcis Auziņš, Jānis Rubens, Nils Podnieks 1,116 15
7 Caffe "I Am Yours" Intars Busulis, Andis Grīva, Juris Merkulovs, Raimonds Tiguls, Mareks Lindbergs 1,628 12
8 C-Stones "When the Rain Will Go" Mārtiņš Freimanis 5,106 7
9 Kristīne Broka "License for Love" Daiga Rūtenberga, Kristīne Broka 1,533 14
10 Andris Ābelīte "I Need Love" Andris Ābelīte 9,309 5
11 Jānis Stībelis "Maybe" Jānis Stībelis 4,165 8
12 Madara Celma "Away from You" Madara Celma 10,795 3
13 Elīna Fūrmane "Right Way" Elīna Fūrmane, Edgars Dambis 3,986 9
14 Fomins & Kleins "Muzikants" Tomass Kleins, Guntars Račs 22,248 2
15 Julian "U Can't Stop Me" Jānis Zvirgzdiņš 1,650 11
Second Round – 1 February 2003
Draw Artist Song Televote Place
1 F.L.Y. "Hello from Mars" 64,850 1
2 Tatjana Timčuka "Roses And Tears" 14,179 4
3 Andris Ābelīte "I Need Love" 12,109 5
4 Madara Celma "Away From You" 16,175 3
5 Fomins & Kleins "Muzikants" 43,304 2

At Eurovision

On the night of the final F.L.Y. performed 21st in the running order, following Poland and preceding the Belgium. At the close of voting "Hello from Mars" had received 5 points all from Latvia's neighbour Estonia, placing Latvia 24th of the 26 entries. It's the worst place in the final for this country..As Latvia failed to reach the top 11 in the final, the country was forced to compete in the semi-final of the 2004 Contest.

Points awarded to Latvia
12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points
5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point

See also

References
  1. Bakker, Sietse (4 November 2002). "57 entries submitted for Eirodziesma 2003". Esctoday.
  2. Bakker, Sietse (15 November 2002). "LTV announced participants Eirodziesma 2003". Esctoday.
  3. "LATVIAN NATIONAL FINAL 2003". Webuda. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  4. "Latvia 2003". ESC-History. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
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