Review: “Supernova 2024” (Latvia)

Latvia will choose an artist and a song for Eurovision 2024 via “Supernova 2024″.
15 acts will compete in the semi-final, 10 of them will qualify for the final.
The results of each show will be detemiend by 50% public vote and 50 % jury vote.
The semi-final will be held on Saturday, the 3rd of February 2024, the final will be held on the 10th of February 2024.
In this post, I will review my top 5 songs of the selection in alphabetic order:

#1.Agnese Rakovska – AI

• It is an electro pop song, with middle east music influences.
• The song opens with an instrumental part, which is composed of electric keyboards, oriental percussion instruments, bass guitar and uniform tempo.
• Thereafter, we get the chorus with some vocal effects. Some of the words are lengthened.
• The first verse follows. She sings with some vocal trills. The melody is mainly based on electric keyboard and cyclic beat.
• The first pre-chorus is more dreamy and relies on one phrase that repeats.
• The second chorus relies on electronic production, she phrases some of the words uniquely. The melody is based on the same beat from the first part.
• Thereafter, we get a short instrumental transition and get the second verse. This part is initially performed in a lower toner of voice and has less effects. The melody is based on a depper beat. The second half of the second verse is more laid-back, the production is minimal and the melody is based on keyboards playing. Agnese sings in a mid-tone voice, while we can hear higher tone of voice from the backing vocals. We can hear some echo and revarb effects as well.
• The second pre-chorus is more melodical and based on piano playing.
• The song ends with one last catchy chorus. Production is more electronic.
• Overall, the song is very different from the others in the line-up. My only concern is the tons of effects that are featured in the studio version. I am curious to see how the song will be performed in a live performance.
• However, the fusion of different genres and styles leads to a one time experience that can’t be ignored. She is one of the returning artists I was rotting for

#2. Alekss Silvers – For the Show

• It is an electro pop song with a bit of ethnic pop influences.
• The song opens with a dramatic introduction, obtained by orchestral elements and keyboards playing.
• The first verse is based on electric keyboards playing and one-tempo beat. Alekss sings this part in a half-theatratical interpretation, towards the end he whispers.
• Pre-chorus is based on keyboards playing and light precussion beat.
• Before the chorus, we get an electro beat explosion, with a speedy beat and electric guitar cyclic beat. The chorus itself barely includes any lyrics.
• The second verse is faster than the first one. This time, we can hear more backing vocals. Towards the end he sings some long notes. The melody is based on the same beat from previously.
• The pre-chorus includes humming, backing vocals and keyboard playing.
• The chorus relies on a strong hook, the drop kicks in, but once again lyrically wisely we get something modest.
• The bridge is disconnected from the electro framing. He sings it more emotionally, and the melody is based on keyboards playing. Sometimes the singing is a little bit pushing.
• Thereafter, we get a more intense electronic instrumental part and the chorus follows.
• The song itself has a nice potential, but sometimes he pushed too much with the power of singing . The chorus let me down a bit, as it was too short.

#3. AVÉI – Mine

• It is a hyper synth pop with electro influences.
• The song starts with an electro creak sound. The first verse is based on an electronic percussion united beat, with a kind of cold/dark atmosphere.
• The per-chorus is based on much faster singing (almost speaking). The melody is based on denser synth pop sounds.
• The chorus is more laid back and more melodical. The melody is based on keyboard playing and mid-synth tempo. In the beginning, she sings in a mid-low tone of voice. However, as the chorus progresses, we can hear more of her beautiful voice, as she uses longer and higher notes.
• The post-chorus continues the “epic” line of the chorus, the melody is more uptempo and we can hear some backing vocals.
• The second verse continues in the same line from the first verse but the production features a faster beat.
• The second pre-chorus once again suggests reciting-fast singing with a confident attitude. Towards the end, she uses a very thin voice.
• The second chorus is catchy and energetic, this time in a more electonic flavour. The hook is accompanied by some echoes and keyboards playing. Towards the end, more backing vocals are involved and she sings more powerfully.
• This is one of the songs I like more and more each time I listen to it. AVÉI shows diverse vocal abilities. The hook is catchy, and the production leads to a song with proper progress.

#4. Dons – Hollow

• It is a lyrical ballad with influences of soft rock.
• The song starts with piano playing.
• The first verse relies on simple piano playing, while Dons sings with his deep and crystal clear voice. His warm voice wraps the melody. In parallel, we can hear a secondary soft beat that accompanies the melody.
• The pre-chorus continues in the same line, it is slightly faster and he sings it with some manners.
• The chorus is powerful. Dons sings painfully and emotionally. The melody is based on electric guitar stringing which is alligend to Dons’ raspy voice. His voice sounds thicker in this part.
• The second verse is based on piano and slow drum beat. Later on, we can hear violions featuring in the melody, making it more classic.
• The second chorus is more epic, the melody also includes orchestral elements and features backing vocals singing. The track gives it an atmosphere of “Rag’n’Bone” music.
• The bridge brings up the main part of the chorus, where the backing vocals are the main part.
• The outro is minimaliatic. He sings with a voice that is close to tears, with a piano in the background
• In my opinion, it is one of the best songs in this Eurovision season, and especially as a ballad. The text is meaningful, and the message is well conveyed to the listeners.
• This could bring Latvia back to the final and beyond. However, I believe it will get more points from the jury.

#5. Saint Levića – Tick Tock

• It is a dark dramatic pop with electro and indie elements.
• The song starts with intense piano playing and string elements. The female vocalist is the one who opens the song. The first part (which is the chorus) relies on fast singing and futuristic beat.
• The first verse follows, the melody is “calmer”. We are getting longer musical boxes and this will enable the singer to showcase her vocal abilities. This part also features drum beats, pre-recorded backing vocals.
• The following part is more RnB pop or even rap. I wasn’t ready to make this change in the song, and in fact I see it as a creative decision. Later on, we get some backing vocals and smoother singing. The melody is based on plenty of instruemnts.
• Thereafter, we get an additional chorus, this time in a kind of rock flavour, based on electric guitar and piano. She sings it powerfully, and towards the end it changes.
• Later on, we will get another RnB piece for the following verse. The melody changes, as the majority is drum and percussion beats, as the singing is more reciting.
• Thereafter, we get a more sassy part based on electronic production.
• With some long and high notes, we are led to an additional chorus. The chorus is less melodical and it is managed as a kind of a dialogue.
• The last part of the song sounds like a laid-back ballad based on piano playing.
• This is one of the songs that grew on me. Each time I listen to it, I explore it more. The song doesn’t make you bored for a second, but some of us might find it too much.

Personal Ranking

1. Dons – Hollow
2. Agnese Rakovska – AI
3. AVÉI – Mine
4. Saint Levića – Tick Tock
5. Alekss Silvers – For the Show
6. Vēstulēs – kur?
7. Katrīna Gupalo – The Cat’s Song
8. Funkinbiz – Na Chystu Vodu
9. ECTO – Outsider
10. Papīra Lidmašīnas – Mind Breaker
11. Sasha Sil – Love is a Language
12. Patrīcija Spale – Heaven’s Raining Down on Me
13. Jar of Kings – Wildfire
14. Edvards Strazdiņš – Rock n’ Roll Supernova
15. B/H  – Amsterdam

Prediction

At the moment, it seems to me that the almost clear winner will be Dons.

Which song is your favorite one?
Who are the top 10 who will qualify for the final?

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