Latvia04

	Fomins & Kleins was founded at the end of 2002. Its members Ivo Fomins and Tomass Kleins were already accomplished and recognized rock musicians. Both are from the western Latvian port city of Liepaja, which is famous for its rock music traditions and many famous Latvian rock musicians have come from there. Liepaja can be considered Latvia’s own Liverpool, thanks to many musicians and famous festivals, for example, "Liepajas dzintars" (Amber of Liepaja). Both have worked together previously, in Soviet times forming the underground group “Saldas sejas” (Sweet Faces), which also featured well known Latvian musicians Zigfrids Muktupavels and Guntars Racs – with whom a creative relationship continues to this day, since Racs himself is the author of the lyrics to all of Fomins & Kleins’ songs. Singer Ivo Fomins, also educated as a chef, has taken part in many musical projects in Latvia, performing together with “Liepajas Brali” (Brothers of Liepaja) and as a solo artist. Ivo’s older brother Igo is one of the most popular Latvian singers and is well known throughout the Baltic countries and Russia due to his work with the maestro Raimonds Pauls, which lead to the formation and massive popularity of the group Remix. Ivo grew up without his mother. His father, who was a taxi driver, taught him to realistically look at life and accept it the way that it is. The singer’s influences are Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin), David Coverdale (Deep Purple, Whitesnake) and Steven Tyler (Aerosmith). The group’s guitarist, as well as the author of all the group’s music, is the very experienced musician Tomass Kleins. In his time, he has formed many groups and has played in the famous group “Neptuns” (Neptune), led by “Zodiaks” (Zodiac) producer and composer Janis Lusens. By playing in the most famous Latvian rock band “Livi”, Tomass gained great experience and recognition. The musician grew up in a traditional gypsy family, where singing and musicianship is already in the blood. While studying the guitar, Tomass learned much from AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Ozzy Osbourne and Pink Floyd. As the musicians themselves say, they play “lyrical rock’n’roll” and they have no competition in this genre in Latvia.

















	The Singers Well it’s a soft rock band fronted by Fish and a cross between Springsteen & Emo Phillips. Hardly the stuff of posters on young girls bedroom walls. But I think their fugliness gives them a certain charm, and I wish them well. They'll need it.














	The Past Latvia's embryonic Eurovision history has gone from the sublime to the ridiculous already (well, when I say sublime, its with my tongue firmly in cheek). Choreography won it for them in 2002, the first appearance arguably should have won on merit, and the other two tries have been utter shite, particularly last year which has since made it into the Guinness Book of Records as the most flagrant use of metaphorical cheese in a musical performance. So, what next?






	The Song It’s to be sung in Latvian, which although commendable, does show the rest of Europe that Latvian is a particularly unmelodic, harsh language. Opens in a carefree "Na na, na na na na na" ad infinitum manner, which always goes down well with the viewing public. The lyrics also not only contain a passing reference to Whitesnake (or it may be "vairs neka"), but also include a rousing rock "Hey"! "na na na" factor - High

	Overall A winner it ain’t, although it’s the only "proper" band, so I can’t fully rule it out. Ironically working together before in a band called "Sweet Faces", this pair of mongrels get two thumbs up from me. Hey! In a Nutshell "Rock!...to a song of happiness"

A Song About Happiness

When there is nothing else
I think
I still have a song I can sing to you
About happiness
About a road that moves
Like a train on metal rails
To far away stations on the North Pole
Where freedom lives, and nothing else
Every time I feel miracle in the distance
I want to be closer to you

Nothing
When there is nothing else
I want to sing to you
A song about happiness
That comes
That comes unexpectedly
And takes us by the hand
A song about happiness to come

When there's nothing else
I think
I still have the wind that runs up to the sky
And the sung that rises
Far away roads that cross
Seven mountains and nine seas
To warmer lands, like birds of passage
Where everything is like a dream, but you're not there
Every time I feel miracles in the distance
I want to be closer to you

Nothing
When there is nothing else
I want to sing to you
A song about happiness
That comes
That comes unexpectedly
And takes us by the hand
A song about happiness to come

When there is nothing else
I want to sing to you
A song about happiness
That comes
That comes unexpectedly
And takes us by the hand
A song to come
A song about happiness to come

Dziesma par laimi

Kad nav vairs neka
Es domaju ta
Man paliek vel dziesma ko dziedat tev
Par sauli, kas riet
Par celu, ko iet
Ka vilcieni projam pa metala sliedem
Uz talajam pieturam Ziemelpola
Kur briviba dzivo, bet vairak neka
Ta ik reizi, kad taluma brinumu jut
Es velos vel tuvak tev but

Neka
Kad nav vairs neka
Es velos tev nodziedat
Dziesmu par laimi
Kas nak
Kas negaidot nak
Un panem aiz rokas mus
Dziesma par laimi, kas bus

Kad nav vairs neka
Es domaju ta
Man paliek vel debesis skrejošais vejš
Un saule, kas riet
Talie celi ko iet
Par septiniem kalniem un devinam juram
Uz siltajam zemem ka gajputni jau
Tur viss ir ka sapni, bet tevis tur nav
Ik reizi, kad taluma brinumu jut
Es velos vel tuvak tev but

Neka
Kad nav vairs neka
Es velos tev nodziedat
Dziesmu par laimi
Kas nak
Kas negaidot nak
Un panem aiz rokas mus
Dziesma par laimi, kas bus

Kad nav vairs neka
Es velos tev nodziedat
Dziesmu par laimi
Kas nak
Kas negaidot nak
Un panem aiz rokas mus
Dziesma kas bus
Dziesma par laimi, kas bus

Prediction	Semi Final	10th
Prediction	Final	9th