Latvia participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The Latvian entry was selected through an Eirodziesma 2012, a national selection consisting of a web selection, two semi-finals and a final, organised by the Latvian broadcaster LTV. Anmary represented Latvia with the song "Beautiful Song", which failed to qualify from the first semi-final, achieving 16th place with 17 points.
Before Eurovision
Eirodziesma 2012
Eirodziesma 2012 was the thirteenth edition of Eirodziesma, the music competition that selects Latvia's entries for the Eurovision Song Contest. The competition commenced on 7 January 2012 and concluded with a final on 18 February 2012.
Format
The format of the competition consisted of three shows: two semi-finals and a final. The semi-finals took place at NA Studio in Marupe and the final took place at the Jūras vārti Theatre in Ventspils. The two semi-finals, held on 7 January and 14 February 2012, each featured ten competing entries from which five were selected to advance to the final from each show. The winning song in the final, held on 26 February 2011, was selected over two rounds of voting: the first round results selected the top three songs and the second round decided the winner from those three songs. Results during the semi-final and final shows were determined by a jury panel and votes from the public.
Competing entries
Artists and songwriters were able to submit their entries to the broadcaster between 1 September 2011 and 14 October 2011. Artists were able to submit up to two entries. 71 songs were submitted at the conclusion of the submission period. An online vote ran between 20 October 2011 and 1 November 2011, enabling users to listen to the 71 entries and vote for their favorites. The performers remained anonymous in order to prevent the public from focusing on the names behind the entries too much. A jury panel evaluated the submitted entries, taking the results of the online voting into consideration, and selected 20 songs for the competition. The twenty competing songs and their authors were announced on 8 November 2011. A live audition round took place on 10 November 2011 and featured the performers of the selected songs. The jury panel evaluated the performances and either approved or rejected the performers. The twenty competing artists were announced on 1 December 2011. The jury panel consisted of Aivars Hermanis, Jolanta Gulbe, Zigfrīds Muktupāvels, Dace Pūce, Olga Žitluhina, Natalija Jansone and members of the LTV Eurovision team.
Semi-final 1
The first semi-final took place on 7 January 2012. Ten of the competing entries performed, and five qualified to the final via a combination of votes from a jury panel and the Latvian public. The jury panel that voted in the first semi-final consisted of Marts Kristiāns Kalniņš, Ieva Kerēvica, Daira Āboltiņa, Sandris Vanzovičs, Jānis Vinters, Binnija Ārberga, Yana Kay, Emīls Balceris, Jānis Žaržeckis and Elīna Breice.
Semi-final 2
The second semi-final took place on 14 January 2012. Ten of the competing entries performed, and five qualified to the final via a combination of votes from a jury panel and the Latvian public. The jury panel that voted in the second semi-final consisted of Uldis Marhilēvičs, Māra Upmane-Holšteina, Alberts Kivlenieks, Šeila, Jānis Deinats, Laima Liberte, Ilona Brūvere, Akvelīna Līvmane, Kārlis Auzāns and Jānis Stībelis.
Final
The final took place on 18 February 2012. The winner was selected over two rounds of voting. In the first round, a 50/50 combination of votes from a jury panel and the Latvian public determined the top three entries to proceed to the superfinal: "I Want You Back" performed by Samanta Tīna & Dāvids Kalandija, "Beautiful Song" performed by Anmary and "Music Thief" performed by Mad Show Boys. In the superfinal, the winner, "Beautiful Song" performed by Anmary was selected by the public and jury vote. The jury panel that voted in the both rounds of the final consisted of Marija Naumova, Olga Rajecka, Andris Ērglis, Raimonds Tiguls, Daiga Mazvērsīte, Sigita Jevgļevska, Jānis Šipkēvics, Raimonds Bergmanis, Biruta Ozoliņa and Elmans Zeinalovs.
At Eurovision
Latvia competed in the first half of the first semi-final, on 22 May 2012, following Greece and preceding the Albania. Latvia received 17 points and placed 16th, thus failing to qualify for the final on 26 May.
Split results
In the Semi-final Latvia came 16th with 17 points: the public awarded Latvia 15th place with 18 points and the jury awarded 18th place with 17 points.
