Supporting Tautumeitas – and studying Eurovision

This year, Latvia’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest is deeply marked by ethnic culture. Representing Latvia in Basel is the ethno-pop group Tautumeitas, whose performance draws on professional knowledge of Latvian traditional culture. Interestingly, the national selection featured four other songs that also incorporated clearly recognizable elements of folk culture — including the kokle (a traditional string instrument), folk costumes, and refrains from folk songs like “līgo” and “ramtai.”

Riding this wave of renewed interest in ethnic themes, we at the Archives of Latvian Folklore (LFK) realized it was the perfect time to explore just how often—and in what ways—folklore has appeared in Latvian Eurovision entries over the years.

A group of LFK volunteers reviewed Latvian Eurovision songs since 2001 and found that more than 40 entries featured visible or audible ethnic motifs. These ranged from direct tributes to Latvian traditional culture to stylizations and broader references — including nods to other cultures such as Scottish, Irish, Spanish, and American, as well as more generalized ethnicity or Orientalism.

A shortlist of 15 songs was compiled, all of which include direct references to Latvian or Livonian folklore.

We invite you to explore Latvian folklore through the lens of pop culture — and see what you discover!

📸 Photo: “Tautumeitas” publicity image by Lauris Vīksne