Mēs Jūs Mīlam — “Rich Itch”
Let’s start with the obvious — the song title is not supposed to be “Rich Itch”. There’s a missing ‘b’ at the start of the second word; you’re supposed to pick this up immediately, and hear the rest of song in that context. I don’t mind the instruments; there are some neat moments with the guitars and the organ, not to mention the synth break that starts at 40 seconds in. But the lyrics? Trashy and outdated. I can see the appeal because it’s catchy and danceable, but it’s not one I’ll be returning to.

Miks Dukurs — “First Love”
Here’s another piano-driven ballad: what will this one bring us? First impression: echoing vocals isn’t going to work at Eurovision in terms of the ban on using voice modifiers. This makes it a bit harder to judge the exact quality of Dukurs’ voice, but I suspect it’s pretty good. A guitar comes along on occasion to give some variety to what is ultimately a very slow, plodding track. I suspect it will be too much of a slow burn for most listeners, although juries might throw it some points for technical skill in the vocals.