The War Is Not Over

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Flag of Latvia The War Is Not Over
Eurovision Song Contest 2005 entry
Country Latvia
Artist(s) Valters Frīdenbergs, Kārlis Būmeisters
As Walters & Kazha
Language English
Composer(s) Mārtiņš Freimanis
Lyricist(s) Mārtiņš Freimanis
Place 5th
Points 153
Place in Semifinal 10th
Points in Semifinal 85
Lyrics Lyrics

◄ Dziesma Par Laimi (2004)   
I Hear Your Heart (2006) ►

The War Is Not Over was the Latvian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2005, performed in English by Walters & Kazha (often listed as Valters & Kazha in line with Latvian orthography).

The song is a gentle ballad with somewhat elliptical lyrics. The duo sing that "The war is not over, everyone knows it/It's just a reason to make us believe/That someone's the loser, someone's the winner", which can be interpreted as a call to their listeners not to believe what official sources say.

Early recordings featured the lyrics "That someone is loser, that someone is winner". These were replaced by the above line in deference to English grammar.

The duo performed the song seated on stools with acoustic guitars. The final chorus, however, was performed standing up and using sign language to accompany the lyrics.

As Latvia had not qualified for the final at the 2004 Contest, the song was performed in the semi-final. Here, it was performed fifth (following Moldova's Zdob şi Zdub with Boonika Bate Doba and preceding Monaco's Lise Darly with Tout De Moi). At the close of voting, it had received 85 points, placing 10th in a field of 25 and thus qualifying for the final (the top ten did so).

In the final, the song was performed twenty-third (following Switzerland's Vanilla Ninja with Cool Vibes and preceding France's Ortal with Chacun Pense À Soi). At the close of voting, it had received 153 points, placing 5th in a field of 24, thus qualifying Latvia for the final at their next Contest appearance.

It was succeeded as Latvian representative at the 2006 Contest by Vocal Group Cosmos with I Hear Your Heart.