Raimonds Pauls

The New Wave contest «will die on its own», says Latvian composer Raimonds Pauls.

«Organizers are trying to do what they can, but…The Only thing that can be done – is to involve new faces. But the contest does not interest people as much as it did in the past,»- Pauls said in his interview to Neatkarīgā Rīta Avīze newspaper.

He believes that people are only interested in what is going on with this contest: for example, what kind of scandal Alla Pugacheva will create next time. The composer admits that it was not a prime intention of the contest.

«It was also never intended for many people to compete with each other in vilifying me,»- Pauls says. «I asked them: why do you make me come on stage and perform with some…riffraff? I can easily hold a concert with just myself and my musicians! I need neither phonogram nor background dancers. But the television always dictates its own conditions. Some editor sitting there somewhere, dictating everything.»

The composer believes that the organizers of New Wave force their style on Latvian representatives, but they always differed with their style. «They meddle in the repertoire of our singers, correct their costumes. They have only one goal – rating. They don’t care about the rest. And then the problems arise. I’d like to see them try to reprove of someone’s repertoire on Eurovision – it wouldn’t work,»- Pauls says. He adds that «Russians have plenty of talented people, but their taste often does not match with our».

«They squander millions, but I don’t think it’s elegant. But we cannot say anything because it’s their money. Their only problem is that they cannot use their enormous funds differently – much more rational. Often, it’s like this: Ha-ha, I’ll show you how much money I have! No, New Wave has no perspective,»- Pauls believes.

It should be noted that the eleventh international popular music performers contest New Wave will take place in Jurmala from July 24 to 29.

Ref: 104.109.109.2490