"I Wish I Could Pretend" performed by Kristina Zaharova and written by Lauris Reiniks
 |
Kristina Zaharova (19) is a talented Latvian singer born in Aluksne, Latvia. She graduated from the Aluksne Children's Music School as a pianist and later studied choir conducting. Kristina has been a winner of several performer's contests in Latvia and abroad including "Latvijas Talants"(similar to "Idols"), LNT TV show Zvaigznu Lietus (Rain of Stars) and the International Festival "Russkaja Pesnja" in Moscow, Russia. She was also a Latvian Eurovision Finalist in 2008. Kristina is currently working on her debut album to be released under the Microphone Records label this year.
Kristina says, "When Lauris called me to say that I was going be singing in Ireland, I couldn't believe it! This is a great opportunity for me and I will put my all into my performance. I really like "I wish I could Pretend" because it is a very romantic, dramatic and true song." www.myspace.com/kristinazaharovaofficial
Lauris Reiniks (author of "I Wish I Could Pretend" music/lyrics)
Lauris Reiniks, born in Dobele, Latvia is one of the most popular, successful and awarded pop music singers, songwriters and Television stars in Latvia, having recorded 5 solo albums. Many of Lauris's songs have become hits in Latvia. His legendary song called "Sirds Sadeg Neparasti" received all major music awards in Latvia in 2002 and was recognised as song of the year. The song "Tell Me", which he performed in a duet with the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 winner Marie N (Marija Naumova) received a prestigious award from the Latvian Copyrights Agency AKKA/LAA as the most played song on radio and television in 2003.
Lauris Reiniks has been closely associated with the Eurovision Song Contest since 2001 when he was appointed to announce the Latvian televoting results, and in 2003 he represented Latvia in ESC with the group "F.L.Y".
In 2005 The British pop music magazine "Top Of The Pops" awarded Lauris with a title of "Latvian National Megastar 2004".
Lauris says, "As a writer I am very excited and honored to be a part of the Irish Eurosong Final this year. Ireland has always been famous for ballads and I love composing ballads. I hope people will like our song and understand its message."
www.laurisreiniks.com
Gordon Pogoda (author of "I Wish I Could Pretend" lyrics)
Gordon Pogoda is an American composer, lyricist, and producer based in Los Angeles. In the past five years, he has signed publishing deals with EMI Music, Universal Music and Warner Chappell Music. Pogoda has had songs featured in several media. In film, he had two songs featured in the Academy Award winning picture Little Miss Sunshine one in the film Josie and the Pussycats one in the Disney film Get a Clue starring Lindsey Lohan and several others. In television, Pogoda's songs have been featured in Hannah Montana, Sex and the City, CSI Miami, ER, Will and Grace,, King of the Hill, and most recently Samantha Who.
Pogoda wrote the number two song of the year in Russia for pop/rock artist Sergey Lazarev and a hit for Tereza Kerndlová in the Czech Republic, which was selected to represent the Czech Republic in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest. www.myspace.com/gordonpogodasongwriter