Vilija Mataciunaite Barbara Dex Award 2

Over the past three years Lithuania has gotten Europe talking with Eurovizijos atranka — its annual selection for Eurovision. And on March 11 the chatter will definitely reach its peak, as Lithuania stages the final of its marathon search for a Eurovision 2017 contestant.

As LRT explains on its web site, this year’s edition will kick off on January 7 as the first of 51 participants take the stage. The first four weeks will showcase all 51 contestants, with twelve or thirteen performing each week. Audrius Girzadas — Lithuania’s head of delegation for Eurovision — is proud of the fact each competitor will have their moment in the sun: “This year there will not be an offscreen selection. All of the participants will perform during the first round.”

The contestants who survive the first round will appear again during the fifth show. The remaining five rounds that follow will be evaluated by an international jury, as well as a public vote and a Lithuanian jury. LRT has given the performers the freedom to perform their songs in whatever language they would like and they are allowed to switch between the shows.

This marks a huge change from last year’s complicated selection which contained two separate rounds for artists with or without a song. “A lot of performers called for changes in the rules,” producer Lauras Luciunas said. “Last year, a lot of people complained about the length of the show and the repetitiveness of the shows.” [Let us pause while we raise our hands].

This year’s list of participants, which you can see at the very end of this post, includes two big returnees: Eurovision 2014 act Vilija Mataciunaite and Eurovision 2009 singer Sasha Song.

At Eurovision Sasha made it to the final, where he secured 23rd place, and managed to win the inaugural edition of Eurovision’s Next Top Male Model.

Vilija just missed out on the final, placing 11th in her semi. But Vilija did not go home empty-handed, as she received the Barbara Dex Award for the worst look of the year.

Latvian diva Samanta Tina is also in the line-up. After making four attempts at representing her home country, she’s now looking at neighbouring Lithuania. Samanta Tina will duet with frequent collaborator Tadas Rimgaila.

Lithuania’s Eurovision 2017 Final: Date Set for March 11

The final will take place on March 11 and will contain no less than six acts.

This means Lithuania will be the fourth country to choose their entry on that date, joining Sweden, Norway and Iceland. It’s gonna be a tough night for Eurovision fans!

Last year, Donny Montell won Eurovizijos atranka 2016 with “I’ve Been Waiting For This Night”. Montell eventually placed ninth at Eurovision 2016, Lithuania’s second best result overall and the best of the decade. Can Lithuania repeat that success next year?

Lithuania at Eurovision 2017: Full list of participants

  • Aiste Pilvelyte
  • Alanas Chosnau
  • Audrius Janonis
  • Audrius Petrauskas
  • Auguste Vedrickaite
  • Benas Malakauskas
  • Dagna Kondrataviciute
  • Deividas Zygas
  • Dovydas Petrosius
  • Edgaras Lubys
  • E.G.O.
  • Elvina Milkauskaite
  • Evaldas Vaikasas
  • Erika Astrauskaite
  • Fusedmarc
  • Gabrielius Vagelis
  • Golden monkeys
  • Grazvydas
  • Greta Zazza
  • Hit
  • Ieva Zasimauskaite
  • Julija Jegorova
  • Justin 3
  • Kotryna Juodzeviciute
  • Lawreigna
  • Lolita
  • Marius Petrauskas
  • Mia
  • Milda Martinkenaite & Saulene Chlevickaite
  • Monika Meciute
  • Neringa Siaudikyte
  • Otreya
  • Paula Valentaite
  • Queens Of Roses
  • Rugile Daujotaite
  • Rasa Kausiute
  • Rasa Vastakaite-Shiny Raia
  • Ruslanas Kirilkinas
  • Ruta Andruskeviciute
  • Sasha Son
  • Soliaris
  • Streles
  • Tadas Rimgaila & Samanta Tina
  • Valdas Lacko
  • Valerija Iljinaite
  • Varjete
  • Vidas Bareikis
  • Vilija Mataciunaite
  • Virgis Valuntonis
  • Vlad Max

Are you excited for Eurovizijos atranka 2017? Let us know in the comments below!

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No1 xoxo
No1 xoxo
7 years ago

Let me tell you – I seriously doubt Vilija will even make it to the finals this year, I’m certain she won in 2014 just because of her past and connections with the judges.
The one song I’m looking foward at the moment is Greta’s “Like I Love You”. That song does have potential.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
7 years ago

@Kimmm: If you would like to submit an article to Wiwibloggs about Highway, then there are instructions to do so on the website.

Kimmm
Kimmm
7 years ago

PKN has disbanded, Highway has a new single since November and you are still writing only about pop singers and divas. And you are crazy with them. But Eurovision is colourful and every viewer has different taste. But you are still writing about the same. This is not website about ESC for me. Pity, if some artists are for you more important than others.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
7 years ago

Vilija’s new song (“I see the lights”) is… barmy? It’s sort of like hypnotic heavy trance. This might be interesting to have at Eurovision. 🙂

Dovis
Dovis
7 years ago

A really good contender is Greta Zazza – Like I Love You. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iArPTg7oMDQ

(J)ESC Fanatic
(J)ESC Fanatic
7 years ago

Vilija’s song is disappointing! It’s basically just one melody. 🙁

mocosuburbian
mocosuburbian
7 years ago

vilija’s song oh boy
that was experimental to put it nicely
i never understood her aesthetic in 2014 and this song doesn’t help much
also welcome back aiste ayy

Ryan Crean
Ryan Crean
7 years ago

🙁 hopefully GJan for 2018?

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
7 years ago

Lithuania’s process is awful but Sasha Son is back. Yay!

Colin
Colin
7 years ago

I just listened to Vilija’s song (thanks for the link, btw) and it’s… bad! I mean, every syllable is pronounced apart and then that weird onomatopeia afterwards… I really think that even Attention was a superior song.

Who knows, we might end-up with Vilija, Club Le Prese, Napoli, Deborah C, badly translated Bote and that boring novelty act from Estonia who just names random countries… but let’s hope at least some countries get to pick right.

Maclaren
Maclaren
7 years ago

Actually, let me applaud Renske, a young and creative writer in the WiWi family. It is great to see a new budding generation coming through – with elegant English and witty remarks. Go. Girl! Write more!

Jasper
Jasper
7 years ago
Charlotte
Charlotte
7 years ago

No, he is now Sasha Song

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
7 years ago

Great to have both artists back.

Very disappointing that Lithuania’s calendar planning is just as bad as Norway’s; although it’s a bit less of an issue for them, since fans of the Lithuanian process are further a-field, avid, and aren’t necessarily as swayed by Sweden’s MF. (But Norway’s NRK I can’t forgive.)

Polegend Godgarina
7 years ago

Watch out for Aiste Pilvelyte, I’ve heard her song is going to be huge.

Charlotte
Charlotte
7 years ago

Sooooo excited!!! Loads of my favourite singers are on that list!!! ????????????

YoungsterJoey
YoungsterJoey
7 years ago

My goodness. Lithuanian last names.

Daniel_2017
Daniel_2017
7 years ago

Vilija’s performance from 2014 is burnt on my retinas and on my eardrums! One of the most memorable performances I can remember (and I watch ESC since 1991)! I only wish I could forget it!………………

Liam
Liam
7 years ago

Vilija is back!!! Attention is my favorate song in Eurovision EVER! So happy ????????

Ugnius
Ugnius
7 years ago

FIrst of all, Lithuanian National Selection Producer is Lauras Luciunas, not Lauro Luciuno. One more detail – LRT has stated that there will be no less than 6 acts in the final, not exactly 6. However, I don’t think that it is good decision not to do any preselections – a vast majority of this year’s contestants is no-name even for Lithuanians, so first four weeks we’re going to see a bunch of unexperienced teens with terrible staging, weird self-written songs etc. There’ll be only a few acts, which will be worth seeing – Mia (she finished 2nd in NF… Read more »

Paul D.
Paul D.
7 years ago

I heard Aiste has a song composed by Aminata. Very curious to hear that one

Marco
Marco
7 years ago

Vilija song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydrQGRD7u9c
[Attention was miles better :/ ]

Kylie
Kylie
7 years ago

Vilija’s song was terrible. All she did was scream ‘attention’ and sang the same old lines over and over again for 3 minutes not to mention the horrendous outfit. Was surprised she even got close to qualifying in 11th place.

Lithuanias selection is one of the most boring selections there is. What’s the point of running the shows over a 2 month period ? Pointless. Last year donny was the clear winner from the minute we heard the song yet we had to wait a couple of weeks for him to be officially declared the winner

zzzzz

Anthony Ko
Editor
7 years ago

Marco, he may have represented Lithuania under that name in 2009, but he’s now officially known as Sasha Song.

RannieR
RannieR
7 years ago

Must look at – V. Bereikis and I. Zasimauskait?. Others are way below the Eurovision level.

(J)ESC Fanatic
(J)ESC Fanatic
7 years ago

OH-MY-GOD! Vilija is back! This is a dream come true! She deserved so much to qualify in 2014, what an amazing and underrated performance was that! Good luck, you made my day!

Marco
Marco
7 years ago

Gooo Aiste!

Marco
Marco
7 years ago

You guys it’s Sasha Son*** not Song

AM
AM
7 years ago

I hope Aiste Pilvelyte will win she deserved