It’s known as one of the longest-running national finals — but one which has delivered some good Eurovision results. Lithuania‘s broadcaster LRT has now confirmed details of the 2018 edition of its national final “Eurovizijos” dainu konkurso nacionaline atranka.

Applications are now open for the contest. As usual, LRT is accepting entries from performers who are Lithuanian citizens. But the broadcaster isn’t limiting the contest to solo performers. It’s also open to groups so we could see another act like Monika & Vaidas, LT United or Fusedmarc in Lisbon.

Non-Lithuanian songwriters, however, are eligible to enter as well as locals. Eurovizijos Atranka frequently attracts songwriters from the other side of the Baltic Sea. Donny Montell’s 2016 entry “I’ve Been Waiting For This Night” was written by top Swedish songwriters.

Entries for the 2018 edition will close on 1 December 2017, which gives interested applicants just over six weeks to get their entry in.

It’s not clear how many acts will end up participating in the national final this year however, the rules do mention that at least 20 songs will be selected from the songwriter submissions. There may possibly be more shortlisted entries from singers who have entered with their own song.

The competition will again use a combination of jury vote and television, using the standard Eurovision 12-points system.

Unlike this time last year, LRT hasn’t given any details about the format of Eurovizijos Atranka 2018. The notoriously long-running show is known for changing its format from year to year.

Last year’s format involved ten shows and 49 competing acts. After eight heats, one semi-final and an online second-chance vote, seven acts ended up in the live final. Despite strong performances from national final regular Aiste Pilvelyte with the Aminata-penned “I’m Like a Wolf” and the outrageous Lolita Zero with “Get Frighten”, it was electronic duo Fusedmarc who won with “Rain of Revolution”.

The local enthusiasm for the duo did not translate to Europe. In Kyiv, they came second to last in their semi-final with only 42 points.

Who do you think? Who should enter Eurovizijos Atranka 2018? Should Lolita Zero make a comeback? Share your thoughts below!

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Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

They promised a ~new format~ last yeas as well and all we got was their longest-ever selection process. The geepee grows tired of initial fan favorites and starts voting for random stuff like Pain of Revolution, that’s why a shorter process is needed. Also, make it 100% televote, those juries are always a mess and they hate Aiste Pilvelytalent for some reason when I’m Like a Wolf would have easily qualified over Austria.

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago

The contest needs to be streamlined even more. Having the contenders sing in as many as three heats–HEATS, I tell you–assuming that is what they do in this competition– is inefficient and makes absolutely no sense. They should sing in one heat, and if they make the top 2, 3 or whatever, they should go straight to the semifinals. They shouldn’t have to run a gauntlet with the same or new contenders every time–in more than one heat, no less–and have their stamina sapped to the point where they are singing the same song 5 times by the time the… Read more »

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  CookyMonzta

I’d choose more heats and no semi-final. They are always performing the same song, so it isn’t necessary do that more than twice.

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

In other words, if they qualify, they go straight to the final. So, why do they have the same contenders singing the same song in another heat, if they advanced already? It’s like double- or triple-jeopardy, where they are forced to sing in subsequent heats until they get knocked off, which is what happened to a few of them who sang in the earlier heats.

M_K
M_K
6 years ago

I think the 2015 format was pretty good because it also included some cover versions and was hence less repetitive.

Ugnius
Ugnius
6 years ago
Reply to  M_K

Though I wasn’t a fan of this type of selection, we might see something similiar this year – as the 13th paragraph in the rules states: “If the author of the song provides a song to a certain singer, this rule is valid until the singer is eliminated from the contest. Further use of the song is allowed to other singer if the author agrees. However, if the song comes to the Final, the author automatically agrees that all singers of the Final might perform that song”. This situation was in 2015, when “This Time” was performed by both Monika&Vaidas… Read more »

Héctor
Héctor
6 years ago

Lithuania had some good song last year. My fav was ‘Feel Myself Free’ by Gabrielius Vagelis. His voice was deep and sounded perfect! The lyrics were touching too. He deserved it more than Fusedmarc. However, he made some changes in the song and the performance I didn’t like at all. I read below that Lithuanians were probably tired of all songs because of the format being too repetitive. They could reduced the number of entries and make a few less shows. Maybe 4 heats of 8 each one, 2 semifinals of 8 and the grand final. That would make 7… Read more »

beccaboo1212
6 years ago

Do I dare hope Fusedmarc films a new music video for “Rain of Revolution”? It’s been nearly seven (7) months since they released as a single. There needs to be something to top the live performance! 😮

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago
Reply to  beccaboo1212

Too late now. Lithuania is already preparing for the 2018 competition. Unless Fusedmarc is entering again, “Rain Of Revolution” is old news.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  beccaboo1212

You always say that, I think you should just give up and move on, or do a fan-made video by yourself.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  beccaboo1212

No one’s going to waste their money on that trash.

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

I really hope they’ll have less shows. It’s exhausting and it doesn’t serve to anything.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

Whilst I follow a lot of national selection processes, I have not so far followed Lithuania’s. The process has been too long. However, this change of format might get me interested in 2018.

Johansson
Johansson
6 years ago

Sorry for the offtopic, but you all can listen Latvian NF songs right now and vote. Maybe let’s select the best ones?
https://supernova.lsm.lv/lv/tautas-balsojums

Ennn
Ennn
6 years ago
Reply to  Johansson

Omg, there’s so much tropical house.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  Johansson

Some really bad English skills lol. Also many Zara Larrson wannabes.
A couple of good songs though, so there’s hope.

Erasmus
Erasmus
6 years ago
Reply to  Johansson

Where can you hear and vote for them? When I open the link theboage just says something about the Tautas Zirija?!

LWL2214
LWL2214
6 years ago
Reply to  Erasmus

You have to sign in to your Facebook/Twitter account to listen to the songs and you can find the button on the bottom part of the website:)

Erasmus
Erasmus
6 years ago
Reply to  LWL2214

thank you so much!:)

Paul
Paul
6 years ago
Reply to  Erasmus

Tautas Zurija in latvian means public jury. I hope Wiwibloggs will make an article about this, this is our chance to make Latvian NF as one of the best one in 2018

Zolipop
Zolipop
6 years ago
Reply to  Johansson

Really good songs, we have listened to approx. 30 of them, with only 3 “Nepatik” dealed. We may not be very useful, but we’re having a good time XD So far, a song called ‘Baltic’ was the best, I hope it can compete against all the electronic songs in a county which obviously loves them. 🙂

D
D
6 years ago

Greta Zazza needs to come back. She was robbed, and there were so many good songs in the Lithuanian final last year that could’ve done really well in ESC.

Neil
Neil
6 years ago

Lolita Zero needs to try again with another outrageous entry!

The Orinoco Child
The Orinoco Child
6 years ago

Still salty that Greta Zazza didn’t win last year and lost to that chaos of a song.

M.
M.
6 years ago

Lithuania was great in 2015 and epic in 2016 but failed dramatically in 2017. 10 long, boring shows for that awful result? Hope in 2018 they’ll stick it to a maximum of 5 heats (10 acts per heat), and one final…The best 2 acts in each of the heats will advance to the final, and from them the public and the jury will pick the best representative for Lithuania. They may even have a superfinal, I don’t care… But 10 heats are too much, in my opinion…

TheStellarSeacow
TheStellarSeacow
6 years ago
Reply to  M.

That makes sense. “Rain of Revolution” is a song I couldn’t stand until I heard it like 10 times, and now I love it. It’s a hard song to like after one listening, but once you get it, it’s great.

JD
JD
6 years ago

Robyn, in the article it says “LT Unlimited” instead of “LT United”