LRT, Lithuanias’ state broadcaster, just made Eurovision fans very happy. They have announced that there will be a series of 10 shows to decide who is going to sing for the country in Copenhagen in 2014. The first show was broadcast last night (to celebrate Lithuania’s 20 years at Eurovision) and LRT revealed the 20 acts which will battle it out. They are:
– Aiste Pilvelyte
– Aleksandra Metalnikova
– Ginte Siciunaite
– Ieva Zasimauskaite
– Julija Jegorova
– Juozas Butnorius
– Jurijus Veklenko
– Justinas Lapatinskas
– Kristina Radžiukynaite
– Martynas Kavaliauskas
– Mia
– Monika Linkyte
– Neringa Šiaudikyte
– Pop Ladies
– Sasha Song
– Soliaris
– Tadas Vilcinskas
– Vaidas Baumila
– VIG Roses
– Vilija Mataciunaite
Y’all should recognise one name: Sasha Son. Yes, this boy is on fire and is trying to get back on the Eurovision stage after his 23rd place in 2009, which was really underrated. Fortunately he won our inaugural search for Eurovision’s Next Top Male Model, which must have been a nice consolation.
Also: you Twitter-freaks who follow @hotESCboys will already know that for girls and gays this years Lithuanian selection is almost a sixpack-contest!!
These 20 acts will compete against each other in phase 2 (dates 21/12, 28/12, 04/01 and 11/01). The top 8 will move on to the third phase (dates 18/01, 25/01, 01/02 and 08/02) and after that the top 4 will compete in the national final on 15/02.
Mike Bos contributed this report from the Netherlands. You can keep up with the latest Eurovision news and gossip by following the team from wiwibloggs.com on Twitter @wiwibloggs and by liking our Facebook page.
Photo: LRT
I’m rooting for Mia! She has much more talent than any of the others when singing live and has already hit it big in Lithuania’s music industry.
Y’all need Juozas!!!!!!!! The Eastern European Funk cover was awesome 😀
Yeah, on the other hand I saw someone else complain about the length of this selection on a comments thread somewhere.
This year’s selection had some strange occurrences, like Saules Broliai coming first in one round and then getting eliminated in the next one, placing last. And then Andrius Pojavis got 1st at the end despite never coming 1st in any round before the final. Get ready for another back-and-forth contest, I guess.