Lithuania, the nation of the most talented Monikas, has surprised us earlier in the year with the news of revamped national pre-selection format. Having dropped Pabandom iš Naujo LRT has decided to rebrand the show into Eurovizija.LT and has been patiently waiting for submissions from singers and songwriters hoping to represent Lithuania at Eurovision 2024.
This morning LRT finally broke the silence and revealed the exciting list for the 2024 edition. This year the broadcaster has chosen 40 acts to take to the front stage. We will be seeing a first time entry from the French-born X Factor Lithuania winner Antoine Wend, as well as many returning faces. After teasing fans on social media with polls making fans question whether she’s producing music for Eurovision, we can now see Kotryna Juodzevičiūtė in the line-up, making a return to Lithuania’s national pre-selection after having previously finished 3rd in 2017 and 5th in 2018 national finals.
Andrius Giržadas, Lithuania’s Eurovision boss, said:
“It’s amazing that this year’s selection received a considerable number of applications — this shows that Lithuania’s participation in the song competition, which has been going on for 30 years, is still interesting for both the performers and the audience, who will be able to settle down around their TV sets and watch the national selection even on six winter Saturdays.”
Lithuania’s Eurovizija.lt 2024 — The 40 competing acts
1. Agnė Buškevičiūtė „Puppeteer“
2. Aistay „You“
3. Aistè „Hero“
4. Andrius Pojavis „Sing me a hug“
5. Antoine Wend „Say No More“
6. Anžela „Paskubėk“
7. April Frey „New Years“
8. „Baltos varnos“ „In the Night“
9. „Clockwork Creep“ „Empty“
10. Danielė „Cold Shower“
11. Deividas Valma „Blood On Your Hands“
12. Eley „Rock My Body“
13. Emilija V „Trophy Wife“
14. Freya Alley „Serenade“
15. „Hansanova“ „Dragons and rainbows“
16. „Il Senso“ „Time“
17. Kàro „Weightless“
18. Kasparas „Fool“
19. Kotryna „Let‘s get lost“
20, Lina Štalytė „Perfect“
21. Luka „Move On“
22. Mary Mo „Done“
23. Martin „Jigsaw“
24. MeidĖ „Zoo“
25. Monika Marija „Starting Tommorow“
26. „Multiks“ „Vėjas galvoje“
27. Paula Urbana „It Is What It Is“
28. Petras „Run“
29. „Pluie de Comètes“ „Be careful“
30. „Queens of Roses“ „Walk through fire“
31. „Shower“ „Impossible“
32. Sid Hallow „Here We Go Again“
33. Silvester Belt „Luktelk“
34. „Sun Francisco“ „Trauka“
35. „The Roop“ „Simple Joy“
36. Thomas G „Us“
37. „VB gang“ „KABOOM!!!”
38. Vilija „Save Me“
39. „Žalvarinis“ „Gaudė Vėjai”
40. Živilė Gedvilaitė „Save Me“
Most excitingly, the line-up for Eurovizija.LT 2024 includes the act that had Lithuania’s chances to win Eurovision 2024 increase, pushing it into top 10 on many betting company sites, after they’ve announced their intentions of partaking – The Roop. One of the most exciting acts in Lithuania, The Roop has announced they have submitted a song to Eurovizija.LT back in November. The Roop have previously won Pabandom iš Naujo 2020 with the iconic “On Fire” and were one of the main favorites to win Eurovision 2020, however, due to the cancellation of the contest the band had to wait another year to finally reach Rotterdam’s stage. In 2021 The Roop won ‘Pabandom iš Naujo’ again and opened the first semi final with their dance track “Discoteque”, which saw the sea of yellow support from Lithuania. The act finished 8th on the night of the Grand Final, having received 55 points from the juries and 165 from the televoting.
The list includes many exciting names including some of the Eurovision alums – Andrius Pojavis (2013), Vilija (2014) and The Roop (2020 and 2021). Other familiar names to Eurovision family include fan favourite from few years ago – Monika Marija, she is set to perform „Starting Tommorow“.
Format
Eurovizija.LT will start on January 13th, with 5 shows and a final planned, LRT has set to broadcast the national final on February 17th. Each of the 5 semi-final shows will include 8 acts battling out for 2 spots in the final, according to these rules, we will be seeing a final with 10 competing song.
Rules & Funding
LRT has budgeted 1,500 euros for each act to produce their show on the stage. The funds are only allowed to be going towards the production of each Eurovision entry as well as costumes, dancers, stage show and props, hair & make-up, however, the latter is being strongly assisted by LRT and their staff either way.
Interestingly, every act that has signed up to Eurovizija.lt has agreed to a set of rules set out by LRT, in this case, every artist that will place between 2nd to 5th in the Eurovizija.lt final will be obliged to partake in a concert for the eventual winner to raise the funds for their Eurovision participation, if it will be held. Many previous Lithuanian Eurovision hopefuls have highly benefited from fundraising concerts organized by LRT, including Donny Montell, Andrius Pojavis, Monika Linkytė & Vaidas Baumila.
What do you think of the line-up? Do you think anyone can put up a heavy fight against The Roop? Who are you most excited for?
I read thia article while I was listening Gabrielius Vagelius. I am sad that he is not on this list too. Good luck to all others!
I believe the battle is going to be between the ROOP and Monika Marija. The other artists are not as popular in the country. For the sake of diversity, I’d root for Monika Marija instead of the ROOP. While the band had one of the best songs from Lithuania to date, they have tried their luck twice already. Monika Marija, on the other hand, got no chance yet. Plus, she is Monika (one more different Monika in-a-row), and she had pearls like “Light On”, “Criminal” and “Truth” competing before in the selection. Go Monika Marija!
And Monika’s previous track record is actually very good For a non-winner. I once saw a compilation of all her previous national final entries and she had apparently finished within the top four. Hopefully she can finish very high again.
I’d really like her to win too, she deserves to get to the ESC stage, plus, we’d get that sweet Monika trifecta
The lack of bigger names points to artists backing out once rumors swirled that The Roop was entering again. I’m a bit shocked that only 5 of 40 (!!!) songs are in Lithuanian. Even the Nordic countries have higher percentages. I how we have a surprise and a new winner emerges like last year when sunstroke project failed to secure another ticket to Eurovision.
I am a person who is too impatient for this format of NF which lasts for weeks, my limit must be one week max I think. But I can understand why they do it that way too so no offense at all it’s just me. I’m still really intrigued to listen some of the entries here though. It’s just when the NF starts to know in advance that I have to wait more than one month to know the outcome it’s like an eternity for me, it discourages me, I’ve the same issue with Melfest, Melo, Mesc but anyway it’s… Read more »
I’m curious what “sing me a hug” is about. I assume it’s a love song but it’s such a weird title.
Looks like The Roop is winning again, at least bc of their name. If that ends up being the case, I hope their entry to be better than On Fire
Based on their previous two entries i’m happy to see The Roop in the line up. I hope the song is good and can’t wait to hear it.
Are we going to get a Monika trifecta? Lol
I hope we do, a trilogy of Monikas sounds great
Monika Marija returning is really exciting. I hope she’s back in force with some emotional and striking ballad just like “Light on”. May she make it to Eurovision stage and we will pursue the Monikas of Lithuania streak. “Jamais deux sans trois” as we say ! I am also curious about what Antoine Wend has to offer.
There are multiple artists for whom I am hyped (including Monika and The Roop), but the artist I am hyped the most for is Hansanova.
Just by looking at them, “KABOOM!!!” is the only intriguing title. The rest (in English) are not it.
I didn’t get the particular returnees I was hoping for, but Monika Marija’s “Light On” and Baltos Varnos’ “Namu dvasia” were great, so I’m happy to see them.
40 songs, really? I was hoping that it would be 25-30 because if only top two are going through. It doesn’t make sense to have this many songs competing for 10 spots. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again—Lithuania tends to do badly in years ending in four and unless there is something really special among the coals, I’m not feeling confident.
They did a tv show, not just a selection. 40 songs mean 40+ artists, 40+ songwriters, stage designers, dancers, backing vocals and so on. I find this show a good way to support the industry. Unknown artists have a one more platform to promote themselfs. Maybe the big names win, but always I add beside them other artists on my spotify list.
I find it a bit soon for The Roop to return, but if it’s the right song, I can understand. As long as they win for the song, and not for the name. We could argue that KEiiNO also wanted to return very soon after their ESC success, and didn’t win MGP again, but the landslide The Roop won in Lithuania two times in a row (and not without a heavy competition) makes me think that the hype might do it again. As long as it’s the right song, I am okay with that. Then we have Monika Marija, who… Read more »
Aiste is usually listed with her last name so it might be someone else. I find her iconic and want her to go to Eurovision but her last song was an utter embarrassment.
Agreed. I have no idea what did she want with that bland ballad. She is a pretty cool artist, but really needs to find the right song. I am rooting for her to do it, especially knowing how important it is to her. But it has to be with the right song. And yeah… considering she had a Wiki page, and the name isn’t linked to her… it’s probably just another Aiste. Less of a coincidence than having two Kurt Callejas, and yet, that happened too.
She needs the right songwriters. If Thomas G:sson or Aminta throw her a bone, she can be brilliant. But when she takes any crap from anyone, like the last time, I kinda lose my respect for her a little.
“I’m Like A Wolf” was the right song for Aiste and should have won that year. Don’t think she will ever do as good again.
“Rain of Revolution” winning over “I’m Like a Wolf” (and Vagelis’ “Feel Myself Free” too) is still a mystery to me. But I still have hopes to see both of them at ESC at some point.
I wasn’t following the national finals closely in 2017, so I never got to know what rain of revolution beat out, but I still maintain thatvIt’s one of Lithuania’s worst songs, ever and rightfully deserved to be left behind in the semifinal.
Fusedmarc’s victory was a mistery to the rest of the population as well. It was due to Russophiles’ influence and the jury clearly pushing them further since their first performance as something “out-of-the-box”. The population was introduced to Fusedmarc only after the victory, when it was revealed that the band members were unfamiliar not only with English but also with Lithuanian. They only understand Russian well.
It’s not Aiste Pilvelyte. It’s another Aiste, a pretty fresh Lithuanian artist. I’ve linked to one of her songs earlier in the comments
I have never heard of her before, but she’s pretty damn cool!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6wqWGwV5Po
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyC55DWG6lU
Better keep an eye out for Zivile Gedvilaite. Her Ylva & Linda-penned song is rumored to have the Eurovision winning formula. We aren’t ready for the landslide…
They certainly have the terrible music formula down. Whoever needs to fill 40 spots for whatever reason can count on them.
These ladies have no idea about Eurovision formula. It is usually piece of trash
Do not ofend a pi ce of trash, cause even trash has higher standard than those 2 swed nut heads lol
Well, Živile had a pretty decent song a couple of years ago, and Ylva & Linda knocked it out of the park last year with Donata, as long as I’m concerned. It being one of the standouts is not out of the option. However, the sisters have already dropped the ball this year with two very lackluster entries in MESC. So, it’s a toss… We’ll have to wait and see.
It is a lot about the performer as well. As far as I’m concerned, Ylva and Linda just put their songs out there for artists to buy. They might have written hundreds of songs, just depends on what each artist does with it afterwards.
There’s some truth in that. While I’d still argue that some of their compositions are obviously much stronger than others in their own right (Dreamer and Embers being the best ones IMHO), it’s a lot to do with the artist too. Ylva & Linda are solid in replicating ”the Eurovision formula”, and the result heavily relies on the performer too. You get someone great like Donata, Aldo Blaga, or Monika Urlik, and you get a really good package. You get someone like Viola Julea, who reads from her phone, or Lidia Kopania, who is… whatever that was… and it’s a… Read more »
I like the fact that Vilija and Zivile Gedvilate are both going to sing the same song 🙂
Probably just two songs of the same name, but wow, what a coincidence. 😉
Thomas G? In any case, LRT delivers once again with six nights of entertainment with all sorts of music, hosts that look and sound professional and some household names in the bubble. Looking forward to it.
That one has got a certain ring to it, indeed!
The Roop, go home. Your time is up.
40 sounds like quantity over quality, not sure I wanna go through all of those. I’m totally indifferent about The Roop but if the song is good, why not. I think it’s a good sign that many artists who did well at Eurovision wanna return. As long as they win because of the song, not the name.
Nobody asks you to go through all of those, it is an opportunity for more artists to perform on television
These are the artists/bands that will surely deliver good songs: The Roop (I’m expecting another indie-pop song with some weird/fun choreography) Monika Marija, (be ready for another well-written ballad with strong vocals) Zalvarinis (famous Lithuanian folk/rock band) Kotryna (only if it’s Kotryna Juodzevici?te and not some other Kotryna) Other artists, with some exceptions, are barely known in Lithuania, and they must have a really good song to have a chance at winning Although it seems that Roop is going to win this easily, I think Monika Marija is no less a contender. At this stage I will call Monika Marija… Read more »
thankfully many songs in english, which is good for Lithuania to be competitive at ESC
here for Paula’s It Is What It Is, nice follow up after Malta 2022 i am what i am!!!!
Monika LIU finished 14th with one of their best songs, which was in Lithuanian
Also, 2021 and 2022 were won by non-English songs and no English songs made it to the Top 3 in 2021
+ Cha Cha Cha finished 2nd and Due Vite 5th this year
English means nothing nowadays and everyone can compete with every language, just look at the results since 2021. Oh and the current record holder, Salvador Sobral, had a Portuguese language song. They received 758 points back in 2017.
Thank you for this commentary !
Interesting song titles there in Lithuania.
Returning artists it is not fair, they need to give a chance to others to compete in esc…
I’m surprised you didn’t put Monika Marija in the headline, she’s been one of the best Lithuanian national selection contestants ever (considering her results, including a 2nd place in 2019 – she should’ve won that year). But I’m very happy that she’s back.
Vilija that’s on the list: is Vilija from Eurovision 2014,m
Andrius apparently will continue his weird metaphors in songs… “Sing me a hug”? Well, anyway, it’s too soon to judge.
Really really happy for seeing Monika Marija on this list after listening “Light On” on repeat for the last week.
For those who don’t know: Luka has already released her song. Haven’t listened to it though.
It’s not a contender for the win
With superfinal where televoting decides this is game over for anyone else. I wish The Roop gave chance to someone else instead of being so hungry of ESC exposion.
Their entire career is very ESC-centered. I mean, they’re not even that big in Lithuania, barely pulling any concerts. I’m not complaining, they can do their thing, I hope this is their last time though
It better be a bloody good song!
I am not a fan of early comebacks. Especially someone who was chosen 2 times already. I really don’t want to see Mahmood, Let 3, The Roop or any other returning acts, please. We need new talent every year!! I love cases like Poli Genova when they come and don’t do well first time with a nice song and then they come back with an amazing song and do great. But Mahmood and the Roop and even LET 3 did amazing (for Croatia’s standard). I really want them all to have great songs and big hits in their countries and… Read more »
And I really hope Lithuania or Croatia take a victory soon, even this year!
Meanwhile my fingers are crossed for Malta (Don’t tell me Matt Blxck can’t win!) and Cyprus
Mahmood’s back this year! But then again Il Volo and Dodioto are as well though the latter two could have won but never fully got the chance.
It’s good that Lithuania’s odds of winning increased on betting sites. That increases the hype for this NF. However, i’m not sure if the Roop can pull out a third great song from the hat. They’re going to be the favourites right from the beginning. That being said, people lapp up what they make so I won’t be suprised if they win. Lithuania shouldn’t have to rely on the Roop to do well. There’s a lot of talent here otherwise!
The Roop again? I’m sorry, but I don’t want them again. They had their chance. There is no competition, they will win this by a landslide…
It’s going to be a duel between The Roop and Antoine Wend, I can feel it.
Unfortunately this will just be The Roop competition
Antoine situation is a bit confusing. The first rule of this NF is that only Lithuanian citizens can apply. He’s not. I can smell the drama already
Maybe he obtained Lithuanian citizenship?
Antoine is not even populat in LT, he won X Factor and his star shine stopped after that
No Ruta Mur, Gabrielius and Gebrasy, no party.
We all know who is winning though. Probably some of them weren’t willing to compete against them and and have a certain defeat.
It’s almost definitely an auto win. It would be embarrassing. Ruta and Gebrassy should come back next year. I can feel that they will win one day.
I see a Monika in the line up, will she win? 😉
If she does, then Lithuania will have 3 Monikas in a row.
Now currently the most popular female baby name in Lithuania.
Decent lineup that could surprise everyone once the songs are out. Already predicting that Deividas Valma will be a dark horse of this selection. However, there’s no doubt that The Roop is the most well-known name this year.
Thats for sure. He was so good in all TV projects. He was born for bigger stages.
Is the Aisté in the list Aisté Pylvelyte or their 1999 representative?
No. AistÈ, not Aist?
Can’t write it for some reason, but in Aiste Pilvelyte E has a dot on top (usual Lithuanian letter). In AistÈ it’s E with a grave accent.
This girl, another Aiste lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyC55DWG6lU
She looks and sounds cool
Coming from a true-blooded Lithuanian… y’all have no idea how awful this lineup is lol. And I’m SO glad The Roop is participating this year to save this circus.
I thought it sounded worse WITH the Roop because then the Roop will just auto win this. Let’s wait to see the songs!
Very good lineup ! I’m so exciting about The Roop, Monika Marija, Antoine Wend and also VG gang because the title of their song is so weird xd !