Lithuania’s lengthy Eurovision national pre-selection is finally reaching its conclusion. However, before the Eurovizija.LT 2025 grand final next weekend, LRT has thrown one more wildcard twist into the mix.
The Eurovizija.LT final was supposed to only feature 10 acts — the top two that qualified from each of the five heats. But, a few days ago LRT started teasing some exciting news that would be announced at the end of show five. Organisers revealed they have decided to bring back two acts to the grand final who were previously eliminated — the band Black Biceps and singer Liepa Mondeikaite.
Eurovizija.LT 2025 wildcards
Black Biceps competed in heat three, where they had amazing support from the public at home and collected 2,868 votes — that’s the biggest televote score across all heats of Eurovizija.LT 2025.
Unfortunately for them, they only placed third with the jury. The overall ranking of the heat meant that three acts received the same amount of points and tied for first place. As the jury vote is used in tie breaks during the heat stage, Black Biceps placed third and didn’t qualify, which caused quite an uproar from the public.
A similar situation happened during heat four. Liepa Mondeikaite, who presented a composition called “Ar myletum?” (co-written by Eurovizija.LT presenter Nombeko Auguste Khotseng), also failed to qualify for the final.
The song had picked up the public’s attention a few days prior to the show’s broadcast as Liepa released it early and managed to ramp up tens of thousands of plays on Spotify and YouTube. She collected over 2,000 calls and texts, finishing second with the public in the heat. However, a fourth-place finish with the jury meant she tied for overall second place, ultimately missing out on a place in the grand final due to the the jury tie break.
But, the story isn’t over for either Black Biceps or Liepa. They’ve now both received a wildcard and will get to perform again in the grand final — making it a 12 act fight for the trophy.
What do you think of this LRT decision to give out wildcards to the Eurovizija.LT 2025 grand final? Are you happy with the acts making a return or would you have preferred someone else making a comeback? Let us know in the comments!
Lithuania’s NF seems to get better year after year. They got a formidable final this time! Idk whom I want to win tbh
BLACK BICEPS!!!!! Lithuania has a real shot at the top 10 in the Grand Final now.
If the last time u watchec Eurovision was 2005, then maybe
If it’s not Katarsis I don’t want it
Same, Fionn, same
Smart. Liepa would do the best of the 12, were it to manage to win the final.
I agree with those saying Eurovizija is one of the most competitive NF this year. In fact, every year it gets stronger. Always I manage to find 3 or 4 songs I’d really to see in Eurovision… and tbh that’s not common from me.
It is true there are some very mediocre or amateurish options but when you have 50 songs in an “small” country like Lithuania, it can’t be any other way.
Once you filter out the crap, what’s left is not so bad.
This is by far the most competitive NF so far this year. Lots of potential winners. I’m personally rooting for Petunja or Juste, but also Kataris and Sophie. I don’t think I’ve ever had so many songs from one NF end up on my playlist.
Wise decision
This was a surprising but welcome plot twist. It certainly perked my interest in the final a lot more. They really screwed up this year, so bringing them back when they had two of the three highest televote numbers was the right choice. Doing the wildcard was an unprecedented move because I don’t think it’s ever been done for the Lithuanian selection, but in these circumstances, the right one. I wonder if in the future, this year‘s incident can finally provoke a change in the rules where the Televote becomes the tiebreaker instead of the jury. Of the two wild… Read more »
Liepa didn’t have the “highest televote”, she even came second with the public in her own semi. Both her and black biceps were third tied with second place thats all.
They have done wildcards before, I know specifically in 2017-2018 they did.
What was the reason for the wildcard then in those years? I didn’t pay close attention to national finals when I started watching Eurovision, so it completely escaped me.
Fingers crossed for Katarsis!!
I’m glad they’re back, but I hope neither of them is the winner nor ends up in the super final.
Black Biceps FTW
It has to be Katarsis or Lion Ceccah, sorry.
Black biceps are fun though:)
Black Biceps or Lion Ceccah *
A good choice that will lead to viewership increasing again.
The only right thing to do! That the jury count over the viewers at a tiebreak is just ridiculous and gives the public few incentives to vote. So the broadcaster had no other choice to save the shows credibility among its viewers.
Yesss….I totally agree with you.
I’ll never understand using jury votes as a tiebreaker in selections. That’s not how that works at Eurovision itself, why do it there? That’ll just piss off your viewers!
Katarsis to Basel!