Lithuania in the Eurovision Song Contest explained

Lithuania
Contest:ESC
Broadcaster:Lithuanian: [[Lithuanian National Radio and Television|Lietuvos nacionalinis radijas ir televizija]]|i=no (LRT)
Apps:24 (17 finals)
Highest:6th:
Website:LRT page
Current:2024

Lithuania has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 24 times since its debut in, where "Lithuanian: [[Lopšinė mylimai]]|i=unset" performed by Ovidijus Vyšniauskas finished last, receiving "nul points". Lithuania withdrew from the contest, not returning until . The sixth place of the song "We Are the Winners" performed by LT United in is Lithuania's best result in the contest. The country reached the top ten for a second time in, when "I've Been Waiting for This Night" by Donny Montell finished ninth, and for the third time in, finishing eighth with "Discoteque" by The Roop. The Lithuanian participant broadcaster in the contest is Lithuanian: [[Lithuanian National Radio and Television|Lietuvos nacionalinis radijas ir televizija]]|i=no (LRT).

As of 2024, Lithuania remains the only Baltic country that is yet to win the contest after wins for in 2001 and in 2002. However, since the introduction of the semi-final round in 2004, Lithuania has more final appearances than the other Baltic nations, with thirteen, compared to ten for Estonia and seven for Latvia.

Participation

Lithuanian: [[Lithuanian National Radio and Television|Lietuvos nacionalinis radijas ir televizija]]|i=no (LRT) is a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) since 1 January 1993, thus eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest since then. It has participated in the contest representing Lithuania since its in 1994.

History

2000s

Having been relegated from the 2000 contest, Lithuania returned in 2001 with "You Got Style" by Skamp, the first Lithuanian song to include English. They received 35 points, placing 13th. However, the following year, Aivaras could only manage to come second-to-last with 12 points.

Since the semi-finals were introduced, Lithuania again came last with Laura and the Lovers and "Little by Little". The following year, the Lithuanian broadcaster Lietuvos nacionalinis radijas ir televizija (LRT) sent LT United to the 2006 contest with the football chant-like song "We Are the Winners". They took Lithuania to the final for the first time since 2002, coming sixth in the final with 162 points, Lithuania's best placing as of 2024.

The following year Lithuania automatically qualified for the final; however, 4Fun could not replicate LT United's success, coming 21st with only 28 points, 12 of which came from Ireland. In 2008, Jeronimas Milius failed to reach the final, coming 16th out of 19 competing nations in the second semi-final.

Lithuania initially threatened to boycott the 2009 contest "if Russia continues to showcase power and ignores international law." The statement was made in reaction to Russia's actions in the 2008 South Ossetia war.[1] Culture Minister Jonas Jučas stated that it was too early to discuss the boycott since "spontaneous decisions might aggravate the efforts of diplomats" and thus make the situation worse. They did eventually participate in the 2009 contest, where they qualified from the semi-finals and received 23 points in the final, placing them 23rd.[2]

2010s

LRT announced in December 2009 that, due to a lack of necessary funds, Lithuania would formally withdraw from the 2010 Contest. However, in the event that the necessary funds of 300,000 litas (90,000) were found, the broadcaster announced that they would attempt to continue the country's participation.[3] Ultimately, private company TEO LT provided the necessary funding and Lithuania participated in Oslo.

In 2011, Lithuania was represented by Evelina Sašenko with the song "C'est ma vie". The song successfully qualified from the first semi-final, placing 5th with 81 points. In the grand final, Lithuania finished in 19th place with 63 points.[4]

In 2012, Lithuania qualified for the final with Donny Montell and his song "Love Is Blind", placing 3rd with 104 points. They eventually finished 14th in the Grand Final.[5]

In 2013, Lithuania qualified to the final with "Something" by Andrius Pojavis, placing 9th in the first semi-final with 53 points. In the final, he ended in 22nd place with 17 points.[6]

In 2014, Vilija didn't qualify for the final, finishing 11th out of 15 entrants in the second semi-final, scoring 36 points.[7]

In 2015, Monika Linkytė and Vaidas Baumila represented Lithuania with the song "This Time". The duo qualified from the second semi-final, finishing 7th, and ultimately placed 18th in the grand final with 30 points.[8]

In 2016, Donny Montell returned to the contest and achieved Lithuania's best result of the decade, finishing ninth with "I've Been Waiting for This Night".[9]

In 2017, Lithuania was represented by Fusedmarc with the song "Rain of Revolution". The song failed to qualify for the grand final, finishing 17th in the second semi-final with 42 points.[10]

In 2018, Ieva Zasimauskaitė achieved Lithuania's fifth top 15 result, finishing 12th with "When We're Old".[11]

In 2019, Jurij Veklenko represented Lithuania with the song "Run with the Lions". He competed in the second semi-final, placing 11th with 93 points, which was not sufficient to advance to the grand final.[12]

2020s

In 2021, Lithuania qualified for the final with the song "Discoteque" by The Roop, placing 4th in the first semi-final with 203 points. In the final, The Roop reached 8th place with 220 points, thereby achieving Lithuania's second-best result to date.[13] [14] [15] The Roop was previously chosen to represent the country in the later-cancelled 2020 edition with "On Fire".[16]

In 2022, Monika Liu performed her song "Sentimentai" in Lithuanian, which marked the second appearance of the language in the contest, and the first one since 1994. The song qualified from the semi-final.[17]

In 2023, Monika Linkytė represented Lithuania for a second time with the song "Stay". She finished 11th in the grand final with 127 points.[18]

In 2024, Lithuania was represented by Silvester Belt with the song "Luktelk". Silvester Belt was selected through the new national final, Eurovizija.LT, and finished 14th in the grand final with 90 points.[19]

Participation overview

+ Table key
1First place
2Second place-->
3Third place
Last place
XEntry selected but did not compete
Upcoming event
YearArtistSongLanguageFinalPointsSemiPoints
Ovidijus Vyšniauskas"Lithuanian: [[Lopšinė mylimai]]|i=unset"Lithuanian25 ◁0rowspan="4" colspan="2"
Aistė"[[Strazdas]]|i=unset"Samogitian2013
Skamp"You Got Style"English, Lithuanian1335
Aivaras"Happy You"English2312
Linas and Simona"What's Happened to Your Love"English1626
Laura and the Lovers"Little by Little"English25 ◁17
LT United"We Are the Winners"English, French61625163
4Fun"Love or Leave"English2128colspan="2"
Jeronimas Milius"Nomads in the Night"English1630
Sasha Son"Love"English, Russian2323966
InCulto"Eastern European Funk"English1244
Evelina Sašenko"French: [[C'est ma vie]]|i=unset"English1963581
Donny Montell"Love Is Blind"English14703104
Andrius Pojavis"Something"English2217953
Vilija"Attention"English1136
Monika Linkytė and Vaidas Baumila"This Time"English1830767
Donny Montell"I've Been Waiting for This Night"English92004222
Fusedmarc"Rain of Revolution"English1742
Ieva Zasimauskaitė"When We're Old"English121819119
Jurij Veklenko"Run with the Lions"English1193
The Roop"On Fire"Englishcolspan="4" X
The Roop"Discoteque"English82204203
Monika Liu"Lithuanian: [[Sentimentai]]|i=unset"Lithuanian141287159
Monika Linkytė"Stay"English111274110
Silvester Belt"Lithuanian: [[Luktelk]]|i=no"Lithuanian14904119

Trivia

Songs by language

SongsLanguageYears
20English,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,
4Lithuanian,,,
1Samogitian

Selection process

See also: National selections for the Eurovision Song Contest.

YearSelection process
Internal selection
National final with 12 participants
National final with 15 participants
National final with 52 participants (18 in the final)
National final with 49 participants (20 in the final)
National final with 47 participants (16 in the final)
National final with 35 participants (11 in the final)
National final with 32 participants (14 in the final)
Lithuanian: Lietuvos Dainų Daina with 36 participants (10 in the final)
National final with 34 participants (12 in the final)
National final with 40 participants (13 in the final)
National final with 36 participants (14 in the final)
YearSelection process
National final with 39 participants (7 in the final)
National final with 20 participants (3 in the final)
National final with 12 participants (2 in the final)
National final with 28 participants (6 in the final)
National final with 49 participants (7 in the final)
National final with 50 participants (6 in the final)
National final with 49 participants (8 in the final)
Lithuanian: Pabandom iš naujo! with 36 participants (8 in the final)
Lithuanian: Pabandom iš naujo! with 21 participants (6 in the final)
Lithuanian: Pabandom iš naujo! with 34 participants (8 in the final)
Lithuanian: Pabandom iš naujo! with 30 participants (10 in the final)
Lithuanian: Eurovizija.LT with 40 participants (10 in the final)

Awards

Barbara Dex Award

Related involvement

Delegation members

Each participating broadcaster in the Eurovision Song Contest assigns a head of delegation as the EBU's contact person and the leader of their delegation at the event. The delegation, whose size can greatly vary, includes a head of press, the contestants, songwriters, composers, and backing vocalists, among others.[22]

Heads of delegation

YearHead of delegation
[23]
[24]
[25] [26]
–present[27] [28]

Heads of press

Jury members

A five-member jury panel consisting of music industry professionals is made up for every participating country for the semi-finals and Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest, ranking all entries except for their own country's contribution. The juries' votes constitute 50% of the overall result alongside televoting.[29] The modern incarnation of jury voting was introduced beginning with the .[30]

Year1st member2nd member3rd member4th member5th memberscope=col class="unsortable"
Linas RimšaLinas AdomaitisEdita Vilčiauskienė[31]
Povilas VarvuolisKristina ZmailaitėKristina Žaldokaitė
Lauras LučiūnasJolita VaitkevičienėJurga ČekatauskaitėJurgis Brūzga
Nomeda KazlausJustas ČekuolisVytautas LukočiusEglė Nepaitė-Abaravičienė
Vytenis PauliukaitisViktorija NavickaitėVaidas Stackevičius
Lauras LučiūnasJurga ŠeduikytėDovilė FilmanavičiūtėMindaugas UrbaitisLeon Somov
Andrius MamontovasJurgis BrūzgaGerūta Griniūtė
Jievaras JasinskisBjelle
Aistė LasytėIeva NarkutėJurga ŠeduikytėVaidas Baumila
Jonas NainysJulijus GrickevičiusVaidotas ValiukevičiusEglė JuozapaitienėNombeko Augustė
Jievaras JasinskisKristupas NaraškevičiusPovilas MeškėlaAgneta GabalytėMonika Marija

Commentators and spokespersons

LRT usually broadcasts all shows in Lithuania on Lithuanian: [[LRT televizija]]|i=no and on Lithuanian: [[LRT Radijas|LRT radijas]]|i=no as well as online via the broadcaster's website lrt.lt. For the show's broadcast on LRT several commentators have provided comment on the contest in the local language. was Eurovision commentator in Lithuania as many as 19 times. He was replaced by in 2021. At the Eurovision Song Contest after all points are calculated, the presenters of the show call upon each voting country to invite each respective spokesperson to announce the results of their vote on-screen.

Year! scope="col"
CommentatorSpokesperson
1994Gitana Lapinskaitė[32]
1995[33]
1996[34]
1997[35]
1998[36]
1999Andrius Tapinas[37]
2000Ramūnas Česonis and Vilija Grigonytė<--[38] -->
2001Loreta Tarozaitė[39] [40]
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009Ignas Krupavičius
2010
2011
2012Ignas Krupavičius
2013
2014
2015Ugnė Galadauskaitė
2016
2017 and Gerūta GriniūtėEglė Daugėlaitė[41]
2018
2019
2021Andrius Mamontovas[42] [43]
2022Vaidotas Valiukevičius[44]
2023Monika Liu[45]
2024Monika Linkytė[46] [47]

Other shows

ShowCommentator
[48]

Stage directors

The appointed stage directors are responsible for directing the country's live performance, for camerawork and for the visuals used.[49]

YearStage director(s)
[50]
[51]
[52]
[53]
[54]
[55]
[56]
[57]
[58]
[59]

Costume designers

YearCostume designers
Daiva Urbonavičiūtė
and Vida Simanavičiūtė
Egidijus Sidaras
Olga Filatova-Kontrimienė
Kristina Kalinauskaitė and Andrius Sergejenko
Marius Stanevičius
Sandra Yushka
Vida Strasevičiūtė and Thomas Bara
Glorija Gžimailaitė
Monika Kazakevičiūtė-Kriščiūnienė
Omar Bayoumi
Vainotas Jakštas

Conductors

Tomas Leiburas was the only Lithuanian conductor in Eurovision as he conducted their 1994 entry.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lithuanian Broadcaster Head supports his Estonian colleague in Eurovision boycott. ESCKaz. 2008-08-22. 2008-08-22. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120320074423/http://esckaz.com/2008/. 2012-03-20.
  2. Web site: Culture minister of Lithuania: too early to speak about boycott of Eurovision. Vaida. Petras. 2008-08-25. The Baltic Course. 2008-08-25. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20090522023432/http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/baltics_cis/?doc=4406. 2009-05-22.
  3. Web site: Lithuania seeking funding for Eurovision 2010. Hondal. Victor. 2009-12-15. ESCToday. 15 December 2009. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20091217234754/http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/14630. 17 December 2009.
  4. Web site: Eurovision 2011 Results: Voting & Points. Eurovisionworld. 18 May 2024.
  5. Web site: Eurovision 2012 Results: Voting & Points. Eurovisionworld. 18 May 2024.
  6. Web site: Eurovision 2013 Results: Voting & Points. Eurovisionworld. 18 May 2024.
  7. Web site: Eurovision 2014 Results: Voting & Points. Eurovisionworld. 18 May 2024.
  8. Web site: Eurovision 2015 Results: Voting & Points. Eurovisionworld. 18 May 2024.
  9. Web site: Eurovision 2016 Results: Voting & Points. Eurovisionworld. 18 May 2024.
  10. Web site: Eurovision 2017 Results: Voting & Points. Eurovisionworld. 18 May 2024.
  11. Web site: Eurovision 2018 Results: Voting & Points. Eurovisionworld. 18 May 2024.
  12. Web site: Eurovision 2019 Results: Voting & Points. Eurovisionworld. 18 May 2024.
  13. News: Outerson . Michael . 2021-02-06 . Lithuania 2021: The Roop are back as they win Pabandom iš Naujo! with Discoteque . 2024-05-18 . Eurovisionary . en-GB.
  14. Web site: Eurovision 2021 Semi-final 1 Results . 2024-05-18 . Eurovisionworld . en-gb.
  15. Web site: Eurovision 2021 Results: Voting & Points . 2024-05-18 . Eurovisionworld . en-gb.
  16. Web site: Eurovision 2020 Lineup . 2024-05-18 . Eurovisionworld . en-gb.
  17. Web site: Eurovision 2022 Results: Voting & Points . 2024-05-18 . Eurovisionworld . en-gb.
  18. Web site: Eurovision 2023 Results: Voting & Points . 2024-05-18 . Eurovisionworld . en-gb.
  19. News: Sturtridge . Isaac . REVEALED: The Eurovision 2024 semi-final and final jury/televote detailed voting results . 2024-05-18 . en-GB.
  20. Web site: Lithuania wins OGAE Fan Contest!. esc-plus.com. 16 May 2020. 19 May 2020.
  21. Web site: Poll: Who was the worst dressed Barbara Dex Award winner?. Wiwibloggs. 9 July 2015. 8 December 2019. William Lee. Adams.
  22. News: Heads of Delegation . European Broadcasting Union (EBU) . live . 27 May 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190526062756/https://eurovision.tv/about/organisers/heads-of-delegation/ . 26 May 2019.
  23. Web site: 2024-04-14. Lietuvos debiutą "Eurovizijoje" prisiminusi Vilija Grigonytė: buvo absoliutus chaosas ir siaubas. 2024-04-20. lrt.lt. lt.
  24. Web site: 1999-05-31. Eurovizija tampa išrinktųjų klubu. 2024-04-20. skyle.lt. lt.
  25. Web site: 2007-02-21. Pilkasis Eurovizijos kardinolas - J.Vilimas. 2024-04-20. delfi.lt. lt.
  26. Web site: 2010-02-01. "Eurovizijos" senbuvis J.Vilimas neteko delegacijos vadovo posto . 2024-04-20. delfi.lt. lt.
  27. Web site: 2019-05-03. Giržadas apie "Eurovizijos" fenomeną Lietuvoje: iš pradžių išsirenkame, o paskui nuplakame. 2024-04-20. lrt.lt. lt.
  28. Web site: 2024-04-03. "Eurovizijos" užkulisiai iš pirmų lūpų: fejerverkai gali kainuoti ir 20 tūkst. eurų. 2024-04-20. lrt.lt. lt.
  29. News: Exclusive: These are the judges who will vote in Eurovision 2019. 30 April 2019. 24 May 2019. European Broadcasting Union.
  30. Web site: Viniker . Barry . 8 December 2008 . EBU confirms 50/50 vote for Eurovision Song Contest . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081211002140/http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12655 . 11 December 2008 . 11 February 2021 . ESCToday.
  31. Web site: 2009-05-16. Tarp slaptos "Eurovizijos" komisijos atstovų Lietuvoje – E.Bžeskas ir L.Adomaitis . 2024-04-20. delfi.lt. lt.
  32. News: TV – sobota, 30 kwietnia . 28 October 2022 . . 30 April 1994 . 11 . pl . Polonijna Biblioteka Cyfrowa.
  33. News: TV – sobota, 13 maja . 27 June 2024 . . 13 May 1995 . 11 . pl . Polonijna Biblioteka Cyfrowa.
  34. News: TV – sobota, 18 maja . 28 October 2022 . Kurier Wileński. 18 May 1996 . 7 . pl . Polonijna Biblioteka Cyfrowa.
  35. News: TV – sobota, 3 maja . 27 June 2024 . . 3 May 1997 . 11 . pl . Polonijna Biblioteka Cyfrowa.
  36. News: TV – sobota, 9 maja . 28 October 2022 . Kurier Wileński. 9 May 1998 . 11 . pl . Polonijna Biblioteka Cyfrowa.
  37. News: Kurier TV – sobota 29 maja . 18 October 2022 . Kurier Wileński. 29 May 1999 . 7 . pl . Polonijna Biblioteka Cyfrowa.
  38. News: TV – sobota, 13 maja . 27 June 2024 . . 13 May 2000 . 7 . pl . Polonijna Biblioteka Cyfrowa.
  39. News: Meškinytė . Adelė . "Eurovizijos" balsas D.Užkuraitis: smagi atsiradimo konkurse istorija ir atsakymas, ką išties mano apie šou . 3 December 2022 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20221203112323/https://www.15min.lt/zmones/naujiena/eurovizija/eurovizijos-balsas-d-uzkuraitis-smagi-atsiradimo-konkurse-istorija-ir-atsakymas-ka-isties-mano-apie-sou-1058-1318738 . 3 December 2022 . lt . live.
  40. News: Juršėnaitė . Eimantė . 12 eterio veidų, skelbusių "Eurovizijos" balus: nuo audras sukėlusių iškirpčių iki pokštų. 12 faces who announced Eurovision points: from stormy cuts to jokes. lt. LRT. 11 May 2024.
  41. Web site: D. Užkuraitis "Euroviziją" šiemet komentuos ne vienas - LRT. Lietuvos Radijas ir Televizija. 5 May 2017. 3 May 2018. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170805181800/http://www.lrt.lt/projektai/eurovizija/naujienos/31/171667/d_uzkuraitis_eurovizija_siemet_komentuos_ne_vienas#skip. 5 August 2017.
  42. Web site: 5 May 2021. Ilgai laukta 'The Roop' kelionė į Roterdamą ir pirmoji repeticija ant "Eurovizijos" scenos. 5 May 2021. lrt.lt. lt.
  43. Web site: 18 May 2021. Lietuvos eurovizinius balus skelbs Andrius Mamontovas. 18 May 2021. lrt.lt. lt.
  44. https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/veidai/14/1681863/the-roop-lyderiui-vaidotui-teko-ypatinga-uzduotis-eurovizijos-finale-skelbs-lietuviu-balus „The Roop“ lyderiui Vaidotui teko ypatinga užduotis: „Eurovizijos“ finale skelbs lietuvių balus
  45. News: "Eurovizijoje" Lietuvos balsus skelbs Monika Liu: tai buvo mano svajonė. lt. LRT. 9 May 2023.
  46. Web site: Įžanga į 'Euroviziją 2024' Malmėje su Ramūnu Zilniu . Introduction to Eurovision 2024 in Malmö with Ramūnas Zilnys . 2024-05-28 . lrt.lt . 7 May 2024 . LRT . lt.
  47. News: "Eurovizijos" finale balus skelbė Monika Linkytė: paaiškėjo, ką konkurse labiausiai palaikė mūsų komisija ir žiūrovai. lt. Delfi. 12 May 2024.
  48. Web site: 2020-05-16. Pasidairykite, kaip Nyderlandai ruošiasi išskirtinei "Eurovizijos" transliacijai. 2024-04-20. lrt.lt. lt.
  49. News: Van Eersel, Dennis . Stage directing at the Eurovision Song Contest . ESCDaily . live . 22 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220122095456/https://www.escdaily.com/stage-directing-eurovision-song-contest/ . 22 January 2022.
  50. Web site: 1999-06-03. Aistės Smilgevičiūtės palydėjimas į 'Euroviziją' Izraelyje. 2024-04-30. lrt.lt. lt.
  51. Web site: 2008-05-09. Jeronimas Milius: jaučiuosi ramiai, nes laiko nervintis nėra. 2024-04-20. alfa.lt. lt.
  52. Web site: 2016-05-04. Su keturiomis šalimis "Eurovizijoje" dirbanti režisierė balsuos už D. Montvydą. 2024-04-20. lrt.lt. lt.
  53. Web site: 2017-05-10. Fusedmarc pasirodymo režisierius: Tokių nesklandumų "Eurovizijoje" seniai neteko matyti. 2024-04-20. 15min.lt. lt.
  54. Web site: 2016-05-04. I. Zasimauskaitė antrąkart išbandė Portugalijos sceną: režisierė vis dar nepatenkinta. 2024-04-30. lrt.lt. lt.
  55. Web site: 2019-05-08. Lietuvos 'eurovizinio' pasirodymo režisierius: pavyko geriau, nei tikėtasi, bet taisyti teks daug. 2024-04-30. lrt.lt. lt.
  56. Web site: 2021-05-17. Staigmena: lietuvių The Roop komanda Eurovizijoje rūpinasi ir Vokietijos pasirodymu. 2024-04-30. lrt.lt. lt.
  57. Web site: 2022-04-30. Monika Liu išbandė Eurovizijos sceną Turine: pirmą repeticiją trikdė nesklandumai. 2024-04-30. lrt.lt. lt.
  58. Web site: 2023-05-18. Beyoncé koncertų turo 'Renaissance World Tour' komandoje – ir TV režisierius Povilas Varvuolis. 2024-04-30. lrt.lt. lt.
  59. Web site: Buivydas. Justas. 2024-02-22. Silvester Belt pasirodys bent penkiuose 'Eurovizijos' vakarėliuose. Silvester Belt will perform in at least five Eurovision parties. lt-LT. 2024-03-02. Eurodiena.