The second heat of the Lithuanian national selection has been aired today with the second set of qualifiers being decided by a 50/50 mix of professional jury panel and public vote.
13 acts took the stage this evening for the chance qualify for the semi-final phase of the competition. Sadly, we lost half of the contestants which have fell at the first hurdle.
The acts that have made it through to the next stage of Eurovizija are as it follows:
- E.G.O – “My Story”
Monee – “Nnn”Varjetė – “My Story”- Gabrielius Vagelis – “Feel Myself Free”
- Ieva Zasimauskaitė – “You Saved Me”
Rugilė Daujotaitė- “Perkūne ugniaveidi”- Mia – “Sacrifice”
Deividas Žygas – “Only You”Rasa Kaušiūtė – “Fly”Gabrielė Vilkickytė – “Jūra”Lawreigna – “Freedom”- Kotryna Juodzevičiūtė – “Love Shadow”
- Valdas Lacko “It’s So Unfair”
You can see all the songs that have qualified so far here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3mCUlfpZaflV38QoKIHI1EMYjsSLis_j
The judges for this episode were ESC commentator Darius Uzkuraitis, music commentator Ramunas Zilnys, singer Juste Arlauskaitė/Jazzu, and music critic Kazimierz Šiaulys. Some controversial comments from them were received from one of the groups, Varjetė, gaining this comment from one of the judges:
“Even if you were the last people in this selection, Lithuania should withdraw from the contest rather have you represent them”.
Harsh, but do you agree?
Worthy to note that Mia, who you might remember from the selection in 2014, stormed the judges votes gaining 12 points, and qualifying after the combination vote. In 2014, she came 2nd in the Grand Final behind the duo of Monika & Vaidas.
Next week will see another 13 acts fighting for the right to represent Lithuania at Eurovision 2017. From this group is Vilija Matačiūnaitė who represented the country in 2014 with her song “Attention”. You can see the new song for 2017 “I See The Lights” below.
Darius Užkuraitis is not a singer. He’s LRT Opus director and ESC commentator.
Ramūnas Zilnys – music reviewer.