Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Pabandom iš naujo! is back for 2022 and January sees the start of six shows where 36 become one and travels to Turin 2022 Eurovision. Among the hopefuls we have several familiar names, including four ladies who have already done the honors: Erika Jennings (with SKAMP 2001), Ieva Zasimauskaité (2018), Monika Linkyté (2015 with Vaidas Baumila) and Vilija Matačiūnaitė (2014). All of them have also participated several times in the national selection as well so they are true veterans. But that's not all. There are also other familiar names trying to win it for the first time like last year's runner up Gebrasy, Aldegunda, Cosmic Bride, Titas ir Benas, last year's third Voldemars Petersons and more. Who ever wins has big boots to fill after two years of The Roop and their successful 2020 winner On fire and they won again the national final in 2021 with Discotheque after having not been re-elected internally having huge support by the nation's televoters and fandom.Full l...

  Last night saw the first semi-final with its losers and winners, and it has also caused some interesting action in the betting market. Cyprus and Norway (yet to perform in semi-final two) battle about the top place, while Israel that has been reigning the odds since it was chosen until the first rehersals, is now fighting with France for the 3rd and 4th place. France has been going up and down, and now is on the rise again and yet to perform live. Behind them sneakily Lithuania has jumped up some ten places to fifth after last night's performance and qualification for the final. Behind them three pre-rehearsal favorites Estonia , Czech Republic and Bulgaria keep their slight downward movement letting Sweden (yet to perform) pass them. Behind them we have another battle team: Italy (yet to perform)  vs. Finland , constantly changing positions. Also Moldova (yet to perform) is right behind them occasionally making it a threesome Austria is on the rise as we...

CZECH REPUBLIC - MIKOLAS JOSEF - LIE TO ME I know you 'bop-whop-a-lu bop' on his wood bamboo Vocals **** Staging **** Song ***** Overall ***** Qualifier LITHUANIA - IEVA ZASIMAUSKAITÈ - WHEN WE'RE OLD I’m not afraid to grow old if I have your hand to hold Vocals **** Staging **** Song ***** Overall **** Likely qualifier ISRAEL - NETTA - TOY You're stupid just like your smart phone Vocals ***** Staging *** Song ***** Overall **** Qualifier   BELARUS - ALEKSEEV - FOREVER Rain keeps on falling, and I know you’ll be mine forever... Vocals ** Staging ** Song ** Overall ** Borderline qualifier

The rehearsals continue after lucnh break with threee more countries, among them two top favorites Czech Republic and Israel, still #1 in the betting odds, and this blogger's favortire Lithuania... Czech Republic - Mikolas Josef - Lie to me It seems one of the favorites didn't quite deliver yet as Czech Republic's entry is described a mess pretty much in unison. The colors (pink/blue/purple) are there, the stairs are there, so are the breakdancers miming also as trumpet players and having their own props: light walls, and the choreography but it doesn't fill the stage the way it's ment to do, nor the camera angles are right there. If they only get the idea and concept work on screen.... Colorful and fun, vocally no problem. This blogger believes they'll sort it all out. Mikolas himself tried different acrobatics to add to the performance, such as front flip... Let's see what he'll do in the end...  Update: He has been taken to hospital fo...

Latvia - Laura Rizzotto - Funny girl Latvian-Brazilian Laura Rizzotto (23) has lived her life so far between Minnesota, Rio de Janeiro, New York and Latvia. She has studied in Berklee (Boston), California and Columbia Universities so she certainly knows music. And no doubt she's talented singer and songwriter. That doesn't however hide the fact her Funny girl needs some what acquired taste for this kind of music. Generally this could be my cup of tea so to speak, but no. This is dull and uninteresting. Live it works a bit better but about one minute mark my attention drifts elsewhere and I find myself checking the contents of my fridge while she's still singing her song. Very long three minutes. 2/10 Lithuania - Ieva Zasimauskaitè - When we're old I managed to ignore this song all those eternal weeks the Lithuanian selection was going on - maybe because I didn't follow it live and just checked the videos later, if even that. I did watch the fina...

Eurovision and remixes. Every year there are a few more or less interesting official ones, and many, many unofficial ones. Here you have some official ones out so far. And something else.... Ieva Zasimauskaité's When we're old has got a Jovani Remix. One of the most underrated entries this year if you ask this blogger works nicely even as a sort of dance mix,  Just like the Lithuanian language version Kol myliu it adds another dimension to this little pearl. The video itself follows her journey through the neverending selection process until her victory. Nice job! The favorite extraordinaire this year has got a remix, too, Sagi Kariv's remix of Netta's Toy doesn't bring much to the mix, just more and longer beats to make this work even better at the dance floor. For more adventurous remixes Youtube is full of unofficial ones.... SuRie's got Storm remixed by 7th Heaven making it sound like... err... any 7th Heaven remix since years but hey, if it...

  Lithuania has chosen favorite Ieva Zasimauskaité with her ballad When we're old for Lisbon 2018 Eurovision song contest. She surpriseed the audience in her winning reprise by singing in Lithuanian, but so did also guest star Saara Aalto in her Monsters . However Lithuania should go for the Lithuanian version as it sounded fab! Televotes: Jury votes: Final result: 1. Ieva Zasimauskaitè - When we're old (jury 10 + televote 12) 22 2. Jurgis Bruzga - 4love (12 + 7) 19 3. The Roop - Yes, I do (7 + 10) 17 4. Monika Marija - The truth (8 + 8) 16 5. Kotryna - That girl (6 + 6) 12 6. Paula - 1 2 3 (5 + 5) 10

  Phew. It feels like Lithuania started its selection process first months ago, and now ends it as the last national final of the season! Wo-hoo! We made it. Another year. A few internally selected artists still need to present their songs (Russia, Georgia) and Bulgaria will reveal their act tomorrow, but for the selections go - this is the last! Did they save the best for last? Erm... no. Ieva's fragile ballad needs a stellar live performance to make it outstanding. If she does, she can go actually very far with it. Same goes for Monika Marija with her song she herited from Erika Jennings who pulled out. Only that Ieva is better, as is her song. Jurgis is all groovy and all that, but rather uninteresting lift music. Kotryna has pretty much the same song and act as he does, only with added female and less good. Paula surprised in the semifinal with a new arrangement to the song, more acoustic and was a bit of a surprise qualifer. Then we have The Roop that has quietly sneak...

Lithuania's Eurovizijos once again features countless songs and artists and this year isn't without drama either. First Erika Jennings withdraw after the first semifinal, critizing the jury and the procedure that puts total newcomers and real professionals like herself in the same line and under same judgement. In one word: humiliating. This blogger totally agrees, I have always wondered why in some countries this kind of selection & live auditions take place even for the solid professionals. If I was one, I certainly wouldn't go for one (but as I am not so no worries!) Her song The truth will however continue, as it will be now performed by The Voice winner Monika Paulauskaité. But not only Erica, also a true veteran Mia opened her heart after her elimination and the multiple top placer is out this year. Below are the qualifiers from the four heats. Next stage are semifinals where these 24 become 12 for the semifinal and then 6 for the final (I suppose......

After eight weeks and shows later we have finally reached the semifinal stage in Lithuania. Phew. Half the entries will be eliminated tonight after jury and televote compined votes.  I suppose Aisté does Claudia and wins with her 9th attempt finally, but I'm #teamGabrielius and #teamGreta . As long as these three are through it's all fine for me.  Incredible but true, in the end this Lithuanian semifinal is one of the best and most interesting of the season! At least they have more than one worthy song lined up! Who would have thought an eternity ago when it started....;-p Sasha Song - Never felt like this before Aisté Pilvelyté - I'm like a wolf Ieva Zasimauskaité - You saved me Greta Zazza - Like I love you Fusedmarc - Rain of revolution Gabrielius Vagelis - Feel myself free Paula - Let U go Kotryna Juodzevičiūtė - Love shadow

Lithuania's marathon continues with seventh elimination round already. There's at least one more before we get to the semifinal stage - or whatever comes after that?! I suppose half of these or  four will make it tongiht again and Greta and Aistè should walk this. If the horrendous joke of Gytis still gets through it's time to get frighten for real. Even jury, really? Eurovision veteran Sasha Song is also still hanging on.... Watch here 20.00 CET Ieva Zaminauskaitè - You saved me (7+7=14) E.G.O. - My story (5+4=9) Greta Zazza - Like I love you (10+8=18) Gytis Ivanauskas - Get frighten (3+10=13) Aistè Pilvelyté - I'm like a wolf (10+12=22) Sasha Song - Never felt like this before (12+6=18) Edgaras Lybus - Could it be? (8+5=13) Grazvydas - Paint the sky blue (4+3=7)

Phew, incredible but true! The Lithuanian marathon comes to an end. After ten weeks of performing the same songs over and over we have only six left as the songs and the artists have been dropping like flies every week. Maybe this may seem like a good idea on paper but in practise Lithuanians have heard the songs so many times their likings have changed while in the Eurovision most viewers and voters hear the song for the very first time and that's what counts the most. Early stand out favorite Rūta Ščiogolevaitė has been losing ground while Donny Montell has had his ups and downs, too. Aistė Pilvelytė has also dropped with further hearings while Erica Jennings has gained popularity while the show's been on. Should she won the question remains: Will it be instant enough? The game is between these four, Ieva Zasimauskaitė and Ruslanas Kirilkinas are there for decoration. All this said, it's a rather mediocre final songwise. Good singers, bad songs. Erica would be a clas...

The Lithuanina selection has been going on forever and I have lost track of what's going on, but it seems there are only six singers left and... 16 songs? Justinas Lapatinskas and VIG Roses are already out of the race. I really haven't listened all the songs and none well but I kinda enjoyed Dying in some weird way.... Thought it would propably be more like Suicide in Eurovision..... Meanwhile the Lithuanian selection process continues until March..... Vaidas Baumila - Worlds Apart / Dying Monika Linkytė - It's All About A Boy / Breakaway Vilija Matačiūnaitė - You Found Me / Attention Martynas Kavaliauskas - New Beginning / It's not too late Mia - Let's Share That Love Tonight (Map) / Take a look at me now Ieva Zasimauskaitė - Blowing Out Cobwebs / One *Justinas Lapatinskas - Is This The Way (You Want Me) / Last date *VIG Roses - Silent Tears / In the rain

The selection process Eurovizijos in Lithuania has been going on for weeks with eliminations and now we have the final eight left, when Kristina Radžiukynaitė was eliminated last Saturday following Aistė Pilvelytė the week before. These eight now have 16 songs to sing, listen here . There are some good demos, but hard to tell how they will sound like after the final production and the result of this mix & match operation?! Matching the songs can be a nightmare, what if no one wants to sing a certain song and say, five singers all want another? Good luck LRT! The singers are Martynas Kavaliauskas , Mia , Monika Linkytė , Vilija Matačiūnaitė , Vaidas Baumila , Ieva Zasimauskaitė, VIG Roses and Justinas Lapatinskas . So we have four ladies, one lady duo and three guys who are not afraid to show some skin.... Kinda refreshing after all these half naked ladies we always see in national selections here and there ;-p  (From left Justinas, Vaidas, Martynas)