Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

  Here it is! The incorruptible, infallible and most reliable Blogilkar's Home Jury made of people in their teens, 20's, 30's, 40's and 50's, mainly Finnish and mainly those who turn into Eurovision only on that one Saturday night, enjoy the show and that's it. Most everyone heard the songs for the first time so this was a true first impression judgement. And thus they had no idea about the fan polls, betting odds and trivial information and expectations. And boy did they turn those pools and odds around mostly, sinking some major favorites and enjoying some real underdogs. I will countdown the full ranking day by day until we have our winner out just before Liverpool is in full swing. This year I publish very few comments or opinions. Just the average score (we voted 1 to 10). In short this year is considered a bit poor by the jurors compared to for example last year and it may show in the somewhat low scores. Anyways: Enjoy! 28. LITHUANIA - Monika Linkytè - St...

We have another returnee besides Marco Mengoni (Italy) in Liverpool's Eurovision song contest. Monika Linkyte won Pabandom iš naujo! 2023 with Stay. She placed 18th in 2015 with Vaidas Baumila, and has tried to come back several times since.  Monika is 30 years old and has released one studio album so far in 2015. That earned her local Grammys as best album, best song and best female artist. She has released about 20 singles/EPs. Results (jury + televote) 1. Monika Linkyte - Stay (12 + 10) 22 2. Rūta Mur - So low (10 + 12) 22 3. Beatrich - Like a movie (8 + 8) 16 4. Petunija - Love of my life (7 + 4) 11 5. Paulina Paukštaitytė - Let me think about me (6 + 5) 11 6. Gabrielius Vagelis - Šauksmas (4 + 6) 10 7. MoonBee - Rumor (1 + 7) 8 8. Justė Kraujelytė - Need more fun (5 + 1) 6 9. Mario Junes - Do what you do (3 + 2) 5 10. Il Senso - Sparnai (2 + 3) 5

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...

Vaidas Baumila has been busy releasing songs and videos since his trip to Vienna with Monika. They have all been kinda nice but now he offers us  Ant mašinos stogo and it's excellent. A hounting beat and melody that grows all the way with great simple arrangement along with the beautifully shot video until the shower climax. And on top of that it's in Lithuanian, one of the oldest still excisting language's in the world, and the great grandmother of all Indo-European languages. It has never sounded better.... Great job, Vaidas!

Lithuania is back with their joyful, somewhat silly celebration of love and that kiss. Apparently in rehearsal Monika was so taken by Vaidas' kiss she forgot to continue singing. Can you blame her? Anyways, minor changes in outfits, major changes in the backdrop that has been tuned down a little in its explosion of colors. Now they are also holding hands and there are more close ups it seems. For the "one kiss" moment the backing singers switch places forming all female and all male couples but instead of kissing high five each other - could they pull a Krista in the semi and actually kiss? Now that would be a stunt to use.... Do it! All in all very nice in every way and should sail to the final without major problems.

All the entries in the second semifinal have now been heard and seen on stage. The first technical rehearsals are over and even if there are still changes to be made for the second round of rehearsals they are minor ones so the act is pretty much what we have seen so far. If we check  Oddchecker  as it was before rehearsals (May 10) and this morning (May 15) there aren't any major changes. The biggest climber is Latvia going up six places to 13th. Lithuania and Cyprus go up 2-3 places in the mdtable but for the rest it's more or less the same. This semi includes both the number one, Sweden, and the bottom one, Portugal. Both keep their standings. Then the droppers. Many talked nicely about Poland, including me, but the betters aren't convinced as it drops four places to 28th. Two highly praised and popular entries Norway (dropping three to 9th place) and Israel (dropping three places to 20th) both are actually going down.... Let's see how things change after toda...

Lithuania will start the second semifinal and thus started the rehearsal this morning. The chemistry between the artists was clear already in the national final and they keep up with the good work in Vienna, too. They both look pretty and are saving their voices as both are recovering from a flu. It all comes across as joyfull and full of life, love and happiness. The love seems to be on air even with the four backing singers. And yes, the kiss is there, too. The backdrop is colorful and fits the song well. Good job. See you in the final for sure. 

Lithuania has finally has released a video for their entry This time sung by Monika Linkyté and Vaidas Baumila. And a very cute video it is! It features the main stars only in a studio singing their song but at the same time they asked people to listen their song and react to it in any way that felt right. All this was filmed, of course, and provides some very cute scenes.... there's surely love in the air! This will be a great opener for the second semifinal!

Last year they might have been 3rd and 4th in the national selection but this time they took a revenge and were selected as a duo to perform This time , the song that was elected already last week. In deed, it was the best performance of it, along with Vaidas solo. Now let's see if they keep the kiss! Mia was 2nd last year and was left home also this year..... 

Lithuania's marathon selection has given us the song already, This time and we have still three singers in the race: Vaidas Baumila, Mia and Monika Linkyte. Whose version do you prefer? This blogger thinks Vaidas beats the ladies easily. Especially Mia's effort on this song is lame. But there's also a duet with Vaidas and Monika.... even with a kiss! This time - Vaidaus Baumila This time - Monika Linkyte This time - Mia This time - Vaidas & Monika

Lithuania kicked out two singers tonight and we have only three left and they are all familiar to us already: Vaidas, Monika and Mia. They came 2nd, 3rd and 4th last year! One of them will represent Lithuania in Vienna 2015 Eurovision, but we don't know yet who. And most of all with which song....  Edgaras and Jurgis had to leave tonight after combined televotes and jury votes. The artists final is yet to come, as well as the song final but eventually they will get there! Vaidas Baumila (02-01-05-06-02-3 Monika Linkyte (09-05-01-05-03-1 Mia (05-04-07-01-01-2 04. Edgaras Lybus (04-03-02-03-04-4 eliminated) 05. Jurgis Bruzga (07-09-09-04-05-05 eliminated) 06. Liepa Mondeikaite (06-07-03-02-07 eliminated) 07. Neringa Siaudikyte (10-11-08-07-08 eliminated) 08.Tadas Juodsnukis (01-02-04-08-eliminated) 09. Milita Daikeryte (03-08-06- 00 withdraw)* 10. Reda Striskaite (08-06-10 eliminated) 11. Wilma La (12-10-11 eliminated) 12. Rollikai (11-eliminated) ...

Lithuanian television has announced the names who will take place in their national election. Once again there will be the rather weird way of selectiong artists and song separaely and then trying to find the match made in heaven, or at least in Eurovision to send to Vienna 2015. The list is filled with familiar names from previous selections and even last year's runner up Mia and third placed Vaidas Baumila are trying again as is 4th placed Monika Linkyté. Also several The Voice of Lithuania participants are in the list.... Eurovizijos Nacionalinė Atranka will start on January 3, 2015 and after weekly shows on February 14 we will have the winning song, and the week later the winning compination song + artist who will take it to Vienna...... Liepa Mondeikaité Neringa Šiaudikytė Edgaras Lubys (Amberlife) Vilija Pilibaityté (Mia) Vaidas Baumila Monika Linkyté Reda Striškaitė Milita Daikeryté Jurgis Bruzga Wilma La Tadas Juodsnukis Rollikai

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)