The Lithuanian National Selection (Pabandom iš Naujo! 2021 - Let's Try Again) will begin tonight at 7pm WIM, and should be available to watch here. Note this is a pre-recorded show.

This year's selection is remarkably shorter than in previous years, comprising ony two Heats, one Semifinal, and one Final, airing on consecutive Saturdays. There are 21 acts, but only 20 will compete over the two heats (10 in each), as The Roop, last year's artist, has been given a direct-to-final pass.

There are a a few other returning artists among the 21, including 2014 ESC entrant Vilija Matačiūnaitė (now performing as part of Sunday Afternoon), as well as Donata Virbilaitė, Twosome, Aldegunda, and Gabrielius Vagelis, who attempted multiple times in the past.

The first ten acts competing in Heat One tonight are as follows (running order, links to the live performances):
1. Black Spikes & Indrė Launikonytė – Don’t Tell Me
2. Thomukas 1 – Wish
3. Be U – Love Yourself (Q)
4. Titas & Benas – No (Q)
5. Martyna Jezepčikaitė – Thank You Very Much (Q)
6. Donata Virbilaitė – The Way I Am
7. Twosome – I Love My Bear
8. Milita Daikerytė – Shadows (Q)
9. Aldegunda – Sit Down
10. Voldemars Petersons – Never Fall for You Again (Q)

Five of the above will qualify for the Semifinal, as chosen by a 50/50 jury vote and televote.

I haven't heard any of them yet, so no idea what to expect - except to say that I am looking forward to Twosome's effort, I liked both the other songs they tried with in previous years.

Aldegunda didn't qualify. Bad Norway

no shock they dumped the non english song it will be some boring english dirge winning as usual

My apologies that I have slacked on this thread over the past couple of weeks, due to some personal circumstances.

FWIW, I have updated the links in the post about the First Heat with the actual live performances, and added a (Q) next to each song that qualified for the Semifinal.

I am reprising below the ten competitors in the Second Heat, which took place last Saturday (23 January), similarly with a (Q) for the qualifiers. They are in running order, with links to the live performances:

1. UnoBand – Eisiu
2. Cosmic Bride – Solitary Star
3. Rapolas – Degam
4. Sunday Afternoon – Open
5. Aistė Brokenleg – Home (Q)
6. Norbertas – Man In Need (Q)
7. Gabrielė Goštautaitė – Freedom
8. Gebrasy – Where'd You Wanna Go? (Q)
9. Evita Cololo – Be Paslapčių (Q)
10. Gabrielius Vagelis – My Guy (Q)

A post on last night's Semifinal will immediately follow after this one.

The Semifinal of Lithuania's National Selection took place last night, 30 January. Ten acts qualified for this stage, five from each of the two Heats (see above).

Below the ten competing acts, in running order, with links to the live Semifinal performance. A (Q) marks the five qualifiers for the Final, to be joined by the automatic pre-qualifier The Roop, last year's entrant for Lithuania.

1. Be U – Love Yourself
2. Aistė Brokenleg – Home
3. Gabrielius Vagelis – My Guy
4. Martyna Jezepčikaitė – Thank You Very Much (Q)
5. Norbertas – Man In Need
6. Evita Cololo – Be Paslapčių (Q)
7. Titas & Benas – No (Q)
8. Voldemars Petersons – Never Fall for You Again (Q)
9. Milita Daikerytė – Shadows
10. Gebrasy – Where'd You Wanna Go? (Q)

As mentioned, The Roop, selected to represent Lithuania in last year's cancelled contest, were given a free pass to the Final of the Lithuanian selection this year.

Here is the song, entitled Discoteque (sic):


The song is pretty similar to last year's effort, in what concerns both musical style and stage moves. While I am really not a fan of the genre, I find this better, with more lyrical content, and less repetitive than On Fire. I also think that it is the act that stands out the most in the entire selection. There are a few others I enjoy (Titas & Benas, Gebrasy), but they are considerably less impactful than this one.

The Lithuanian National Selection (Pabandom iš Naujo! 2021 - Let's Try Again) held its final yesterday, 6 February.

Following two heats and one semifinal, the competing acts were as follows (in running order):
1. Titas & Benas – No
2. Martyna Jezepčikaitė – Thank You Very Much
3. Gebrasy – Where'd You Wanna Go?
4. Voldemars Petersons – Never Fall For You Again
5. Evita Cololo – Be Paslapčių
6. The Roop – Discoteque [pre-qualified]

As it will surprise nobody, favourites and last year's entrants The Roop easily walked it, winning both the jury vote and the televote (followed in both by Gebrasy, runner-up in each).

Here is the winners' performance from the National Final: