Introduction

There has been the longest selection process this year in Lithuania to find the right candidate for the 59th Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen. At the end there was one song “Attention” which every participant had to perform. There were three finalists and Vilja Matačiūnaitė won the ticket to Denmark.

Vilja Matačiūnaitė was born in Vilnius in 1986. She is a Lithuanian pop musician. She also entered the national final 2005, where she came 7th. Vilja has appeared in several TV shows, also dance shows and is even hosting shows. The big hope for Vilja is to win the Eurovision Song Contest, the Lithuanian team would be happy if she will pass the semi final.

The song “Attention” is an unusual pop song with some striking elements like screaming and a special dance choreography. The way Vilja is dancing and singing will certainly receive attention, but it this the song the Europeans have been waiting for? The chorus is weird and only semi melodic. Lithuania will have difficulties to qualify for this year’s final.

History

Participations: 15

Debut: 1994

Biggest success: 1x 6th place 2006 “We Are The Winners” by LT United

For Lithuania it’s the 15th time in the Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen this year. The debut entry “Lopsine Mylimai” by Ovidijus Vysniauskas in 1994 came last with zero points – not a good start unfortunately. While the Baltic neighbour countries Estonia and Latvia had a better hand in successful Eurovision entries including two victories, Lithuania never shaped up that well beside of one exception with “We are the winners” by LT United in 2006, which came 6th in Athens. At least Lithuania has qualified six times for the grand final. The most outstanding songs were “Strazdas” by Aiste in 1999 (20th), “Love or leave” by 4Fun in 2007 (21st) and “Eastern European Funk” by InCulto in 2010. The Lithuanians songs were mostly sung in English, beside of two years in the beginning, so it was probably obvious for the Lithuanian broadcaster LRT to see that the songs will be sung in English to be understood at 100%.