LRT, the Lithuanian national broadcaster, has revealed the titles of the songs that will take part in Pabandom iš naujo! 2023.
The 30 competing entries are:
- Agnė – “New Start”
- Aistė Pilvelytė – “We’re Not Running”
- Alen Chicco – “Do You”
- Antikvariniai Kašpirovskio dantys – “Sėdi ir važiuoji” (Sit down and drive)
- Baiba – “When the Lights Go Out”
- Beatrich – “Like a Movie”
- Donata – “Dreamer”
- Gabrielius Vagelis – “Šauksmas” (Shout)
- Gebrasy – “Saw Your Ghost”
- Il Senso – “Sparnai” (Wings)
- I. T. – “Žinau, tai tu” (I know it’s you)
- Joseph June – “Vacuum”
- Justa Rubežiūtė – “When I’ll Find”
- Justė Kraujelytė – “Need More Fun”
- Justin 3 feat. Dj AugustYno – “Not Giving Up”
- Lina Štalytė – “My Body”
- Luknė – “Paradise”
- Mario Junes – “Do What You Do”
- Matt Len – “Midnight Train”
- Melona – “Song Of Whispers”
- Monika Linkytė – “Stay”
- MoonBee – “Rumor”
- Multiks – “London”
- NOY – “Destiny’s Child”
- Paulina Paukštaitytė – “Let Me Think About Me”
- Petunija – “Love of my life”
- Rūta MUR – “So Low”
- Viktorija Faith – “If You Ever Miss Me”
- Voldemaras Petersonas – “Things”
- W.I – “You Can Not”
The artists will now release their entries at the time of their choosing. Monika Linkytė previously represented Lithuania alongside Vaidas Baumila at Eurovision 2015.
The participants were selected over two stages. In the first stage submissions were checked they met the rules. In the second stage, the songs were evaluated by the selection committee.
For the second year in a row, LRT will give financial support to all the competing artists. The financial contribution to everyone cannot be used as royalties for the authors of the song. The money must be used for the production of the song and the stage presentation.
Gytis Oganauskas, Deputy General Director of LRT, shared his thoughts on the selection:
“Monika Liu, who sang in Lithuanian at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, and Kalush Orchestra, who won the contest, showed that a song performed in one’s native language is not an obstacle to winning the hearts of viewers all over Europe. In the 2023 selection, we will hear works performed in both Lithuanian and English languages, from both experienced performers and new artists.
I think that this year’s list of participants is very promising. It will be possible to create meaningful entertainment for winter evenings, and to send a representative of Lithuania to the great Eurovision, which we will be proud of again”.
Pabandom iš naujo! 2023 will consist of five shows; two heats, two semi-finals and a final. The complete calendar for the selection is as follows:
- Heat 1 – January 21
- Heat 2 – January 28
- Semi-Final 1 – February 4
- Semi-Final 2 – February 11
- Final – February 18
Monika Liu finished in fourteenth place in the Final of Eurovision 2022 with her song “Sentimentai” scoring a total of 128 points. This included 10 points from the televote of Latvia, Norway and Ukraine, while the Slovenian jury also awarded 10 points.
Image source: EBU / Nathan Reinds | Source: LRT / Eurovoix