Tag Archives: Lithuania

Milda Martinkėnaitė/Interview

Interview: Milda Martinkėnaitė (2016 Eurovizijos contestant in Lithuania)

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Milda Martinkėnaitė {copyright: Milda Martinkėnaitė/Facebook/Instagram}
Milda Martinkėnaitė {copyright: Milda Martinkėnaitė/Facebook/Instagram}

Milda Martinkėnaitė performed If Tomorrow Never Comes in the third qualification show of the 2016 Eurovizijos competition in Lithuania and qualified for the next phase. Here Mila talks to esccovers.com.

1. Hello Milda. Congratulations on making it to the Eurovizijos 2016 shows. How did it feel when you were selected to participate in this competition?

It took me a few years to finally dare to participate in this competition for ESC. I sent the questionnaire the applicants had to fill in and started waiting for an answer. I can’t describe the way I felt – although I’m a huge optimist, I tried to maintain a pessimistic opinion about me participating here, I didn’t want to expect too much. Therefore I was really excited when I received a phone call from the organisers – I asked a few times if they were sure that I’m selected to participate in the Lithuanian competition for ESC. I felt really happy and quite scared at the same time – so many things awaiting me!

2. Was there an audition process?

I sent a few links to Youtube videos of me singing, so I believe this could be counted as an audition.

3. What would it mean to you to represent Lithuania at the Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden?

Well, I have participated in many and many contests and ESC in Sweden would be the ultimate competition! It just feels too surreal to participate in the Eurovision. It would definitely mean a lot! It would be a great responsibility not only to make a show, but to represent the whole country!

4. Can you tell us about your song ‘If Tomorrow Never Comes’ and what it is about?

‘If Tomorrow Never Comes’ is a wonderful song! It was written by Hakan Glante and Joacim Dubbelman. The music is very cheerful and the melody is so catchy! This song can be interpreted differently. In my opinion, the song says that we don’t know what will happen tomorrow, and we don’t know what life would be if things were different, but we can enjoy the only thing we have – the moment, the present – leave your worries, let’s celebrate! I’m a dreamer, I love the lyrics.

5. Can you tell us about your background in music? Have you recorded any other songs?

Since primary school I was singing in various school choirs. I started taking professional vocal lessons at the age of 13 and at first it was jazz I was interested in. It did not take long for me to find out that I feel really great singing blues! Aaaaand I have a tiny rocker inside me, too.

At the moment I have a Janis Joplin project and it really helped me grow vocally and emotionally too. Sometimes I appear on stage with “the Bluesmakers” a well-known blues band.

I have a pop song written by Stano and Imantas Reed, called “Get This” (youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVCbuskGTV4 ) This is the first song that was written for me, there are a lot of emotions and moments related to this song, I love it so much and I’m very proud of it.

6. Who are your musical influences?

I used to listen to Aretha Franklin, Etta James, James Brown, Erykah Badu. Now I’m trying to listen to everything as much as possible – I really like Lady Gaga, she is an incredibly talented inspirational woman! I love Arctic Monkeys, The Black Keys, Jack Garratt. Here in Lithuania we have an amazing performer ba. (yes, “b” and “a” with a full stop). I like different styles, and the emotions they evoke.

7. Have you participated in any music festivals either in Lithuania or abroad? If so can you tell us something about them?

Once I participated in the blues festival “Bliuzo Naktys” here in Lithuania, it was my first time checking the official blues stage. I didn’t have a chance to participate in other festivals as a singer, but I’m a wonderful listener (and dancer!) when I go to the festivals with my friends! 

8. Do you watch the Eurovision Song Contest on tv, and do you have any favourite songs from over the years?

I watch the ESC on tv almost every year. I have two songs that I can remember now, and they were amazing: Aminata (Latvia) – ‘Love Injected’, ESC 2015
Mor ve Ötesi (Turkey) – ‘Deli’, ESC 2008. (and I actually voted for these guys, I can remember that!).

Anyway thank you Milda and good luck at Eurovizijos.

Source: www.esccovers.com

 

News round up - 28 January 2016

Eurovision 2016: News round up

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Eurovision Song Contest 2016 logo {copyright: EBU}
Eurovision Song Contest 2016 logo {copyright: EBU}

It has been a busy few days in the world of Eurovision. Starting with the theme for the 2016 contest which is Come Together. We have had songs selected in Malta and Belarus. Also, Hungary began their selection process and Lithuania continued with their qualification programmes.

Malta – The 2002 representative for Malta, Ira Losco, will once again represent her country at Eurovision. Ira won with Chameleon (Invincible). There was a semi-final of 20 songs and 14 songs took part in the final.

Belarus – Ivan will represent Belarus after winning the national selection with Help You Fly. Ivan beat off competition from nine other acts.

Hungary – The national selection of Hungary (A Dal) began and the first six acts to qualify for the next stage are Freddie, Benji, Mushu, Egy Másik Zenekar, Reni Tolvai (all by jury) and ByTheWay (televote).

Lithuania – 12 acts competed in the next phase and the following acts progressed Ieva Zasimauskaitė, Baiba, E.G.O. ,Berta Timinskaitė, Neringa Šiaudikytė, 4 Roses, Saulenė Chlevickaitė, Milda Martinkėnaitė, Ruslanas Kirilkinas, Aistė Pilvelytė

Ukraine: The national final will be on 21 February with two semi-finals preceding on 6 February and 13 February.

Poland: A national final has been confirmed for 5 March.

Source: www.eurovision.tv

Sweden Songs publisher 2016

Sweden Songs publishing company have 10 songs in 2016 Eurovision selections

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The music publisher, Sweden Songs, have an impressive 10 songs in contention in various national selections for the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest. At this time they have songs in the running in Lithuania, Moldova, Belarus and Austria.

LITHUANIA
4 Roses Butterfly (Calle Kindbom/Dan Fernström/Viktor Brunö) (split publishing with Yellow)
Baiba Skurstenė-Serdiukė Mayday (Daniel Persson/Magnus Mikaelsson)
Neringa Šiaudikytė  Never Knew Love (Tina A Hilli/Daniel Persson)
Ruslanas Kirilkinas In My World (Niklas Bergvist)  Lithuanian version lyrics
Aistė Pilvelytė  You Can’t Leave Me Now (Niklas Bergvist)
MOLDOVA
Beatrice Saved My Heart For You (Nicklas Säwström/Christian Löwenborg Wahlström)
Rafaella Hours Lost (Johan Wåhlander/Hannu Hemmilä/Hugo Lundgren)
Mihai Radu  I Walk Through Fire (Patrik Öhlund/Madelene Hamberg)
AUSTRIA (wildcard competition)
Celina Ann Life Is On Your Side (Niklas Bergqvist/Magnus Almgren/Celina Ann/ Valentin Oman)
BELARUS
Shir My Mind On You (Fredrik Hult/Bahman Ghanbari/Ina Forsberg) Artist  (split publishing with Firefly)
In 2015 Sweden Songs had 11 songs in various Eurovision national selection. They have also published songs for Eurovision acts such as Conchita Wurst (2 songs on her album), Ryan Dolan (ESC 2013 Ireland), Gianluca Bezzina (ESC 2013 Malta) and Farid Mammadov (ESC 2013 Azerbaijan) and many others.
Keith Almgren was a publisher  with Scandinavian Songs for Melodifestivalen winners Charlotte Nilsson (ESC 1999 Sweden winner) and Roger Pontare (ESC 2000 Sweden).
Source: www.esccovers.com
Paulina Skrabytė/Nuostabi Diena

Paulina Skrabytė releases ‘Nuostabi diena’

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Paulina Skrabytė {copyright: Paulina Skrabytė/Facebook}
Paulina Skrabytė {copyright: Paulina Skrabytė/Facebook}

Paulina Skrabytė sang Debesys for Lithuania at the 2011 Junior Eurovision Song Contest. She has been busy since that time building upon her singing and performing and studying.

Now Paulina returns with an electro pop song called Nuostabi Diena (Amazing day). Music and production is by Virus J and lyrics by Rūta Lukoševičiūtė. Paulina is considering making an English language version of the song too.

You can hear Nuostabi Diena below.

Source: www.esccovers.com

Neringa Šiaudikytė/Universong 2015

Neringa Šiaudikytė wins first prize at Universong 2015 in Tenerife

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Neringa Šiaudikytė {copyright: Guillermo Albelo/Universong 2015}
Neringa Šiaudikytė {copyright: Guillermo Albelo/Universong 2015}

Neringa Šiaudikytė was a popular  finalist at the 2015 Eurovizijos selection in Lithuania. She has also appeared in earlier editions of the Eurovizijos competion in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Now Neringa has won first prize at the 2015 Universong competition in Tenerife, Spain.

Neringa won the Tabaiba de Oro trophy for her interpretation of Listen by Beyonce. She has also been very busy since the Eurovision selection recording and performing in a project called Back To 90s as well as singing with her own band.

You can see an example of Neringa’s talent in the video below where she performs her version of the Cher song Believe.

Source: Neringa Šiaudikytė/Facebook; www.esccovers.com

Uncategorized

RATING OF THE PRESS P R FOR EACH COUNTRY – PART 3

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LITHUANIA

In the last few years, they have become one of the worst countries to deal with. This year was no different and in fact I did not lay eyes on any P R people from Lithuania. It was especially difficult for me since their song is my top favourite for 2015. Bea records said she got some CD singles, so hopefully I can order one from there.
0 out of 10

IRELAND
Like Lithuania, it seems they simple have no promo material in the last years. Nobody seems to have even set eyes on anything, so probably there will be nothing, not even a postcard with the singer’s face on. Pity the song composed by the Swedish team did not win in the Irish selection because then we would have had something.
0 out of 10

SAN MARINO
With Ralph Siegel’s company behind the entry, like the previous 3 years with Valentina, it is the easiest entry for 2015 to get. This is how P R should be done and such a pity it seldom reflects in success, as often the journalists do not report on this kind of thing.
10 out of 10

MONTENEGRO
The P R of this country has really become good in the last years and they have one of the best heads of delegation. Both 2014 and 2015 their P R was of the best. There was also a full CD of Knez for those collectors who prefer full CD’s to singles.
10 out of 10

MALTA
Malta is another country who always rate high and Daniel, the head of press makes sure to interact with the various website reporters.
10 out of 10

NORWAY
It is quite difficult for me to really rate the Norwegian P R team because of my close relationship with Morten, president of OGAE Norway, I never have a problem with their promo material, but this year, having written to all 40 heads of press over the handing of the gift bags to the artists, Norway was first to respond.
10 out of 10

PORTUGAL
In the middle 2000’s one of the most difficult delegations to deal with but that have really improved and now are among the best.
9.5 out of 10

CZECH REPUBLIC
Having been absent from the contest for some years, I perceived this as one of the most difficult to get the promo CD, but surprisingly, it as fairly easy.
9 out of 10

2015 Eurovision Song Contest

Monika & Vaidas record Lithuanian version of their Eurovision entry

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Monika Linkytė & Vaidas Baumila {copyright: 15mins.lt}
Monika Linkytė & Vaidas Baumila {copyright: 15mins.lt}

Monika Linkytė and Vaidas Baumila will represent Lithuania at the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest with their song This Time and they will perform as the opening act of semi-final 2.

Now Monika and Vaidas have recorded the Lithuanian version of their song and it is entitled Dabar. You can here this version below.

2015 Eurovision Song Contest

Monika & Vaidas launch ‘This Time’ video

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Monika & Vaidas {copyright: C.P. 2015 Associacion “Metų muzikos apdovanojimai” (M.A.M.A)}
Monika & Vaidas {copyright: C.P. 2015 Associacion “Metų muzikos apdovanojimai” (M.A.M.A)}

Monika Linkytė & Vaidas Baumila will represent Lithuania at the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna with their upbeat song, This Time.

The duo have just released a new video for This Time which includes lots of kissing from invited guests from all genders. The video showcases the happiness and love the song portrays.

You can see the video for This Time below.

Source: LRT; www.esccovers.com