Next up is Lithuania’s Monika Linkytė to rehearse. She is bringing her soaring pop ballad Stay to the Eurovision stage. Eurovision.tv reminds us not to be mistaken for Monika Liu, who represented Lithuania last year.  This isn’t Monika’s first time at Eurovision – she was part of a duo with Vaidas Baumila in 2015, performing their song This Time. Remember the one with all the kissing in the middle? How could we forget? That wasn’t Monika’s time, but maybe…this time.

Eurovision.tv reports that this is such a captivating ballad, and if the vocal harmonies between Monika and her four backing singers weren’t enough, the pulsing drumbeat pounds through the arena floor, so you can’t help but feel part of it. The lyrics of Stay are grounded in local folklore, with the lyrics ‘Čiūto Tūto’ often used in Lithuanian folk dances as a magical incantation. We’re fully expecting this to cast a spell on the Liverpool Arena next Thursday.

Like Eurovision.tv ESC Covers also love Monika’s gorgeous orange dress.

Stephan Herholdt designed the Lithuania promo CD single for ESC Covers and here is it.