The Lithuanian National Final ‘Pabandom iš Naujo!’ 2021 kicks off this weekend with Heat 1 airing on Sunday morning January 17 (Australian time).
The heat was recorded on Tuesday in Vilnius under Covid-safe conditions.
The 2021 national selection process will take place over four shows, consisting of two heats, a semi-final and a final. The winner will be decided by a 50/50 split public and jury vote.
The Jury for Heat 1 will consist of Aistė Smilgevičiūtė, Jievaras Jasinskis, Ramūnas Zilnys, Ieva Narkutė and Vytautas Bikus.
So far only five songs from Heat 1 have been released before the show.
Ahead of the first show this weekend, here's a list of the participants, the songs (if released), and their past experience in the contest (listed in the running order for the show).
1. Black Spikes & Indrė Launikonytė - ‘Don't Tell Me’
This will be the first appearance for Black Spikes & Indrė Launikonytė. Indrė has taken part in The Voice Lithuania.
2. Thomukas - ‘Wish’
Thomukas is also competing for the first time this year. He took part in X-Factor Lithuania in 2015.
3. Be U - ‘Love Yourself’
Be U are relative new comers to the Lithuanian music scene. This will be their first attempt at the national final.
4. Voldemars Petersons - ‘Never Fall For You Again’
Voldemars Petersons returns this year, after being eliminated in Heat 2 in 2020, with his song ‘Wings of Freedom’. In 2019 he was eliminated in Heat 3 with ‘Dancing With the Stars’.
5. Martyna Jezepčikaitė - ‘F**k You Very Much’
This will be Martyna's first appearance in the national final. She came second in X-Factor Lithuania in 2019.
6. Donata Virbilaitė - ‘The Way I Am’
Donata has participated in 2012, being eliminated in Heat 4 with ‘Superman’. She also took part in 2020, being eliminated in Heat 1 with ‘Made of Wax’.
7. Twosome ‘I Love My Bear’
This will be Twosome’s fourth year in a row. In 2018 they made it into the second Semi-Final with ‘Hello’. In 2019 they also made it as far as the second Semi-Final with ‘1000’. In 2020 they were eliminated in Heat 2 with ‘Playa’.
8. Milita Daikerytė - ‘Shadows'
Milita got through to the Super Final in the 2011 Lithuanian selection process for Junior Eurovision, but just missed out. She was also set to compete in the national final for the main contest in 2015, but withdrew due to illness.
9. Aldegunda ‘Sit down’
Aldegunda took part in 2019 with the song ‘I Want Your Love’. She was eliminated in the Semi-Final, where she came 8th.
10. Titas & Benas - ‘No’
This will be their first time in the national final. They competed in X-Factor Lithuania in 2019.
Five of these acts, together with the top five from Heat 2 next week will progress through to the Semi-Final on January 30.
You can watch 'Pabandom iš Naujo!' Heat 1 here.
This Sunday:
6:00am Sydney / Melbourne / Hobart
5:30am Adelaide
5:00am Brisbane
4:30am Darwin
3:00am Perth