After two heats and two semi-finals, Lithuania's national final 'Pabandom iš naujo!' will wrap up this weekend and we will find out who will be representing Lithuania at Eurovision 2023.
Ahead of the Final this weekend, 13 members of the Aussievision team have ranked the 10 'Pabandom iš naujo!' finalists, using a scoring system of 12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 points.
Here are the results from lowest to highest including comments from the team:
10. Il Senso – 'Sparnai' (38 points)
Highs: 12 points from Justin
Lows: 1 point from Cooper, Fleur, Craig, Mike, Hugo
"Bonus points for it being non-English, but if they can fill the arena with their vocals it’d be a great entry! I feel like we haven’t had something this theatrical since Georgia’s Waterfall in 2013." ~ Justin
9. Gabrielius Vagelis – 'Šauksmas' (56 points)
Highs: 7 points from Steven and Dale
Lows: 1 point from Hayley; 2 points from Fleur and Justin
8. Moon Bee – 'Rumor' (61 points)
Highs: 10 points from Fleur
Lows: 1 point from Kyriakos and Dale; 2 points from Mike and Craig
"This is not overly polished but I quite like it. It is one of the better songs and has a good hook. It is also rather catchy. I do not think it will win but I am hoping Moon Bee will return." ~ Fleur
7. Mario Junes – 'Do What You Do' (64 points)
Highs: 12 points from Dale
Lows: 1 point from Mark; 2 points from Hayley, Kyriakos and Emma
"This had me on first listen and Mario's vocal is fantastic the live performance. The song itself sounds very "Eastern pop" with those bombastic dark beats and has a really nice structure. Building verses to a big chorus and a nice bridge and big vocal finish. Do simple well and it can work!" ~ Dale
6. Monika Linkytė – 'Stay' (66 points)
Highs: 12 points from Hugo
Lows: 1 point Justin
"This is a beautiful song, right up my alley and just has something special about it. I usually am not the biggest fan of gospel type songs, but this works. I love the Lithuanian language and harmonies at the end as well. Not convinced this would do smashingly at Eurovision, but a lovely song nonetheless." ~ Hugo
5. Justė Kraujelytė – 'Need More Fun' (72 points)
Highs: 10 points from Cooper, Mark, Justin
Lows: 1 point from Steven; 2 points from Zhi and Hugo
"The staging is definitely something different, it's strange but it also drew me in from the first performance. The track is memorable and has potential to do something if it advances to the Liverpool." ~ Cooper
"Ok, am I right in saying we don’t see the vocalist for the first minute of the performance? If so, that’s crazy and must be fixed. And if it’s fixed, I think it can win. Catchy, dark, camp, femme - like if Konstrakta was reincarnated as the girls from Hurricane and released a covers album of Aminata tracks. I don’t agree that our Contest 'Needs More Fun', but this ditty is worth more than the cynical song title." ~ Mark
"This is so dang catchy, and the styling is really cool. I feel like this would sail through to the Finals and possibly sneak into the top ten with the televotes…" ~Justin
4. Petunija - 'Love Of My Life' (81 points)
Highs: 12 points from Zhi, 10 points from Hayley
Lows: 1 point from Emma, 2 points from Cooper
"Such a beautiful and delicate song - very stripped back, but oh boy..., just one off note could send the whole thing tumbling down. A risky song to sing yes, but it could have a great reward! Also - I think that staging is perfect for the song on the small stage, but may be too dark for TV if it makes it to Liverpool." ~ Hayley
"Sometimes simplicity is the best, and this is absolutely demonstrated by ‘Love Of My Life’ – a song whose only instrument is a piano. This along with heart-breaking lyrics, intimate staging, as well as Petunija’s unique vocal timbre and emotional performance, combine to create an exquisite and haunting act. This is truly a stunning gem and I really hope the Lithuanian public in particular get more onboard with this in the final.' ~ Zhi
3. Beatrich – 'Like a Movie' (100 points)
Highs: 12 points from Steven, Mark, Mike, 10 points from Zhi
Lows: 3 points from Justin
"This pop-punk-rock number is pretty catchy and delivered well (with great diction, lacking elsewhere in PiN23) by a vocalist with some attitude and personality. It does tend towards the repetitive, but it’s got something generally appealing about it." ~ Steven
"I’m into the whole Kristen-Stewart-does-Harry-Styles-drag of it all. It’s got the 90s alt rock vibes of REDDI’s The Show, which I enjoyed (unlike most of Europe), but more contemporary and less costumey, with a more compelling performer. No reason this hook won’t stay with audiences either." ~ Mark
"Reminds me a lot of the fantastic female pop-rock that would often play on the radio in the 2000s. Beatrich has great energy and feel on stage. Would be nice to see this kind of girl power on the stage in Liverpool." ~ Zhi
"Like a Movie has a catchy and energetic vibe from start to finish! There’s a retro feel to it without feeling dated and the live performances so far have been on point. This song sticks with me and I find myself singing it to myself all the time. It’s not usually the type of music I go for, but I find myself gravitating to this." ~ Mike
2. Paulina Paukštaitytė – 'Let Me Think About Me' (105 points)
Highs: 12 points from Cooper, Hayley, Kyriakos, Emma, 10 points from Craig
Lows: 4 points from Justin
"Ugh! The strings, the build, the melody, this song instantly stood out as a front runner for me. I thoroughly enjoyed this performance and hope for a miracle that it pulls ahead and takes out the win." ~ Cooper
"What a bop! The studio track didn't stand out for me on first listen but the live performance really brought it home and now its been stuck in my head for days. The song is great and not repetitive and has multiple elements throughout. She is also a pretty good vocalist. It has huge potential and I think by throwing some backup dancers in the mix, it would take the whole package to the next level!" ~ Hayley
"We're at the point in this national final season where a well-executed pop bop with some impressive vocal flourishes would be a breath of fresh air in the Eurovision line-up. Paulina sings the hell out of this, and the staging has enough flourishes to stick in the memory. It's not reinventing the wheel, but it doesn't have to - this is a top quality song and performance." ~ Craig
"LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!!! YES!! It is pop music that is right up my alley. Great execution by Paulina, a great catchy chorus. I want to see this on the Liverpool stage." ~ Kyriakos
"Paulina has the 'it' factor - she looks and sounds great and has a radio friendly song that allows her to show off her vocal ability. Give her some dancers if she wins the ticket to Liverpool and she should have a great chance of qualifying for the Grand Final." ~ Emma
1. Rūta Mur – 'So Low' (112 points)
Highs: 12 points from Fleur, Craig; 10 points from Steven, Kyriakos, Dale, Emma, Mike
Lows: 1 point Zhi
"This has so much potential: a unique vocal tone, a good vocalist, gimmicks and props galore (phone box, roller skates, rainbow-coloured wings, cowboy hat, “SO LOW” reveal and reference to Rūta’s voice). It just needs dialling up 25% and then I’d be in 80s heaven." ~ Steven
"This is one of my favourite National Finals songs for this year. I love the electronic beats. It is very 1980s but sounds fresh not dated. I also love Rūta’s voice, it is very reminiscent of Alison Moyer. It is a bit repetitive but there is enough going on in the song, so it does not bother me too much. Great overall performance on stage too" ~ Fleur
"I really enjoy this song, and particularly Ruta's distinctive androgynous vocal, but it's the staging that gives "So Low" the edge on its competition. The opening shot - a lady in a white cowboy hat standing melancholically in a phone box - is quietly one of the most striking and haunting images of the national final season so far. Why is she there? What does she want? I don't have answers to these questions, but they really make the performance stick with you even after only seeing it once. Great stuff!" ~ Craig
"I would be happy to see Rūta at Liverpool. This song is so quirky and she is a performer!! I love the whole 80's feel!" ~ Kyriakos
"Since my 12 points has little chance of winning, this is one of the songs I want to see take the crown. We've had a lot of bubblegum or power 80s pop the last few years but the synthy mournful (but catchy) dark pop that came out of the decade is really captured here. Rūta's vocal is so captivating and I love the simple but effective staging." ~ Dale
"So Low' grabbed my attention straight away - that familiar 80's sound and androgynous voice synonymous with singers like Alison Moyet. It does sound a lot like Bronski Beat's 'Smalltown Boy' in parts but there is enough freshness about it to keep me interested for the whole three minutes. A really great package which should stand out enough to do well if it make it to the Eurovision stage." ~ Emma
"The most impactful and memorable of the lineup I think. Not as enamoured overall as some others, but I think this probably has the best chance to do well at Eurovision." ~ Hugo
"I love the pure early-80’s electro vibe of this. Ruta’s vocals have been strong and compelling with each performance and I expect that to continue. I even enjoy the slightly odd staging that leans into the whole 80’s theme." ~ Mike
You can watch the final of 'Pabandom iš naujo!' live on the LRT website here.
It will take place this weekend:
European time - 8:00 pm (CET) on Saturday 18th February
Australian time - 5:00 am (AEST) and 6:00 am (AEDT) on Sunday 19th February
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