On January 23 the second heat of the Lithuanian national final was televised. It followed the same format as heat one, but in a strange decision, the jury of experts’ changed, with two different jurors than in heat one. Odd, but ok Lets get into the songs though, shall we..
1. UNOBAND- Eisiu
Ron- A Lithuanian country act to kick off proceedings. A good-looking bunch, shame it sounds like the whole song is mumbled 4/10
Luc- mumbling quiet jockey croaks out something unintelligible 3/10
2. COSMIC BRIDE- Solitary Star
Ron- Oh dear. What a mess, and that’s just her outfit. Don’t even start me on the cringeworthy vocals, please make It stop 1/10
Luc- BALLS! Stoned fairy quacks whatever words come to her… no melody or tune 1/10
3. RAPOLAS- Degram
Ron- A sigh starts the song, how apt, to follow on with a green pinstriped suit. Add a touch of jazz and some seen it all before dancing. yeah that’s it 3/10
Luc- Fresh faced bloke with a pointy nose gives us a lazy disco, bossa nova mix, it’s ok, if not exciting 4/10
4. SUNDAY AFTERNOON- Open
Ron- Interesting choreography…. When that’s the only focus of a whole song, in a song contest, you know you are in trouble 3/10
Luc- She has a whale spout hairdo. She does what she can but it’s not much 4/10
5. AISTE BROKENLEG- Home
Ron- Ok, I think I need to be on whatever these artists are on tonight. Truly odd warbling mini organ thingy playing hipsterette. 3/10
Luc- Hipster bob hair humming… and in typical hipster meaninglessness, bleats and bops to no melody... or interest… or talent 2/10
6. NORBERTAS- Man In Need
Young lad has found a typical radio friendly bop. Sadly, he has zero presence or vocal talent, Jeepers Creepers, tonight is awful 3/10
Luc- Oh come on! 12-year old with drunk uncle dance moves, forced vocals that could have been by a goat 2/10
7. GABRIELE GOSTAUTAITE- Freedom.
Ron- It really is amateur night. There is nothing remotely exciting about this, next! 2/10
Luc- Severe eyebrows with a cool, cruisy beat and melody undone by poor live vocals and a gross lack of presence 3/10
8. GEBRASY- Where’d Ya Wanna Go?
Ron- Ok, this one catches my intertest straight away! Look, it’s not fabulous, but put beside what we’ve watched so far today, this is pure art! Well written tune, vocals need a tweak. 6/10
Luc- Oh that unbrushed look… this managed to hold interest in its despondency, and the lad believes it. 6/10
9. EVITA COLOLO- Be paslapciu
Ron- Ooh sweetheart likes herself some snakeskin! A late-night lounge number… it’s not bad I guess 5/10
Luc- Not a fan of the faux snake skin jacket. Nice jazz vocals, but the song holds little attention 4/10
10. GABRIELIUS VAGELIS- My Guy
Ron- Oh Gabs, take the hat off!! This could actually be a commanding performance but he holds no camera connection. Song could be the strongest of the show. 6/10
Luc- Why is he hiding under a tartan hat? We can see he is a ginger from the facial hair. The song is nice enough, but there’s a disconnect from audience 5/10
That’s the ten songs from tonight’s show! Honestly, I kinda hoped they’d just send them , all home to think about what they had done. But No. We did get a treat though. We got to see the Roops performance of their entry which is straight through to the grand finale.
THE ROOP- Discoteque
Ron- Are we even watching the same selection? This has everything, including EYEBROW CHOREY! Amazing, crazy fun!!! If this doesn’t win I’ll eat my hat! Its almost unfair to the others! 9/10
Luc- Winner!!! Campy fun, interesting composition, striking performance, and nonstop captivating visuals. And, Another dance to learn 9/10
The songs to forward through to next weeks semi final are, Gebrasy, Gabrielus Vagelis, Evita Cololo, Norbertas and Aiste Brokenleg, Which I guess is the best that they could have expected from this lot.
Next week we get to revisit the ten songs that have qualified to the (rather unnecessary) semi-final, before whittling those ten to five, of which will join The Roop in the grand final.