The fourth of five semi finals for Lithuania's selection saw nine songs compete for two spots for the final on 1 February 2025. Televoting and a five-person jury (including Lithuania's 2022 representative Monika Liu) decided which two lucky acts would advance to the final.
SONG 1: WALKING WITH MY SHADOW - SIGA
Opening this heat is Siga, who competed in Eurovizija.LT 2024 as part of folk rock band Žalvarinis (which finished seventh). The song has an old-time radio jazz feel with some parts sounding with an almost Latin flavor inspired by the Sex & the City theme song. Siga is on stage with a dancer in a bowler hat, comes off a flirty and saucy-- almost an exact carbon copy of the music video. Graphics include Siga being silhouetted by the moon.
SONG 2: YOU'RE THE ONE - USTIN
Up next is Ustin with a sad piano ballad about a recent breakup. Dressed in a white tank and white pants and paired with a female modern dancer, the stage performance reminds me of Estonia's 2014 entry "Stay" with Tanja, but with a song similar to Markus Riva's 2015 Supernova contribution "Take Me Down." Ustin conveys his regret and heartbreak well through falsetto notes and the harsh jagged dance movements. Ustin and the dancer embrace in the end in front of a screen full of rain.
SONG 3: <3 NEPARODAI - GODO YORKE
Next up with some light dance pop is Godo Yorke. Dressed in a neutral jumpsuit and black boots upon a teal stage (clouds, water, outerspace). The song has a lot of vocal gymnastics, and she is on stage alone doing a lot of hip bumps and finishes the song with a blow kiss.
SONG 4: KO MAN NESAKEI? - JOSEPH JUNE
Dressed in a red (faux?) leather jacket and pants, Joseph June brings us a song that has plenty of electro synths and deep beats. Four female dancers in black crop jackets and red pants join him on stage. Song has not one but two, switches from red to blue lighting with strobe lights, similar to "Luktelk." Visually, very similar to last year yet although there are lots of synths, the song doesn't feel like a dance song, the song comes off as an interesting mix of genres.
SONG 5: FREEDOM - AMORALU
The song opens up in a dramatic fashion-- low fog, red lighting, black dress with train. Amoralu mainly stays stationary throughout the song with a serious tone, but the camera switches between close-up shots. Lots of big belting notes during this one-- sounds like it could be part of the score in the climax of a mysterious film.
SONG 6: TAVO AKYS - KATARSIS
From one dramatic song, to the next, this one in the rock variety. Drums and guitar galore, the band comes brings us something that reminds me of Muse with the long notes. Starting out the performance in front of a empty farm field (complete with a dilapidated barn!), the screen graphics finish with flying boulders. The dark performance comes off strong with lots of emotion.
SONG 7: AR MYLETUM - LIEPA
2000s Eurodance club song next. With orange lighting that makes Liepa and her dancers look almost like gold statues. Visually reminds me of Loreen's Tattoo - orange/desert-like hues, smoke, almost like there's a connection to nature. Another song that would be considered on the dark/serious side.
SONG 8: BURY ME - MARIO JUNES
Mario Junes, who competed in Eurovizija.LT 2023 and finished ninth in the final, returns to the competition with a song about heartbreak. With a lot of backlit silhouette shots, Mario gives his all and shows the emotion of the song going from screaming parts to whispery falsettos.
SONG 9: ZUI ZU BI - THE DITTIES
Closing the show is a jazz trio. Describing their style as "electro swing" (as Alex from Electro Velvet would say, "oh yes!"), the ladies are dressed in matching red poodle skirts with heart shaped sunglasses. Lots of snapping and harmonies end the show on a fun note with the retro-inspired song.
RESULTS
Sweeping the jury and televote, rock band Katarsis advanced to the final along with Amoralu. Two dramatic songs with visual and vocal power, definitely great additions to the final.
JURY VOTE
1ST: Katarsis
2ND: Amoralu
3RD: The Ditties
4TH: Liepa
5TH: Mario Junes
6TH: Ustin
7TH: Godo Yorke
8TH: Joseph June
9TH: Siga
TELEVOTE
1ST: Katarsis
2ND: Liepa
3RD: The Ditties
4TH: Amoralu
5TH: Joseph June
6TH: Ustin
7TH: Mario Junes
8TH:Siga
9TH: Godo Yorke