Lithuania LITHUANIA 2023 - Monika Linkytė - Stay

[ESC United Mod Team]

 

[lasse braun]

the chorus is very catchy.

hmmm
the mamas is (are!) very catchy.

 

[randajad]

Ulrikke lite / Michael Rice tribute act I’ll give it a five.

 

[ollibox]

Well, I thought I'd give my humble opinion about Pabandom iš naujo 2023 as well
Likers can like, haters can hate

About the Lithuanian songs, I actually didn't get a chance to listen to the pre-final entries, but I hope I didn't miss any pearls because of that. I might check them in the future. Busy times in my life and in ESC bubble as well
About the songs that reached the final, here is my conclusion:


10. Monika Linkytė - "Stay"
This starts really nice, like another good piano ballad. But then it gets weird, after the chorus kicks in. Strange song. Not bad, but strange. Not sure, maybe it would have been better to leave it as a piano ballad? The faster part really annoys me big time.
Bottom place for me, sorry.

9. MoonBee - "Rumor"
Nice song, no doubt. But still, not a winner in my book. Too soft somehow, drowns in the crowd in Liverpool. I might listen to it more in the future, but if we are talking about winning songs, that's not it.

8. Mario Junes - "Do What You Do"
Good song! I like it! But the singer is totally wrong for that song! I can't say he's weak, but it's just not right for him. If they'd give the song to someone else, that might even be a winner! Although, the studio version might be a playlist material for me, haven't heard that yet. At the moment, no big points from me (yet).

7. Petunija - "Love Of My Life"
Lithuanians, whatever you do, don't send her to Liverpool! Our Alika will eat her for breakfast! And her piano as well.
But seriously, that's a very nice and intimate ballad! Really something for the soul. And the singer performs it truly well. Hat's down! It might go to my Sad Songs playlist. NOT a winner, but I sincerely appreciate the music!

6. Il Senso - "Sparnai"
And what's the Eurovision national final without a generic ballad In this case, even a double duet ballad! I was waiting for it, actually. And it's very nice! Definitely a different approach to put four singers on stage. Can't think of any other entry doing it before
At first, I thought they were singing in Italian It was kinda soft to the ears, if you know what I mean. There will be strong supporters among the jury and the public, but in that kind of close competition, I don't see them winning...

5. Gabrielius Vagelis - "Šauksmas"
First of all - great to hear Lithuanian language in their national final! There's the double ballad as well, of course. But this song? Better - that's one thing. Second - it's REALLY GOOD! Maybe a bit dated, but it has a memorable melody and you can easily humm it afterwards (meaning, it has a good potential to get stuck in your head). But in Liverpool, it wouldn't have the best chances, I think. Nevertheless, TOP 5 in Pabandom iš naujo would not be a surprise.

4. Justė Kraujelytė - "Need More Fun''
WOW! Nice staging! Pretty solid banger. Samantha Tina Lithuanian (softer) version, I guess? The show is memorable, but unfortunately, not the song itself. Could still reach (near) TOP 3 I predict.

3. Paulina Paukštaitytė - "Let Me Think About Me"
Another WOW! First thought - she must be very young. Looks like it, anyway. Didn't google it though. That song might do very well, I think! At least I like it a lot! Definitely a playlist song!

2. Rūta Mur - "So Low"
I've seen the name before in different ESC communities. And they usually rated it the highest. So I'm a bit more enthusiastic about this one. AND - it doesn't disappoint me even a bit! The 80's vibe is the cream on my coffee, you know that!
A lot of Boy George elements came to my mind first. But this is even better! Maybe because I wasn't a fan of Boy George in ancient days and this is coming back to haunt me through Rūta now? I wouldn't mind at all if this wins! I'm afraid it would be a tough ask, public vote might not back that entry. For different reasons. Which would be sad.

1. Beatrich - "Like a Movie"
WOW again! That genre is EXACTLY my cup of tea! A bit like Denmark last year. Btw, still quite heartbroken they were stuck in the semi... Anyway, this song - already in my playlist and on repeat!
Do I think it's the winner? I HOPE it wins! The more diversity @ESC the better! Although, I'm afraid of the same fate in their semi as the Danish had... The good news is, our (Estonian) semi tends to be a bit weaker than the 1st semi, so....


My overall impression - quite strong competition this year, I have to say! Something for every taste! This time, the pre-heats and semifinals have done their job really well indeed!
I quite enjoyed listening to all the songs and found some favorites for me as well. Well done, Lietuva!

Cheers!

Oh no... Why, Lithuania?
Already second time this year, my rankings bottom place wins NF. What's wrong with me???
Anyway, a solid from me. Nothing special. Sorry.

 

[mauve]

Ahaahhahahahahaha well, like „Stay“, I also loved Amen by Ana Soklič and had her in my top 5!


…..


Damn I really am basic, am I not? … any spots available in national juries for ESC? I would be a Perfect fit.

For me it is quite the opposite - I liked "Amen", but "Stay" is just terrible in my ears.

 

[BorisBubbles]

I just don't understand what the jury was Thinking. So Low was a unique opportunity and they murdered it for the most Atranka entry to ever Atranka.

Stay's Fine. i like it. What a waste though, given that this could have been anyone else (other than Moon Bee or Il Senso)

points, but if it had been Ruta OR Beatrich OR Petunija it would have been a two digit number. What a shame.

 

[Flamenkax]

for me. It's nor good nor bad, more than competent but too safe for my taste : middle-of-the-road song, middle-of-the-road note.

On the other hand, just catched on Rūta Mur's album, Prime Time, man it's insanely good.

 

[empo21]

Gave it a it's just slightly better than a middle-of-the-road song, mostly because of the live performance.

With that being said, a very big missed opportunity not to send a more unique entry.

 

[dannytr24]

Why should you send Gabrielius or Ruta if you can send this masterpiece

 

[PollyWantsACracker]

Sorry Lithuania, but the moment I heard your entry, I recognized the original chords. In your entry they have been only sped up and played by a piano in higher key.

This is the original.

This song is recognizable to musicians as it is one of rare rock songs in which a guitar was played to imitate a piano. I would never make an adaptation of such song because it's too risky to take over a rare musical concept most musicians attribute to somebody's original achivement.

It would be unfair from me to rate your entry. I can at least accept as a good side that "the writers" had good taste in music.

 

[Ezio]

Lithunia is a 100% qualifier with all their diaspora votes. You know it!

 

[Serena00]

I didn't listen to other songs in the selection, I find "Stay" quite pleasant, Monika has a nice voice and stage presence, and I like the use of Lithuanian phrases. It's in my top 3 of SF2 at the moment (with Albania and Slovenia)

 

[MopManMoss]

Lithunia is a 100% qualifier with all their diaspora votes. You know it!

This is just not true though Ireland Norway and Latvia are all in Semi 1, they only really have UK for diaspora in their semi

 

[ollibox]

This is just not true though Ireland Norway and Latvia are all in Semi 1, they only really have UK for diaspora in their semi

You forgot Estonia AGAIN? And what about POLAND?

 

[MopManMoss]

You forgot Estonia AGAIN? And what about POLAND?

I didnt forget Estonia or Poland because I was talking about diaspora of which Lithuania doesnt really have with your country yes you have a shared history and are in the same region but thats not what was being talked about

 

[ollibox]

I didnt forget Estonia or Poland because I was talking about diaspora of which Lithuania doesnt really have with your country yes you have a shared history and are in the same region but thats not what was being talked about

Well excuse my bad English, but I thought this was exactly what we were talking about I don't remember Estonia leaving Lithuania without decent points in near past. In 2018 we gave them the most, actually.
Also, Poland and Lithuania are quite tight, so I'd expect them to give at least some points in the semi.

 

[MopManMoss]

Well excuse my bad English, but I thought this was exactly what we were talking about I don't remember Estonia leaving Lithuania without decent points in near past. In 2018 we gave them the most, actually.
Also, Poland and Lithuania are quite tight, so I'd expect them to give at least some points in the semi.

Im not saying you dont exchange points because you obviously do given your shared history and regional proximity but the term diaspora literally means immigrants from a country so the reasoning Norway, Ireland and UK give lithuania points regularly at eurovision is completely different as to why Estonia and Poland do.

The claim I replied to was that Lithuania will only qualify in semi 2 because of their diaspora of which the only real country that applies to in the semi is UK as lithuanias most reliant diaspora partners at eurovision are in the other semi.

 

[ollibox]

Im not saying you dont exchange points because you obviously do given your shared history and regional proximity but the term diaspora literally means immigrants from a country so the reasoning Norway, Ireland and UK give lithuania points regularly at eurovision is completely different as to why Estonia and Poland do.

The claim I replied to was that Lithuania will only qualify in semi 2 because of their diaspora of which the only real country that applies to in the semi is UK as lithuanias most reliant diaspora partners at eurovision are in the other semi.

Ok, fair enough. I didn't know that Norway, Ireland and UK have such a big amount of Lithuanian immigrants...

 

[MopManMoss]

Ok, fair enough. I didn't know that Norway, Ireland and UK have such a big amount of Lithuanian immigrants...

Yeah we have like 200,000 Lithuanians here and Ireland and Norway have sizeable populations too

 

[PollyWantsACracker]

Croatia and Bosnia have the same population that lives in either countries living as a diaspora in Europe. Croatia is a consistent NQ for a decade now. Can we please stop with this diaspora myth now.

 

[MopManMoss]

Croatia and Bosnia have the same population that lives in either countries living as a diaspora in Europe. Croatia is a consistent NQ for a decade now. Can we please stop with this diaspora myth now.

But it is not a myth with Lithuania they routinely pick up 12s from UK and Ireland