Lithuania at the Eurovision Song Contest

Lithuania has been a participant in the Eurovision Song Contest since 1994. While the nation has yet to achieve a victory, they’ve become a consistent presence, often delivering memorable and sometimes quirky entries.

Lithuania’s debut in 1994 was marked by Ovidijus Vyšniauskas and his song “Lopšinė mylimai.” Unfortunately, it placed last with zero points, a discouraging start. This led to Lithuania withdrawing from the competition for a few years before returning in 1999.

The early 2000s saw some moderate success, but it wasn’t until 2006 that Lithuania achieved its best result to date. The band LT United, with their intentionally absurd and chanting song “We Are the Winners,” finished in sixth place. While controversial due to its unconventional nature, the song became a massive fan favorite and boosted Lithuania’s profile in the contest.

Since then, Lithuania’s performance has been variable. They’ve experienced both qualification for the grand final and elimination in the semi-finals. In recent years, the national selection process, “Eurovizijos Atranka,” has become a prominent event in Lithuania, attracting a diverse range of artists and musical styles.

Notable Lithuanian Eurovision entries include:

• LT United – “We Are the Winners” (2006): Their best result and a truly unique Eurovision experience.
• Andrius Pojavis – “Something” (2013): A mellow, indie-pop song that showcased a different side of Lithuanian music.
• Donny Montell – “Love Is Blind” (2012 & 2016): Donny Montell represented Lithuania twice, both times qualifying for the final. “Love is Blind” in 2012 was particularly memorable.
• The Roop – “Discoteque” (2020 & 2021): The Roop were selected to represent Lithuania in 2020 with their song “On Fire,” which was a strong contender before the contest’s cancellation. They were then selected again in 2021 with “Discoteque,” a catchy and visually striking entry that finished in eighth place.

Lithuania’s participation in Eurovision is a source of national pride and entertainment. The country’s consistent attempts to find the perfect song, coupled with the enthusiastic support of its public, suggests that Lithuania will remain a committed participant in the Eurovision Song Contest for years to come, hopefully with a future victory in sight. The recent success of The Roop has certainly reignited the nation’s passion for the competition and demonstrated that Lithuania is capable of producing world-class Eurovision entries.