In a press conference held today in Vilnius to announce the list of participants of Dainu Daina, the LRT show which would decide the country's representatives in the Eurovision Song Contest, the broadcaster's officials announced that there is a small possibility to see a Lithuanian singer in Moscow due to financial problems.
"One of the best way for us to save money is refusing international projects likethe Eurovision Song Contest", said head of Lithuanian radio and television Audrius Saurusevicius. "This is why next year the winner of "Dainu Daina" might not be going to Moscow to represent Lithuania."
According to the head of Lithuanian delegation, Jonas Vilimas, participation in international contests costs a lot. "Last year LRT had to pay about 70,000 euro participation fee for the Eurovision Song Contest. At this moment LRT is facing a financial crisis. It's not sure if we will be able to pay the fee this year.", says Mr. Vilimas."There is a small possibility that we will see a Lithuanian singer in Moscow. But nothing is yet decided and we are currently in discussions with the EBU, trying to find a solution to the problem.", he concludes.
The musical show Dainu Daina, which was planned to be the Lithuanian pre-selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, will take place anyway, starting on 10 January. The three best singers will by awarded with money prizes. About 60 songs were submitted for Dainu Daina. 36 of them were chosen by the professional jury to go to the next rounds. Televoting will decide which songs are going to the semi-final and then to the final, which will be held on 14 February.
As long as it's not certain if the winner of "Dainu Daina" will represent Lithuania, the regular Eurovision rules are not applicable for the participants. "The only rule that we left in the contest is that the song can not have ben published before 1 October. We don't care about the length of the song or about the number of people on the stage", says Jonas Vilimas.
Here is the list of participants, confirmed by LRT:
Irena StarošaitÄ� (Song title TBA),
BIX –Visko pradžia
Stano –Viskas pasakyta
69 danguje –MeilÄ�s simfonija
Rosita Ä�ivilytÄ� and Donatas Montvydas –Dainu daina
YVA Į dangų
Zvonkai –Mes gyvenam gerai
Violeta TarasovienÄ� –Aš bÅ«siu šalia
Vilius Tarasovas –Aš tik tavim tikiu
RÅ«ta ŠÄ�iogolevaitÄ� –Redemption
RÅ«ta LukoševiÄ�iÅ«tÄ� –Window of life
D.Montvydas –Euro LT
Alanas –Geras jausmas
Indraja –Svetima
Taja- V�jai keturi
Siela –Euforija
ŠirdelÄ�s –Visko per mažai
SaulÄ�s kliošas –SaulÄ�
AugustÄ� –Not the best time
Jonas �epulis and Skirmant�- Uosil�li žaliasai
Biplan –Ar lauksi manÄ�s
Milanno and Karina Krysko- Dream a dream
Blogos mergaitÄ�s –Renkuosi tave
Šokoledas –PlastmasinÄ� širdis
Ruslanas Kirilkinas –I call for freedom
Sasha Son –PasiklydÄ�s žmogus
Fuego –Žvaigždžių milijonai
Kastaneda –Aš tik šoumenas
Soliaris, Greta and SEL –Noriu žinoti
Egidijus SipaviÄ�ius –Per mažai
UrtÄ� ŠilagalytÄ� –The elegant blues
Deivis –Lietuva
Darius Pranckevi�ius and Violetas Valskyt�- Nutyl�ta viltis
KamilÄ� KielaitÄ� –No way to run
Aurelija SlavinskaitÄ� –Part of time
Milana –Ar tu mane matei
An article by Arvydas Makselis
