Last Saturday the second semi final for the national Lithuanian final was held. Three acts have qualified for the final including Donatas Montvydas with Running fast. Yesterday LRT have confirmed that this entry is disqualified because the song was aired on TV before October 1st, 2009.
On Saturday night D. Montvydas won the most of the televotes and jury votes but yesterday it was confirmed by LRT that he is no longer in the competition. A source from abroad has advised the broadcaster that the song Running fast was performed in a musical competition called Europe Sings 2009. This contest was held in Hosnia & Herzegovina on July 2009. Unfortunatelly for D. Montvydas, this contest was aired on TV.
LRT couldn't know this because back in July 2009 the song was performed under a different name No one's gonna believe. Although the singer is not new in Eurovision, he states that he didn't know this rule. Also he says he didn't know that Europe Sings 2009 was broadcast on TV. In the final which will be held on 4 March D. Montvydas' song will be replaced by Amberlife's Material world. On Saturday Amberlife took 4th place and didn't qualify for the final. D. Montvydas was one of the biggest favorites to win this year's Lithuanian national final along with Aiste Pilvelyte.
Below you can find D. Montvydas performances in the second Lithuanian semi final and in the Europe Sings 2009 contest.
Running fast
No one's gonna believe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIr9hgy5efM