Jonas Vilimas, head of the Lithuanian delegation, revealed some of the singers that showed an interest to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 in Belgrade next May. Many of the best known acts of the Lithuanian pop music scene did not submit songs for the biggest music event in Europe.
As expected, the most popular singers such as Rūta Ščiogolevaitė, Violeta Riaubiškytė or Alanas Choshnau will notparticipate in the Lithuanian national selection. However, we will see some promising young singers like Augustė (National finals participant in 2006 and 2007),Pop Idols participantsVudiswith Grūdas and Raimonda Masiulytė with Justinas Lapatinskas,and R&B group Slapjack (National final 2007). In the national selection, there will also beunknown names as Sasha Son orFunnybeat.
National finals veteran Aistė Pilvelytė (1999, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007) has claimed that she would not try to win a ticket to Belgrade, but according to J. VilimasAistė, has submitted an entryfor 2008after all. Another surprise comes from last year's Lithuanian representatives 4Fun – lead singer Julija Ritčik has submited a song. Furthermore, she had been chosen to to be part of the jurythat chose theLatvian national final participants, because Latvia gave ten points to her ballad Love or leave in Helsinki.
More information about the national selection format and all the participants are to be revealed later by LRT.
