The semi-finals of the 2012 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest are just a week away and our reviewers have come full circle today to speak about the final entry in the running order and that is none other than Lithuania but their journey has not been easy noting that there have been songs which have been given positive remarks and praise with others failing to impress ultimately and therefore falling below the usual standard. Nevertheless, everything might change as from today onwards when rehearsals commence but the experts saw the songs through the official preview videos and thus, there will be differences. The final entry is being brought about by Donny Montell and bears the name Love Is Blind composed by Brandon Stone and penned by the same Brandon Stone alongside Jodie Rose.

For Donatas Montvydas, or Donny Montell (24), creating, singing and dancing is his passion in life, a way to discharge emotionally. "If there is at least one person in the world (including me), for whom my creative work gives pleasure, then I’d like to be a part of the music.” Donatas Montvydas was born on October 22, 1987, in Vilnius. The musical path of Donny Montell began in the song contest Dainų dainelė where he became the laureate. 

Later he studied at Balys Dvarionas music school. “That was the time when I understood that music was going to be a part of my whole life” states the young singer. Donny is a successful participant of various TV-shows: his voice mesmerized both the audience and jury at Duets Of The Stars and he won the Lithuanian version of the Dancing With the Stars. He competed at prestigious festivals as well, like Slavianskij Bazar and New Wave. He's also taken part in the national selections for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2009 and 2011.

Meanwhile Donatas also found time to participate in the TABAMI project, where he performed songs of Michael Jackson.“It was one of my dreams that came true – to sing Michael Jackson’s songs on the big stage”. Donatas began 2012 successfully as well. He participated in the national selections for the Eurovision Song Contest, where he became the favourite of both professionals and TV-viewers, and received the right to participate in the the biggest musical event in Europe with the song Love Is Blind.

The Critics Voice Their Opinion

Magnus Kaxe

• A Lithuanian version of Zorro gets on stage wearing ribbon over his eyes and singing “Love is blind”. The first half of the song is a ballad; second half is a B-side of single from the 80’s by Rick Astley. This is the most terrible song of the evening. Love might be blind and I wish I was deaf. At least during this song. I cannot give this one more than one (1) point.

Marion Welter

• The final song does feature a good looking lovely sunny boy with the most beautiful looking eyes I have ever seen btut the song is nothing special actually as it is somewhat dedicated to all the girls he loved before. Nevertheless, three (3) points for the effort.

Tobias Larsson

• A ballad that turns into a disco stomper that turns into a complete mess of a breakdown before finding its way back to the disco. Most confusing, as the whole song tries to hard to be something that it is not. And the over-excited performance does nothing to help either. Four (4) points from my end.

 

Entry Background

Performer: Donny Montell

Composer: Brandon Stone

Author: Brandon Stone & Jodie Rose

Song: Love Is Blind

Language: English

Broadcaster: LRT

History of the Nation

This year marks the thirteenth participation for the Lithuanian nation in the Eurovision Song Contest and they have had somewhat of a disappointing history throughout the years unfortunately. Their first entry way back in 1994 proved to be a negative trial as the country did not even score one point and ended at the bottom of the board with Lopšinė mylimai but nevertheless, their comeback in 1999 was much more successful scoring thirteen more points with Strazdas but then in 2001, they managed their best placing to date with You've Got Style finishing in thirteenth place. Ultimately as the years would go on their best result would come in 2006 with the happy go lucky song We Are the Winners which would achieve sixth place after qualifying from the semi-final. Last year, they did surprise people when their ballad C'Est Ma Vie finished in fifth place within the semi-finals and therefore making it to the finals where a mid-table position was also achieved adding to the positive results of the country.

Source: Eurovision.tv for the Biographical Information and all respective media