Lithuania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016

{{Main|Lithuania in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

Prior to the 2016 contest, Lithuania had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 16 times since its first entry in 1994.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-country/country?country=30|title=Lithuania Country Profile|publisher=EBU|access-date=4 November 2014}} The nation’s best placing in the contest was sixth, which it achieved in 2006 with the song "We Are the Winners", performed by LT United. Following the introduction of semi-finals for the {{Escyr|2004|2004 contest}}, Lithuania, to this point, had managed to qualify to the final seven times. In the 2015 contest, "This Time" performed by Monika Linkytė and Vaidas Baumila qualified to the final, where the song scored 30 points and placed 18th.

For the 2016 contest, the Lithuanian national broadcaster, Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT), broadcast the event within Lithuania and organised the selection process for the nation's entry. Other than the internal selection of their debut entry in 1994, Lithuania has selected their entry consistently through a national final procedure. LRT confirmed their intentions to participate at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest on 13 July 2015.{{cite web|last1=Jiandani|first1=Sanjay|title=Lithuania: LRT confirms participation in Eurovision 2016|url=http://esctoday.com/105058/lithuania-lrt-confirms-participation-in-eurovision-2016/|publisher=ESCToday|access-date=16 December 2015|date=13 July 2015}} On 6 October 2015, the broadcaster announced the organization of "Eurovizijos" dainų konkurso nacionalinė atranka, which would be the national final to select Lithuania's entry for Stockholm.{{cite web|last1=Błażewicz|first1=Maciej|title=Lithuanian marathon with new rules|url=http://escbubble.com/2015/10/lithuanian-marathon-with-new-rules/|website=escbubble.com|access-date=16 December 2015|date=6 October 2015}}

"Eurovizijos" dainų konkurso nacionalinė atranka (Eurovision Song Contest national selection) was the national final format developed by LRT in order to select Lithuania's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2016. The competition involved a ten-week-long process that commenced on 9 January 2016 and concluded with a winning song and artist on 12 March 2016. The 10 shows took place at the LRT studios in Vilnius and were hosted by Andrius Rožickas and Gerūta Griniūtė.{{cite web|title=Naujoji "Eurovizijos" vedėja: savo laiku ir W. A. Mozartas buvo popsas|url=http://www.lrt.lt/projektai/eurovizija/naujienos/31/123229/naujoji_eurovizijos_vedeja_savo_laiku_ir_w_a_mozartas_buvo_popsas|publisher=Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT)|date=21 December 2015|access-date=21 December 2015|language=lt}} The shows were broadcast on LRT televizija, LRT Lituanica, and LRT Radijas, as well as online via the broadcaster's website lrt.lt. The final was also streamed online on the official Eurovision Song Contest website eurovision.tv.{{cite web|last1=Leon|first1=Jakov I.|title=Watch tonight: The final of Lithuanian 'Eurovizija 2016'|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=watch_tonight_the_final_of_lithuanian_eurovizija_2016|publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|access-date=12 March 2016|date=12 March 2016}}

The Lithuanian broadcaster overhauled the format of the national final from that of previous years. For the 2016 competition, entries initially competed in two different subgroups: artists that entered without a song and artists that entered with a song. Artists that entered with a song were higher in number (16), and therefore two shows consisting of eight entries each were held on 9 and 16 January, resulting in the elimination of six entries all together.{{cite web |last=Talalytė |first=Miglė |date=9 January 2016 |title=Iš "Eurovizijos" nacionalinės atrankos pasitraukė pirmieji dalyviai |url=http://www.lrt.lt/projektai/eurovizija/naujienos/31/124654/is_eurovizijos_nacionalines_atrankos_pasitrauke_pirmieji_dalyviai|access-date=9 January 2016 |publisher=Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) |language=lt}}{{cite web |last=Talalytė |first=Miglė |date=16 January 2016 |title="Eurovizijos" nacionalinę atranką paliko dar trys atlikėjai |url=http://www.lrt.lt/projektai/eurovizija/naujienos/31/124417/eurovizijos_nacionaline_atranka_paliko_dar_trys_atlikejai|access-date=16 January 2016 |publisher=Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) |language=lt}} The remaining 10 entries participated in an additional two shows on 30 January and 13 February, where first two, and then three of the entries were eliminated, leaving five entries remaining in the group.{{cite web |date=30 January 2016 |title=Iš Lietuvos nacionalinės atrankos pasitraukė Alice Way ir "Behind The Moon", vakaro favoritas – Donny Montell |url=http://eurodiena.lt/50657/eurovizija/is-lietuvos-nacionalines-atrankos-pasitrauke-alice-way-ir-behind-the-moon-vakaro-favorite/ |access-date=30 January 2016 |website=eurodiena.lt |publisher=Eurodiena |language=lt}}{{cite web |last=Drigotaitė |first=Karolina |date=13 February 2016 |title="Eurovizijos" atranka baigėsi dar trims dalyviams |url=http://www.lrt.lt/projektai/eurovizija/naujienos/31/127443/eurovizijos_atranka_baigesi_dar_trims_dalyviams |access-date=14 February 2016 |publisher=Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) |language=lt}} The remaining 12 artists applied without a song and were matched with songs that LRT received during the submission period. An initial show was organised for this subgroup on 30 January, resulting in the elimination of two entries.{{cite web |last=Drigotaitė |first=Karolina |date=23 January 2016 |title="Eurovizijos" atranka baigėsi dar dviems dalyviams |url=http://www.lrt.lt/projektai/eurovizija/naujienos/31/125767/eurovizijos_atranka_baigesi_dar_dviems_dalyviams|access-date=23 January 2016 |publisher=Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) |language=lt}} The remaining 10 entries in this group participated in an additional two shows on 6 and 20 February, where first two, and then three, of the entries were eliminated, leaving five entries remaining in the group.{{cite web |last=Talalytė |first=Miglė |date=6 February 2016 |title=Nacionalinė "Eurovizijos" atranka baigėsi dar dviems dalyvėms |url=http://www.lrt.lt/projektai/eurovizija/naujienos/31/127177/nacionaline_eurovizijos_atranka_baigesi_dar_dviems_dalyvems|access-date=6 February 2016 |publisher=Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) |language=lt}}{{cite web |date=15 February 2016 |title="Eurovizijos" atranką paįvairins "Brainstorm" ir D.Ibelhauptaitė |url=http://zmones.lrytas.lt/muzika/eurovizijos-atranka-paivairins-brainstorm-ir-d-ibelhauptaite.htm |access-date=15 February 2016 |website=delfi.lt |publisher=Lrytas.lt |language=lt}} During the eighth show, the remaining five entries from each group participated together for the first time and the bottom two entries were eliminated, while the remaining eight entries advanced to the competition's semi-final.{{cite web |last1=Talalytė |first1=Miglė |date=27 February 2016 |title=Rekordinis balsavimas lemtingas buvo dviems "Eurovizijos" dalyviams |url=http://www.lrt.lt/projektai/eurovizija/naujienos/31/129158/rekordinis_balsavimas_lemtingas_buvo_dviems_eurovizijos_dalyviams|access-date=27 February 2016 |publisher=Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) |language=lt}} In the semi-final, an additional two entries were eliminated and the top six proceeded to the final. In the final, the winner was selected from the remaining six entries.

The results of each of the 10 shows were determined by the 50/50 combination of votes from a jury panel and public televoting. The ranking developed by both streams of voting was converted to points from 1-8, 10 and 12 and assigned based on the number of competing songs in the respective show. During the first eight shows and the final, the jury votes consisted of a combination of a Lithuanian jury panel and an international jury panel. For the semi-final, the jury votes were determined by a Lithuanian panel only. The public could vote through telephone and SMS voting. Initially, ties in all shows but the final were to be decided in favour of the entry that received the most votes from the public, however, during some shows, ties were decided in favour of the entry that received the most points from the jury, while in the final, a tie would be decided in favour of the entry that was awarded the most points by the jury.{{cite web|title=Rules for the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 National Selection|url=http://www.lrt.lt/userfiles/files/ESC_LT_EN-2016.pdf|publisher=Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT)|access-date=16 December 2015|date=6 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304114432/http://www.lrt.lt/userfiles/files/ESC_LT_EN-2016.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}

On 6 October 2015, LRT opened two separate submission forms: one for artists and another for songwriters to submit their songs. Artists that applied to compete with a song were required to indicate which song they wanted to compete with on their application. The submission deadline for both applications concluded on 1 December 2015. On 21 December 2015, LRT announced the 28 artists selected for the competition during a press conference.{{cite web|title="Eurovizijos" atrankai diriguos Andrius Rožickas ir Gerūta Griniūtė, paskelbti visi dalyviai|url=http://www.15min.lt/zmones/naujiena/pramogos/muzika/eurovizijos-atrankai-diriguos-andrius-rozickas-ir-geruta-griniute-paskelbti-visi-dalyviai-28-557829|work=15 min|date=21 December 2015|access-date=21 December 2015|language=lt}} Among the artists were previous Lithuanian Eurovision contestants Erica Jennings, who represented Lithuania in 2001 as part of Skamp, and Donny Montell, who represented the nation in 2012. On 19 January 2016, the final changes to the list of 28 competing acts were made with the addition of Dovydas Petrošius and Evelyn Joyce to the list of performers and the withdrawal of the girl group HIT and singer Gabrielė Grygolaitytė-Vasha.{{cite web|title=Dainos|url=http://www.lrt.lt/projektai/eurovizija/dainos|publisher=Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT)|access-date=15 January 2016|language=lt|date=15 January 2016}}{{cite web|title=Vasha ir "Hit" be kovos pasitraukė iš "Eurovizijos" atrankos, vietoje jų dainuos Evelina Jocytė|url=http://www.15min.lt/zmones/naujiena/eurovizija/lietuviai-eurovizijoje/euroviz-124-569851|publisher=15 min|access-date=19 January 2016|date=19 January 2016}} Singer Aistė Pilvelytė was originally assigned to perform the song "You Can't Leave Me Now" written by Niklas Bergvist, however, she later opted to switch her song.{{cite web|last1=Fowell|first1=Ian|title=Sweden Songs publishing company have 10 songs in 2016 Eurovision selections|url=http://www.esccovers.com/sweden-songs-publishing-company-have-10-songs-in-2016-eurovision-selections/|website=esccovers.com|publisher=ESC Covers|access-date=20 January 2016|date=8 January 2016}} Eglė Jakštytė originally entered the competition with "Leisk dar būti", a song entirely in Lithuanian, but she decided to translate the song to English after the second show.

The Lithuanian jury panel consisted of four members in the elimination shows, five members in the semi-final, and six members in the final. The international jury panel in the elimination shows and the final consisted of three members.

The eight elimination shows of the competition aired between 9 January and 27 February 2016 and featured the 28 competing entries. The first, second, fourth, and sixth show featured artists who already had a song when they applied to compete, while the third, fifth, and seventh show featured artists that did not have songs when they applied to compete. The eighth show featured all remaining entries in the competition. The bottom three entries of the first two shows were eliminated, while two were eliminated between the third to fifth shows, three were eliminated in the sixth and seventh shows and two were eliminated following the eighth show. 2000 Latvian entrant Brainstorm performed as the interval act during the seventh show.

The semi-final of the competition took place on 5 March 2016 and featured the remaining eight entries that qualified from the eighth show.{{cite web|title="Eurovizijoje" krito V. Lacko ir Catrinah, pirma – E. Jennings|url=http://zmones.lrytas.lt/muzika/eurovizijoje-krito-v-lacko-ir-catrinah-pirma-e-jennings.htm|publisher=Lrytas.lt|access-date=5 March 2016|language=lt|date=5 March 2016}} The semi-final was the first show in the competition to be broadcast live; all other preceding shows were pre-recorded earlier in the week before their airdates. The top six entries advanced to the final, while the bottom two were eliminated.{{cite web|last1=Leon|first1=Jakov I.|title=Countdown to the final in Lithuania begins! |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=countdown_to_the_final_in_lithuania_begins|publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|access-date=5 March 2016|date=5 March 2016}} In addition to the performances of the competing entries, Vidas Bareikis performed as the interval act.

The final of the competition took place on 12 March 2016 and featured the remaining six entries that qualified from the semi-final. "I've Been Waiting for This Night" performed by Donny Montell was selected as the winner after gaining the most points from both the jury vote and the public vote.{{cite web|last1=Leon|first1=Jakov I.|title=It's Donny Montell for Lithuania! |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=its_donny_montell_for_lithuania|publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|access-date=12 March 2016|date=12 March 2016}} In addition to the performances of the competing entries, Vaidas Baumila and Monika Linkytė opened the show with the 2015 Lithuanian entry "This Time", and juror Syron performed as the interval act.

Following Donny Montell's win during the Lithuanian national final, discussions began in regards to the staging of the song with choreographer Sacha Jean-Baptiste.{{cite web|title=D. Montvydas Švedijoje ieško geriausio sprendimo "Eurovizijai"|url=http://zmones.lrytas.lt/muzika/d-montvydas-svedijoje-iesko-geriausio-sprendimo-eurovizijai.htm|publisher=Lrytas.lt|access-date=26 April 2016|language=lt|date=28 March 2016}} Baptiste also directed Montell's music video for "I've Been Waiting for this Night", which was released earlier on 4 December 2015.{{cite web|last1=Zilnys|first1=Ramūnas|title=Premjera: Donatas Montvydas pristato "eurovizinę" dainą ir klipą|url=http://zmones.lrytas.lt/muzika/premjera-donatas-montvydas-pristato-eurovizine-daina-ir-klipa.htm|publisher=Lrytas.lt|access-date=26 April 2016|language=lt|date=4 December 2015}} Montell flew to Sweden in late March and throughout April to rehearse the choreography, which included tests for a jump performed on a trampoline.{{cite web|last1=Talalytė|first1=Miglė|title=D. Montvydas: dabar didžiausias galvosūkis – batutas|url=http://www.lrt.lt/projektai/eurovizija/naujienos/31/134393/d_montvydas_dabar_didziausias_galvosukis_batutas|publisher=Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT)|access-date=26 April 2016|language=lt|date=24 April 2016}}

On 28 March, LRT broadcast the support concert Būkime kartu, where Lithuanian viewers could call to donate funds to support the Lithuanian Eurovision participation.{{cite web|title=Prie D. Montvydo palaikymo prisidės ir ypatingi svečiai|url=http://www.lrt.lt/projektai/eurovizija/naujienos/31/131671/prie_d_montvydo_palaikymo_prisides_ir_ypatingi_sveciai|publisher=Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT)|access-date=26 April 2016|language=lt|date=25 March 2016}} The concert was filmed on 26 March at the Žalgiris Arena in Kaunas and featured guests Edgaras Montvidas, Gytis Valickas, and the 2015 Lithuanian Eurovision entrants Monika Linkytė and Vaidas Baumila.{{cite web|title=D. Montvydas daro apšilimą Švedijoje, LRT žiūrovai gali prisidėti prie jo pasirodymo|url=http://www.lrt.lt/projektai/eurovizija/naujienos/31/131834/d_montvydas_daro_apsilima_svedijoje_lrt_ziurovai_gali_prisideti_prie_jo_pasirodymo|publisher=Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT)|access-date=26 April 2016|language=lt|date=28 March 2016}} The concert raised €10,004 from public donations, with phone lines remaining open until 31 March for additional donations.{{cite web|last1=Talalytė|first1=Miglė|title=D. Montvydo palaikymo koncerto metu surinkta daugiau nei 10 tūkst. Eur|url=http://www.lrt.lt/projektai/eurovizija/naujienos/31/131853/d_montvydo_palaikymo_koncerto_metu_surinkta_daugiau_nei_10_tukst_eur|publisher=Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT)|access-date=26 April 2016|language=lt|date=28 March 2016}}

Donny Montell focused his promotional efforts in the lead up to the Eurovision Song Contest within Lithuania.{{cite web|title=Euroviziniame renginyje dalyvavęs D. Montvydas stiprių konkurentų nemato|url=http://www.lrt.lt/projektai/eurovizija/naujienos/31/133620/euroviziniame_renginyje_dalyvaves_d_montvydas_stipriu_konkurentu_nemato|publisher=Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT)|access-date=26 April 2016|language=lt|date=15 April 2016}} Montell performed a concert tour of Lithuania to promote his album #BLCK, which was released on 14 April 2016.{{cite web|title=Donatas Montvydas pristatė trečią solinį albumą "#BLCK": "Jį įkvėpė viena daina"|url=http://www.15min.lt/zmones/naujiena/eurovizija/lietuviai-eurovizijoje/donatas-montvydas-pristate-trecia-solini-albuma-blck-ji-ikvepe-viena-daina-124-611097|publisher=15 min|access-date=26 April 2016|language=lt|date=14 April 2016}} In addition to his concerts, Montell recorded a performance of "I've Been Waiting for This Night" for the LRT programme Dainų dainelė, which aired on 10 April, and he performed a show on 15 April for Lithuanian and NATO troops at the Lithuanian Air Force Aviation Base in Šiauliai.{{cite web|title=D. Montvydas sugrįžo į "Dainų dainelės" sceną|url=http://www.lrt.lt/projektai/eurovizija/naujienos/31/132810/d_montvydas_sugrizo_i_dainu_daineles_scena|publisher=Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT)|access-date=26 April 2016|language=lt|date=6 April 2016}}{{cite web|title=D. Montvydas surengė koncertą NATO būstinėje – vakare laukia dar didesnis šou|url=http://www.delfi.lt/veidai/eurovizija/d-montvydas-surenge-koncerta-nato-bustineje-vakare-laukia-dar-didesnis-sou.d?id=71000462|publisher=Delfi|access-date=26 April 2016|language=lt|date=15 April 2016}}

In addition to his appearances within Lithuania, Donny Montell also promoted "I've Been Waiting for This Night" between 11 and 13 April by taking part in promotional activities in Tel Aviv, Israel, and performing during the Israel Calling event held at the Ha'teatron venue.{{cite web|last1=Roxburgh|first1=Gordon|title=First ever preview party held in Israel|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=first_ever_preview_party_held_in_israel|publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|access-date=14 April 2016|date=14 April 2016}}

File:ESC2016 - Lithuania Meet & Greet 10.jpg

According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big Five" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top 10 countries from each semi-final progress to the final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot.{{cite web|last1=Jordan|first1=Paul|title=Semi-Final Allocation Draw on Monday, pots revealed|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=semi-final_allocation_draw_on_monday_pots_revealed|publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|access-date=25 January 2016|date=21 January 2016}} On 25 January 2016, a special allocation draw was held which placed each country into one of the two semi-finals, as well as which half of the show they would perform in. Lithuania was placed into the second semi-final, to be held on 12 May 2016, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.{{cite web|last1=Jordan|first1=Paul|title=Allocation Draw: The results!|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=allocation_draw_the_results|publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|access-date=25 January 2016|date=25 January 2016}}

Once all the competing songs for the 2016 contest had been released, the running order for the semi-finals was decided by the shows' producers rather than through another draw, so that similar songs were not placed next to each other. Lithuania was set to perform in position 9, following the entry from Macedonia and before the entry from Australia.{{cite web|last1=Jordan|first1=Paul|title=Running order of the Semi-Finals revealed|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=running_order_of_the_semi-finals_revealed|publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|access-date=8 April 2016|date=8 April 2016}}

The two semi-finals and final were broadcast in Lithuania on LRT, LRT HD, and LRT Radijas with commentary by Darius Užkuraitis.{{cite web|last1=Pabiržis|first1=Dovaidas|title="Eurovizija": loterija be pralaimėjimo|url=http://www.veidas.lt/%E2%80%9Eeurovizija%E2%80%9C-loterija-be-pralaimejimo|publisher=Veidas|access-date=10 May 2016|language=lt|date=9 May 2016}} LRT Kultūra also broadcast the three shows interpreted in International Sign for the deaf and sign language users.{{cite web|title=LRT KULTŪRA transliuos "Euroviziją" kurtiesiems|url=http://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/eurovizija_2016/31/134968|publisher=Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT)|access-date=10 May 2016|language=lt|date=28 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017222505/http://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/eurovizija_2016/31/134968|archive-date=17 October 2017|url-status=dead}} The Lithuanian spokesperson who announced the top 12-point score awarded by the Lithuanian jury during the final was Ugnė Galadauskaitė.{{cite web|last1=Talalytė|first1=Miglė|title=U. Galadauskaitė: bijojau, kad nepavyks džiugiai paskelbti balų, skirtų nepatikusioms dainoms|url=http://www.lrt.lt/projektai/eurovizija/naujienos/31/135606/u_galadauskaite_bijojau_kad_nepavyks_dziugiai_paskelbti_balu_skirtu_nepatikusioms_dainoms|publisher=Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT)|access-date=6 May 2016|language=lt|date=4 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506191018/http://www.lrt.lt/projektai/eurovizija/naujienos/31/135606/u_galadauskaite_bijojau_kad_nepavyks_dziugiai_paskelbti_balu_skirtu_nepatikusioms_dainoms|archive-date=6 May 2016|url-status=dead}}

File:ESC2016 - Lithuania 07.jpg

Donny Montell took part in technical rehearsals on 4 and 7 May, followed by dress rehearsals on 11 and 12 May.{{cite web|title=Media Activities|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/upload/2016/press/SVT_ESC2016_MediaGuidelines_MediaActivities_0428.pdf|publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|access-date=3 May 2016}} This included the jury show on 11 May, where the professional juries of each country watched and voted on the competing entries.{{cite web|last1=Roxburgh|first1=Gordon|title=Time for the juries to make their choice|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=time_for_the_juries_to_make_their_choice|publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|access-date=11 May 2016|date=11 May 2016}}

The Lithuanian performance featured Donny Montell performing on stage alone with blue and green stage colours and the LED screens displaying stars.{{cite web|last1=Nilsson |first1=Helena |title=Third day of rehearsals |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/live/follow_live_third_day_of_rehearsals |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=4 May 2016 |date=4 May 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505005032/http://www.eurovision.tv/live/follow_live_third_day_of_rehearsals |archive-date=5 May 2016 }}{{cite web|last1=Nilsson |first1=Helena |title=Day 6 at the Globe Arena |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/live/follow_live_day_6_of_rehearsals_at_the_globe_arena |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=7 May 2016 |date=7 May 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507095657/http://www.eurovision.tv/live/follow_live_day_6_of_rehearsals_at_the_globe_arena |archive-date=7 May 2016 }} The performance also featured pyrotechnic effects and Montell using a trampoline prop to perform a jump. The stage director and choreographer for the Lithuanian performance was Sacha Jean-Baptiste. Donny Montell was joined by four off-stage backing vocalists: Justina Budaitė, Kotryna Juodzevičiūtė, Rasa Doniela, and Karolina Rasten.{{cite web|title=Donatui Montvydui per pasirodymą "Eurovizijoje" talkins atlikėjos iš "Lietuvos balso"|url=http://www.15min.lt/zmones/naujiena/eurovizija/lietuviai-eurovizijoje/donatui-montvydui-per-pasirodyma-eurovizijoje-talkins-atlikejos-is-lietuvos-balso-124-615671|publisher=15 min|access-date=26 April 2016|language=lt|date=22 April 2016}}

At the end of the show, Lithuania was announced as having finished in the top 10 and subsequently qualifying for the grand final.{{cite web|last1=Roxburgh|first1=Gordon|title=10 more finalists through to the Grand Final|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=10_more_finalists_through_to_the_grand_final|publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|access-date=12 May 2016|date=12 May 2016}} It was later revealed that Lithuania placed fourth in the semi-final, receiving a total of 222 points: 118 points from the televoting and 104 points from the juries.{{cite web |title=Second Semi-Final of Stockholm 2016 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/stockholm-2016/second-semi-final |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=8 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508163702/https://eurovision.tv/event/stockholm-2016/second-semi-final |archive-date=8 May 2021 |url-status=live}}

Shortly after the second semi-final, a winners' press conference was held for the 10 qualifying countries. As part of this press conference, the qualifying artists took part in a draw to determine which half of the grand final they would subsequently participate in. This draw was done in the reverse order the countries appeared in the semi-final running order. Lithuania was drawn to compete in the second half.{{cite web|last1=Brey |first1=Marco |title=The Second Semi-Final winners' press conference |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/live/live_the_second_semi-final_winners_press_conference |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|access-date=12 May 2016 |date=12 May 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514103055/http://www.eurovision.tv/live/live_the_second_semi-final_winners_press_conference |archive-date=14 May 2016 }} Following this draw, the shows' producers decided upon the running order of the final, as they had done for the semi-finals. Lithuania was subsequently placed to perform in position 16, following the entry from Serbia and before the entry from Croatia.{{cite web|last1=Brey|first1=Marco|title=Running order for the 2016 Grand Final revealed|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=113running_order_for_grand_final_revealed|publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|access-date=13 May 2016|date=13 May 2016}}

Donny Montell once again took part in dress rehearsals on 13 and 14 May before the final, including the jury final, where the professional juries cast their final votes before the live show.{{cite web|last1=Roxburgh|first1=Gordon|title=Juries voting tonight for the 2016 Grand Final|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=juries_voting_tonight_for_the_2016_grand_final|publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|access-date=14 May 2016|date=13 May 2016}} Donny Montell performed a repeat of his semi-final performance during the final on 14 May. Lithuania placed ninth in the final, scoring 200 points: 96 points from the televoting and 104 points from the juries, making it the second most successful result for Lithuania in the contest to date.{{cite web|last1=Roxburgh|first1=Gordon|title=Ukraine wins 2016 Eurovision Song Contest|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=ukraine_wins_2016_eurovision_song_contest|publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|access-date=14 May 2016|date=14 May 2016}}{{cite web |title=Grand Final of Stockholm 2016 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/stockholm-2016/grand-final |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=8 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508163718/https://eurovision.tv/event/stockholm-2016/grand-final |archive-date=8 May 2021 |url-status=live}}

Voting during the three shows was conducted under a new system that involved each country now awarding two sets of points from 1-8, 10 and 12: one from their professional jury and the other from televoting. Each nation's jury consisted of five music industry professionals who are citizens of the country they represent, with their names published before the contest to ensure transparency. This jury judged each entry based on: vocal capacity; the stage performance; the song's composition and originality; and the overall impression by the act.{{cite web|title=Here are the judges for Eurovision 2016!|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=here_are_the_judges_for_eurovision_2016|publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|access-date=29 April 2016|date=29 April 2016}} In addition, no member of a national jury was permitted to be related in any way to any of the competing acts in such a way that they cannot vote impartially and independently. The individual rankings of each jury member as well as the nation's televoting results were released shortly after the grand final.{{cite web|last=Jordan|first=Paul|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=biggest_change_to_eurovision_song_contest_voting_since_1975|title=Biggest change to Eurovision Song Contest voting since 1975|publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|access-date=18 February 2016|date=18 February 2016}}

Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Lithuania and awarded by Lithuania in the second semi-final and grand final of the contest, and the breakdown of the jury voting and televoting conducted during the two shows:

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The following members comprised the Lithuanian jury:

• Nomeda Kazlaus (jury chairperson){{snd}}pianist, opera singer
• {{ill|Vidas Bareikis|lt}}{{snd}}songwriter, vocal coach
• Justas Čekuolis{{snd}}guitarist, songwriter, producer, musician
• Vytautas Lukočius{{snd}}Conductor of Lithuanian chamber orchestra
• Eglė Nepaitė-Abaravičienė{{snd}}music producer

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|Lithuania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016}}

• {{URL|http://www.lrt.lt/projektai/eurovizija|Official LRT Eurovision site}}

{{Lithuania in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest 2016}}

2016

Category:Countries in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016

Eurovision