Lithuania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016
Lithuania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 with the song "I've Been Waiting for This Night" written by Jonas Thander and Beatrice Robertsson. The song was performed by Donny Montell, who previously represented Lithuania in the 2012 contest with the song "Love Is Blind", placing 14th in the final. The Lithuanian broadcaster Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) organised the national final "Eurovizijos" dainų konkurso nacionalinė atranka in order to select the Lithuanian entry for the 2016 contest in Stockholm, Sweden. The national final took place over 10 weeks and involved 28 artists competing in two different competitive streams: artists that applied with a song and artists that were matched with a song from the song submissions LRT received because they did not have a song. The results of each show were determined by the combination of votes from a jury panel and a public vote. In the final, six artists and songs remained and "I've Been Waiting For This Night" performed by Donny Montell was selected as the winner.
Donny Montell during a press meet and greet
Donny Montell during a rehearsal before the second semi-final
Donatas Montvydas, also known by his stage name Donny Montell, is a Lithuanian singer-songwriter who represented Lithuania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2012, held in Baku, Azerbaijan. He did so for a second time in 2016, when he represented his country in Stockholm, Sweden.
Donny Montell