Lithuanian to join bandmates in Moscow for Eurovision 2009
A Lithuanian musician will represent Ireland at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow.
Asta MilerienÄ—, who has lived in Ireland for the past eight years, is heading to Moscow this May along with her band-mates in Black Daisy. They will perform the song ‘Et Cetera’, which was chosen as Ireland’s entry at this year’s national final.
Speaking to Metro Éireann after securing their place in Moscow, MilerienÄ— said she felt “great” and added that all her friends and family in Ireland and in Lithuania were “100 per cent sure” the band would win.
The Lithuanian drummer joined the all-female rock band Black Daisy, headed by singer Sinéad Mulvey, two years ago. Their musical influences range from Metallica to Pink.
MilerienÄ— also plays drums in Nojus, an alternative rock band started in Ireland by her husband, well known Lithuanian musician Darius Mileris. So does her going to Eurovision mean that Mileris will have to look for a new drummer?
“No way!” says MilerienÄ— emphatically. “We’ve played together for nearly 17 years. And since I started to play with Black Daisy as well, we strive to co-ordinate that between the two bands.”
MilerienÄ— is looking forward to the trip to Russia for the song contest. “I have never been to Moscow,” she says. “I am excited about that as much as my band-mates. Maybe it’s less scary for me because I know some Russian language. And now is even a good chance to improve it.”
She adds that she followed the Lithuanian Eurovision national finals and was sorry that the song Love, performed by Sasha Son, fell through in the end.
Would she like to represent her native country in the future? Or is she happy being a musical ambassador of Ireland, her adopted home?
“You know, I look into this professionally,” she says. “I am just a drummer in a band, and I am grateful for the opportunity to represent Ireland this year. I have not got such a chance in Lithuania yet.”
This year musicians from eastern Europe seem to have made an impression on Irish judges and the voting public alike. Indeed, an act from Latvia was inches away from being chosen to represent Ireland in Moscow.
In a bizarre twist of events, the song ‘I Wish I Could Pretend’ performed by Latvian singer Kristina Zaharova and written by Latvian composer Lauris Reiniks came second in the national Irish final. None of them had ever been to Ireland and have no connection with this country.
Reiniks said he sent the song for the consideration of the Irish judges following the announcement in December that Latvia will not take part in this year’s Eurovision due to financial difficulties.
“It was a shame to let this song go to waste,” said Reiniks. “So I started frantically searching the internet to see if I can send it to any other country. I found that Ireland’s rules allowed songs from other European member states and I decided to try my luck here.”
Zaharova performed Rein-iks’ song live on RTÉ’s Late Late Show last Friday. And the talented vocalist has another chance to go to Eurovision, as Latvia has announced that it will be taking part in the contest after all.
Zaharova has entered the national competition with a song called ‘Angel Of Mine’, and has been shortlisted for the finals, due to take place in Riga this coming Friday.
“Both songs are dear to me,” Zaharova told Metro Éireann, referring to her Irish and Latvian entries.
