""..."Little by Little" has already been highly acclaimed by music experts. In their view, if radio stations give this song a friendly reception, it will have a good chance of becoming one of the most successful works of recent Lithuanian pop music history."

"Laura and the lovers", Lithuania's new sensational pop group, created through a unique and skilful co operation between Lithuanian Music executives Justas Garliauskas and Danielius Mironas and the famous Scandinavian composers and producers Bobby Ljunggren and William "Billy" Butt. The object of the exercise was to win the Lithuanian National Finals of the Eurovision Song Contest and that is exactly what happened.

Laura, a rising star in the Lithuanian pop music arena, is best described as a dynamic young woman with glowing eyes filled with passion and sexuality - all wrapped up in a veil of secrecy! Her charismatic voice is filled with a unique blend of European pop/rock mystique. Music has been Laura's passion since childhood. Upon graduation from music school and after having trained her voice in an acapella group called JAZZLAND led by A. Novikas, Laura performed various different genres of music including classical and jazz. She also sang with several local rock groups. In 2001, when a world-famous German hard rock group The SCORPIONS held their concert in Vilnius, Laura was invited to sing as one of their background vocalists. Laura's experience includes not only participating in various Lithuanian and international festivals and competitions but, she has also participated in some of the biggest European musical festivals, such as Roskilde (Denmark) and "Rock am Ring" (Germany). At these festivals she gained experience by observing world famous groups such as Travis, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Metallica, Chemical Brothers keeping her eyes and ears focused on how these conducted their performances and dealt with their fans.

In the autumn of 2004, Laura's musical career took a sudden and sensational turn - Danielius Mironas, of "Koja Records", signed a contract with her. Around the same time and quite by a coincidence Mironas received a sudden phone call from Stockholm. It was the legendary Swedish composer and Producer Mr William "Billy" Butt who, during the preceding year had helped develop the career of the very famous Lithuanian male artist "Amberlife" by providing the megahit song "In Your Eyes". Billy Butt had, together with one of Sweden's most successful songwriters Bobby Ljunggren, just written the song "Little by Little" and was looking for a Lithuanian artist to perform it at the national Eurovision Song Contest.

"This is a new stage in my life. I have sung classical music, jazz and rock, and now I will try my strength at singing good quality pop music. The song written by the Swedish producers fits the bill perfectly! I believe that this excellent song should please our country's listeners," - said Laura.

In her appearances on the stage, Laura will be backed by a group of professional musicians, THE LOVERS, nice guys who are also not new to the world of music. "We love beautiful women and good music, so we love Laura and the song," - said THE LOVERS, who are going to surprise the world of Lithuanian pop music with the image they are currently creating in preparation for the final contest in Kiev.

The Singer

Mixed messages all over the place with this one. After a litany of disappointments over the years, often accompanied with disgrace, they at last have a song worth shouting about. Even if they did have to look to Sweden for help with the writing, and the lyrics, a true Lithuanian and her pointless amorous backing group will be there to fly the yellow, green, and red flag.
" But It's a pity then that my predictions say that it won't make it through the final.
" But, on the other hand, it's opened up at 10/1 shots.
" But then again I worry about her voice
" But the audience stood for attention at the beginning of the song at their national final which is a good sign
" However they do have a bad draw (no. 2 spot)
So who's right?

Laura is a keen pelt-wearer, and so is not averse to a stole, a muff, or mantle.
Red fish net was apparent too, which in tandem with zebra skin, portrays the fashion expression equivalent of rummaging at the back of the wardrobe for something to wear.

The Past

Skamp were superb, Aivaras was woeful but likeable for all the same, Aiste was a bit dull. That's Lithuania, a nation who now have no excuse come voting time, bordered as she is by Belarus, Latvia, Poland, and Russia. And don't forget near neighbours, Ukraine, Finland, and Estonia. Their time to do something decent must be soon. Is 2005 the time?

The Song
All of you who have my site set as your homepage should recall my expression of disgust last year, when Amberlife's "In Your Eyes" failed to make it through the Lithuanian pre-selection. Well, funnily enough this was done by the same writing team of "Little by Little" and indeed it's a perfectly acceptable uptempo basic pop song from the no-frills Lidl range of processed Swedish cheese.

It's not as good as "In your Eyes" but that's by the by, and I hope it gets through to Saturday's show.

Gestures - 13 All we have is Laura's live pre-selection encore performance to go on, which was fairly anodine. One arm flapping and a walk to the front of the stage, then drowned in paper flotsam.
"Wanna" Count - 0

Overall
I hope it does well. It's anodine pap pop....just what we want. It's one listen and you'll think, "yeah that was alright, but I never want to hear it again." Just the job.

In a Nutshell
"This ain't no illusion, that really is zebra fur"

"The Shrink Says"

Little to get my teeth into here. Laura's assets are not really up front.
My fear here is that as a manufactured beat-pop combo, neither Laura nor her lovers have gained the necessary appreciation of their contribution to the artform. Indeed as the strictly controlled (by a team of Swedish PR experts) personal blurb attests;
"A dynamic young woman with glowing eyes filled with passion and sexuality - all wrapped up in a veil of secrecy!"
The lyrics follow suit;

"No more confusion
It ain't no illusion
This is a fusion
Of body and mind"

From which I recall an intriguing case of mine, when my patient, a trainee pathologist, recreated a papier mache head of Greyling from Inspector Morse and affixed it to a waxwork dummy in his private vivisection lab in order to partake of discussions on the role the neck plays in fusing body and mind…a fascinating man…nurse, the lithium.

A thumb troll
Laura

Little By Little

Night shadows falling
I hear you calling
We're finally talking
Your words touch my soul

It's taking a long time
To get inside your mind
I know it's not easy
But baby we're two of a kind

Little by little
I'm getting close to your heart
When we're together
Looks like we're making a start

Little by little
I see that look in your eyes
Each time you touch me
I want to reach out for you

No more confusion
It ain't no illusion
This is a fusion
Of body and mind

We're meant for each other
So baby come on hold me tight
We'll make ii together
As we fly into the night

Little by little
I'm getting close to your heart
When we're together
Looks like we're making a start

Little by little
I see that look in your eyes
Each time you touch me
I want to reach out for you

Little by little...

Little by little
I'm getting close to your heart
When we're together
Looks like we're making a start

Little by little
I see that look in your eyes
Each time you touch me
I want to reach out for you

Prediction Semi Final 14th
Final Don't Make It