Special - 4Fun: Of course we would do it again! | Eurovision Song Contest News - Germany 2011 

Julija Ritčik, the lead singer of the 4Fun band that represented Lithuania in this year's Eurovision Song Contest, spoke to our correspondent Arvydas Makselis about her experience in Helsinki, her views on the outcome, the band's plans and much more.

Your Helsinki experience, how would you describe it? What kind of taste has it left you with?

My Helsinki experience is great and very interesting. We are talking about the Eurovision Song Contest, so I think it couldn’t be any other way! I realised how hard and precise the work of a Eurovision crew was. But I imagined Eurovision to be a bit different to that what I saw. The thing I didn’t like was that there were too many people, too many journalists, too many people in every country’s delegation, we had no chance to meet some other participants and to talk with them about simple things, not about just the contest. Every minute, every second was planed and we knew exactly what we had to do all week long. It was kind of tiring.

 

Can you talk to us about your feelings on stage?

I felt very positive. Of course I was excited and a bit nervous, but it’s normal, I think. When I came on stage I was hoping to sing from the bottom of my heart, because for me this very important. The audience didn’t scare me at all because before Eurovision me and 4Fun were singing at similar venues like Hartwall is. When you know what you are doing, everything goes well, I’m sure about it. And of course you must believe in your song. Without it you cannot go a single step ahead... So, I had it all and that’s why I felt wonderful on stage! I didn’t try to attract TV viewers, I didn’t even look into the camera. I wanted people to think that I was talking with my imaginable partner who was just behind the camera.

What were the reactions of the Lithuanian public back home when you returned?

When I came back to Lithuania, I was so happy to see all those people in the airport! There were some of my friends, but I met some fans of our song who weren’t lazy to come at the airport at 11 o clock in the evening! It was a huge surprise and it made me and whole band feel warm and calm. All this month after Eurovision I was stopped by people in the street, and they told me just good things about 4Fun and about “Love or leave”. Also I am happy to see positive comments on the internet. Lithuanians used to eat Lithuanian representatives up in Eurovision, but this year they didn’t do this! Probably because they understood that the result isn’t the most important thing. I said it before Eurovision, and I say it now, when I know that we are just at 21st position. The most important is how you feel about your song and yourself.

What did you feel about the result? If you were the one choosing the winner whom would you have chosen?

I knew very well that we could be in the Top 5, Top 15, or Top 24 J We could not predict it, we could just hope for a good  result, and of course our band did. I don’t know why we ranked so low. Maybe because the fans of our kind of music were sleeping that night, or maybe because everybody forgot us, or maybe because we are not Balkans. The winner from Serbia surprised me of course, she surprised a big part of Eurovision viewers I think. When I was watching the semi final I was sure she would pass through the final, but I never expected her to win! It was very powerful, the singer believed in the song, she was so into the song! But there is something in the song that I still don’t understand. For example her clothes... Does it mean something? She looked like a man but why? We knew why Marie N was dressed in male clothes, but this year I didn’t understand that, sorry. If it was me who picked the winner, it would have been Hungary. I liked Germany too, but Hungary was better for me because Magdi was more thrilled by her song.

There have been strong reactions to the semi final results by people claiming that bloc and diaspora voting are destroying the contest. What is your opinion on that?

I am sure it has an influence on the results. It’s not the first time we talk about it but this year bloc and diaspora voting was so clear as never before. Never before in the semi final was the Top 10 occupied by Eastern countries... I think it’s because Eurovision isn’t popular anymore in Western countries. People who watch Eurovision in Germany, France or... Belgium are immigrants from Eastern countries. And of course they don’t vote for the song they like the most, they vote for their countries because they are missing their home. The same happened to us – we’ve got 12 points from Ireland. It’s very pleasant and enjoyable but we know very well that these are Lithuanian diaspora who voted for us... I want Europe to vote for their favorites, not their homelands and neighbours.

us!

Would you do it again?

Of course we would do this again! Eurovision is great and unforgettable. I said before to eurovizija.lt that we’ve got already a skeleton of the new Eurovision song. And I said that it’s kinda different from “love or leave”. Now I can say that I’m not sure how we will participate – as 4Fun, or maybe we will invite some musicians friends to form a new musical project for Eurovision. Who knows, maybe I will propose this song to some singer and will be just the composer of the song. You can expect everything from us!
 
What are you plans for now? Can we expect some appearances or a new release?

The biggest dream and the biggest plan of 4Fun is to realise an album. I think this plan will be released in September. We have all summer to finish the songs. But we also have a lot of performances in different festivals during the summer. We are invited to many Lithuanian cities. On the 22nd June we will perform the opening act in Joe Cocker’s concert in Vilnius. That is a great present for me because it will be my Birthday!

And the classic final question. Do you have a message for the esctoday.com readers?

My message is very simple and warm – believe in yourself and don’t be afraid to do something different. We are all unique and we must find out who we are because all people cannot be the same! Also I want to thank all Eurovision fans who liked “Love or leave”, who voted us and who supported us.