It took us 10 years to reach this. It's never too late to follow your dreams. It was our night at M.A.M.A. Awards:
• Breakthrough of the Year - WINNER;
• Pop Band of the Year - WINNER;
• Song of the Year - 'On Fire' - WINNER;
• Band of the Year - WINNER.
Dance Tutorial
THE MESSAGE. With our song "Discoteque", we want people to move. When you move, you FEEL GOOD; it’s common knowledge. And everyone knows dancing is good for you and has POSITIVE EFFECTS on our physical and MENTAL HEALTH.
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A growing number of researchers have proven that, while dancing, an abundance of mood-improving chemicals are released within the body of the dancer. These chemicals help improve your mental state; even one dance session can reduce DEPRESSION.
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Music and dance LIBERATES everyone. There’s not a single person who cannot dance. This is innate. Dance is like a tool which can also HEAL SCARS. This song and movement aims liberate our minds, which contains too much self-criticism, fear of appearing different, reluctance to ACCEPT your body.
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So let's dance! Let's DISCOTEQUE!
Open Discoteque in Vilnius
Vilnius and the mayor of the city has raised the stakes for this year's Eurovision Song Contest by promising to create an open-air discotheque for everyone to party at if we win it all this May in Rotterdam! Make sure to support us and hopefully we can all meet and dance together at the Open Discotheque once it's safe to do so.
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Find out more about the Open Dicoteque here: www.opendiscoteque.com
Live on tape
Yesterday we had an important task. We spent all day at the “Avia Solutions Group” arena in Vilnius where we shot the backup performance for this year’s “Eurovision”.
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This option would be used in a scenario where the pandemic intensifies or artists get sick and cannot travel to Rotterdam. In that case this video would be shown.
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We had one hour to roll the cameras and shoot three takes. The whole process was monitored live online by “Eurovision” representatives, whom we can symbolically call inspectors. Then, together with the whole team, we chose which performance we liked best.
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By the way, these recordings along with scenography and visuals (except for backstage) would be kept secret until “Eurovision” - so that in case they must be used, they would be unseen for the viewers previously.
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We can, however, disclose several details. The stage that was constructed was the biggest ever in Lithuania. The screen alone was around 5 ares large. The stage was constantly maintained by around a 100 people. The performance went great! We are very satisfied with the result!
1 000 000
“Discoteque” hit 1 million steams on Spotify! Besides, it is still the most streamed Lithuanian song since the day it was released! Thank you!
Postcard video for Eurovision
We filmed the postcard video which will be shown before our performance on the Eurovision stage in Rotterdam. We can say that last year’s journey finally continues, because it was right before the postcard shooting when everything was cancelled. It’s good to be back on track!
We won again!
THE ROOP won National Eurovision Selection! One more time! Next stop - Rotterdam!
Trophies reached our hands
ESC Radio’s “Best Group” and “Best Song” (ON FIRE) trophies reached our hands. Thank you for these awards. We are happy and we invite you to our discoteque!
Record-breaking week
THE ROOP beat the Lithuanian stream record on “Spotify” with their latest song, Eurovision entry “Discoteque”, released last Friday.
The single became the most streamed song in one week in Lithuania, as announced by music magazine REVIU.
The record was captured after revising all data of “Spotify” tops since it became popular in Lithuania. On top of that, THE ROOP beat their own record, previously achieved with “On Fire”.
The amount of streams generated by “Discoteque” in Lithuania has never been reached by any international artist, such as worldwide hit creators Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Ariana Grande, Drake, Tone and I or Ed Sheeran, who are really popular in our country and at some point have been in top positions.
This week’s number one song “Discoteque” is in the first position not only among Lithuanian artists, but also among international. Such an event is particularly rare in Lithuania. By the way, “On Fire” also returned to this week’s top.
“Discoteque” is #1 on Lithuanian digital and Radios Airplay chart!
We will confess - we were really nervous before releasing “Discoteque” to the public. We didn’t know what would happen or how it would go. We, however, trusted only ourselves - we really loved the song. And it paid off! “Discoteque” is #1 on Lithuanian digital and Radios Airplay chart!
Best things are born out of friendship!
“Discoteque” video director Saulius Baradinskas is an old friend of Vaidotas, who always supported the musical journey, especially when it was hard and better times weren't anywhere in sight. Before starting work, Saulius and Vaidotas, in pouring rain, climbed up the Hill of Three Cross to see the panorama of Vilnius from up high. Saulius said that big projects require seeing a wider horizon. Mutual trust and connection allowed the video to turn out unique. Thank you, Saulius, for your friendship and professionalism!
Creating a music video in quarantine conditions
Few pics from “Discoteque” behind the scenes. Creating a music video in quarantine conditions is really not easy. Around 50 people took part in the production! How do we ensure safety? Affidea Lietuva responded to our call for aid. No one could enter the set without a negative covid test. We are extremely thankful for this!
"Discoteque" is out now everywhere!
THE ROOP have already noticed with their previous hit ”On Fire” how music and dance affects people. Music and dance liberates everyone. There’s not a single person who cannot dance. This is innate. Dance is like a tool which can also heal scars.
This 80s styles and movies “Alice in Wonderland”, “Twin Peaks” inspired music video – directed by award-winning director Saulius Baradinskas.
THE ROOP’s leader Vaidotas says: “The new song “Discoteque” talks about personal inner liberation. Rather often we say that we are free and that we live in a free world. But most of our restraints come from the inside. So, this song and movement aims liberate our minds, which contains too much self-criticism, fear of appearing different, reluctance to accept your body, even limiting your attractiveness.”
The main melody line is reminiscent of old folk songs (if sung in legato, however the band presents it in staccato), so “The Roop” brings folk music sound to the dancefloor.
“Part C or so-called bridge of the song is full of mouth sounds which carries us back in time thousands of years ago. It’s a return to the very beginning of us, where we can start all over again,” says band’s drummer Robertas.
The song is called “Discoteque” - without the letter “h”, because it’s a different kind of discotheque.
“It’s not about showing yourself off. It’s more about being with yourself and accepting yourself the way you are,” says band’s guitarist Mantas.
The song comes together with an energetic dance which can allow you to escape and let loose. Some of the moves of the dance were taken from the childhood, some - inspired by legendary Lithuanian basketball player Arvydas Sabonis.
“Discoteque” will also enter 2021 Lithuanian National Eurovision Selection. The band who were fan favourites to win the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with their song “On Fire” have been invited back to compete straight in the final show.
Not a copy
The new song "Discoteque" is not a copy of "On Fire". That's what we wanted the least. However, one thing that is in common (apart from band members) is that both sound somewhat unusual. And we love it! 3 days until release!
NEW SONG!
Single cover art for “Discoteque”. The song is out THIS FRIDAY! Let the countdown begin!
Anniversary
It has been one year since we released “On Fire”! It was a tough year, but it bore us the sweetest fruits. Thank you for finding out about us, for listening to our songs, thank you for your support, for your inspiring messages! Our journey is not over. It’s only the first step. Come along!
Ambassador of the Year
We won LRT Award of the Year! We received Ambassador of the Year award for being the ones who spread the name of Lithuania around the World the most. This great evaluation obligates us to carry the Lithuania flag as far as we can. We are extremely happy and thankful!
The A team is back!
Good news on the first day of the new year! The dancers (Miglė & Marijanas) will join us on the Eurovision stage once again! The A team is back on track! We are extremely excited!
The Year of 2020
The end of the year. We wanted to write about it, as usual. But. There were so many things, so many ups and downs, we faced sadness and happiness, gave and received so much love and built up our strength to survive, to bloom and to go forward. If we wrote about all of it, this post would be too long to read. But we know one thing for sure - we reached another level. So at the end of the day - 2020 was the most successful and wonderful year for us. Strange, but it's true.
5 nominees!
We have been noticed and we are happy! Lithuanian M.A.M.A. music awards nominated us in 5 categories:
1. Song of the year "On Fire"
2. Pop band of the year
3. Video of the year "On Fire"
4. Band of the year
5. Breakthrough of the year
The heat is getting higher!
