LT United

LT United was a Lithuanian pop-rock supergroup formed in 2006 to represent Lithuania at the Eurovision Song Contest in Athens, Greece. The band was led by Andrius Mamontovas, a prominent Lithuanian rock musician, who assembled five other well-known artists: Marijonas Mikutavičius (vocals), Viktoras Diawara (vocals and guitar), Saulius Urbonavičius (vocals and bass), Arnoldas Lukošius (keyboards and accordion), and Eimantas Belickas (violin and saxophone). Each member brought a wealth of experience from music or television, earning the group a reputation as a “national basketball team” of Lithuanian talent.

The group competed in the Lithuanian national selection for Eurovision with their song “We Are the Winners,” written by Mamontovas, Diawara, and Urbonavičius. The track’s bold, repetitive chorus—”We are the winners of Eurovision”—was both humorous and provocative, capturing widespread attention. LT United won the national selection with 32,669 votes, nearly doubling the runner-up’s total, securing their spot in Athens.

At Eurovision 2006, LT United delivered a memorable performance featuring Arnoldas Lukošius’ energetic dancing, Saulius Urbonavičius singing through a megaphone, and Eimantas Belickas’ rock violin solos. The song’s cheeky lyrics divided audiences—some booed, perceiving arrogance, while others appreciated the irony. Despite the mixed reception, the band advanced from the semi-final, placing 5th with 163 points, and achieved 6th place in the final with 162 points, earning strong votes from Ireland, the UK, Latvia, and Estonia. This remains Lithuania’s best Eurovision result to date.

Outside of Eurovision, LT United received significant recognition. After their national selection victory, Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus invited them to perform at the country’s Independence Day celebration. They also served as ambassadors for the United Nations’ “Time to Help the Others” program. Their music video for “We Are the Winners,” directed by Donatas Ulvydas, blended performance clips with archival footage, showcasing the group’s charisma. The single, which included a World Cup-themed remix, achieved commercial success, going platinum in Lithuania with over 5,000 copies sold and reaching number 14 on Finland’s singles chart.

LT United disbanded after fulfilling their Eurovision goal. “We Are the Winners” remains a cultural staple. In 2022, the band reunited briefly to release a reimagined version of their hit, titled “You Are the Winners, Ukraina,” in support of Ukraine.