Estonia sends Tanja to Copenhagen!

Andres Putting (EBU)

Tallinn, Estonia - Tonight in a spectacle of a show in Estonia filled with entertainment and 10 wonderful songs, the Grand Final of Eesti Laul 2014 culminated with Tanja being crowned the winner with the song Amazing.

Quality is something we have come to expect from Estonia, and this year was no exception! ERR delivered a spectacular show from the Nokia Concert Hall in Tallinn, where the Grand Final of Eesti Laul 2014 took place.
Ten songs fought their way through the Semi-Finals to make it to tonight's show, and they were all worthy of qualification. However, just one song could win tonight and that was Tanja with the song Amazing, who will wave the Estonian flag in Copenhagen on the 6th of May.
See Tanja perform Amazing below:
 

The participants

The following ten particpants competed into tonight's show, listed below in order of appearance. The winner has been highlighted in bold.

1. Brigita Murutar - Laule täis taevakaar
2. Traffic - Für Elise
3. Norman Salumäe - Search
4. Wilhelm - Resignal
5. Lenna - Supernoova
6. Super Hot Cosmos Blues Band - Maybe-Maybe
7. Maiken - Siin või sealpool maad
8. Kõrsikud - Tule Ja Jää
9. Tanja - Amazing
10. Sandra Nurmsalu - Kui tuuled pöörduvad

Eesti Laul 2014 - Final

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Superfinal

After the 10 songs were performed, the juries gave their results, which accounted for 50% of the vote in the first round. In all 52,000 televotes were recevied making up the other 50% of the votes. The following two acts went to the Superfinal:

• Super Hot Cosmos Blues Band - Maybe-Maybe
• Tanja - Amazing

Birgit and Ott open the show

Opening the show were Birgit Õigemeel and Ott Lepland who represented Estonia at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2013 and 2012 respectively. Birgit appeared first singing an extract of last year's Estonian entry Et Uus Saaks Alguse. After this Ott joined her on stage to perform the track Pea Meeles Head from Birgit's recently released album, Uus Algus.

"Who is drunk, is smart"

The postcards between the songs tonight were created using animated plasticine models and based on old Estonian sayings. You know the English phrase, "hit two birds with one stone"? They use it in Estonia too! Although, instead of birds they use flies, and instead of hitting them, they catch them.
Estonia will take part in the first Semi-Final of the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest, which takes place at the B&W-Hallerne on Refshaleøen in Copenhagen on the 6th of May. The Grand Final takes place on the 10th of May.
Remember, if you missed tonight's show or loved it so much you want to see it again, you can watch it right here on our ESCTV player!

Did the right song win?

Tonight: Estonia chooses its Eesti Laul for Denmark

Sandra Nurmsalu (right), one of tonight's favourites.

 

Tallinn, Estonia - Tonight, Estonia will decide the song and artist that will represent the Baltic state in Copenhagen at the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest in May and you can watch it with us right here on Eurovision.tv.

Tonight, the Nokia Concert Hall in Tallinn will play host to the Final of the 2014 edition of Eesti Laul, where Estonia will choose its entry for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest, taking place in Copenhagen, Denmark in May.
This year is especially prudent for Estonia as the last time the competition was held in Denmark, Tanel Padar and Dave Benton took home victory with their song, Everybody bringing the contest home to Tallinn in 2002, where it was held at the Saku Suurhall.

The line-up

Tonight, ten acts will battle it out for the right to represent their country on the Eurovision stage in Copenhagen. After making it through the Semi-Final stage, they are all eager to achieve the ultimate prize.
These are the ten particpants, in their order of appearance during tonight's show:

1. Brigita Murutar - Laule täis taevakaar
2. Traffic - Für Elise
3. Norman Salumäe - Search
4. Wilhelm - Resignal
5. Lenna - Supernoova
6. Super Hot Cosmos Blues Band - Maybe-Maybe
7. Maiken - Siin või sealpool maad
8. Kõrsikud - Tule Ja Jää
9. Tanja - Amazing
10. Sandra Nurmsalu - Kui tuuled pöörduvad

Eesti Laul 2014

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Where to watch

Well now this is surely a no-brainer! We will be broadcasting Eesti Laul 2014 LIVE right here at Eurovision.tv. All you need to do is visit our ESCTV player and we'll sort the rest! The show starts at 20:35 CET.
Estonia will take part in the first Semi-Final of the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest, which takes place at the B&W-Hallerne on Refshaleøen in Copenhagen on the 6th of May. The Grand Final takes place on the 10th of May.

Who do you want to win tonight?

Final line-up complete in Estonia

Sandra Nurmsalu (right).

Tallinn, Estonia - Tonight, the second Semi-Final of the Estonian national selection, Eesti Laul 2014 took place where five further acts qualified to the Grand Final, thus completing the line-up.

Estonia has one of the more popular national selections in Europe, with a focus on talent and the Estonian language.
In recent years, Estonia's results at the Eurovision Song Contest have been mixed but this year broadcaster ERR are very keen to secure the country a good spot in Copenhagen in just a few months time.

The qualifiers

Tonight the following five acts qualified to the Final, which will be held at the Nokia Concert Hall in Tallinn on the 1st of March:

• Traffic
• Maiken
• Sandra Nurmsalu
• Norman Salumäe
• Brigita Murutar

The participants

Tonight the following ten acts competed for the five places in the Final (qualifiers marked in bold):

1. Norman Salumäe - Search
2. Lauri Pihlap - Lootus
3. Nion - Muud pole vaja
4. Maltised - Elu
5. Sofia Rubina - City Lights
6. MiaMee - Fearful Heart
7. Traffic - Für Elise
8. Maiken - Siin või sealpool maad
9. Sandra Nurmsalu - Kui tuuled pöörduvad
10. Brigita Murutar - Laule täis taevakaar

Eesti Laul 2014

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Final Line-Up

Now that we have our ten qualifiers, the final of Eesti Laul 2014 will look like this:

• Kõrsikud - Tule Ja Jää
• Wilhelm - Resignal
• Tanja - Amazing
• Lenna - Supernoova
• Super Hot Cosmos Blues Band - Maybe-Maybe
• Traffic - Für Elise
• Maiken - Siin või sealpool maad
• Sandra Nurmsalu - Kui tuuled pöörduvad
• Norman Salumäe - Search
• Brigita Murutar - Laule täis taevakaar

The order of performance for the Final has not yet been decided, but stay tuned to Eurovision.tv for all the latest information about Eesti Laul 2014.
Estonia will take part in the first Semi-Final of the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest, which takes place at the B&W-Hallerne on Refshaleøen in Copenhagen on the 6th of May. The Grand Final takes place on the 10th of May.

Are you happy with tonight's qualifiers?

First five acts through to Final in Estonia

Tanja, one of tonight's qualifiers.

Tallinn, Estonia - Tonight, the first Semi-Final of the Estonian national selection, Eesti Laul 2014 took place where five acts qualified to the Grand Final.

Estonia has one of the more popular national selections in Europe, with a focus on talent and the Estonian language.
In recent years, Estonia's results at the Eurovision Song Contest have been mixed but this year broadcaster ERR are very keen to secure the country a good spot in Copenhagen in just a few months time.

The qualifiers

Tonight the following five acts qualified to the Final, which will be held at the Nokia Concert Hall in Tallinn on the 1st of March:

• Kõrsikud - Tule Ja Jää - Kõrsikud
• Wilhelm - Resignal - Lauri Kadalipp
• Tanja - Amazing - Timo Vendt & Tatjana Mihhailova
• Lenna - Supernoova - Mihkel Raud
• Super Hot Cosmos Blues Band - Maybe-Maybe - Mati Sütt, Janno Reim

The participants

Tonight the following ten acts competed for the five places in the Final (qualifiers marked in bold):

1. Tanja - Amazing - Written by Timo Vendt & Tatjana Mihhailova
2. The Titles - Flame - Rasmus Lill, Markus Rafael Nylund
3. Wilhelm - Resignal - Lauri Kadalipp
4. State of Zoe - Solina - Anneliis Kits, Sander Mölder
5. Nimmerschmidt - Sandra - Fredy Schmidt, Andero Nimmer, Merilyn Merisalu
6. VÖÖRAD - Maailm On Hull - Priit Uustulnd, Meiko Umal
7. Super Hot Cosmos Blues Band - Maybe-Maybe - Mati Sütt, Janno Reim
8. August Hunt - Kus On EXIT? - August Hunt
9. Kõrsikud - Tule Ja Jää - Kõrsikud
10. Lenna - Supernoova - Mihkel Raud

Estonia will take part in the first Semi-Final of the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest, which takes place at the B&W-Hallerne on Refshaleøen in Copenhagen on the 6th of May. The Grand Final takes place on the 10th of May.

Are you happy with the result tonight?

Estonia reveals 20 Eurovision hopefuls

Urban Symphony's leading vocalist Sandra Nurmsalu staged a fairy tale back in 2009.

Tallinn, Estonia - Estonian broadcaster, ERR, has revealed the participants of their national selection for the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest. Many stars have decided to return for the next edition of Eesti Laul.

In today's daily roundup show, Ringvaade, the Executive Producer of Eesti Laul, Heidy Purga released the list of the qualifiers.

The lucky qualifiers

• Tanja - Amazing - Written by Timo Vendt & Tatjana Mihhailova
• Sofia Rubina - City Lights - Priit Juurmann, Sofia Rubina
• Maltised - Elu - Jakko Maltis
• MiaMee - Fearful Heart - Liina Saar, Liisi Koikson
• The Titles - Flame - Rasmus Lill, Markus Rafael Nylund
• Sandra Nurmsalu - Kui Tuuled Pöörduvad - Sven Lõhmus
• August Hunt - Kus On EXIT? - August Hunt
• Norman Salumäe - Search - Norman Salumäe
• Traffic - Für Elise - Stig Rästa, Silver Laas
• Brigita Murutar - Laule Täis Taevakaar - Rainer Michelson, Feliks Kütt
• Lauri Pihlap - Lootus - Lauri Pihlap (watch)
• VÖÖRAD - Maailm On Hull - Priit Uustulnd, Meiko Umal
• Super Hot Cosmos Blues Band - Maybe-Maybe - Mati Sütt, Janno Reim (watch)
• Nion - Muud Pole Vaja - Karl Kanter, Keit Triisa, Marilyn Jurman (watch)
• Wilhelm - Resignal - Lauri Kadalipp (listen)
• Nimmerschmidt - Sandra - Fredy Schmidt, Andero Nimmer, Merilyn Merisalu (listen)
• Maiken - Siin Või Sealpool Maad - Kadri Koppel
• State of Zoe - Solina - Anneliis Kits, Sander Mölder
• Kõrsikud - Tule Ja Jää - Kõrsikud
• Lenna - Supernoova - Mihkel Raud (watch)

Stars return

Stars return to Estonian Selection

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Out of this year's qualifiers, Sandra Nurmsalu and Lenna have already experience from the Eurovision Song Contest as singers. The first having represented Estonia in 2009 with Rändajad and Lenna carrying the Swiss flag in 2005 with Vanilla Ninja's Cool Vibes. The author of Sandra's song, Sven Lõhmus, has also written three songs that have competed for Estonia - Suntribe's Let's Get Loud (2005), Sandra Nurmsalu's Rändajad (2009) and Getter Jaani's Rockefeller Street (2011).

Lauri Pihlap was a member of 2XL who won the Eurovision Song Contest the last time it was held in Denmark, in 2001 with Tanel Padar and Dave Benton's Everybody.

Sofia Rubina, August Hunt, Norman Salumäe, Tanja Mihhailova, Traffic, Liisi Koikson and Kõrsikud have all taken part previously in the Estonian national selection but have not managed to win it yet. Kadri Koppel has also taken part in the previous Estonian selection format, Eurolaul and is the vocal coach of Ott Lepland who finished sixth at the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest.

Runaway success

The jury who picked the qualifiers included Maarja-Liis Ilus (represented Estonia at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1996 and 1997), Janek Murd (musician), Erik Morna (Radio 2’s Head of Music), Siim Nestor (music critic), Kaupo Karelson (producer), Valner Valme (music critic), Tauno Aints (composer), Ingrid Kohtla (music editor), Owe Petersell (Editor in Chief of Radio Elmar), Toomas Punas (Programme Director of Radio Sky+), Kostja Tsõbulevski (musician).

This year's show will be held on the 14th, 21st of February with the final on the 1st of March.

Last year Estonia's Birgit Õigemeel finished 20th with her song Et Uus Saaks alguse.

 

This year a record breaking number of 188 songs were sent in to the organisers by the deadline. The format of Eesti Laul has been a runaway success with Estonia qualifying for the Final of the contest four times in the last five years.

 

 

Estonia: ERR confirms details of Eesti Laul 2014

 

Estonia: ERR confirms details of Eesti Laul 2014

Tallinn, Estonia -

With a distinct focus on attracting new Estonian music, broadcaster ERR has revealed details of its popular national selection format, Eesti Laul 2014, with the Grand Final set for the 1st of March.

In recent years, Estonia has seen an upsurge in popularity of its own music and its national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, Eesti Laul, is no exception to this rule.

Launching the 2014 edition of its National Selection, broadcaster ERR is focused on attracting new Estonian music to compete in Eesti Laul. For the past two years Estonia has chosen songs in the Estonian language: Ott Lepland with Kuula in 2012 and Birgit Õigemeel with Et uus saaks alguse in 2013.

 

The process

ERR has set out the process for Eesti Laul 2014 with a submission deadline for entries set at 15:00 EET on the 9th of December.

After this a jury will pick 20 songs to compete in the two Semi-Finals set to take place on the 14th and 21st of February. The songs and participants will be revealed by the 13th of December.

The Grand Final will take place on the 1st of March where the qualifiers from the Semi-Finals will compete for the right to represent Estonia in one of the two Semi-Finals of the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen, Denmark on the 6th and 8th of May. The Grand Final takes place on the 10th of May.

A successful format

During the history of the contest in Estonia, an impressive 721 songs have been submitted making Eesti Laul a catalyst for Estonian music, being the biggest platform for this in the country, where success can be achieved even if you don't win.

An example of this is the group Winny Puhh who entered Eesti Laul in 2013 with the song Meiecundimees üks Korsakov läks eile Lätti. The band have since had much success at home and abroad, recently performing at the Paris Fashion Week.

Interest in the format for Eesti Laul has also been extensive, with countries such as Finland and Latvia basing their own national selections on Eesti Laul. Interest has also been shown in the format from Norway, Sweden and Bulgaria. In addition, a 10 strong delegation from Finland attended the Grand Final of Eesti Laul earlier this year.

Mart Normet from broadcaster ERR said, "Eesti Laul seems to spread like a virus; its positive impact proven to us".

Could history repeat itself?

The last time the Eurovision Song Contest was held in Copenhagen (in 2001), Estonia's Tanel Padar and Dave Benton won the competition with the song Everybody. Now that we are a returning to the Danish captial for the 2014 contest, could history be set to repeat itself? Estonia certainly hopes so!

Stay tuned to Eurovision.tv for more news of Eesti Laul 2014.

Will you be watching Eesti Laul 2014?