Karl Killing; Egert Milder; Ivo & Robert Lina and Supernova, Koit Toome, Hans Nayna and Andrei Zevakin & Pluuto are the names who will continue in the race to get to fly the Estonian flag at Eurovision 2021 in Rotterdam.
They promised and eventually accomplished. We just learned the first six acts that have been granted a spot in the Estonian national selection ‘Eesti Laul 2021’, after its first semifinal broadcast live from Tallinn’s Eurovision 2002 venue, Saku Suurhall.
Karl Killing, Egert Milder, Ivo & Robert Lina and Supernova, Koit Toome are the acts who made it through the first voting round which used a 50/50 combination of the votes from the public at home with their calls and sms as well as an on-studio panel to decide the strongest performances. Then, the audience had solely its say and picked Hans Nayna and Andrei Zevakin & Pluuto among the ones still in competition.
Estonian public broadcaster Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR) put up a great show which had nothing to feel jealous of or envy if compared to its competitors and other national selection shows around the continent. After the opening ceremony who saw all the artists walking in on and through the stage as they were called, TV hosts Grete Kuld and Tonis Niinemets kicked off with the competing performances which show diverse and high quality numbers.
These were the 12 acts making up tonight’s line-up, whose running order was drawn and announced back in January, so were the starting positions for the second semifinal coming up on Saturday. Eurovision 2014 alumn, Tanja Mihhailova, opened with her 80’s-inspired ‘Best Night Ever’ and Eurovision 1996 legend, Ivo Linna, closed the series we watched during the show. Koit Toome had been rated and tipped by the betting odds and fan polls as the favorite to win the semifinal tonight. We do not know if he did, but he will try to conquer people’s hearts again in March.
- 1. Tanja: “Best Night Ever”
- 2. Hans Nayna: “One By One” (advanced from the second round)
- 3. Wiiralt: “Tuuled”
- 4. Kea: “Hypnotized”
- 5. Andrei Zevakin & Pluuto: “Wingman” (advanced from the second round)
- 6. Karl Killing: “Kiss Me” (direct finalist)
- 7. Nika Marula: “Calm Down” (jury favorite, advanced from the second round)
- 8. Egert Milder: “Free Again” (direct finalist and jury favorite)
- 9. Tuuli Rand: “Üks öö”
- 10. Koit Toome: “We Could Have Been Beautiful” (direct finalist and jury favorite)
- 11. Kristin Kalnapenk: “Find A Way”
- 12. Ivo Linna, Robert Linna, Supernova: “Ma olen siin” (direct finalist and jury favorite)
BUILDING A SUCCESS
Estonia is one of those small countries which has been working hard to develop a big national selection procedure for Eurovision. The show has seen the most popular and beloved artists in the country for years trying to represent the nation in Europe’s favorite TV show. The show is as big as it is today due to the hard work TV producer and former Head Of Delegation Mart Normet did for years, prior to Tomi Rahula’s taking the leading pole in 2018. Rahula o-wrote Koit Toome’s Eurovision 1998 entry ‘Mere Lapsed’. The whole thing speaks today by itself. Simply Estonia’s most watched TV show.
A few weeks after Eurovision 2020 was cancelled, the broadcaster broke its silence and granted Uku Suviste, their 2020 winner, a spot in the competition whether he accepted to participate. ERR was not due to refuse organising their annual extravaganza given the popularity it has reached over the years. Uku did and so started working hard to keep the high level people felt in love with, going beyond expectations. He will take the stage with ‘The Lucky One‘ during Saturday’s second semi-final, which will also take place live from Tallinn at 18:30 CET.
Eesti Laul 2021 will select its Eurovision 2021 act on March 6th, where 12 finalists will fight for the ticket to Rotterdam. The baffling COVID-19 pandemic hitting the world since early 2020 has left the audience apart from attending Saku Suurhall in the Estonian capital city in the exercise of following necessary safety measures. In the event any of the artists competing is diagnosed with the virus, a plan has been developed in order to still have its song competing with the music video and aim for the chance to step onto the big stage in May.
Who is your favorite from the second semifinal? Take a look at the acts down below and vote! Is Uku’s 2021 entry as good as ‘What Love Is’? Have a say and choose your favorites!
Estonia will take the stage during the first half of the second semifinal of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest on May 20th.