Estonia has spent the past two years in the Eurovision wilderness. In 2016, Jüri Pootsman finished last in his semi-final and last year, Eurovision veterans Koit Toome & Laura failed to turn things around, finishing in fourteenth place. Tonight Estonia has the chance to turn that trend around: Ten acts will take to the stage in the final of Eesti Laul 2018 and by the end of the night one of them will have won the ticket to fly the flag for Tallinn on stage in Lisbon in May. 

Last week, we asked you who you think should win the final of Eesti Laul 2018 and you have a conclusive favourite: Elina Nechayeva. The multi-talented soprano and TV-host won 48% of all votes cast, making “La Forza” your clear favourite of the competition and the one international Eurofans will be watching tonight during the show.

Her nearest competition looks set to come from Stig Rästa. His guitar ballad “Home” won 16% of all votes cast, which was enough for second place in our pol and makes him the only act besides Elina Nechayeva to have made it into double figures. Vajé, who placed in third, only managed to win 9% of all votes cast.

Iiris & Agoh took 7% of the vote in fourth and Frankie Animal round out the top 5 with 6% of the vote.

ELINA NECHAYEVA IS YOUR FAVOURITE TO WIN EESTI LAUL 2018

The other five acts accounted for 15% of all votes cast.

  1. Elina Nechayeva with “La Forza” 1,413 (48%)
  2. Stig Rästa with “Home” 478 (16%)
  3. Vajé with “Laura (Walk with Me)” 255 (9%)
  4. Iiris & Agoh with “Drop That Boogie” 196 (7%)
  5. Frankie Animal with “(Can’t Keep Calling) Misty” 182 (6%)
  6. Nika with “Knock Knock” 139 (5%)
  7. Sibyl Vane with “Thousand Words” 105 (4%)
  8. Karl Kristjan & Karl Killing feat. Wateva with “Young” 86 (3%)
  9. Evestus with “Welcome to My World” 60 (2%)
  10. Eliis Pärna & Gerli Padar with “Sky” 36 (1%)

You’ll be able to watch the final of Eesti Laul 2018 live from 18:30CET tonight through ERR or our partners DELFI. As last year, the show will air in two parts, with the performances and results aired separately.

YOU CAN GET MORE ESTONIA NEWS HERE

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Katrinelene
Katrinelene
6 years ago

Elinaaaaaa!!!!!!! First!!!!!!

Colin
Colin
6 years ago
Reply to  Katrinelene

Congrats to the BEST song! Thank you, Estonia!!!

Roxy
Roxy
6 years ago
Reply to  Katrinelene

Yaaaayy! Good choice Estonia, very good choice!

Colin
Colin
6 years ago

Thank you, Estonian jury for, of course, placing masterpiece of La Forza on the first place! Estonian people, you have ONE JOB now. I know you like Stig and Vaje, and they did ok too, but listen to me – Your card for possibly winning ESC, definitely finishing in Top 10 is ELINA!!! Please, Estonia, don’t disappoint!

Roxy
Roxy
6 years ago

She sounded even better than the semi.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

I mean… it should be obvious.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

Yeah there’s not much to talk about.
“La Forza” is several miles above the rest.

Honestly, I liked Nika second best tonight. After that I have a tie between Frankie Animal and Sybil Vane.

Ari
Ari
6 years ago

2, 6 and 7 were really endearing performances.

Ari
Ari
6 years ago
Reply to  Ari

The Estonian language did number 2 really good.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Ari

It was a good performance, but personally I prefered the English version. There were a few cut-off vowels in Estonian which made the song less melodic, in my opinion. But feel free to disagree. 🙂

Ari
Ari
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Nah, I believe there is zero disagreement in who will win this. 😛 It was just my overall assessment that these three performances were the most pleasant. I would have included 1 as well, but did they really have to display THOSE lyrics on screen? 😛

Dan Farmer
Dan Farmer
6 years ago

I really am hoping that Estonia picks Elina so they can get back in the top 10!! She is my favourite by a huge mile but Stig is my 2nd favourite

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

Elina gave a wonderfully moving performance. Congratulations to “La Forza”. I will be shocked if it doesn’t win now.

Colin
Colin
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

La Forza is a masterpiece and possibly my 1st if it wins. It’s such a unique, gorgeous song and she can do it live gracefully and easily. It’s stunning! Misty and Knock Knock are really good too.

disposable-meter
disposable-meter
6 years ago

So much of worshipping…

Colin
Colin
6 years ago

Taevas (Sky) – What a pleasant surprise! Much better in Estonian + their live performance is really good!

Sabrina
Sabrina
6 years ago
Reply to  Colin

I don’t like the song, but their vocals and the staging are top-class. Storytelling as its best.

Eve
Eve
6 years ago

I think she will win tonight, but I don’t like this at all, it’s so pretensious and over the top, actually, I don’t like opera..

Digital Style
Digital Style
6 years ago

There is proof that opera doesn’t work in Eurovision, so for the sake of their dignity they shouldn’t choose La Forza. It’s not even that good, to be honest.

Stephanie
6 years ago
Reply to  Digital Style

France 2011? The bookies had it as their winner, but Amaury could only finish mid-table

Denis
Denis
6 years ago
Reply to  Stephanie

We should be prepared for something similar this year

RMNA
RMNA
6 years ago
Reply to  Digital Style

Maybe,but since 2003 Estonia was only present in 5 finals.So what’s stoping them from risking with opera?Nothing in my opinion,they should choose La Forza.

Jonas
Jonas
6 years ago
Reply to  Digital Style

Il Volo’s “popera” topped the televote in 2015, on the other hand.

Digital Style
Digital Style
6 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

Maybe I’m just too harsh, but I think that was for reasons other than their musical talent.

Daniel
Daniel
6 years ago
Reply to  Digital Style

You had opera in Eurovision in the 1960s. All that followed was crossover.
“La forza” is the closest Eurovision has had to opera in 50 years.

Wayne
Wayne
6 years ago

I cannot wait for La Forza to win Eesti Laul Hahahahaha

Sved
Sved
6 years ago

I think La Forza stands as a clear top 10 in the grand final, probably the surest one of all countries but I have my doubts about this, concerning as being winner material.

Make no mistake, I love it, but her singing probably outshines everything else. The song itself is not that much of a mountain-valley-mountain of emotions. In fact this melody works as a slave of Elina’s voice. Everything is set to make her voice shine. It’s not her voice showing up to make a great song even greater.

Boy
Boy
6 years ago

IF this Song gonna Win for Estonia, they are NOT going to the final. Awful

allexo
allexo
6 years ago
Reply to  Boy

are you kidding, if Estonia picks La Forza, they have basically won the whole eurovision.

Denis
Denis
6 years ago
Reply to  allexo

LOL why? Because opera works so well in ESC?

esc1234
esc1234
6 years ago

Omg Let the eurofans favorite win so we have the first huge flop of the year

P.S kisses from france 2011

impressiveinstants
impressiveinstants
6 years ago
Reply to  esc1234

Amaury’s live was awful.

Daniel
Daniel
6 years ago

Amaury is not a full opera singer. Opera takes more years of specialized training. And Elina IS an opera singer. That is the difference.

Roxy
Roxy
6 years ago
Reply to  esc1234

2011 was a weird year. I still don’t get what the hell has happened that year. I hope Elina won’t share the same fate as Amaury.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

sh-should!

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

Please can we confirm the start time of the Eesti Laul final?
I have 20:35CET penciled in here, not 18:30CET. That’s a rather big difference between us!

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Ahh, my bad.
Apparently Part 1 of the final starts at 18:30 CET, while the Results part of the final starts at 20:35 CET. What sillyness.

NOOORWAAYYY
NOOORWAAYYY
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

On the website it says that Part 1 of the final will be at 18:30 CET and Part 2 will be at 20:35 CET

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  NOOORWAAYYY

Thanks. My mistake.

Ari
Ari
6 years ago
Reply to  NOOORWAAYYY

Kind of weird to me, both Finland and Estonia starting so early. I mean, for me, it’s good but in Austria, prime time starts at 20:15 CET. Shows at 18:30 would not have very high viewing figures.

Phary
Phary
6 years ago
Reply to  Ari

Neither Finland nor Estonia are in the CET time zone, so the shows will start at 19:30 local time 😉

Ari
Ari
6 years ago
Reply to  Phary

Ah indeed, fair enough. Still a tad early. 😉

Roxy
Roxy
6 years ago
Reply to  NOOORWAAYYY

What are Part 1 and Part 2? Should we pay attention to Part 1?

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Roxy

Part 1 are all the performances, i.e. the singing.
Part 2 is the results show. There might be some guest acts on in this part too, I don’t know.
One would think Wiwi’s partners in Estonia would advertise the details of the show on here in a little more detail.

Kyna
Kyna
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

We have two parts because at 21:00 local time there is our national news which is kinda mandatory, it’s always been like this no matter what event. Lasts about 30-35 minutes. And it’s a good time to have a small break for everyone.
If I remember correctly, then the voting should start before showing the news. So yeah this is the reason we have two parts 😉

Roxy
Roxy
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

I see. So the songs will be out as of 18:30? Thanks, both of you.

Kyna
Kyna
6 years ago
Reply to  Roxy

Yes, you’re welcome 🙂

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

It’s going to be an amazing evening. 🙂