We are getting close to Estonia’s national selection for Eurovision Eesti Laul 2016, which kicks off on February 13. In recent weeks the Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — has been listening and reviewing all of the songs. Mick Pedaja was the first one we came across us with his song “Seis”. He is bringing us some extraordinary shamanic energy, a call for nature. Did he manage to take us away into the emerald dream? Read and find out!
MICK PEDAJA — “SEIS”
“SEIS” REVIEWS
Robyn: I really like this song but, dammit, this is not a Eurovision song. I love the mix of the delicate, folky vocals with the slowly building moody electronic textures. But it seems more suited to an arts festival than ESC. But even if there’s no Eurovision future for this song, I’ve already put it in a Spotify playlist.
Score: 8/10
Cristian: Is “Seis” a right song for the Eurovision? No, not at all but… who cares? I could have said exactly the same thing for “Love injected” the last year but it became one of my fave Eurovision entry ever so I’m here to support Mick Pedaja and his song, pure eargasmic emotion. This is possibly the best entry of this Eesti Laul!
Score: 10/10
Bernardo: I’m feeling it! Damm right, I am. Just like Luis, I’m getting Sigur Rós vibes here — and I love it. One of my favorite entries. I think very well staged this could bring emotional tears in the eyes of ESC fans and make quite a good impression in Stockholm. Love, love, love!
Score: 8.5/10
Luis: This is probably the closest I’ll ever be to see something like Sigur Rós at Eurovision. This is first class ambient music, but unfortunately, ambient is not a winning horse in a pop contest. “Seis” goes straight to my “moody Sunday” list.
Score: 8.5/10
William: Colour me depressed. This three minutes of nothing is more ambient than musical and seems to strive to induce sleep in listeners. It values production over melody, and sound effects over a story. This would be great as a backing track in a documentary on Inuit traditions. But at Eurovision it would just leave the audience cold.
Score: 3.5/10
Anthony: This is another one of those songs that I’ll be more than happy to listen to, but falls way outside the usual Eurovision comfort zone. “Seis” is deeply mesmerizing and the Estonian lyrics adds that extra magical touch to the song. It may struggle to win over the televoters at Stockholm, but it never fails to give me goosebumps.
Score: 8/10
Renske: I would love to hear an Estonian-language ballad in Eurovision again! But in contrast, “Seis” doesn’t have what “Kuula” and “Rändajad” both had. The song doesn’t have a climax, it doens’t have an end. In Eurovision, it would be lost. But it’s surely a beautiful song.
Score: 7.5/10
Sinan: From the beginning I did not like it much, but after a while the beat became interesting! I think its a good song, a different song. This type of song relaxes me, but it is also a little depressing.
Score: 8/10
Antranig: I like songs that are a little different but what on earth is this? This sounds like something they would play at a medical clinic to numb your senses before they stab you with a needle. Strangely enough, a needle would be less painful than listening to this again.
Score: 0/10
Zakaria: I wouldn’t be surprised if the Eesti Laul audience consults for depression after hearing that. The song starts in a very flat and depressive dark-ambiant tone and doesn’t evolve at all. Three minutes passes and I’m still waiting for something to happen! Mick still has an emotional and beautiful voice though.
Score: 2/10
“SEIS” SCORES
Mikhail: 9/10
Josh: 9/10
Deban: 9/10
Bogdan: 7/10
Angus: 3/10
Patrick: 2/10
Kristin: 9.5/10
George: 5/10
Denise: 2/10
Dayana: 9.5/10
The highest and lowest scores are removed before calculating the final score. We have dropped a low of 0 and a high of 10.
Antranig, you are the biggest queer I’ve even seen, a 0/10? Hun, you wish he could perform at your gay wedding.
I want to personally apologise to Mick and his fans for giving him a 7. Can I switch my score to 10?
(What a difference good staging makes!)
Love the song but it requires some bravery on Estonia’s part. This could win Eurovision or finish bottom of the semis. I think it is too much of a risk considering that they have some safer choices.
LOL at whoever said Eurovision is a “pop contest” because it is not. Just by saying that, their comments are unacceptable.
It must be a law, to not say that a song is not suitable for eurovision. Every song is suitable for it, not just trashy schlager pop.
Not for Eurovision? Where does it state Eurovision is limited to recycled pop trash? But then again, typical narrow-minded eurofans would probably jump at the very thought…
It would be risky to send this song to Stockholm. I love it!
Epic! Great! Hope to see him in Stockholm. Eurovision needs true arts!
On one hand I think Seis is beautifully haunting, on the other I feel ready to doze off by the end. It’s just not something that can hold an audience’s attention in an arena like ESC, let alone those watching at home. No matter what staging they use for it I feel people will still look back on it feeling confused, as if it were one big blur of sameness, despite that sameness being musically inspiring to listen to. Unlike other moody slow songs at ESC, this actually goes nowhere and it would be hard for most people to appreciate… Read more »
I think you guys are seriously underestimating how much the staging could set this song apart in both EL and ESC. I think it has real potential as a Nocturne type deal, with the visuals, the music and the vocals coming together harmoniously, and it would be totally captivating to witness in my opinion. That’s all assuming the staging is actually well thought out, but I have more faith in Estonia than in many other countries to pull such a performance off. Not thay any of this matters, I know Play is going to win EL, and I love that… Read more »
I’m kind of surprised at how a lot of the comments here seem to defend this song… LOL, did I just happen to write them down in my sleep or something? xD Not surprised to see the reactions of the Wiwi Jury; ‘Seis’ is a very Vegemite/Marmite-type song that could divide listeners either way. However, I did already say that I liked this song. Not just as a potential Eurovision song, but as a song-song. The acoustic version, though, I’m surprised to say, is very beautiful and stripped back… ‘haunting’ is the word I’m looking for here; I’ve got chills… Read more »
just ask Molly Sterling or John Karayiannis about how appreciative Eurovision audiences are of subdued songs
This is a masterpiece and if this song goes to eurovision it has my vote, with a good staging this could get the top 5, look at Aminata last year, if everybody sends a generic pop song this is going to stand out
I don’t think Estonia will choose ”Seis”. Estonia is planning to win, maybe not this year but maybe in few years. It was already said in Estonian media that winning plan is very serious. This year probably not because there aren’t anyone who could win the whole contest but who knows. It all depends on live performances.
Do I love this song? HELL YES!!
Do I want to see it at Eurovision? HELL NO!!
I want I Wear* Experiment – Patience or Wurffel -I’m Facing North to represent Estonia. They’re also very different songs just like Padja – Seis. But aren’t boring as hell! 😀
Beautiful song and I love this kind of music but I 100% agree that this is not a Eurovision song. I just can’t see them both clicking, but perhaps entering it would open the door to bridge the gap to having future entries like this. Seis will definitely be in my playlist!
There is no way of knowing how this would do at Eurovision. On one side, with the right atmosphere and evocative peformance, this might do reaaallly well. On the other side it might just become another Boggie where people just go for a toilet break because of how bland it might be on the big stage.
That being said, I absolutely LOVE the song. I just have no idea how it would do at ESC.
‘not a eurovision song’?
rather have this or something fresh like Windy Beach representing Estonia than the formulaic songs by Juri, Laura, or Grete
an atypical ‘boring’ song qualified them for the final last year
the standard pop diva kept them in the semis in 2014
just keep that in mind
Some guys have already forgotten Calm After The Storm…
Eurovision is not only for the eurofans who systematically want a girl (that they know already, ex Laura and Grete) with an uptempo mainstream non original dance/pop track…
I find this very boring though.
Wow you guys are REALLY split on whether or not you like this song!!!!
Wow, this one really split you guys, but it seems like the kind of song that would do that. I thought this was a really cool and very nice song, but it is soooo wrong for Eurovision. Something like “Love Injected” picked up a lot more quickly, thus letting a more mainstream audience get into it quickly. Most of the people who just want to here the same pop they always get at Eurovision would not appreciate this.
One of the best songs in Eesti Laul this year. It’s hypnotic and euphoric. It makes me addicted to it. Really beautiful song and good singer. I hope he won’t sing it eyes closed all the time.
Interesting.
I would love to see this in Eurovision. If you play risky you might get decent result.
Reminds me on Sanomi little bit.
You are crazy , this song is too good for Eurovision , it definitely deserves 100/10 , too good :
Not to forget, Nocturne from Norway was also a winner. Maybe it could happen again
Im so done with some queens here on wiwibloggs ,always wanting Pop dancing tunes to in Eurovision lol, guess what?! Eurovision IS NOT A POP CONTEST ,its a SONG CONTEST. ITS ABOUT DIVERSITY GUYS!
im starting to thing my gurl Deban is the only one with some actual music taste.anyways..
This song is a complete MASTERPIECE,and i would be so happy if it represented Estonia this year at eurovision ,wayyyy better than generic pop songs like “Supersonic” ,”Play” or that Horrid generic pop song that is called “stories untold”
I don’t like it either..
I love the Song !
It’s so much better than Supersonic…
.
9.5/10
My Favorite among them all!! I love this song and I hope he wins. He is just like the Estonian version of Jamse Blake
I’m afraid this song is too good for Eurovision. It’s so beautiful and evocative.
I’m always sad to hear and read everytime that this song or that song is not suited for Eurovision.
Are you so close-minded guys ?
What planet are some of you guys on? 0/10, 2/10, 3/10 – seriously!!!??? This is quality. A haunting, beautiful song and he has an excellent, emotive live vocal. This is music with some depth attached to it. Not every ESC song needs to be upbeat, light, frothy pop etc. This would absolutely stand out on the ESC stage and would be a wise selection for Eesti Laul voters/jury members to make for Stockholm, for the very fact it will be different. He just needs to improve his performance by opening his eyes and engaging with the camera. Simple spotlight on… Read more »
So many beautiful songs in Eesti Laul, as always.
I was worried when the start of the song sounded like someone behind the mic was popping bubble wrap, but it turns out that it’s the only thing that pops with this song. It’s extremely atmospheric, but it belongs in an art award show, not Eurovision. I can see this being a nice backing score for a film, it’s very Hunger Games. But this is leaving me more hungry than game for more.
Score: 4/10