It’s the modern national final that’s given Estonia three top-ten finishes at Eurovision. Now Estonia’s national broadcaster ERR has confirmed the dates for Eesti Laul 2018. And 2018 will be a special year — it’s the tenth anniversary of Eesti Laul.

Entries for Eesti Laul 2018 are now open, and will close on 1 November. There’s no word as to whether ERR will again feature a live stream of acts racing to get their entries in before the deadline. But we hope so — it was a highlight of last year’s national final season!

Again just like last year, the competition is also open to songwriters from outside Estonia — just as long as the entry is made with at least 50% partnership with Estonians.

Eesti Laul’s producer Mart Normet is encouraging all to enter. He says, “Everybody is welcome! It doesn’t matter if you’re an established artist or a complete newcomer — the most important thing is that your song gives us something unique in 180 seconds.”

Dates for the three Eesti Laul shows have also been locked in for 2018. The two semi-finals will take place on February 10 and 17, while the grand final will be held two weeks later on March 3.

Fans have noted that the 2018 regulations no longer mention a superfinal vote being used to determine the winner. The regulations say the winner will be decided by a combined jury and televote.

This may be a reaction to Eesti Laul 2017, where alt pop star Kerli won the first round of voting in the grand final, only for runners-up Koit Toome & Laura to win the superfinal and earn the ticket to Kyiv. Despite the local appeal of Koit and Laura and the Eurovision fan following around their song “Verona”, Estonia only placed 14th in their semi-final and missed out on the grand final for the second year in a row.

And following previous years, the grand final will be held at Saku Suurhall in Tallinn — the home of Eurovision 2002. Tickets are already on sale, with half the venue reportedly already sold out.

Ten years of Eesti Laul

Eesti Laul will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2018. The show launched in 2009 as a modern reworking of the previous Eurolaul national final.

The previous nine shows have got Estonia to the Eurovision final five times, but even the non-qualifiers have been fan favourites.

Estonia’s best result in that time was their 2009 entry Urban Symphony with “Rändajad”, which placed sixth with 129 points. In 2012, Ott Lepland also placed sixth with “Kuula”, on 120 points. In 2015 Elina Born & Stig Rästa were hot favourites to win with “Goodbye to Yesterday”, but came a still very respectable seventh place with 106 points.

What do you think? Who would you like to see enter Eesti Laul 2018? Who can get Estonia back into the Eurovision final? Tell us what you think below!

READ MORE ESTONIA MUSIC NEWS

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Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

It’s 10 years of Eesti Laul already! Blimey. It’s always awesome of course. 🙂

Ugnius
Ugnius
6 years ago

Estonia tends to do well in every 3 years 🙂 Urban Simphony was 6th in 2009, then it was a two-year break from success (2010 representative didn’t even qualified for the final while Getter Janni was only 24th in 2011 despite being fan favourite), Ott Leppland was 6th as well (2012) and no success again led Brigit (20th in 2013) and Tanja (non-qualifier). Elina&Stig was 7th in 2015, Juri held a ‘record’ for worst Estonian result ever (18th in SF), and Koit&Laura was once again fan favourite only to come 15th in semi-final. So, they are about to do well… Read more »

cheesecake
cheesecake
6 years ago

Definitely a Highlight in the NF calendar, can’t wait for this.

Ed Jones
Ed Jones
6 years ago

Must say, Estonia’s consistently one of my favourite countries at Eurovision. Bravo, Eesti.

Zebb
Zebb
6 years ago

There’s still an endangerment of some particular foreigners being increased in songs that will make a cut. SF2: generic Keep Running (melfest-filler) over fully local Vihm or WRWOF – still an atrocity.
Well, just to keep that well diversed stuff in show is a perfect bait for picky ass Me. Hopefully a tradition will live up to next editions.

Bringbackdenise
Bringbackdenise
6 years ago

Grete Paia, Queen of the Baltik

Vittoriooo
Vittoriooo
6 years ago

Just ditch this stupid NF with that stupid Superfinal and select Kerli internally.

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago
Reply to  Vittoriooo

If she has another song as twisted as “Spirit Animal”, but with a chorus that doesn’t repeat the same lyrics 4 times in a segment, I’d go for that. 🙂

Marla
Marla
6 years ago

Elina Born & Stig Rästa must come back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KESC
KESC
6 years ago

OFF-TOPIC:
Macedonia confirmed their participation for the next Eurovision as well.
So, with Russia, we have 36 confirmed countries so far..
Adding Moldova, Montenegro, Albania, Czech Republic, Hungary will mean 41 participants.
I’m sure that San Marino will most likely withdraw, so will we just have 41 countries joining the party next year? 🙁
Or will Israel confirm as well?

Anabela
Anabela
6 years ago
Reply to  KESC

I’m sure it’s going to be 42 participants again. Russia will be the returning country and San Marino will withdraw. Israel will definitely be in ESC 2018.

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

Don’t remind me the 2009 song! It was AMAZING! So beautiful! Still love it!

Estonia has a good NF the last few years with many good songs. It’s interesting to watch Eesti Laul every year.

All 3 songs that placed in the top 10 are great songs and deserved it. I still remember how I wanted Estonia to win in 2015! The best song for me the last decade (ok together with 2009). But in 2015 there were many good songs.

Hope for another productive year for the Estonian NF with many good songs!

CharlieChan
CharlieChan
6 years ago

WTF WHY COULDN’T THEY QUIT THE SUPERFINAL ON 2017!!!! KERLI WOULD HAVE WON!!!

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago
Reply to  CharlieChan

If they had left it to the scoring they employed during the final, she would have. However, if Eesti Laul had gone a step further and employed the MF/UMK procedure, Koit and Laura would have won with 236 points to Kerli’s 192.

Jake
Jake
6 years ago

Their national final has really become a well-produced highlight of great songs from different genres. You never know what you are getting with Estonia. Have loved their native language songs best.

NickC
NickC
6 years ago

I love Eesti Laul, and Estonian entries. These guys know how to make music, and it has become part of my big 3 with San Remo and Melfest. I also dare to say, Goodbye to Yesterday is one of the best entries of the last decade, and like many other Estonian entries (including Verona), it is terribly underrated.

bella
bella
6 years ago

Send Juri Pootsman again

David
David
6 years ago
Reply to  bella

that worked out so well for them the first time around 😉

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago
Reply to  David

That song he did with Cartoon is excellent.

Marty
Marty
6 years ago

Well, according to the Hair Conspiracy of Eesti Laul, they’re going to send a blond(e) singer in 2018 lol

Marcus (Day One)
Marcus (Day One)
6 years ago
Reply to  Marty

Omg I just realised that.
Haha

Polka
Polka
6 years ago

Can you explain the joke i couldnt understand it:((?

Anabela
Anabela
6 years ago
Reply to  Marty

LMAO! I never paid attention to that!