Last month we discovered that Eesti Laul 2019 would expand significantly on the format used for the 2018 competition.
And now Estonian broadcaster ERR has opened submissions for the competition and a brand new portal for entrants to submit their songs to the competition.
Aspiring artists have until November 6 to submit through the brand new online environment.
Eesti Laul boss Tomi Rahula says the move is designed to make entrants’ lives easier. Speaking to popular Estonian magazine Kroonika he said:
“It makes sense that time is spent on creating and developing music, rather than going around with paper. [We’ve designed the portal] so the authors can easily do everything in one place in the right place, and the participants will not have to drive to the center of Tallinn.”
In a change from previous years, artists will have to pay between €25-€50 to enter the competition and foreign artists will be allowed to enter the competition.
Stig Rästa to enter Eesti Laul 2019?
Eesti Laul 2019 may be expanding, but some things never change. And one of those appears to be Stig Rästa’s regular entires to the competition.
He disclosed the news during an appearance on morning TV show Terevisioon.
When presenters asked if he would participate, he said he would “probably” enter again, this time as a songwriter.
He also road-tested ERR’s new online submission platform during the interview.
Stig last entered Eesti Laul in 2018 with the song “Home”.
The year before he wrote Elina Born’s 2017 entry “In Or Out” and the year before that the winning entry “Play”.
Whether his new project Big Ohe will feature in this year’s bid or not remains to be seen.
Semi-Finalists will be announced on November 15, but songs won’t be released until December 4 so fans have a wait ahead of them. The first semi-final will air live on January 26.
People will call me crazy but I want Desiree back with a strong chill song that fits her vocals (don’t@me). Also, I want Frankie Animal, Iiris, Cartoon and Kerli back.
He’s amazzzZZzzzzZzz
I would like to see Vajé, Daniel Levi, and Rasmus Rändvee competing.
Me too! Loved them all
Totally. I wanna see Daniel Levi or Rasmus Rändvee winning.
Rasmus is at studio. His instagram shows that.
He in?
Stig Rusty needs to stay out of this.
You know you’re a genius, don’t you?
He’s overrated by eurofans who never heard or remember all his previous Euro/Eesti Laul efforts before winning in 2015.
Well, you never win if you never fail–which means that’s a good growth for him.
I hope Stig can scrape those 25 to 50 euros together. Do they go towards paying off Elina’s dress?
They brought this fee in because a lot of nobodys sent nonsense songs there that they recorded with their computers micophones. They want people to think before they send their ”masterpieces” and this small fee makes jurys work easier. They don’t have to listen to those nonsense songs.
I love Stig’s songs so much and generally, Eesti Laul is one of my favourites national finals <3
I strongly wish they would bring us something in Estonian, perhaps Etnopatsy this year? Külm was amazing!
“Külm” was boring and repetitive, the standard of songs in Estonian have been generally weak for the past 4 years. then again it’s hard to match the levels of magic and thrills “Rändajad” “Kuula” & “Et uus saaks alguse” did.
The three you mentioned – I really wish we could get songs like them! But even something like Külm would be fine for me, I enjoy it :3
I could do a year without Stig Rästa, his last 3 compositions in Eesti Laul were so-so. only came 2nd in last edition cause he had performed it but I’m really excited to hear the next refreshing line-up of songs from Estonia as their selection has become one of my favorites in recent years. always several decent, contemporary and interesting songs each year that would fit international radio and whatever parties you’re going to very well, I hope to hear more Indie, Electro, Dream-pop and the downright bizarre for Eesti Laul 2019 and the changes sound good, especially 4 extra… Read more »
I’m still sad kui tuuled pöörduvad didn’t win in 2014
https://youtu.be/4jjmTQikKbY
That was the last really good song in Estonian! would’ve made the final Copenhagen for sure, I miss Sandra
Works for me! Keep those hits coming.
Oh yes! I prefer him as a songwriter, I hope he’ll go for another vintage style he’s known for. Play, Goodbye to Yesterday, In or Out were all great!