Estonian broadcaster ERR has revealed the 24 songs that will compete in the semi-finals of Eesti Laul 2019 next year. The line-up sees four former Estonian Eurovision stars return, as well as the daughter of a winner. And one song that asks a very important question in German.

From 216 entries, an expert jury were tasked with reducing that down to just 24. The jury included many Estonian music industry figures, but also featured some former Eurovision and Eesti Laul regulars. Lenna Kuurmaa, Laura Põldvere and Rolf Roosalu sat on the jury, also a sign that these artists wouldn’t be having another turn in Eesti Laul 2019.

While the names of the songs, performers and songwriting credits have already been released, we’ll have to wait a couple more weeks to hear the songs. They will be released on December 1.

Vocal group The Swingers features two female vocalists who have both previously represented Estonia at Eurovision. In 2013, Birgit Õigemeel performed “Et uus saaks alguse”, while the following year Tanja sang and danced with “Amazing”.

In 2009 Sandra Nurmsalu was the lead vocalist of the group Urban Symphony. They placed sixth with “Rändajad”. This is Sandra’s Eesti Laul appearance as a solo performer.

Sissi is the daughter of Dave Benton, who was part of the team who gave Estonia its first (and so far only) Eurovision win in 2001. Earlier this year, Sissi was the runner-up of Eesti otsib superstaari (Estonian Idol).

Melodifestivalen fans may remember Victor Crone from 2015. He performed with Behrang Miri on the Måns Zelmerlöw-written “Det rår vi inte för”. This time he’s here as a solo performer, singing a song written by another Eurovision star, Estonia’s Stig Rästa, this time entering only as a songwriter.

In case anyone is wondering, no, Kerli Kivilaan isn’t the same Kerli who gave us “Spirit Animal” in 2017. This Kerli will be singing “Cold Love”, which kind of sounds like the sort of thing her namesake would sing.

Stefan was one half of Vajé who placed third with “Laura (Walk With Me)” in the Eesti Laul 2018 superfinal. Stefan will be performing as a solo artist this time.

Eesti Laul semi-regular Grete Paia is also in for 2019. She previously competing in 2013 (where she placed second in the superfinal with “Päästke noored hinged”) and in 2016, where “Stories Untold” placed seventh in the grand final.

In 2016, Kristel Aaslaid placed third in the superfinal with the song “Immortality”, performed with Cartoon. She now has a new group, Öed, along with Tuuli Rand. Earlier this year they had the amazing single “Rulli Rulli Rulli”.

Uku Suviste is currently a contestant on the ongoing seventh season of Golos (The Voice Russia). He selected Ani Lorak as his coach, however the elimination episodes have not started yet

Kaia Tamm is competing with the German-language song “Wo sind die Katzen?” (Where are the cats?) We’re intrigued by the title, we like cats, and we wonder if the rest of the song will answer the question.

We have also noticed that one of the songs is titled “Supernova”. This follows Estonia’s super tradition, with “Supersonic”, “Superlove”, “Supernatural” in the past few years. Super! We don’t know yet if “Supernova” will be an ode to the Latvian national final.

Competing semi-finalists of Eesti Laul 2019

Entires are listed alphabetically by artist name. This does not represent potential running order.

  • Around The Sun – “Follow Me Back”
  • Cätlin Mägi & Jaan Pehk – “Parmumäng”
  • Grete Paia – “Kui isegi kaotan”
  • Lacy Jay – “Halleluja”
  • Inger – “Coming Home”
  • Iseloomad – “Kaks miinust”
  • Jennifer Cohen – “Little Baby El”
  • Johanna Eendra – “Miks sa teed nii?”
  • Kerli Kivilaan – “Cold Love”
  • Kadiah – “Believe”
  • Kaia Tamm – “Wo sind die Katzen?”
  • Lumevärv ft. INGA – “Milline päev”
  • Marko Kaar – “Smile”
  • Öed – “Öhuloss”
  • Ranele – “Supernova”
  • Sandra Nurmsalu – “Soovide puu”
  • Sissi – “Strong”
  • Sofia Rubina-Hunter – “Deep Water”
  • Stefan – “Without You”
  • The Swingers – “High Heels In The Neighbourhood”
  • Synne Valtri – “I’ll Do It My Way”
  • Uku Suviste – “Pretty Little Liar”
  • Victor Crone – “Storm”
  • xtra basic & Emily J – “Hold Me Close”

What do you think? Which acts are you most excited for? Who do you think has the best change of winning? Sound off below!

Read more Estonia Eurovision news here

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Helen
Helen
5 years ago
Kii
Kii
5 years ago

I just point it out that Birgit is married for few years now. She married soon after her first baby was born. So she isn’t Õigemeel anymore. Her name is Birgit Sarrap. So you don’t have to copypaste our sacred õõõ everytime.

Martin Kilp
Martin Kilp
5 years ago

Wow, this was an amazing write-up, Robyn! I’m really impressed with your Eesti Laul history. I’m native to Estonia but your knowledge gives mine a run for its money!

HBau
HBau
5 years ago

Eesti Laul is always one of my favourites. In good years, like 2016, it’s better than any with diverse and high-quality entries. Hopefully that’ll be the case this time around too 🙂

Louis MDRRRR
Louis MDRRRR
5 years ago

Wow great casting !

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
5 years ago

Can’t wait to hear these!

ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
5 years ago

“High Heels In The Neighbourhood” sounds great! Already my favorite title (with the German cats ofc), so I am hoping it is a bop! Please! 😀

Minn
Minn
5 years ago

As an Estonian and judging just by singers and songwriters 100% sure qualifiers are Grete Paia, Kerli Kivilaan, Lacy Jay, The Swingers, Sünne Valtri, Sandra Nurmsalu, Victor Crone, Sissi, Stefan, Öed. I also say Inger although she is totally unknown but she seems to have something there. So that’s 11 out of 12.

Erasmus
Erasmus
5 years ago
Reply to  Minn

What isn’t Inger a he?

Nlu
Nlu
5 years ago
Reply to  Erasmus

She is a girl.

Ben
Ben
5 years ago

I’m so happy to see Sandra in the list. Please let it be another EPIC song!! I love her.

nnn
nnn
5 years ago
Reply to  Ben

Probably not because it’s written by Priit Pajusaar, an old school guy.

milky
milky
5 years ago
Reply to  nnn

yeah but sandra herself wrote it too so it probably wont be that old school

Nikos
Nikos
5 years ago
Reply to  Ben

Agreed, Randajad is my all-time fav song so I have faith in Sandra!

Talentina Monetta
Talentina Monetta
5 years ago

National Final SZN is starting, ladies! Can’t wait for the drama

CookieNation
CookieNation
5 years ago

Sorry for being so shallow, but Uku Suviste is really hot. And he’s got some good songs, like Teemant with Grete Paia and Getter Jaani. Well, ok I just know this one, bless Spotify, lol.

Stella
Stella
5 years ago

I squealed the second I saw Sandra Nurmsalu in the thumbnail

Ziv
Ziv
5 years ago

“High Heels In The Neighbourhood” reminds me of “1 2 7 3 down the Rockafella Street……”

Majka
Majka
5 years ago

GRETE PAIA I LOVE U

NickC
NickC
5 years ago

What a great line up, indeed. Together with Mello, San Remo and destination eurovision, this will be the highlight of the NF season. I am also excited for Fik, a dal, Mgp and unser song this year. I am getting impatient.

Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
5 years ago
Reply to  NickC

Im so extremely excited for Eesti Laul and Destination ESC! I can’t wait.

Charli Cheer Up
Charli Cheer Up
5 years ago

Aww..no KERLI..

Roy Moreno
Roy Moreno
5 years ago

Sandra. Done.
I’m so hyped!!!!! Sandra was too amazing in 2009 and she should have won the contest that year!

Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
5 years ago

YES SANDRA FROM URBAN SYMPHONY!!! Randajad is still one of my favorite ESC entries ever, and is my firm favorite of ESC 2009. I am already rooting for her.

Joe
Joe
5 years ago

Hey, they sent a song in Italian this year. German is the next logical step!

A great line-up. I hope Estonia brings their A-game to Tel Aviv!

Mou
Mou
5 years ago
Reply to  Joe

What logic is this? They didn’t choose La Forza because it was in Italian. They chose it because it was a beautiful song.

Jonas
Jonas
5 years ago
Reply to  Mou

Please look up the dictionary definition of “humour”.

Eesti fan
5 years ago

In 2014 Lenna Kuurmaa competed with a song called “Supernoova”

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
5 years ago

Great lineup. Really excited. Don’t even know who I’m most excited for! Sandra, Birgit and Tanja were all amazing (Ha!) at ESC and am sure they’ll have good songs here, too.

Asla
Asla
5 years ago

Am i the only one who wants to see Uku Suviste’s comeback? The guy has potential, but i hope he doesn’t try to be Sergey Lazarev this time, on stage.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
5 years ago
Reply to  Asla

Was one of my favourites and one I still listen to, today! Hope he gets a similar song and tones down the staging a bit.

Jack
Jack
5 years ago

Fascinating line-up, very excited about Sandra Nurmsalu returning! she should’ve won Eeesi Laul 2014, since then all songs in Estonian have been ok, meh or crap which probably led her pulling a Supernanny “You guys are in a crisis, I’m on my way!” XD The Swingers(Birgit & Tanja) should be very interesting, unlikely duo but if they win and go to ESC they’re likely to score much better on juries as both did on their own in 2013-4 lol, bit random to see Victor Crone here as pretty much all of us forgot about him since Mello 2015 but it… Read more »

geresc99
geresc99
5 years ago

„Wo sind die Katzen“ is already my favorite ^.^

Christopher
Christopher
5 years ago

SANDRA NURMSALU FOR THE VICTORY!

zzxxz
zzxxz
5 years ago

I can’t wait to hear Sandra’s song!! Sandra for the win!!

rick
5 years ago

sandra will slay this, 10 years later again!

Gio
Gio
5 years ago

I LOVE “Rändajad” and Sandra’s 2014 entry was cool too. I still can’t understand how that generic crap won over Sandra’s song. I really hope that she’ll deliver another epic song and Estonia will chose her this time.

Kris
Kris
5 years ago

Sandra should have won in 2014 ! I hope she has a cool entry this time around too

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
5 years ago

Also all the acts sound really interesting.

Gudrun
Gudrun
5 years ago

OMG Sandraaa OMG OMG!!! I’ll cry now

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
5 years ago

Omg i love cats,kaia for the win it is xD
And sandra nurmsalu is amaziiiiiing. I’ve wanted her to return ever since she was robbed in eesti laul 2014.

Weißbrot
Weißbrot
5 years ago

I’m all in for the cat song. If my home country Germany won’t manage to send a song in our language, I’m totally satisfied with this. Bring the cats!

Kyna
Kyna
5 years ago

I’m very pleased with this. I actually feel how this time the competition could be tight, which makes it very exciting. I don’t remember us having relatively a lot of known names in the same line, it has been like only few known names in the last year’s editions. The ones that I’m looking forward to hearing are Sissi, Grete Paia, Öed, xtra basic & Emily J and ofc Sandra, purely on the fact that people know them already (ofc some others too). Oh boy oh boy I can’t wait to hear the songs. I feel like a child eagerly… Read more »

jdklf
jdklf
5 years ago

Sünne Valtri is kinda big deal in Estonia, so don’t underestimate her. She has loyal fanbase. 100% sure she will qualify although I personally don’t like her music. Grete Paia will qualify, also Öed, they are kinda popular as well. Swedish guy probably too because it’s Stig’s song. Then Stefan and Sandra too. Sissi was in Estonian Idol and has a lot of young fans, she’s in too. I think Kerli wil also qualify. Oh and Lacy Jay as well because it will be EDM song. Others might and might not.

Jo.
Jo.
5 years ago

Interesting lineup. I’m very curious about Sandra’s song.

Besides, just here to remember how bad “Immortality” was. And ofc doped Stig always amazZzzzzZZZzzzZZz

kfkkf
kfkkf
5 years ago

Correction: 24 songs not 26. Vaje came 3rd not 2nd, Stig did.
Also Kerli Kivilaan is sister of Triinu Kivilaan from Vanilla Ninja that represented Switzerland in 2005.

T.J.
T.J.
5 years ago

you don’t even MENTION the great, the one and only Grete Paia in the text???? Shame on you Robyn!

Campbell Grace
Campbell Grace
5 years ago
Reply to  T.J.

Tea. Stories Untold is the true national anthem of Estonia.