Estonian broadcaster EER confirmed Eesti Laul 2020, the country’s national final for Eurovision, even before last year’s Eurovision was finished. And over the last two days it’s revealed the 24 acts that will battle to represent Estonia in Rotterdam. They’ve really been on it and managed to lure back a few hot names like Traffic, Laura Põldvere and Uku Suviste.
Now, while we wait for the songs to drop later this month, let’s see which artists you’re most hyped for.
Notable artists
STEFAN
Last year’s second runner-up and the jury’s favourite STEFAN came so close to representing Estonia in Tel Aviv. But it wasn’t meant to be, and the handsome Victor Crone took the Eesti Laul trophy. This year he’ll sing “By My Side”, and this time the Swede won’t be around to grab a dramatic Superfinal victory. Does STEFAN top your favourites list?
Uku Suviste
Last year’s superfinal runner-up, Uku Suviste, is also a returning artist this year. Both the juries and the televoters loved him, but in the end it just wasn’t enough. With last year’s winner out of sight and mind, Suviste might be going all the way to win Eesti Laul and represent Estonia. The singer-songwriter, pianist and producer is not new to song contests, having finished third in New Wave last year. He’s a very talented artist with a lot to offer, but is he the singer you’re most excited to see in the Estonian final this year?
Laura Põldvere
She’s a Eurovision veteran, having competed at ESC 2005 with Suntribe and in 2017 alongside Koit Toome. She failed to qualify for the final on both occasions. But it wasn’t because of a low quality entry: both of her Eurovision songs were fan favourites (especially the latter). She’s not new to the Estonian selection either, having participated five times already. Will you be supporting this supersonic queen in Eesti Laul 2020?
Traffic
Traffic has never graced the Eurovision stage, but you definitely know their guitarist and songwriter. It’s Stig Rästa, who represented Estonia alongside Elina Born in 2015 and came seventh. For those of you who have followed Eesti Laul over the past few years, the name Traffic isn’t new. This edition will mark the band’s fourth attempt at singing for Estonia. Will you be rooting for them this time?
REVALS
One of the more surprising reveals for this year’s Eesti Laul is blues-country rock band REVALS. The newcomers’ irregular genre is refreshing and new to the Estonian contest. Are they your cup of tea?
Inger
Inger finished in sixth place during the Eesti Laul 2019 final. But she came third in the public vote. She’s young and fresh, and her participation in this year’s edition will be her second turn at the event. Can she deliver once more with “Only Dream”? And will the jury dismiss her again?
Other participants
Six artists who took part in Eesti Laul last year will participate this year as well. They are Uku Suviste (2nd), STEFAN (3rd) INGA (5th), Inger (6th), Synne Valtri (11th), Jennifer Cohen (7th in her semi-final). Egert Milder, who sent two songs to the last edition as a songwriter, will participate as an artist this time as well. Laura was present in Eesti Laul 2019, albeit only as a jury member.
i guess Stefan Rasmus Uku , one of them will be the lucky winner, i prefer Stefan…
Strong list of participants
Uku to not give up
i’m faithful to one religion n that’s laura
Worth mentioning: Inger (Coming Home last year, Only Dream this year) continues not to be a guy. If you need a source for this, https://menu.err.ee/904737/janne-fridolin-labi-muusika-on-inger-saanud-endast-valja-valu-ja-motteid-mis-hairisid should do it (Estonian to English google translations tend to mess up gender in my experience but the word “daughter” makes it clear enough)
i’m surprised ppl thought she was a guy…. to me she’s clearly a girl !
I thought Stefan should have won last year and his live performance was a huge improvement over his Laura attempt so excited to see what he can do. Obviously, Laura is my overall favourite though. I know she’ll come up with something good.
I actually really liked Jennifer’s song last year, too. Hopefully, she’s ditched the out-of-time backing singers and can do better this time around.
Rasmus! This love is still on my daily playlist.
He has great voice and charisma.
If he’s in for the third year in a row I guess they’re really pushing for Stefan to win
no they’re not, the pre-jury don’t know the names of the singers before picking the songs, stefan just got lucky
Stefan was my second favorite this year and Rasmus was my winner two years ago, so them. Also, I’d like to see Laura getting another shot. But there are many talented artists here and I hope the songs will do them justice. Wait and see…
Is Inger a boy or a girl? Not that it matters but I’ve just read different statements…
All I know is that I liked a song by Inger on last Eesti Laul. Good luck. 🙂
There’s a participant named Inga in the line-up. I just assumed Inger was the male version of Inga. But I wasn’t wondering about that. He looked like a dude with a really interesting voice to me and the name definitely sounds male to me.
Inter is a girl
a girl
Does anyone know when the fik songs will be out?
On 19th of November, but I heard somewhere that they may delay it
songs will be out on 30th november, after they have been presented on a TV show.
None tbh, let’s wait for the songs, but my expectations aren’t very high.
I can understand you
Laura’s 2005 song a fan favorite? Seriously? It was an embarrassment. “Supersonic” would have been the way to go, if we’re graciously overlooking the “you must have to choose” line. Really should have chosen between have and must. Kinda warmed up to Verona, though, especially because i love Koit for his 1998 song and the iconic “butt in your hands” line that Laura sang. Who can’t relate to that?
She looks like she popped up from the 80’s with hair. no thanks
Jaagup. Definitely Jaagup. Ultimately, I’ll be excited for whoever has the best song in my opinion. Which I hope will turn out to be Jaagup. I’m pretty excited about Eesti Laul in general, I must say.
I voted for Stefan cause “Laura (Walk with Me)” & “Without You” were my winners in the last 2 years and I’m really curious how “By My Side” will sound and conclude an excellent back-to-back trilogy from one of my favourite NF artists in recent years, I’m also excited for Laura, Uku Suviste, Traffic, Rasmus, INGA & Synne Valtri but I’m optimistic for all the fresh newcomers too, Eesti Laul is one of the best most interesting national selections and I love how cool, versatile and trendy Estonians are.
Very curious about Laura’s entry. I really hope she’s competing with a song such as Destiny (2009). She’s really capable of bringing something fresh to the table, something I missed in Verona (although I really liked that entry as well).
I love Stefan’s Without You and hope that he will have a nice Song for next years Contest. I hope that he will do well, he deserves a victory.
Isn’t Inger a female? If I remember correctly, there was a confusion about that last year as well.
I really appreciate the fact how serious Estonia takes this contest. Being such a small country, they always serve quality entries and their national selection is one of the best.
In Estonia mostly 12-year old girls watch Eurovision. I wouldn’t say that ESC is very popular here. Many young singers enter Eesti Laul just to boost their career.
In Estonia mostly 12-year old girls watch Eurovision. And if you look the audience of Eesti Laul, there’s basically 70% children between 9 – 16. Many young artists enter Eesti Laul just to boost their career. So I don’t really get why you think we take it very seriously.
that’s literally not true, i’m estonian as well and i know many people who are 18+ and watch eurovision
I didn’t say that ALL Estonias who watch ESC are 12.
We were in a final in 2019 and even then the viewing number of ESC final in Estonia wasn’t very high
And almost eveeybody I know are rather indifferent and often don’t even know who represents us
the viewing number wasn’t high in 2019 because a foreigner represented us and many people weren’t (and still aren’t) happy about that, in 2018 it was way higher for example
In 2018 the viewing number was higher than in 2019 but it wasn’t still very high and people watched it mostly because Estonia was a favoriite.
And admit it or not, the biggest ESC audience in Estonia is still girls between 8 – 16 (which of course doesn’t mean that people 18+ don’t watch it at all).
Eurovision is always in a weekly top 10 most watched shows in Estonia. Between 13.05-19.05.2019 most watched shows in Estonia were: 1st Eurovision first semi final, 2nd Eurovision final (and 6th eurovision second semi final). There aren’t even so many children in Estonia to archive half of that. So your argument is false. Btw children are also people.
No, you can’t determine anything just by looking at viewing numbers. Eurovision is a top ten most watched show in almost all countries, not just Estonia. And there are quite few hardcore fans in Estonia, most people watch it for fun, it’s not that all its audience is crazy for it. So your argument is irrelevant.
in 2019 Uku Suviste was 2nd and Stefan was 3rd. Not the other way round as the article says.