While 2020 has been a year of ups and down, Estonia is looking to the future. Broadcaster ERR has opened entries for its upcoming national final, Eesti Laul 2020. The contest will again involve two semi-finals and one grand final, due to take place on 6 March.
The show will keep the same format as recent years. There will be two semi-finals held on 18 and 20 February. In each semi-final, the 24 competing acts will battle for the 12 places in the grand final on 6 March 2021.
The grand final qualifiers will be decided using two rounds of voting. First, a jury and televote will decide the top eight out of the 12 acts in each semi. Those eight will then face a further round of televoting where the top six will qualify for the grand final.
At the grand final, the 12 acts will compete and will again face two rounds of voting. The top three acts will be decided by a jury and televoters. Those acts will battle it out in a superfinal. There, winner of the Eurovision ticket will be decided by televote alone.
Producer Tomi Rahula was hopeful about the role of the contest in the era of the pandemic, saying, “We are waiting for musicians and authors to participate in the competition. Music is and will stay in the changing world and Eesti Laul gives a chance to present these creations in the best way,”
How will Eesti Laul 2021 work?
Entries for Eesti Laul 2021 open today, 1 September 2020 and close on 6 November 2020. Each performer or group can submit up to five songs. And foreign creatives are welcome â just so long as they partner with at least one resident Estonian songwriter or performer.
Entrants are expected to submit not just their song but also ideas for the staging. The broadcaster wants artists to share “their vision of the possible stage show with the central idea, possible props and colour schemes.”
Thereâs also a participation fee, with a reduced rate for anyone entering a song in Estonian. Such songs will pay âŹ25 for the early bird fee, or âŹ50 if they enter in November. Songs with lyrics in a foreign language will pay âŹ75 early bird fee or âŹ150 if they enter in November.
From there, a jury will blindly select up to 24 competing songs. They should be announced no later than 12 November, and fans should expect to hear the songs themselves by 5 December.
Uku Suviste will return
But we already know one semi-finalist. Eesti Laul 2020 winner Uku Suviste has been guaranteed a place in the competition semi-finals â provided his song submission meets the Eesti Laul regulations. It’s written in the Eesti Laul 2021 rules!
Uku has previously spoken about how having a guaranteed place in the contest has changed his songwriting style. He said not having to pass the preliminary selection round has affected the way he writes, knowing his song wonât specifically have to grab the attention of the selection panel.
What do you think? Who would you like to see enter Eesti Laul 2021? Who should Estonia send to Rotterdam? Tell us your thoughts below!
I hope that Uku will win Eesti Laul – off cause with a great song- and have another change to represent Estonia in Rotterdam in 2021
Firstly, Uku still has to submit his song. Secondly, it has to be OK with reglements like other competing songs. Eesti Laul producer said today that he has not heard from Uku yet, but Eesti Laul 2021 does have host(s) already, and they will be announced soon.
I’m pretty confident that Uku is gonna win this year. It has been proven in eesti laul that you don’t need a jury pleasing song to win the whole thing. I’m also confident that Uku will bring us a great song this year. Good luck!
elina nechayeva is winning eesti laul 2021 đ
Yes.
uku, I’m begging you, bring us something good and interesting. we all know that everyone in Estonia will probably pity vote for uku regardless of song quality, so here’s to hoping that the pity votes will be deserved with an amazing song. keeping my hopes up for you uku, u were my Eesti Laul winner in 2019 (though it wasn’t hard, only 3 songs were rly that good that national final)
Yes! That picture is spot on. Uku awakens my thirst for blond hunky daddies. I really hope he brings a better song and less clothes next year.
Although I didn’t like What Love Is I’m hoping Uku will still be able to represent Estonia at Eurovision next year. Hopefully his new song is much stronger.