National final season continued on Saturday with the third quarter-final of Estonia’s Eesti Laul 2022. Ten acts competed for five places in the semi-finals.

Similar to the other quarter-finals over the last week, it was again a low-key round. Rather than have the acts perform their songs live, the songs were assessed with music videos. The first three places were decided by the public televote, with the final two places decided by the jury vote. Last week, all songs were performed in Estonian. This week, on the other hand, all songs were sung in English.

The five qualifiers were: Stefan, Elina Nechayeva, Anna Sahlene, Alabama Watchdog and Merelin Mälk.

Eesti Laul 2022 third quarter-final qualifiers

STEFAN – “Hope”

Stefan was the first act to go through on televoting. He was inspired in his song by Clint Eastwood soundtracks and spaghetti Westerns. “Hope” is a large step from his earlier Eesti Laul efforts. In terms of genre, it would come close to the likes of Waylon’s Eurovision 2018 entry “Outlaw in ‘Em”. With a slick music video shot in Spain, he managed to receive some applause in the room. 

Elina Nechayeva – “Remedy”

Elina Nechayeva was the second act to go through on televoting. She brought a far remiscient of KEiiNO’s recent Eurovision attempt with her Eesti Laul 2022 entry “Remedy”. Starting as a slow and simple ballad, it takes some time before the song takes off. It does not have the operatic force that “La forza” had, but Elina hits the high notes at the end of the track. 

Anna Sahlene – “Champion”

Anna Sahlene was the last act announced to go through on jury voting. She has been working with the authors of her song for over twenty years. The experience shone through with her effort “Champion”. The song stood out in terms of production values. Telling about self-confidence, the track delivered a solid Scandi-pop effort similar to what we have seen in recent years with Dotter in Melodifestivalen.

Alabama Watchdog – “Move On” 

Alabama Watchdog was the first act to through on jury voting tonight. Alabama Watchdog brought classic rock to the third quarter-final. With lyrics as “Don’t stop breaking the truth / You know you gotta move on / Every now and then I try to push it away”, the song indeed seems to be an answer to the controversy surrounding the group last year. 

Merilin Mälk – “Little Girl”

Merilin Mälk was the last act announced to go through to the semi-final of Eesti Laul 2022. Merilin Mälk brought a piano ballad with “Little Girl”. It’s a very typical little love song on the surface. However, the song changes from small and vulnerable to big and belty in the chorus. 

Who are your favourites from the third set of qualifiers of Eesti Laul 2022?

Of tonight’s five qualifiers, tell us your favourites by voting in our poll. As always, you can vote for as many acts as you like, but you can only vote once — so make it count!

What do you think? Are you happy with these five qualifiers? Can any of these acts go on to win Eesti Laul 2022? Tell us your thoughts below!

Read more Estonia Eurovision news here

68 Comments
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Hanna
Hanna
2 years ago

Oops, here I come with my boring and generic taste. But I really liked 3 songs. Winner for me in this round is Elina. I guess I just didn’t have any expectations that it would sound like her previous song. It’s different and I love it. Her voice is really beautiful and listening it, it just makes me want to close my eyes and feel like i’m floating somewhere and forget everything else. 2nd one is Stefan, like the vibe. Makes me move and just really get into the song. 3rd one is Merilin Mälk, just a great catchy song,… Read more »

Leendert Jan
Leendert Jan
2 years ago

All pretty generic stuff, I must say.
Stefan: would not necessarily compare this to Waylon, it feels more like Aviici to me. I liked his previous Eesti Laul efforts better.
Elina Nechayeva: feels like a drawn-out Keiino ballad. I kept waiting for the song to gather any pace, didn’t happen.
Anna Sahlene: two words: Melfest reject.
Alabama Watchdog: kinda like this, but this will draw comparisons to Maneskin immediately and will be judged poorer. Maneskin with some extra synths.
Merilin Mälk: sweet song, yeah nice. Needs a bit more punch though.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
2 years ago

This was a great quarter final. The results did not match my personal top 5 at all, which shows that Estonia has different tastes and that the “star power” factor really matters there. Despite the critics, I actually really like “Champion.” It is simple, nostalgic, empowering, and will be a perfect follow-up for the 20-year anniversary of Anna’s Eurovision appearance (if it wins Eesti Laul). Well done to Merilin and Stefan for also making it. But surely, Shira should have gone through, right? No? Gosh. That was tough. So what was my favourite song of QF3?: Goodreason, “Three Days Ago.”… Read more »

Colin
Colin
2 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

I would certainly put both Shira and Goodreason ahead of Alabama Watchdog. I like both of these songs. My favorite so far (in EL in general) is Stefan, but there is a high competition for that spot. I agree about Remedy. Since La forza is one of my absolute favorites, it was hard not to be a bit disappointed at first. I was expecting another big vocal outburst. However, the song really grew on me. It’s so relaxing and has a magical touch. Probably the courtesy of Elina herself. There is a certain cinematic quality to it. So far, I’d… Read more »

milky
milky
2 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

elina said many times that she wanted to do something different to la forza, i’m sure the operatic parts yall desperately want so much will come when she performs live

Addie
Addie
2 years ago

Hey, Merilin’s song is actually really good! I like her voice. Elina’s song was kind of a disappointment after La Forza, while Champion, on the other hand, is the heights of generic.The songs that are guaranteed to place high are Interstellar and Meeletu.

Addie
Addie
2 years ago
Reply to  Addie

So far, only quarter final 1 had the best line up, I just wish Little Mess would’ve qualified. I know it’s an unpopular opinion, but I honestly like Waterfall, it has a very nature feel to it.

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
2 years ago

Remedy is in the studio version not exceptional but I feel like it’s one of those songs that kan get elevated to a new level when performed right at the eurovision stage.

Jake
Jake
2 years ago

Please do not use Dotter’s name in vain. The only thing Champion has in common with Dotter’s song is that they are sung by women. Anna’s song is more like Lina Hedlund’s Victorious—classic schlager diva with a generic empowering English-language schlager anthem that would’ve done well in the 00s but now will only work in national semi-finals on name recognition but then bite the dust in national finals. Melfest typically has 1 or 2 of these every so often.

Ugnius
Ugnius
2 years ago
Reply to  Jake

You know that Victorious was also written by Dotter, right ?

Addie
Addie
2 years ago
Reply to  Jake

I don’t get why Anna’s trying for Estonia in the first place. Why didn’t she go for Melfest? Isn’t she quite famous in Sweden? But I know fame has nothing to do with it. But I have a feeling that she might have tried for Melfest once or twice… I recently noticed that three of Estonia’s participants are Swedish – Sahlene, Sandra Oxenryd and Victor Crone.

Colin
Colin
2 years ago

Champion went through the same way Waterfall did two weeks ago. Nostalgia and star-power are strong factors here. It’s actually inspiring and remarkable to see these two women who left a strong stamp on 1999/2002 coming back to compete. The songs are not as much. Champion feels like an aggregator of expected stuff from any empowerment anthem. It’s superficially punchy, but doesn’t feel very creative. I liked how Anna was excited, though.

Makss
Makss
2 years ago

My overall opinion of the qualifiers: Stefan:well, very similar to some other songs, like David Guetta’s “Lovers of the Sun”, or Avicii’s “Hey Brother”, pretty generic, did not like it. Elina Nechayeva: complete disappointment. She has such a strong voice, yet it is going to waste, by some weak, old-fashioned pop song. Anna Sahlene:Well, it sounds like a typical Melfest song, and I really like that about it. The song has got a good message, is well produced, and sounds contemporary. It’s good, but, I don’t really think it should represent Estonia this year. Merilin Mälk: I liked that, despite… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Makss
Luc
Luc
2 years ago

No shade to anyone involved in the selection, but the only qualifying song from the QFs that I’ve really liked and enjoyed so far is Maian’s “Meeletu.” I feel very disappointed with this QF.
I hope next week delivers another song that’s at least not underwhelming. I’m starting to have my doubts regarding Estonia’s chances next year 🙁

Last edited 2 years ago by Luc
Sav001
Sav001
2 years ago

Shira was my favourite from this QF. Would have preferred she went through over Stefan.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
2 years ago
Reply to  Sav001

I really like Shira’s song and I think she should’ve qual’d but no way should Stefan have been the one to miss out.

Eurovision fan
Eurovision fan
2 years ago
Reply to  Sav001

Sorry, but Stefan has probably the most ready song for Eurovision. Most other songs feel either too local or have no rythm at all. He’s right now in my TOP 2.

M Est
M Est
2 years ago
Reply to  Eurovision fan

well, only one song goes to Eurovision… so we kinda don’t need more 😀 it’s even more sad to watch 3-5 amazing songs not winning because of a tough competition

Alex
Alex
2 years ago

Honestly I was surprised Goodreason didn’t make it through, I thought their song was AMAZING

lasse braun
lasse braun
2 years ago

meanwhile i have read the fully blogpost and 2 things there are a little bit strange.
1.keiino 2021 failed song is similar to elenas song!?
2.anna sahlenes song is similar to dotter!?hmmm – very interesting point of view.

😀

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
2 years ago

Stefan is bringing something nobody else really is and is delivering it at an incredible standard. I know I champion him every year but surely, this is the year he gets the win!

Makss
Makss
2 years ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

If you mean, bringing something new to Eurovision, then yes, but overall, this song reminds me of David Guetta’s “Lovers of the Sun”, the vibe, the song, the music video, the “western” elements in the music, everything is the same.

Last edited 2 years ago by Makss
lasse braun
lasse braun
2 years ago

so far after 3 quarters elina or the abbasong(stage performance here?) from first quarter is the real deal = true quality! the ballad from elina seems not so spectacular and is without a lot of these opera things but it is a very solid ballad and a (slow!) grower,too. on the dark side (ha-ha) we have the embarrassing song from stefan,which is a very brazen copycat from older (better) songs and with “champion” a very lame typical average melodiefestivalen song with some gospel elements – oh no,please not again! merelin mälk is in the neutral zone – very clever produced… Read more »

lasse braun
lasse braun
2 years ago
Reply to  lasse braun

from the 5 failed acts i would change alabama watchdog with the gayact,but they met the same fate as desiree.
i still think,that the modus with videos only in first round is not the right way!

willchrisiam
willchrisiam
2 years ago
Reply to  lasse braun

“the gayact”
wow…

Sale
Sale
2 years ago

I honestly don’t get the hype for Hope cause it’s generic imo

Eurovision fan
Eurovision fan
2 years ago

Elina’s song is complete disappointment 🙁

Edu
Edu
2 years ago

The song from Stefan is so Hey brother by Avicii, but it’s my cup of tea! It could be a potential song for Eurovision!
Have mixed feelings with Elina’s entry, I wanted it to explode but it didn’t happen, anyway is a great ballad and love to listening her singing in English!
Anna’s Champion reminds me a little to Walk on water by Ira Losco, anyway it is really cool and catchy, love her voice! It could do well in Eurovision I think.

Im so fab
Im so fab
2 years ago

Estonia is almost my most favourite country in Eurovision. And I have a feeling they gonna win in the next 10 years.

Edu
Edu
2 years ago
Reply to  Im so fab

It’s my dream to see Estonia or Albania winning Eurovision, Everything’s possible my dear! Fingers crossed for that!

esc_fl
esc_fl
2 years ago
Reply to  Im so fab

It’d be great to see Albania win! Same with Estonia; I want another song apart from “Everybody” to be their best placing.

LaVoixCZ
2 years ago

I would definitely send Shira and Levvis through instead of uninteresting Anna Sahlene and Alabama.

Thanos
Thanos
2 years ago

Stefan is my winner from tonight. I love the country feel of his song and I think he can possibly win Eesti Laul this year. Elina’s song is of course tasteful and qualitative but it doesn’t really have the climax it deserved. I expected more from her tbh, but maybe Remedy will grow on me. Alabama Watchdog have a solid song musically, but I really can’t support them for obvious reasons. And Merilin and Sahlene were just good. Solid show tonight as well and worthy qualifiers all in all!!!

Pancake
Pancake
2 years ago

In unrelated news, Victoria (Eurovision 2020/21 Bulgaria) won The Masked Singer Bulgaria

Last edited 2 years ago by Pancake
Colin
Colin
2 years ago

Stefan’s country track is excellent. I didn’t expect him to go this route, but this is very good. It reminds me of Miks Galvanovskis’ Supernova songs in a good way. Elina Nechayeva brings magic to everything she sings. Remedy might not be as immediate as La forza, but it’s a really lovely, atmospheric song. It’s already growing on me after the second take. I am also happy that Merilin Malk made it. As always, EL has brought at least a few songs which are definitely worth rating high and playlisting. Too early to talk about the winner without the fourth… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Colin
Thanos
Thanos
2 years ago
Reply to  Colin

After today, I am getting a very strong feeling that Stefan will be the winner if he also presents a stellar staging. Let’s wait for the 4th quarter-final as well of course!

Colin
Colin
2 years ago
Reply to  Thanos

I would be very glad if that happens. Stig and Elina have already had their ESC experiences (even if both are serving quality again), while Stefan, despite of having Laura, Without You, and By My Side on his repertoire, didn’t yet. His newest song is totally deserving of winning too.

Last edited 2 years ago by Colin
Esc addict
Esc addict
2 years ago

Out of this 5 I would choose “Champion” it has potential imo. Well, Stefan’s song is not my cup of tea again this time, he was my winner in 2018 I had hopes but disappointed because I don’t like this genre of music with western movie vibes, Elina’s song is beautiful of course but it lacks of power, it’s too soft to really stand out.

Last edited 2 years ago by Esc addict
Ellie
Ellie
2 years ago

Anyone But Alabama Watchdog, who should stay as far away from Eurovision as possible.

Mr X
Mr X
2 years ago

It´s very disappointing I don´t like none of this songs.

So far my favourites Jyrise and Maian.

Rojo Mx
Rojo Mx
2 years ago
Reply to  Mr X

Same! I tought I was the only one. The other 2 semis were a lot better.

Kåre Eriksen
Kåre Eriksen
2 years ago

Merilin Mälk was the only one with a wow-effect tonight

moth
moth
2 years ago
Reply to  Kåre Eriksen

u have very low standards then!

Pineaple
Pineaple
2 years ago
Reply to  moth

Or just a different opinion to you. Get over yourself.

Sabrina
Sabrina
2 years ago

Though I have my doubts this was the right entry for a comeback, I feel Elina’s song can be a grower. It’s a tasteful one, just builds up slowly and the climax is quite short. I wasn’t expecting Stefan with a Western-influenced song, but I kinda liked it. And seems to be something the Estonian audience would vote for, so maybe he’s the biggest threat to Stig so far. I’m more into Jaagup’s, Maian’s and Elina’s efforts, but Eesti Laul rarely goes my way. I would like to see Shira and Goodreason in the semis, but their songs were too… Read more »

Miss Uncongeniality
Miss Uncongeniality
2 years ago

I don’t see none of these songs winning estii laul, but, from this group, Sahlene is the best

Polegend Godgarina
2 years ago

elina’s song will definitely convince more people once she performs it live… she’ll add some eargasmic vocal runs here and there.

Sometimes
Sometimes
2 years ago

As an estonian Stefan is my winner.
It’s been a long time since any song in Eesti Laul has made me go WOW,
but this has. I really love it.

lasse braun
lasse braun
2 years ago
Reply to  Sometimes

you should go deeper in the ESC history – he is a copycat!

Estonian semi-fan
Estonian semi-fan
2 years ago
Reply to  Sometimes

Same, there are some good songs every year but nothing I’d add to my playlists and I just get used to the winner and still watch the ESC and root for ourselves. But this year Vaikus and Plaksuta from the second QF where something I’d be proud of if they’re be our winning entry. To me the 3rd QF was again boring, but let’s wait for the live shows and see then.

Estonian semi-fan
Estonian semi-fan
2 years ago

Just had last nights rerun on the tv as a background and some songs did catch my ear. Not enough to want to hear them again, but many choruses were really catchy (Merilin Mälk!) and even Levvis wasn’t as bad as I remembered. It had a nice groove going underneath and depending on the mood I wouldn’t change the station.

So, I still liked the 2nd QFs songs more, but calling the 3rd QF boring may be a bit harsh.

Jack Clare
Jack Clare
2 years ago

expected more from elina to be completely honest, it’s not La Forza that’s for sure but again a decent entry from her.

moth
moth
2 years ago

elina winner

moth
moth
2 years ago
Reply to  moth

not yall downvoting me bc i dont like the basic pop songs gn

Alo
Alo
2 years ago

Hope sound like a typical winner from eesti laul.
Elina song is nice but not amazing as of now. Maybe the live performance will change my mind.

lasse braun
lasse braun
2 years ago
Reply to  Alo

it will!

Nathan
Nathan
2 years ago

My expectations of Elena were higher than everyone else’s, which perhaps isn’t fair given the format of the competition, but I can’t help but feel underwhelmed…
Her voice and the lyrics are beautiful, though.

just an esc fan
just an esc fan
2 years ago

really heartbroken for deLULU and Shira. in my opinion, they were much better than both jury qualifiers.

Rick
Rick
2 years ago

Expected more from Elina. Remedy is a beautiful song but that’s all. What a waste 🙁

Margus Estonia
Margus Estonia
2 years ago
Reply to  Rick

Eesti Laul is not Elina´s show… there are many more interesting and deserving artists who havent gotten an opportunity to perform at Eurovision.

moth
moth
2 years ago
Reply to  Margus Estonia

”there are many more interesting deserving artists” elina is literally one of the most interesting and deserving artists in estonia because she doesn’t make basic pop music u absolute weirdo

Pineaple
Pineaple
2 years ago
Reply to  moth

Calling someone names because you don’t agree with their opinion on something as trivial as music is not okay. Everyone is entitled to their taste, your opinion isn’t fact. Stop spreading toxicity and let people like what they like.

Rick
Rick
2 years ago
Reply to  Margus Estonia

Hmmm… did I say the opposite? I don’t see how saying that I expected more from Elina’s song means that the other artists are not interesting / undeserving. Please, put yourself together, go get some critical reading lessons and comeback here to make a better reply.

Last edited 2 years ago by Rick
lasse braun
lasse braun
2 years ago
Reply to  Rick

expected more operathings?

😀

Rick
Rick
2 years ago
Reply to  lasse braun

Excuse me… how saying that I expected more from Elina’s song means “more operathings”? God… you people really need to go back to school…

Jo.
Jo.
2 years ago

i really like the western vibe in “Hope”, but i feel like the lyrics could’ve been more elaborated, kind of a wasted potential.

Athena
Athena
2 years ago

Comparing Anna Sahlene’s song with Dotter’s Melfest entries, I mean, come on now.

lasse braun
lasse braun
2 years ago
Reply to  Athena

maybe a funny joke from miss renske ten veen?it’s a test for us!