Stefan Hope Estonia Eurovision 2022 rehearsal
Photo: EBU / ANDRES PUTTING

Tallinn calling! Estonian broadcaster ERR has opened the song submission period for Eesti Laul 2023, but they’ve also revealed next year’s national final is going to be more refined. The show will have four stages: the pre-audition round, two semi-finals held on 12 and 14 January, and the grand final, which will be broadcast on 11 February.

This is a departure from the previous format of the show. Last year we saw four quarter finals in December, which allowed the public to have their say on who should progress to the semi final stage of the competition in early 2022. This time we are going back to basics as a professional jury will select up to 20 songs to advance to the live shows – with another two songs being selected as ‘backups’.

Anyone can apply to the competition, whether native Estonian or not – just as long as standard requirements of the EBU and Eurovision 2023 are met and you are aged 16 or over, then you can compete to represent Estonia.

An entry fee will also be required for singers/songwriters who are submitting entries. Between 12 September and 17 October (until 11:59) it will cost €50 to submit an Estonian language entry and €100 for a foreign/bilingual song. The prices then double between the dates 17 October (from 12:00) until the deadline on 20 October. Get those finalised tracks in fast people – no demos allowed!

Voting in the semi finals and grand final of Eesti Laul 2023 will once again involve a combination of professional jury as well as public televotes. The super-final will use viewer votes alone to decide the winner and representative of Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.

The premier of the songs that have been selected for Eesti Laul 2023 will take place no later than 3 December 2022. Suddenly our Eurovision advent calendars have become a little more exciting.

In 2022, Stefan (a famous singer from Estonia) won Eesti Laul with his song “Hope”. He went on to become a dark horse at Eurovision in Turin, taking his western track to 13th place in the grand final with 141 points.

What do you think – have Estonia downgraded, or is this a more refined format? Who are you hoping to see compete at Eesti Laul 2023? Tallinn 2024? Tell us your thoughts below!

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Marlene from Estonia
Marlene from Estonia
1 year ago

The quarter finals were only good because I got new artists (with songs) to my playlist from there, for example An-Marlen with her song “Lõpuks muutub”. But otherwise the quarterfinals were completely pointless. Although it’s nice that something new was tried.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
1 year ago

The QFs weren’t a success last year with a lot of favourites missing out and juries having too much say over who qualified.
Hopefully, it’s back to its old format. It was much better.

XOOOD
XOOOD
1 year ago

I never understood the point of the quarter final almost nobody watched them, and the one who qualified would have done so regardless

raw
raw
1 year ago
Reply to  XOOOD

I wouldn’t say they that nobody watched them. All the quarter-finals reached the TOP 10 of the most watched TV shows of the week, the second quarter-final was even in the 2nd place.

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
1 year ago
Reply to  raw

That’s easy to achieve when you have a small population.

Moldova
Moldova
1 year ago

Cant wait for the next boring man with a generic avicii reject song to represent Estonia

Emilio
Emilio
1 year ago

On the 11th of February we’ll have: Estonia’s final (Eesti Laul); Malta’s final (Malta Eurovision); Italy’s Final (Sanremo); Denmark’s final (Melodi Grand Prix); probably also Norway’s final (Melodi Grand Prix). It’s a Super Saturday! How do we choose what to watch… And so many national selections are yet to be announed.

XOOOD
XOOOD
1 year ago
Reply to  Emilio

For me Norway’s.
SanRemo is too long for no reason, DMGP is generic AF. MESC is a cringe fest.

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
1 year ago
Reply to  XOOOD

We’ll see once the songs are out for the national finals, but I’m hoping for a better quality song options for the Danish selection. I’ve been disappointed two years in a row and I don’t want it a third time.

Neil
Neil
1 year ago

OT!: But Sara James performed beautifully yesterday at the finals of AGT. She has a real shot of winning from an American myself but I think the Mayyas are going to take the trophy.

kelly edd
kelly edd
1 year ago

are there any updates regarding the cancellation of jesc 2022 ???

Donkey
Donkey
1 year ago
Reply to  kelly edd

wait rly???

Luke B
Luke B
1 year ago
Reply to  kelly edd

I’ve not heard about any cancellation. Since the conflict is quite localised (on the borders) JESC should be fine.

kelly edd
kelly edd
1 year ago
Reply to  Luke B

im pretty sure none of the participating countries want to send their kids to a country at war. its like sending esc participants to kiew

Luke B
Luke B
1 year ago
Reply to  kelly edd

Kyiv 2017, yes. Kyiv 2023, no. It is not a full-blown war such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but rather clashes on the border. Yerevan is well away from there. But, after 2020, the EBU will have contingency plans, possibly to use the music videos.

XOOOD
XOOOD
1 year ago
Reply to  kelly edd

I mean ESC2019 had the same clashes and it went OK, in fact it’s one of the most successful editions to this date.

kelly edd
kelly edd
1 year ago
Reply to  XOOOD

heres the diffrence between armenia ukraine and israel. armenia is not the type of country to pull off such events during or shortly after a war. israel has the upper hand in their conflict and has way more financial resources. ukraine isnt hosting the event they just participated and won and everyone knew from the beginning that they wouldnt host despite the fuss they made. also for a country that pulled out bc of the war in 2020 i dont think anyone there cares ab jesc or esc during war times

Luke B
Luke B
1 year ago
Reply to  kelly edd

Let’s just wait and see, shall we?

kelly edd
kelly edd
1 year ago
Reply to  XOOOD

also u cant compare armenias conflict to israel

kelly edd
kelly edd
1 year ago

man i hope stefan and his pregnant wife are safe they are currently in armenia and azerbaijan started another war against the actual country of armenia. but knowing the ebu we’ll see azerbaijan participating in esc 2023 like nothing happend

Vivian
Vivian
1 year ago

Never cared much about the quarter finals anyway. If this helps improve the selection, be my guest

Midnight Gold
Midnight Gold
1 year ago

They really need to ditch that televote, the Estonian hipsters often bring interesting stuff but they almost never get to go to ESC because of it. Such potential yet they keep sending terrible entries like Verona, Crone, Uku etc.

Polegend Godnova
1 year ago
Reply to  Midnight Gold

just because the estonian people’s taste doesn’t reflect yours that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be taken into consideration for the results. it’s THEIR eurovision representative not yours.

Karl
Karl
1 year ago

I hope they continue to send songs in Estonian. Last year, Stefan sang so beautifully in his native language.

Yudhistira Mahasena
1 year ago

Oh my, I would like to see these following names at Eesti Laul 2023:

  1. Jaagup Tuisk
  2. Helen Randmets
  3. Rolf Roosalu
  4. Liis Lemsalu
  5. Koit Toome
  6. I Wear* Experiment
  7. Cartoon
  8. Little Mess
  9. Alika Milova (she’s so young, so beautiful, and so talented, we want her at Eesti Laul 2023)
  10. Grete Paia
  11. Alabama Watchdog
  12. Minimal Wind
  13. Meisterjaan
  14. Hans Nayna
  15. Kaia-Liisa Kesler
  16. LIGHTSUM
  17. Mick Pedaja? Pejada? (I forgot the “Seis” hitmaker’s surname…)
  18. Inger Fridolin
  19. Lauri Pihlap
  20. Egert Milder
raw
raw
1 year ago

Good choice, only #2 and #13 are not needed 🙂
#16 – LIGHTSUM? South Korean girl group?
+ Mick Pedaja is the name. 🙂

XOOOD
XOOOD
1 year ago

Watch them taking your list and calling it a day ? that would be hilarious.