The Eesti Laul 2023 final is upon us. On Saturday 11 February, Estonia makes its choice for Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool. Twelve entrants battled their way through the heats to make it here, but only one can win the ticket to Liverpool.

Estonia is one of seven countries deciding their Eurovision tracks this Super Saturday.

But before Estonia decides, the Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of musical unprofessionals — has been busy listening to all the finalists’ entries. Now it’s time for them to reveal who their favourites are.

Let’s see who they think should qualify for Estonia this year!

Wiwi Jury: Eesti Laul (Estonia Eurovision 2023)

Pablo

1. Ollie – “Venom

This song sounds like the highest risk that’ll yield the highest rewards. “Venom” feels unabashedly authentic, powerful, reminiscent of the great American hard rock, nu-metal period of the late 2000s. Arresting and unapologetic, but still accessible to the general public and technically impressive for juries. Estonia and rock have hardly mixed over the years, but this time’s the right time. 

2. Bedwetters – “Monsters”
3. Sissi – “Lighthouse”
4. Alika – “Bridges”
5. Janek – “House of Glass”

Ruxandra

1. Bedwetters – “Monsters

Under their monsters masks, they have charisma. They live every moment on stage and it is contagious. I personally like the rock sound of this entry. Bands like Lordi and Blind Channel did well in Eurovision so they might get a good result too as long as they come with a strong show. They have this little crazy appearance that gets your attention instantly but, looking more carefully, they have a song with a pretty strong message about the monsters inside our head, the monsters that we have to defeat. 

2. Ollie – “Venom”
3. Andreas – “Why do you love me?”
4. Elysa – “Bad Philosophy”
5. Inger – “Awaiting You”

Sebastian

1. MEELIK – “Tuju

In a year where I’m not deeply in love with what Eesti Laul has put forward, I think different is captivating. MEELIK are oddly captivating with their pop-punk performance “Tuju”. It doesn’t break any new ground, but the combination of their Birkenstocks, retro feel and unemotional demeanours really elevates a song that you’d otherwise hear at your local Topman.

2. Ollie – “Venom”
3. Elysa – “Bad Philosophy”
4. Inger – “Awaiting You”
5. Andreas Poom – “Why Do You Love Me?”

Tom

1. Ollie – “Venom”

First things first I am well aware that this song is not breaking new ground. However, “Venom” is right down my alley. This is the type of music that I listened to when I was a teenager and still do now, from Blink-182 to Green Day – and this song falls straight into that category. “Venom” is definitely a track that will live in my playlist when it’s Eurovision 2040 simply because this is the music I love. This is excellent pop-rock and I will continue to enjoy belting it out in my car. Great fun and my Eesti Laul 2023 winner.


2. Bedwetters – “Monsters”
3. Janek – “House of Glass”
4. Meelik – “Tuju”
5. Sissi – “Lighthouse”

Lucy

1. Ollie – “Venom”


Ollie brings the same nostalgic emo vibes we got from Finland’s Blind Channel in 2021, but dare I suggest he’s doing it better? Ollie’s raw vocal is stunning, and “Venom” really builds throughout the verses to the powerful punch that is the chorus. Whilst there’s a chance of plenty of rock at Eurovision 2023, this will be a standout among others entries.

2. Inger — “Awaiting You”
3. Meelik — “Tuju”
4. Anett x Fredi — “You Need to Move On”
5. Alika — “Bridges”


What do you think of the Wiwi Jury’s reviews? Who is in your top five? Let us know in the comments.

3 Comments
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Kosey
Kosey
1 year ago

Er, Tom, Ollie is not like either Blink 182 or Green Day, it is much more straight up soft rock like Nickelback. Watch your mouth out son!

Zisk
Zisk
1 year ago

Surprised how lowly they’ve rated Alika.

lasse braun
lasse braun
1 year ago
Reply to  Zisk

naive wishful thinking.