On Wednesday Estonia’s ERR gave us a taste of what’s to come at Eesti Laul 2020 by naming the first 12 semi-finalists, who include Laura, Traffic and Uku Suviste. And on Thursday the Baltic nation completed the competition line up by revealing the remaining 12 names.
Tomi Rahula, chief producer of Eesti Laul, is pretty satisfied. In the press release announcing the news he said:
“It is a pleasure to see such a versatile selection of songs, both genre and performers, reaching the semi-finals of the Estonian Song 2020. Viewers and listeners can see for themselves as early as November 30, when this year’s competing songs will be heard in public for the first time.”
On that day ERR will air a special programme with all the songs, the perfect tease before the first semi-final on February 13th and the second semi-final on February 15th. Those who survive the showdown will compete in the grand final on February 29th.
Eesti Laul 2020 — The other 12 acts
While these are the remaining 12 acts to be announced, they will not necessarily be performing in the second semi-final.
- “I’m Sorry. I Messed Up” Uudo Sepp (Andrei Zevakin)
- “Georgia (On My Mind)” Egert Milder (Kaspar Kalluste, Matteo Capreoli and Egert Milder)
- “Heart Winder” German & Violina (Timo Vendt, Ebbe Ravn, Carine-Jessica Kostla and Liis-Marii Vendt)
- “Hingelind” Janet (Marek Rosenberg, Lauri Lembinen, Kadri Lepik and Janet Vavilov)
- “Kapa Kohi-LA” Wieners (Peter Põder, Hardo Hansar and Martti Kask)
- “Kirjutan romaani” Revals (Jaanus Saago)
- “Majakad” Synne Valtri feat. Outdoor harp (Synne Valtri, Jaanus Viskar, Toomas Laur, Gert Gregor Källo and Aapo Ilves)
- “Miljon sammu” Merilin Mälk (Jonas Olsson, Teemu Jokinen, Jana Hallas, Merilin Mälk)
- “Only Dream” INGER (Inger Fridolin and Karl-Ander Reismann)
- “Ping Pong” Jennifer Cohen (Jennifer Cohen and Luisa Lõhmus)
- “Right Time” INGA (Peter Põder, Allan Kasuk, Raul Krebs and Inga Tislar)
- “Write About Me” Anett x Fredi (Frederik Küüts and Anett Kulbin)
Eesti Laul 2020 — The first 12 acts
- “Beautiful Lie” Jaagup Tuisk (Jaagup Tuisk)
- “Break Me” Laura, (Janne Hyöty, Jessica Hyöty and Laura Põldvere)
- “By My Side” STEFAN (Karl-Ander Reismann and Stefan Airapetjan)
- “Lean On Me” Ziggy Wild (Laura Prits, Valdur Viiklepp, Sander Nõmmistu and Henri-Hannes Sell)
- “Leelo” Kruuv (Allan Kasuk)
- “Out In Space” SHIRA (SHIRA and Karl-Ander Reismann)
- “Unistustes” Mariliis Jõgeva (Mariliis Jõgeva and Oliver Mazurtšak)
- “Videomäng” Renate (Renate Saluste)
- “What Love Is” Uku Suviste (Uku Suviste and Sharon Vaugh)
- “Without a Reason” Little Mess (Ebbe Ravn, Timo Vendt, Mihkel Mattisen and Tanja Mihhailova-Saar)
- “Üks kord veel” Traffic (Victor Crone, Fred Krieger, Vallo Kikas and Stig Rästa)
- “Young” Rasmus Rändvee (Karl-Ander Reismann and Rasmus Rändvee)
Eesti Laul 2020 — Format
There will be two semi-finals held on 13 and 15 February. In each semi-final, the 24 competing acts will battle for 12 available spots in the grand final, to take place on 29 February 2020.
The 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 face two rounds of voting once again. First, three superfinalists are decided by the combined score of jury and televoters. Those three acts will battle it out one more time, where the winner will be decided by televote alone.
Eesti Laul was first expanded to 24 competing acts in 2019. There, Swedish singer Victor Crone won with “Storm”, penned by Estonian songwriter — and Eurovision 2015 singer — Stig Rästa. The performance got Estonia into the Eurovision grand final for the second year in a row, where it finished 20th.
What do you think of the acts so far? Who are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments.
If Rasmus Rändvee brings something as good has his last appearance or better, he has to be one of THE front-runners.
He has an amazing voice. But there is so much competition. It will come down to the song, I think.
Laura’s song – Break me is about non -qualification from kiev in 2017 and 2005 ? 🙁
Where is Kerli? Her latest songs were fantastic
In Australia
This is like the Estonian Version of Melodifestivalen! same returning acts. no new fresh ones :/
Estonian population is 1,3 million. You can’t have different musicians every year. There are many new ones this year as well.
But they are thousend times more interesting than in MF
Damn you are talking a lot about a show you hate. Still dont get why you watch it every year. Cant you watch something else? I would like you to watch something you like 🙂
LOL! Thank you for your concern (and even more for the irony, I do appreciate it 🙂 ) But I have to tell you AGAIN that I do not watch it. And yes I do watch other things, which I like very much, thank you! And yes, maybe I have been talking too much about it, point taken. But we are so overloaded witf MF news and you guys always bragging about it that I simply cannot resist.
Estonia is much smallef country than Sweden, so i understand this in Estonia.
5 million watch Melfest. We dont care what you think 🙂 Whatever entry we choose you will hate it anyway and say we are overrated. So we sont care 🙂
Well, this is exactly why I keep coming back on MF…
There are 1,3 million people in Estonia.
There is a lot of talk about returning acts going on 😀 I have nothing against them, neither in Estonia nor in Sweden! If I like a singer, the song or the personality, I am always happy to see him again. Of course there is the “chance for newcomers” thing, but if there is a good mix, it’s fine with me! Already excited for INGER and Jennifer Cohen <3
So total 13 returning artists out of 24.
So? If all 24 was returning. Why does it matter? its not the same songs. I dont care.
No recognizable ones. Wish Mike Pedaja, the Elinas, Juri, and Kerli would return.
i like how they’re now called “the Elinas” lol
As an Estonian I can say that 100% sure qualifiers are: Uudo Sepp, INGER, Jaagup Tuisk, Laura, STEFAN , Uku Suviste, Traffic, Rasmus Rändvee . So others are just compeating for leftovers.
No kerli 🙁
Spirit animals stayed in Australia with Keiino
Revals might bring in some trad music, or not. Possibly violins?
Synne Valtri making it to Eesti Laul shows that the qualify this year cannot be high. I have a feeling that this year’s selection disappoints you again.
Synne will do it her way. 🙂
I liked Synnes entry.
Do you pay taxes in Estonia?
Don’t be so mean about 1 singer in a selection of 24 participants! Personally I really liked Synne Valtri last year and glad she’s back.
the only ones i’m excited for are INGA, rasmus and laura… can opera queen elina nechayeva come back to eesti laul in 2021 please
INGA is the only act i’m excited about. First 12 were more exciting.
Georgia on My Mind? Between this and Spirit in the Sky this year, Eurovision sure loves nicking song titles from classic American songs.
“Mrs. [Caroline] Robinson”, “Hurricane”, “San Francisco”, “The One [That] I Love”, “Leave Me Alone”, “Good vibrations” (Bra vibrationer), “Amazing”, that’s all I can think of… Not that many really.
Oh my, another one. Estonia has really cute blondes. I’m delighted. Can’t wait to hear the songs. They definitely get extra credit for releasing them so early. Others keep dragging it out til the last second, even though they have nothing worth waiting for. I love the Estonian way.
it’s the country with the highest percent of blondes according to genetic studies ! what i love bout estonians is that they can be 35 years old n still look 20….. ageless kings n queens
It is? Thanks for that information, I’ll definitely be moving to Estonia in the next couple of years then. I’ve been contemplating where to move but with that info, nothing could possibly beat Estonia anymore. Do you have links for those studies, by any chance?
I’m hoping Rasmus doesn’t dye his hair blonde, otherwise he’ll lose his USP (unique selling point). 😀