He won Eesti Laul 2020 by a huge margin.
But unlike other acts this year, Uku Suviste will not automatically become Estonia’s act for Eurovision 2021.
Instead, broadcaster ERR has offered him a direct pass to the semi-finals.
ERR’s offer was unveiled by Eesti Laul boss Tomi Rahula tonight in Estonia. The offer means Suviste skips a step in Estonia’s song selection process.
Other entries for Eesti Laul 2021 will be screened by a jury to create a short-list of 24 semi-finalists.
Will Uku Suviste compete at Eesti Laul 2021?
Uku is unsurprisingly sad about the cancellation of Eurovision 2020.
On an Estonian talkshow he said:
“Am I unhappy? Of course I’m a little bit sad and of course I’m sorry, but I have to look at the seriousness of the situation.”
Asked about ERR’s offer, the “Pretty Little Liar” hitmaker sounds positive:
“I believe I will definitely participate if the place in the semi-finals already exists.”
ERR has confirmed if Uku wants to compete he will however need to use a new song. This is in line with current EBU rules, which permit artists from entering songs released before September the year before a given contest.
Estonia’s road to Eurovision 2020
Uku revealed major changes had been planned for his performance in Rotterdam.
“It would have been quite an expensive undertaking, both in time and in financial terms.” He teased.
The performance would have been for his ballad “What Love Is”. Fortunately as changes had not been made, funds had not yet been spent on the performance.
Estonia would have competed in the first half of the second semi-final on May 14. As mentioned, Uku won Eesti Laul 2020 by a large margin.
The article from ERR also suggests Eesti Laul 2021 will once again feature 24 semi-finalists.
What do you make of the news? Let us know in the comments below!
Give the direct pass to Jaagup instead 🙂
Does he really deserve it though? The reception wasn’t that great. Estonians should pick something else.
Why are you all so sure that he will win Eesti Laul 2021 even with an unremarkable song? Estonians aren’t so sensitive and emotional to give him victory no matter what just because they feel sorry for him. Of course he’ll get some pity votes but if there’s a much better song in Eesti Laul, it will probably still win.
he is winning 100%, i’m estonian and i already saw comments from middle aged women on fb saying that they will vote for him no matter what and assuming that his fanbase of other middle aged women do the same then it’s doubtful that he’ll lose
I can see some of them win again just because of pity votes and im loving it. Come back Uku. You fought for your ticket this year and you absolutely deserve that big stage.
Oh god… I hope he has a better song then next year
At least he should directly be in the final.
No no..he should compete 😛
I’d prefer them maybe doing something more like Israel and Romania did. Have the singer, but let the public choose the song?
Eesti Laul format is not like that
they can change it for once, eesti laul isn’t san remo it was created for eurovision especially
You are wrong. Eesti Laul is our own San Remo, hence they changed the name Euro Song to Eesti Laul. In the statement our producer said the main goal of the competition is to find the best song in Estonia and Eurovision comes only as a bonus, hence Uku Suviste will not be headlining next hear.
I actually liked his song so this is pretty sad. It would be even sadder if he ends up losing Eesti Laul though. I wish him lots of luck!
Well he can always come back again next year. And the year after that…etc xD
God those Estonians are all heart lol
Bless
So it can actually happen that 40 countries send the same artist except Sweden. And if some new country want to enter. I still think the Mamas will be given a slot in Melfest 2021. I can feel it. So im not worried. Will they win again then? maybe. We have had Melfest in the past and DID not send a song to ESC. so it have happened but it was a long time ago.
Why would Sweden be the only exception? Some, if not most, will probably send the same artist, especially those who were internally selected. As for the others, we will see. But everyone deserves their chance
Because Melfest is one of he biggest selections, i feel that the mamas has the least chance of all countries to go
“We have had Melfest in the past and DID not send a song to ESC”
When was that? 🙂
I don’t like his song but it’ll definitely be unfair to deny him his chance to represent his country at Eurovision. On the bright side, he’ll probably get a better song.
Yeah, I think this cancellation might be a blessing disguise for some artists if they want to hold out for next year–it might give them an opportunity to compose a new and better song.
How would you feel if you had tried to represent your country for years, finally won the local selection, Eurovision got cancelled in the morning and just a few hours later the broadcaster already decided to have a new selection? I think it’s disgusting. I understand EBU and the broadcasters will have tough choices to make and many won’t be pleased with them, but why this rush? I’m glad that some broadcasters are already annoucing they’ll keep their artists to 2021. But it seems others will treat their artists like pawns.
technically, ERR isn’t treating Uku like a pawn, he gets an automatic bid to the Semi-Finals of Eesti Laul, and either way, Eesti Laul would have happened either way, even if they weren’t doing eurovision that year. I have hopes that he can win again and if not, then oh well, life would go on (also from what I know Uku only participated in 2019 as well.) With other countries, some who have confirmed to go in 2021 haven’t said anything about artists or national selections yet, and most haven’t confirmed yet, just wait, if your mad and think they… Read more »
You’re chosing to put yourself on the broadcaster’s position. So they are the ones that should “take a deep breath”. The decisions about national finals are rarely taken before the last trimester. I believe announcing it in the very same day is deeply insensitive towards Uku (and his fans). I’m not even criticizing the decision itself. I would prefer that broadcasters kept their artists, but I’m aware that some won’t and each one of us will have our opinions about it. But it was mean and unnecessary to do it so fast. What if your boss decided to let you… Read more »
You don’t wanna have any national selections in 2021? It’s not like anyone asked for this. People are gonna want NFs again in 2021.
I just think it’s fair that those who were supposed to perform in 2020, who were already putting a lot of effort on it, should have the moment they worked for. So I’m glad that some broadcasters are moving this way. I would also prefer if they take the same songs, but wouldn’t mind if they had the option to change them. And if they wanted to do like Israel and Romania with a national final to pick a song for that artist, great. I’m putting the artists before of our entertainment, Bean. This is an exceptional situation, I believe… Read more »
Oh yess we do need NF-s they are FUN!!
surprising, at least this isn’t the weirdest thing i’ve seen, today the wiki for Eurovision 2021 showed Lady Gaga representing Sweden, Kita representing the Netherlands, Fuerte representing Greece, and Go_A’s song for eurovision being Stan Samanta Tina (which i wouldn’t argue against). Lets hope the song is good this time (im mad that Beautiful Lie (dont remember who sang the song or Laura didnt win)
Beautiful Lie was sung by Jaagup Tuisk 🙂
I really hated his song this year, but this is kinda sad. At the very least give him a slot in the Estonian final. However, I think with everything going on, I think he will most likely win again, hopefully with a better song.
It is sad. As a human I can feel sorry for him. But as a eurofan – get a better song!
Directly to the Estonian semi finals? Wow, that’s super generous, ERR!
In light of this cancellation, I think it’s fair to give him another chance.
Yeah it’s nice. Gosh life is really testing him lol
I feel so bad for Uku, eventhough im not a huge fan of the song.. This is humiliating for him, really.
Poor guy..
I needed you to show me what love is, sexy Estonian King.:‘(
Well. maybe next year lolol
Feeling quite sad for him – robbed in 2019, and now when he won the contest is cancelled, I hope that he will get a good song this time
Who robbed him?
remember, Victor Crone won, i have no idea if he was robbed because i only heard Storm and 2 other songs from that years eesti laul
Almost everybody in the Eesti Laul final was better than Victor with that voice (except maybe Synne and xtraBasic)
Oh Storm was a better option than PLL
As a person who hates his song with passion, I really think it’s completely disrespectful that ERR won’t let him go in 2021. He won respectively and should get the same thing everyone gets. And what for? Ratings? Kinda disgusting.
Eesti Laul isn’t only about Eurovision. He still remains as Eesti Laul 2020 winner and next year we will have a new selection.
What exactly don’t you understand? Eesti Laul is held every year, whether Eurovision takes place or not. We’re not doing it for Eurovision only, it’s a big musical event in Estonia, as Rahula said. We’re not cancelling Eesti Laul 2021 because Eurovision 2020 is cancelled. So wouldn’t it be weird that the winner of Eesti Laul 2021 cannot go to Eurovision ? I understand it when those who selected internal artists keep the same artist but it’s not the case for those who have NFs.
But at least placing him directly in the Eesti Laul final (which of course is an important Estonian music festival on its own) would have been a nice and polite gesture of ERR.
no, thats would have been a bad thing. people like to get to know songs, Some songs NEED 2 times to be better
the thing is this was unexpected, we couldn’t control it, and while its devastating he won’t go, it would be upsetting for others who might be putting time into making songs for the eesti laul for other musicians that wouldn’t get that chance if uku got internalty selected (sorry if i explained it bad, also to be honest by not internally selecting him as the artist, they are dodging a bullet on non qualification, because the song is meh, but i believe that he will come back stronger in 2021) (btw they are right, eesti laul would happen even if… Read more »
This is not good enough. Estonia needs to send him next year.
This is good news for countries with weaker entries. Now, if Laura decides to join she’ll have to choose a song where she can actually hit the high notes. I’d love to see Anette & Fredi back in!!!
Question… who is Anette and Fredi again
Laura can’t sing anymore.
I mean like she sounds really bad live lol oops
I would say every chosen contestant should perform in the following year with the option to change the song ..
To be honest, all countries should send the same act that was chosen for 2020, unless the participant refuses to go.
But let a virus “steal” their probably greatest opportunity as a musician is definitely not their fault and I cheer to all the broadcasters that already confirmed their planned 2020 acts for 2021!
to be honest, you speak true facts, i will say this, the virus was out of our power, we couldn’t control it. Also, i don’t know if italy would want the winner of sanremo to not represent, i would like to see Diodato back at sanremo next year
I hope he uses the time to produce a strong modern pop song that can make Estonia proud instead of the outdated mess that he won with this year…
One can hope…
Good, hope he places last in the semi. This is a blessing in disguise, maybe we wont have to see him at Eurovision
he definitely wont, he has a lot of support from middle aged women who will vote like crazy for him
A blessing in disguise hehehe
I really REALLY dislike the song, but the dude won the show… they really should send him next year. I can see the televote skyrocketing him through anyway but oh well.
well he basically won eesti laul 2021 then because he is going to get A LOT of pity votes (no matter how good/bad his new song is lol)… i honestly don’t think many estonian artists will submit songs next year because they know that he’ll probably win again
Same with Sweden and The Mamas.
I think this is a fair compensation. It gives the 2020 winners a second chance to try again next year.
Pfff just send him to Rotterdam 2021.. This is torture for him
Rules are rules
I honestly think it’s unfair for him to have to go through the national final all over again. He was selected as the winner and thus he should be directly selected for 2021.
I’d find it fairer if he went straight to the final, or if they had a scaled-down one-singer national final with him performing all the songs, but rules are rules I guess.
I’m glad he still has this opportunity. I hope other NFs do the same, if they happen. (The Mamas deserve to go directly to the final as well).
(And look, no shade, but I hope it’s with a better song than this one)
I think all of the national final winners this year should be given a second chance to try again, and have a direct place in the final for next year (if they want to try Eurovision again or if they haven’t already been offered to represent their countries again without going through the national finals).
Well, it’s fair they gave him a place on next year’s Eesti Laul, I think Sweden is doing the same with The Mamas.
The mamas will win again no matter which song they send. Three years with the same act in Sweden. I mean they deserve it because they won but since it’s not my kind of music… i’m really tired.
It was John Lundvik FEAT. the Mamas so it was his song. So NO to your statement