Estonia: Former Eesti Laul producer says that “Uku Suviste would have won Eurovision”!

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The former chief producer of Eesti Laul, Estonia’s competition to find its Eurovision entry, Mart Normet, thinks that Uku Suviste would have succeeded at Eurovision and perhaps even won the contest, with the song “What Love is”, which was composed by Dimitris Kontopoulos and Sharon Vaughn and Uku Suviste himself.

“The song is honest, well performed, well written. I really like that song,” Normet said on ETV talk show “Hommik Anuga” Sunday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EIQ6U039ms

Normet is going against the general opinion in his views. Estonia didn´t make it top three in the predictions charts. The favorites were Lithuania, Bulgaria, and Switzerland.

“In that sense, it´s even sadder that the contest was canceled because this year, the top three were predicted to be countries that haven´t won in a long time,” Normet said.

From these three, Normet liked the song “Tears Getting Sober” the most. “It has some Billie Eilish moments, but it´s not so dark. And when I heard these songs, this really made me listen,” Normet said.

On the other hand, he did not like the Swiss entry so much. However, Normet acknowledged that a lot of good singers have come from the birthplace of singer Gjon Muharremaj.

“She has Albanian-Kosovar roots. If you think about how many successful singers there are from the region – Dua Lipa, Rita Ora, Bebe Rexha, maybe some of the biggest female stars in the world today have come from Albania or Kosovo,” Normet said.

Normet also listened to the Russian story “Uno”, for example. “They have one decent Kreisraadio number,” Normet said. “‘You’re joking’, and making it an international joke.”

In addition, he remembered the Icelandic entry “Think About Things”, which according to Normet sounds very nice and doesn´t lack irony.

Today, Wednesday 11/11 and tomorrow Thursday 12/11, the 24 artists who will compete in Eesti Laul 2021 for the representation of Estonia in the next Eurovision song contest will be announced.

Source: ERR

Eurovision 2021: 41 countries to participate!!

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A few moments ago, the EBU revealed the list of the participating countries at the upcoming contest of Eurovision 2021, on 18th, 20th and 22nd of May in Rotterdam the Netherlands. Actually they are the same 41 nations that were about to take part in the 2020 contest that was canceled due to the COVID19 pandemic.

EBU and the Dutch host broadcasters NPO, NOS and AVROTROS have already revealed the 4 scenarios which their are focused on, and they abide by the restrictions and the facts of the pandemic and according to which the Eurovision 2021 will take place. The scenario, which will be chosen, will be announced in due time.

Martin Österdahl, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, said:

“We are grateful for the commitment of the 41 participating broadcasters in helping us bring the Eurovision Song Contest back in 2021.”

“We have the exact same line up of countries that would have competed in 2020 and we are thrilled that they will all return next year. Together with our host broadcasters we are continuing to develop the 4 different scenarios and maintaining a dialogue with all participants. The team from NPO, NOS and AVROTROS are working hard on ensuring the Eurovision Song Contest will provide the excitement and innovation expected by over 180 million viewers, despite the challenging circumstances.”

 

Of the 41 nations taking part, 35 will compete in two Semi-Finals with 10 successful acts from each Semi-Final joining the Big 5 (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom) and hosts the Netherlands in the Grand Final.

Sietse Bakker, Executive Producer of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021, said:

“It is fantastic that the same 41 countries that would have taken part this year still want to come to the Netherlands in May 2021. This demonstrates their confidence in our country still being able to organize a successful Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam next year, after the cancellation of the 2020 edition.”

“We have set the bar high to create 3 amazing live shows for an audience of 180 million people, even in these challenging times. To achieve this, we are working on an extensive protocol that guarantees the health of employees, participants, the press and visitors as much as possible.”

 

Participating broadcasters
The following countries (and EBU Member broadcasters) will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam:

Albania (RTSH)

Armenia (AMPTV)

Australia (SBS)*

Austria (ORF)

Azerbaijan (Ictimai TV)

Belarus (BTRC)

Belgium (VRT)

Bulgaria (BNT)

Croatia (HRT)

Cyprus (CyBC)

Czech Republic (CT)

Denmark (DR)

Estonia (ERR)

Finland (YLE)

France (FT)

Germany (ARD/NDR)

Georgia (GPB)

Greece (ERT)

Iceland (RUV)

Ireland (RTE)

Israel (KAN)

Italy (RAI)

Latvia (LTV)

Lithuania (LRT)

Malta (PBS)

Moldova (TRM)

The Netherlands (AVROTROS)

North Macedonia (MKRTV)

Norway (NRK)

Poland (TVP)

Portugal (RTP)

Romania (TVR)

Russia (Channel One)

San Marino (RTV)

Serbia (RTS)

Slovenia (RTVSLO)

Spain (TVE)

Sweden (SVT)

Switzerland (SRG SSR)

Ukraine (UA:PBC)

United Kingdom (BBC)

*EBU Associate

 

It is worth to be mentioned this is the first time since 1990 that we have the same amount of participating countries in two consecutive years.

Source: Eurovision.tv

Estonia: Uku Suviste records his Eurovision entry The first information about the song!

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Uku Suviste started recording his song for Eurovision 2021. This year’s winner of Eesti Laul. has already secured his place in the semifinals of the Estonian selection, where he will participate again with a song by Dimitris Kontopoulos and Sharon Vaughn. Eurovision Fun presents you exclusively, the first information about the song!

First of all, let’s say that Uku Suviste was scheduled to come to Athens to record the song, but travel restrictions prevented him due to the pandemic.

With the help of technology and with Uku in Tallinn and Dimitris Kontopoulos in Athens, the recording of the song started yesterday (21/9). It is worth mentioning that Victoria Chalkiti is the vocal coach, as she will be a vocal coach with Natalia Gordienko too.

The first information about the song

We are glad to have heard the song and we convey to you exclusively the first information. This is something completely different from What Love Is, the song with which Uku won Eesti Laul 2020. It is not a ballad, but a mid tempo, a completely radiofriendly track, while its lyrics are about a social problem of our ages. If, of course, Uku Suviste wins the Eesti Laul 2021 and represents Estonia again in the contest, Fokas Evangelinos will take over his stage appearance in Rotterdam, as would happen this year as well.

We remind you that the deposit of entries in Estonia lasts until November 6. The announcement of the songs that will compete in the two semifinals of Eesti Laul will be announced on December 5, while the final will take place on March 6. The semifinals will of course precede, which are scheduled for February 18th and 20th.

 

Estonia: Submission of entries for Eesti Laul 2021 has started | The final on March 6!

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Estonian public broacaster recently gave the details of Eesti Laul 2021, while the submission period will last until November 6.

Via Eesti Laul the Estonian representative at Eurovision 2021

Estonia is one of the 11 countries that have so far announced that they will re-select a representative for Eurovision 2021. A few minutes after the cancellation of this year’s competition, Estonia announced that they will hold Eesti Laul, the national final through which in recent years they choose the artist and the song for Eurovision.

This year’s winner of Eesti Laul, Uku Suviste, was given the opportunity to participate again, securing his place in the semifinals. The song of Uku was written by Dimitris Kontopoulos, while the stage appearance at Ahoy Arena would be edited by Fokas Evangelinos. It is unexpected for Eesti Laul 2021, the same team to be behind Uku’s entry in Eesti Laul 2021.

The regulations

The rules for participating in Eesti Laul 2021 have been published on the website of Estonian Public Television. Let’s see their main points:

  • Submission period starts today 1/9 and will last until 6/11.
  • Each artist and creator can submit a maximum of five entries.
  • The deposit is made electronically through the special window on Estonian public television.
  • The participation cost is 25 Euros for the songs with Estonian lyrics and 75 Euros for the songs with non-Estonian lyrics. The cost goes up if the song is submitted after 1/11, when it doubles.
  • 23 songs will be selected for the two semifinals and one place will be given directly to the song submitted by Uku Suviste.
  • The semifinals will take place on February 18 and 20, with the final taking place on March 6.
  • All the shows of Eesti Laul will be live and the presence of the audience will depend on the restrictions that will exist due to the covid-19.
  • Foreign artists are also allowed to participate, as long as there is an Estonian among them.

We remind you that Uku Suviste would represent Estonia at Eurovision 2020, after his victory at Eesti Laul, with the song of Dimitris Kontopoulos, What Love Is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4I3vvQzQ-E

Eurovision 2021: Dream Team is ready for new adventures!

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Philipp Kirkorov, as we told you, is in Elounda for his summer vacation, but that does not stop Dream Team from making plans for the next Eurovision song contest.

Dream Team ready for Eurovision 2021

Philipp Kirkorov, Dimitris Kontopoulos and Elias Kokotos are all together at Elounda Peninsula. In recent days, Natalia Gordienko, the representative of Moldova in Eurovision 2021, has been added to their company.

In a recent post, the Russian superstar states on behalf of the entire Dream Team, that the team is ready for new adventures in 2021:

Let us briefly present what adventures Philipp Kirkorov refers to:

Moldova

What is a given is that the Dream Team will be behind the participation of Natalia Gordienko with Moldova in Eurovision 2021. Kirkorov and Kontopoulos will write the song, while Fokas Evangelinos will edit the stage appearance. Of course Elias Kokotos will be the project manager of the whole effort.

Estonia

In Estonia we do not know if in 2021 the Dream Team will sign country’s participation. This year Uku Suviste, Ani Lorak’s contestant in The Voice, won the Eesti Laul with a song by Dimitris Kontopoulos. The director of the participation in Rotterdam would be Fokas Evangelinos. According to our information, the song of Uku Suviste in the next Esti Laul will have Dimitris Kontopoulos as composer again. If it wins the representation again, then the Dream Team will represent in Eurovision 2021 and Estonia.

Greece

In the case of Stefania, we do not have the active presence of Philipp Kirkorov, but the whole team will be behind the Greek participation for the second year. It is the second sure country that the Dream Team will take over at Eurovision 2021.

Eurovision: Dimitris Kontopoulos equaled the composer’s record with most entries in the same contest

Another surprise country

It is known that every year the Dream Team receives proposals from various countries, but also artists, to undertake their participation in the competition. Thus, it is possible to see the Dream Team in another country, either as a direct assignment, or participating in a national final.

The Dream Team in its full composition, has not been found since 2007, when it participated for the first time in the competition, never outside the top ten of the standings. Since then they have represented Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Russia, Azerbaijan, presenting participations that almost always star!

Will they be able to win for the first time, at Eurovision 2021?

Estonia: The winner of Eesti Laul 2021 at Eurovision 2021

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Estonia will normally host Eesti Laul next year and will not send Uku Suviste to the contest, as other countries have already announced.

Croatia, Spain, Latvia and the Netherlands have already announced that they will be represented by the artists themselves next year. Estonia is following in Sweden’s footsteps and will host Eesti Laul next year as well. Indeed, public broadcaster in the country invites Uku Suviste to take part in the year.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B94JWh6p5Oe/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

It seems that public television broadcasters  do not follow a common line on the artist who will represent them at Eurovision 2021, as some countries wish and have already announced that they will be represented by the same artist, while others, mainly those organizing national finals, will perform normally their festival and simply this year’s representatives will lose their right to compete in Eurovision.

We remind you that Uku Suviste would represent Estonia at Eurovision 2020, after his victory at Eesti Laul, with the song by Dimitris Kontopoulos, “What Love Is”.

https://youtu.be/z4I3vvQzQ-E

Estonia: Uku Suviste will normally participate in Eesti Laul 2021

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Estonia will normally host Eesti Laul next year and will not send Uku Suviste to the ESC, as other countries have already announced.

Croatia, Spain, Latvia, the Netherlands, Ukraine and Greece have already announced that they will be represented by the artists themselves next year. Estonia is following in Sweden’s footsteps and will host Eesti Laul next year as well. Indeed, public television in the country invites Uku Suviste to take part in the year.

Uku next year as well

As it finally happened, in the Ringvaade live show, the 37-year-old artist responded positively to the Eesti Laul 2021. He will thus claim his scripts and presence at the next Eurovision through the Baltic participation selection format. The remaining participants are due to be announced in due time, as we are still in March.

It seems that public television stations do not follow a single line on the artist who will represent them at Eurovision 2021, as some countries wish and have already announced that they will be represented by the same artist, while others, mainly those organizing national finals, will perform normally their festival and simply this year’s representatives will lose their right to compete in Eurovision.

Uku Suviste would represent Estonia at Eurovision 2020 with Dimitris Kontopoulos’ song “What Love Is”.

https://youtu.be/z4I3vvQzQ-E

Estonia: The detailed results of Eesti Laul 2020

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The official results of televoting in the Eesti Laul 2020 final have been officially announced shortly through the Estonian public television website. Uku Suviste didn’t just win, but he did triumph, gaining about 70% of Estonia’s preference in the super final!

A horse race finally proved to be Esti Laul this year, as Uku Suviste was never threatened by his rivals.

In the semifinals he had more than double the votes of the favorite and finally finished second in the final standings, Jaagup Tuisk and the song of Beautiful Lies.

He had 16,880 votes in the final round of voting, with Jaagup Tuisk receiving just 5,259. In the super final between the three candidates, the difference was struck, as within just 15 minutes of the telecast of Uku and “What Love Is” by Dimitris Kontopoulos and Sharon Vaughn received 33,582 votes, with “Beautiful Lies” marginally finishing second, receiving just 7,944 votes. Uku Suviste’s song was voted with 68% to be Estonia’s entry in Eurovision 2020.

https://youtu.be/z4I3vvQzQ-E

Estonia: Listen to the songs of Eesti Laul 2020

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Estonia’s public broadcaster has just released the 24 songs of Eesti Laul 2020. The final of Eesti Laul 2020, which will mark Estonia’s participation in Eurovision 2020, will take place on 29 February.

During the ETV program, “Ringvaates”, we had the opportunity to hear the 24 Eesti Laul 2020 entries for the first time.

You can listen to the songs HERE.

First Semifinal, February 13:

-Anett x Fredi – Write About Me
-Egert Milder – Georgia (On My Mind)
-INGA – Right Time
-Jennifer Cohen – Ping Pong
-Kruuv – Leelo
-Laura – Break Me
-Little Mess – Without a Reason
-Rasmus Rändvee – Young
-Renate – Videomäng
-Revals – Kirjutan romaani
-STEFAN – By My Side
-Synne feat. Väliharf – Majakad

Second Semifinal, February 15:

-German & Violina – Heart Winder
-INGER – Only Dream
-Jaagup Tuisk – Beautiful Lie
-Janet – Hingelind
-Mariliis Jõgeva – Unistustes
-Merilin Mälk – Miljon sammu
-SHIRA – Out In Space
-Traffic – Üks cord veel
-Uku Suviste – What Love Is
-Uudo Sepp – Sorry Sorry. I Messed Up
-Viinerid – Kapa Kohi-LA
-Ziggy Wild – Lean On Me

We remind you that the semifinals will take place on February 13 and 15 in Tartu, while the grand final will be traditionally held at Saku Suurhall in Tallinn, where Eurovision 2002 also took place. Six participants will qualify for each semifinal. Tickets are already on sale. Eesti Laul 2020 will be presented by Karl-Erik Taukar and Tõnis Niinemets.

Eesti Laul, the Estonian selection method, has been in use since 2009. The winners of this institution have awarded some of its most successful entries in the country – including: Urban Symphony (2009), Kuula (2012), La Forza (2018).

Victor Crone was the winner of Eesti Laul 2019 and Estonia’s representative at Eurovision 2019. He performed “Storm” on Tel Aviv stage and took 20th place.

Estonia: The distribution of songs in the two semifinals of Eesti Laul 2020

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While we all considered that the two-day announcement of the 24 entries of Eesti Laul 2020 essentially showed their distribution to the two Estonian National Semifinals, shortly before the country’s public broadcaster, announced in which semi-finalist each contestant would compete in.

We remind you that the semifinals will take place on February 13 and 15 in Tartu, while the grand final will be traditionally held at Saku Suurhall in Tallinn, where Eurovision 2002 took place. Six contestants will qualify from each semifinal. Tickets are already on sale. Eesti Laul 2020 will be presented by Karl-Erik Taukar and Tõnis Niinemets.

First Semifinal, February 13:

Anett x Fredi – Write About Me
Egert Milder – Georgia (On My Mind)
INGA – Right Time
Jennifer Cohen – Ping Pong
Kruuv – Leelo
Laura – Break Me
Little Mess – Without a Reason
Rasmus Rändvee – Young
Renate – Videomäng
Revals – Kirjutan romaani
STEFAN – By My Side
Synne feat. Väliharf – Majakad

Second Semifinal, February 15:

German & Violina – Heart Winder
INGER – Only Dream
Jaagup Tuisk – Beautiful Lie
Janet – Hingelind
Mariliis Jõgeva – Unistustes
Merilin Mälk – Miljon sammu
SHIRA – Out In Space
Traffic – Üks cord veel
Uku Suviste – What Love Is
Uudo Sepp – Sorry Sorry. I Messed Up
Viinerid – Kapa Kohi-LA
Ziggy Wild – Lean On Me

On 30/11 and 1/12 the 24 songs will be released, one day on the first semifinal and the other on the second. The exact order of appearance will be announced before each semifinal.

Eesti Laul, the Estonian selection method, has been in use since 2009. The winners of this institution have awarded some of its most successful entries in the country – including: Urban Symphony (2009), Kuula (2012), La Forza (2018).

Victor Crone was the winner of Eesti Laul 2019 and Estonia’s representative at Eurovision 2019. He performed “Storm” on Tel Aviv stage and took 20th place.