The Semi-Final of Eesti Laul 2024, the selection process of Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest, has just finished!
In today’s Semi-Final, only five out of fifteen contestants are allowed to qualify for the Grand Final. Then the qualifiers will meet the other five automatic finalists on February 17, where they will be competing for the title of the Estonian representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024!
About the show
The presenters of the evening were Grete Kuld and Tõnis Niinemets. The show took place in the sports hall of the University of Tartu.
Here are the 15 songs that competed today for the remaining five spots:
- 5miinust ja Puuluup – “(nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi”
- Inga – “No Dog On a Leash”
- Ollie – “My Friend”
- Yonna – “I Don’t Know About You”
- Peter Põder “Korra veel”
- Multikas, Ewert Sundja – “Oblivion”
- Traffic – “Wunderbar”
- Ingmar –“Dreaming”
- Anet Vaikmaa – “Serotoniin”
- Laura – “Here’s Where I Draw the Line”
- Sofia Rubina – “Be Good”
- Antsud – “Vetevaim”
- Silver Jusilo – “Lately”
- Cecilia –“FOMO”
- Ewert and The Two Dragons – “Hold Me Now”
The review of the competing performances:
1. 5miinust ja Puuluup – “(nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi”
Rating: 6/10
While being the favorites to win Eesti Laul, they did not fascinate or surprise me. For some people this might’ve been great; however, it felt a little forced for me. It is still fun! The staging was definitely messy. However, personally I believe this is the best choice for Estonia, as the European audience hasn’t heard the Estonian language for a while and this could score decent with the televote. Can this repeat Alika’s success? It might but it is questionable; nevertheless if possible, then it could be the other way round (strong tele, poor jury support).
2. Inga – “No Dog On a Leash”
Rating; 5/10
A cute song; nevertheless coming after the frontrunners of the show, this felt like a filler.
3. Ollie – “My Friend”
Rating: 5/10
The second favorite to win Eesti Laul! Not a huge fan of the song, as I believe this is the type of rock that could be considered generic. Great stage presence, but it felt very basic and something that we have seen million times at ESC. 
4. Yonna – “I Don’t Know About You”
Rating: 5/10
I found the performance a little boring. However, I would like to note that she should return to Eesti Laul, as there is definitely some potential!
5. Peter Põder “Korra veel”
Rating: 4/10
Another boring and dated song. The same can be said about the performance as well.
6. Multikas, Ewert Sundja – “Oblivion”
Rating: 7/10
The strongest for me so far. The song is really catchy, even though a bit generic. The performance was not boring, however I am absolutely sure that this is not the song that Estonia should send to Eurovision.
7. Traffic – “Wunderbar”
Rating: 4/10
Cute song and performance, but felt like a filler. Boring.
8. Ingmar –“Dreaming”
Rating: 2/10
Very dated, straight from a cheap fabricated movie. The singer has excellent vocal range and capacity and definitely deserved to sing a better song and have at least a better staging. Felt like a 15th placer in the semi-final of Eurovision 2007.
9. Anet Vaikmaa – “Serotoniin”
Rating : 4/10
If Hannah Montana was Estonian. Great charisma and energy on stage though.
10. Laura – “Here’s Where I Draw the Line”
Rating: 9/10
Obviously this is a generic song and the weakest attempt of Laura’s; however, what a DIVA! The shower effect looked surprisingly professional too. Did not get bored at all. Laura herself is a show!
11. Sofia Rubina – “Be Good”
Rating: 7/10
I am really surprised that this is last in the semi-final odds. Excellent vocals and great staging!
12. Antsud – “Vetevaim”
Rating: 4/10
Objectively one of the weakest songs and performances.
13. Silver Jusilo – “Lately”
Rating: 3/10
Very boring. Does nothing at all.
14. Cecilia –“FOMO”
Rating: 9.5/10
EXCELLENT performance! Cecilia delivered perfect vocals and stage presence. The song is also the best one, according to my personal taste. Although some camera angles were questionable and I would change the choreography a little bit, this was too entertaining regardless. Wow! Hope she makes it to the superfinal at least. Cecilia needs to represent Estonia in the upcoming years, if not this year.
15. Ewert and The Two Dragons – “Hold Me Now”
Rating: 4/10
I was not moved by this. Cecilia seemed to be better I believe.
Results
The five artists who qualified for the Eesti Laul 2024 final were determined after two rounds of voting.
In the first round after finalizing and combining the scores of the jury and the television audience, the following songs qualified:
- Ewert and The Two Dragons – “Hold Me Now”
- Ollie – “My Friend”
- 5miinust ja Puuluup – “(nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi”
Among the e remaining songs, a new vote was held where only the TV audience decided on the one two songs, which will qualify for the grand final of Eesti Laul 2024:
- Peter Põder “Korra veel”
- Anet Vaikmaa – “Serotoniin”
The three songs voted the most by the committee were:
- Inga – “No Dog On a Leash”
- Cartoon and Ewert Sundja – “Oblivion”
- Ewert and The Two Dragons – “Hold Me Now”
The automatic finalists are:
- Βrother Apollo – “Bad Boy”
- Daniel Levi – “Over The Moon”
- Nele-Liss Vaiksoo – “Kate Umber Jaa”
- Carlos Ukareda – “Never Growing Up”
- Uudo Sepp, Sarah Murray – “Still love”
The Eesti Laul 2024 Final will take place on February 17 in Tallinn.
Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the developments regarding the Estonian participation in Eurovision 2024.
