Hello and welcome to Eesti Laul 2013, the first semifinal to choose this years participant to represent Estonia in Mälmo at Eurovision 2013. It´s been a few years since Estonia last won Eurovision, 2001 to be exact. Although last year they placed 6th in the final after qualification.
Tonight we have 10 acts vying to qualify for the final. Let the fun begin!
We are presented to each contestant one by one as they walk down an improvised catwalk, if anything this seems a strange way to introduce a musician onto a stage and seems more like a group of friends together for a night out.
1. Young Girl – Armastus
Composed by Jaan Tätte juunior and Taavi Tulev, this song is performed by a male duet; Armastus. A melancholic song, it has a hippy vibe and would go down well at an independent film where people are sitting and talking about nothing in particular. If this is a love song, then the subject has probably already left the building. The song has an Irish/northern feel to it and the singing is not all that bad but its not a happy song and if anything it will likely not do too well at Eurovision.
2. Moving To Mmm – Marilyn Juryman
Written by Marilyn Jurman and Karl Kanter, our next song is performed by a female soloist, Marilyn Juryman. This is an Indie pop song and the lyrics are the kind you hear at a cofee shop. Well sung but with no emotion, the physical input into the song is staged and this makes it an easily passable song. It would struggle at the contest if chosen.
3. Meiecundimees üks Korsakov läks eile Lätti – Winny Puhh
Onto the next song, composed by Silver Lepaste and Indrek Vaheoja, it is performed by Winny Puhh. Our band or group of performers are dressed ready for a latex party, they are covered from head to toe and resemble a late night theme party. A rock song with more shouting than singing, one wonders why the obsession with copying Lördi but failing to have any rhythm whatsoever. A very repetitive and strange song, if it can be called that.
4. Taevas valgeks läeb – Sarah
Composed by Sirli Hiius and Mathura, the fourth song of the night is performed by Sarah, this is a slow ballad but given the previous performance this is a breath of fresh air. A solid performance, very typical of Eurovision and a great opportunity to show off a designer dress. A solid performance but not much in the way of surprises and a little dated. Considering what has been performed so far, this seems a more logical choice.
5. Ring the Alarm – Teele & Tuuli & Ula
Composed by Priit Uustulnd and Teele Viira, this song is a duet performed to massive drums and neon flash lights, there is a capella singing as the music only starts halfway through. This song has strong lyrics and could do well but it lacks musical talent, unfortunately the performance is like a very standard karaoke one. Would struggle at any level, which is a shame as the lyrics are not bad.
A short break as our jury are introduced. They don’t look very happy tonight.
We now continue with the show.
6. Follow Me – Rosanna Lints
Composed by Rolf Roosalu, Kristel Aaslaid and Mattias Hapsal. This song is performed by Rosanna Lints and has been presented in two different formats, a ballad and a techno song. Tonight we get the techno version and she is accompanied on stage by male dancers showing their torsos. The song is nothing special, the music is very low, the dancers will get her votes but the performance is a reminder of daytime television. Could do well.
7. Päästke Noored Hinged – Grete Paia
Composed by our singer, Grete Paia and Sven Lohmus, we are presented with a nice rock ballad. Well performed and although nothing special, it is the strongest performance of the night. Would not set Europe alight if it made it to Mälmo but would not be a bad representative for Estonia.
8. Enough – Elina Born
Composed by Stig Rasta and Fred Krieger, our eighth song of the night, a modern R&B number with some techno beats. Our singer struggles with the vocals and although confident on stage; she smiles a lot, there is too much playing with the camera. Again, this could do well tonight but it still has no special spark and would struggle on the big stage. The lyrics are not amazing and the stage performance needs work.
9. Suuda Öelda ei – Korsikud
Our penultimate song is composed by Andrus Albrecht, Alari Piispea, Lauri Liivak and Jaan Pehk. Performed by a male trio, this song includes every musical instrument imaginable. Dressed in winter clothing, they can be described as the blues brothers without the blues. A very slow song, well performed but too melancholical for Eurovision in my opinion. Could do well in a national context but would struggle at a European level.
10. The missing thing – Anisa
The final song of a very poor night, composed by Alar Kotkas, Pearu Paulus, Ilmar Laisaar and Jana Hallas. Anisa, our performer, entertains us with a dance number. Good lyrics but some work is required on the stage performance and the visual performance. Saying this, it is well perfoemed and has a good chance of qualifying. It’s not special but it has potential.
TO THE FINAL
7. Grete Paia – Päästke Noored Hinged
9. Korsikud – Suuda Öelda ei
5. Teele & Tuuli & Ula – Ring the Alarm
3. Winny Puhh – Meiecundimees üks Korsakov läks eile Lätti
8. Elina Born – Enough
