Estonian broadcaster ERR has allocated the twenty participating artists to their Semi-Finals in Eesti Laul 2018. Just a few weeks ago, the broadcaster revealed the twenty acts who would be participating in the 2018 edition of the contest. The songs were chosen from a record-breaking 258 entries, an increase on last year’s record of 242.
The allocations are as follows:
Semi-Final 1 (10th February 2018):
- Aden Ray – Everybody’s dressed
- Desiree – On my mind
- Elina Netšajeva – La forza
- Etnopatsy – Külm
- Iiris & Agoh – Drop that boogie
- Miljardid – Pseudoprobleem
- Sibyl Vane – Thousand words
- Stig Rästa – Home
- Tiiu x Okym x Semy – Näita oma energiat
- Vajé – Laura (Walk with me)
Semi-Final 2 (17th February 2018):
- Eliis Pärna & Gerli Padar – Sky
- Evestus – Welcome to my world
- Frankie Animal – (Can’t keep calling) Misty
- Girls In Pearls – Spellbound
- Indrek Ventmann – Tempel
- Karl Kristjan & Karl Killing (feat. Wateva) – Young
- Marju Lanik – Täna otsuseid ei tee
- Metsakutsu – Koplifornia
- Nika – Knock knock
- Rolf Roosalu – Show a little love
Competing in the 2018 competition are a couple of familiar faces for Eurovision fans. Estonia’s 2015 representative Stig Rästa, who finished in 7th place in the grand final with the song “Goodbye to Yesterday” along with Elina Born, will return to Eesti Laul in 2018. This follows his participation in last year’s Eesti Laul as the composer to Elina Born’s solo entry “In or Out”, which finished in last place in the grand final.
Another familiar face is Gerli Padar, Estonia’s representative at the 2007 contest in Helsinki. She finished 22nd out of 24 participants in the semi-final with her song “Partners in Crime”, and hence failed to qualify for the grand final.
Next year’s Estonian representative will follow Koit Toome & Laura, who represented the country in Kyiv with the song “Verona”. The pair finished in 14th place in their semi-final.
The Semi-Finals of Eesti Laul 2018 will take place on February 10th and 18th. The final will take place on March 3rd at Saku Suurhallis.
Source: ERR
Estonia debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994 alongside six other countries. At the contest in Dublin they were represented by Silvi Vrait, who finished 2nd last scoring just 2 points. In 2001 Estonia won the Eurovision Song Contest for the only time to date. They were represented by Tanel Padar, Dave Benton & 2XL, who performed the song “Everybody” and took a surprise victory in Copenhagen. After the success of the late-90s and early 00s, Estonia failed to qualify for the final from 2004-2008. In 2009 Estonia launched a new selection show, Eesti Laul, and has since qualified for the final five out of eight attempts.
