Eesti Laul: the contest where Estonia chooses its Eurovision star
Eesti Laul (Estonian Song in French) is an annual music competition organised by Estonian public broadcaster Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR). It determines who will represent Estonia at Eurovision. This selection has enabled five Estonian artists to place in the top 10 at Eurovision. It is one of the most popular television programmes in Estonia and a firm favourite with Eurofans.
History
The competition was created by the ERR and has been held annually since 2009. Eesti Laul was launched to replace the former national selection Eurolaul. This had been in use since Estonia's first participation in Eurovision in 1993.
Entry selection process and rules
The ERR opens the competition a few months before Eesti Laul, and 15 songs will be selected by a panel of professionals. A final song will then be chosen by a public vote. Eesti Laul 2025 will feature a total of 16 songs.
Most of the rules are the same as those for Eurovision. For example, the number of people on stage is limited to 6 for each performance, and songs must be no longer than 3 minutes, exactly the same as for Eurovision.
Until 2017, only songs composed entirely by Estonian teams could take part. Now, international collaborations can be included, as long as half of the songwriters are Estonian.
Artists and songwriters may submit a maximum of three songs each, except for those taking part in songwriting camps organised by the Estonian Song Academy.
Organisation of the competition and voting system
This year's Eesti Laul will feature just one show, meaning there will be no semi-finals. After the 16 songs have been performed, the audience and the jury will together choose three superfinalists, each with equal weight in the decision, with 50 % for the jury and 50 % for the audience.
During the super-final, the results will depend solely on public votes.
Eesti Laul's track record
Here is the list ofEesti Laul from 2024 to 2009 :
| Year | Song | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | "(nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi " | 5miinust & Puuluup |
| 2023 | "Bridges | Alika |
| 2022 | "Hope | Stefan |
| 2021 | "The Lucky One | Uku Suviste |
| 2020 | "What Love Is | Uku Suviste |
| 2019 | "Storm | Victor Crone |
| 2018 | "La forza | Elina Nechayeva |
| 2017 | "Verona | Koit Toome & Laura |
| 2016 | "Play | Jüri Pootsmann |
| 2015 | "Goodbye to Yesterday | Elina Born & Stig Rästa |
| 2014 | "Amazing | Tanja |
| 2013 | "Et uus saaks alguse | Birgit Õigemeel |
| 2012 | "Kuula | Ott Lepland |
| 2011 | "Rockefeller Street | Getter Jaani |
| 2010 | "Siren | Malcolm Lincoln |
| 2009 | "Rändajad | Urban Symphony |
