Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Estonia's Eesti laul 2017 will have it's glamourous final tonight in Saku Suurhall in Tallinn. Four previous winners and several veterans and runners ups are at it, and I feel a bit favorism from Estonian tv here as the running order has Koit & Laura placed  at number two while Kerli gets the last one. Hmmm... Despite all this I firmly stay in team #Verona . My other favorite Ariadne didn't quite deliver live and struggled to get even this far. Kerli may have the most outstanding performance but certainly not the best song so let's see if also the Estonians prefer show over song.... A sad remainer again Eurovision song contest is mistaken way too often as Eurovision show contest  (ghrm, Statements , grehm) Liis Lemsalu – Keep running Koit Toome & Laura – Verona  WINNER Karl-Kristjan & Whogaux feat. Maian – Have you now  (4TH) Lenna Kuurmaa – Slingshot Daniel Levi – All I need Elina Born – In or out Ivo Linna – Suur loterii Rasmus R...

Estonia starts its selection tonight for Eurovision song contest 2017. Bigger the better is the motto this year as they hav really worked for it and will bring the final to Saku Suurhall in Tallinn. Five songs will make it to the final after 50-50 televote-jury vote. Like Hungarian A dal also Estonian Eesti laul is a bit disappointing this year in general but then again, all we need is one good song :-) Below are the acoustic live versions of the songs. I'm all for Ariadne in this round! Lenna Kuurmaa - Slingshot Elina Born - In or out Carl-Philip - Everything but you Ivo Linna - Suur loterii Ariadne - Feel me now  (saved) Uku Suviste - Supernatural Laura Prits - Hey kiddo Karl-Kristjan & Whogaux feat. Maian - Have you now Janno Reim & Kosmos - Valan pisaraid Leemet Onno - Hurricane

Oh my, Estonia Eesti laul 2017 line up is epic. This is going to be so good it seems! Lenna, Rasmus, Elina, Daniel, Laura, Koit, Ivo, Kerli, Liis... they are all in! How can one choose? Lenna Kuurmaa - "Slingshot" Lenna Kuurmaa, Nicolas Rebscher, Michelle Leonard Rasmus Rändvee - "This Love" Bert Prinkenfeld, Stewart James Brock, Ewert Sundja, Rasmus Rändvee Angeelia - "We Ride With Our Flow" Angeelia Maasik, Andres Kõpper Elina Born - "In or Out" Stig Rästa, Vallo Kikas, Fred Krieger Leemet Onno - "Hurricane" Leemet Onno, Ed Struijlaart Laura Prits - "Hey Kiddo" Tara Nabi, Laura Prits, Andres Kõpper Daniel Levi - "All I Need" Ago Teppand, Daniel Levi Viinalass Antsud - "Vihm" Aile Alveus-Krautmann Ariadne - "Feel Me Now" Margus Piik, Tomi Rahula, Anni Rahula Koit Toome ja Laura - "Verona" Sven Lõhmus Kerli - "Spirit Animal" Ker...

Kaliningrad born Tanja (Tatiana Mihhailova, 30) isn't a new comer to Eesti laul as she already was a runner up back in 2002 with NightLight Duo and Another country song and took part again in 2003 . Since then she has become a household name and much admired person in theater, musicals and TV-shows. Several bands, talent shows and international festivals later she lands Copenhagen 2014 with partly self-penned Amazing . Robert: Like previous years, a very interesting preselection in Estonia. I like many songs of this Eesti laul like Maiken , Sandra Nurmsalu, Lauri Pihlap, Körsikud, Lenna Kuurmaa and MiaMee but in the end Traffic's song Fur Elise is the best for me. The winning song by Tanja is not at all appreciated by me. No final. Blogilkar :  I have to admit I didn't pay much attention to this among the Eesti laul semifinalists. The dancing & singing performance seemed a bit akward and yes, a bit Loreen-ish. The Estonian final was full of worthy songs, ...

Estonia will have its final this Satuday after two semifinals where half of the songs were kicked out. Eesti laul has been the past few years rather indie, exciting, provocative (just think about Winny Puhh ) and innovative. This year wasn't so bold I'm afraid. Relistening the final line up it's pretty safe stuff and who knows what the Estonians will vote to Copenhagen? I don't. Estonia has now made three times in a row to the final, twice with a ballad in Estonian, will the wind change this year, as Sandra suggests? I would still go for that, meaning Maiken. Sandra would do again as well, I like her song and it makes me think of this for some reason, which is a good thing as I loved it. Lenna and Traffic are also potential winners, I think. I would be surprised of anyone else. Except Tanja but not in a good way. Oh hang on, what about Norman?! Here's a recap . Brigita Murutar -  Laule täis taevakaar   Traffic - Für Elise   Norman Salumäe - Search   Wilhel...

Estonian Eesti laul's first semifinal is just iver and we have the finalists. Out of ten five qualified by combined televote and jury vote. The top-5 of the jury vote that was revealed earlier turned out to be the same as the combined result:  Kõrsikud - Tule Ja Jää   Wilhelm - Resignal Tanja - Amazing  Lenna - Supernoova Super Hot Cosmos Blues Band - Maybe-Maybe

Estonia kicks off its national selection aka Eesti laul 2014 this Friday. There will be two semifinals before the grand final in Tallinn as usual. This year's song selection is maybe not as demanding and original as we have used to but offers still a wide range of styles and most of all songs that are not very Eurovisionesque and therefor the whole selection is always rather refreshing. Some familiar names among this Friday's hopefuls: August Hunt (2012), Kõrsikud (2013) and most of all Lenna Kuurmaa, alredy twice the runner up (2010, 2012). Five entries will make it to the final. My favourites are August Hunt, Wilhelm and Kõrsikud. Strangely it seems all bands have been put to this first semi, and all the (female) soloist in the second.... Tanja - Amazing The Titles - Flames Wilhelm - Resignal State of Zoe - Solina NimmerSchmidt - Sandra Vöörad - Maailm on hull Super Hot Cosmos Blues Band - Maybe-Maybe August Hunt - Kus on EXIT? Kõrsikud - Tule ja jää ...

Estonian songs are also online now and once again there's a bit everything for everyone. EDM, folk, ballads, rock... but nothing like Winny Puh to mix it up and in general the mix of songs is less surprising as the few previous years. Or should I say boring? With the first quick listening I kinda liked Maiken, Nion, MiaMee, Traffic, Wilhelm.... fans will propably go for Tanja. The one I was waiting for the most to hear or Sandra is not yet there! The Estonian semifinals will be on February 14 and 21 and the final on March 1, 2014. ERR wil upload the performance videos of each artists in coming days and some of them are already there.... Semifinal 1 - February 14, 2014 Tanja - Amazing   The Titles - Flames   Wilhelm - Resignal   State of Zoe - Solina   Nimmerschmidt - Sandra   VÖÖRAD - Maailm on hull   Super Hot CosmOs Blues Band - Maybe-Maybe   August Hunt - Kus on EXIT? Kõrsikud - Tule ja jää Lenna - Supernoova     ...

Estonia's national selection for Eurovision, Eesti Laul has grown the past few years the most interesting and surprising one that always has a colorful mix of genres and styles in it, something the Finnish UMK is inspired as well. This year we have several familiar names in it as artists and songwriters, most of all Sandra Nurmsalu (ESC 2009), Lenna Kuurmaa (ESC 2005) and Lauri Pihlap, part of the 2001 winning team 2XL. Estonia will have two semifinals (February 14 and 21) and the final on March 1, 2014. Tanja - Amazing ( Timo Vendt & Tatjana Mihhailova) Sofia Rubina - City Lights ( Priit Juurmann, Sofia Rubina) Maltised - Elu   (Jakko Maltis) MiaMee - Fearful Heart ( Liina Saar, Liisi Koikson) The Titles - Flame   (Rasmus Lill, Markus Rafael Nylund) Sandra Nurmsalu - Kui Tuuled Pöörduvad   (Sven Lõhmus) August Hunt - Kus On EXIT ( August Hunt) Norman Salumäe - Search   (Norman Salumäe) Traffic - Für Elise   (Stig Räst...

In our exclusive interviews in Malmö 2013 Eurovision we asked the artists who would they like to see represent their country in Denmark 2014. Birgit was torn between Ott Lepland and Lenna Kuurmaa . She went for Lenna in the end. Maybe she will be back in Eestilaul and third time lucky? But maybe it's a bit too soon for the new mother (as you can judge from her Sinule video from this Februry) Lenna Kuurmaa is no stranger to Eurovision. She was part of Vanilla Ninja who took Switzerland to 8th place in Eurovision 2005 with Cool vibes . In 2003 they tried to win in Estonia with Club Kung-fu but the international jury put end to those hopes. In 2007 they tried again with Birds of peace but Vanilla Ninja's story had come to and end. In 2010 she was back as solo and Rapunzel and in 2012 with Mina jään , finishing second both times. She has released one album so far (2010) but numerous singles and songs, like a Finnish classic, cover of Juice Leskinen 's Eesti, Eesti ,...

Next one to have a chat with Bicycling reporter Robert is Estonian Birgit Õigemeel. When is the baby due? How she got started? Who her idols are? This very talkative young lady talks about music therapy and the sound of music among other things. And what's she got to do with Silvi Vrait and who does she want to represent Estonia in 2014? Thank you Birgit for this interview. First of all I will mention some words, that you can react and then I will ask something more, ok? Ok! Family life!? Ha ha, family life this year is very special for me as I am pregnant! But I have a big family, I have three sisters. My mother is a music teacher and my sister is singing also, but they are not professional singers but music is their hobby as well. They sing in a choir and ensambles and other music stuff. So I have already a big family! We all love music so it has influenced also me. When did you know that you wanted to make it professionally? I think since I was a child. I sta...

Ott Lepland will represent Estonia in the 2012 Eurovision in Baku with his self penned Kuula. He will celebrate his 25th birthday in Baku but he's no newcomer to the scene. As a kid he already released four albums, and then as a grown up he took part in Eesti etsib supestaari  2010 aka Estonian idol and won. Soon after he released his self titled debut album with songs like  Otsides ma pean su jälle leidma ,  Süte peal sulanud jää ,  Läbi öise Tallinna ,   Öö  and  Kohtume jälle . He also recorded a duet Sinuni with Lenna Kuurmaa, who he beat in this spring's Eestilaul . His second album was released in 2011 under title Laulan ma sind including  Tunnen elus end and his Eurovision entry Kuula . he has also starred in High school musical and took part in a TV-show Laulupealinn that he won with his team for his hometown Kärdla. So far he has won pretty much everything he has taken part in, will the story continue in Baku? I think this is on...

The Estonian final went like expected and with the most welcome result. Ott Lepland's lovely ballad won over Lenna's in the superfinal 67%-33%. His song is Kuula (Listen). Me likes! 1. Ott Lepland - Kuula  67% 2. Lenna Kuurmaa - Mina jään  33% 3. Tenfold Rabbit - Obvilion  16 (jury 8, televote 8) 4. POP Maniacs - I don't know 13 (6 + 7) 5. Liis Lemsalu - Made up my mind 12 (7 + 5) 6. Loss Paranoias - Valedetektor 8 (5 + 3) 7. Birgit ft Violina - You're not alone 7 (6 + 1) 8. August Hunt - Tantsulovi 6 (2 + 4) 9. Teele Viira - City nights 5 (3 + 2) 10. Traffic - NASA 5 (4 + 1)

Ok, wrong title, isn't it? But if you read all the huge PR campaign for a new Finnish movie Vuosaari  that was premiered yesterday in Helsinki she has been already selected. She is acting in the movie, and in the previere we also learned she has been dating the director Aku Louhimies already for some time. The line presenting Lenna says "Lenna Kuurmaa has taken part in the Estonian national final for the Eurovision song contest several times, and this year she represants her country". The line has been copied to most articles just like that. Does the publicist of the movie know something we don't? The Estonian selection Eestilaul 2012 will start on February 18. Lenna will take part in the second semifinal on 25th and the final will be on March 3, 2012 and only then we should know if it's Lenna or not. Right?