Estonia National Selection Review (Grand Final) - Wayne Ralph

12 songs made it to the final of Eesti Laul 2021. A familiar format with two rounds of voting, firstly both jury and public being combined to pick the top three artists and then a further vote by the public to select the winner.

The 12 contenders were:

Song 1 - Egert Milder “Free Again” (Jury 1, Public 1, Total = 2) https://youtu.be/-CHA01_BHo4

Poor Egert is still thumping his guitar but his vocal has improved for the final.

Song 2 - Suured Tüdrukud “Heaven’s Not That Far Tonight” (Jury 2, Public 6, Total = 8) https://youtu.be/D6jot5dVzDY

Love this.  We all need mums/aunts like these two. Should have opened the show.

Song 3 - Hans Nayna “One By One” (Jury 6, Public 0, Total = 6) https://youtu.be/xOGwRDPndP0

Swapped the white shirt for a black one. More solid than the semi but still hasn’t found his shoes.

Song 4 - Ivo Linna, Robert Linna, Supernova “Ma olen siin” (I am here) (Jury 0, Public 2, Total = 2) https://youtu.be/0F9YuF0fReQ

Supercool and relaxed again. Ivo is doing well for 71.

Song 5 - Karl Killing “Kiss Me” (Jury 8, Public 0, Total = 8) https://youtu.be/_LTqG4mISmw

More competent from floppy haired Karl, but vocal still struggles when it needs to get out of first gear.

Song 6 - Uku Suviste “The Lucky One” (Jury 3, Public 12, Total = 15) https://youtu.be/aBv8W_IgaZ8

Uku delivers one of his better vocals over these last two years at Eesti Laul.  Though it’s not a high bar.

Song 7 - Sissi “Time” (Jury 12, Public 3, Total = 15) https://youtu.be/B6AsEYqJwlk

Sissi crushes it.  This lady has the chops to go far. 

Song 8 - Jüri Pootsmann “Magus Melanhoolia” (Sweet melancholy) (Jury 7, Public 8, Total = 15) https://youtu.be/O9t3XfGkgFE

Tighter camera angles and more focus from Jüri.  I suspect his leather pants would have some fans ;)

Song 9 - Redel “Tartu” (Jury 0, Public 7, Total = 7) https://youtu.be/y8mmF8BwTlA

A treat for the ears and the eyes. Iconic Eesti Laul!

Song 10 - Koit Toome “We Could Have Been Beautiful” (Jury 4, Public 10, Total = 14) https://youtu.be/ie4mg2G6xsM

Much better outfit for Koit but his vocal doesn’t quite have the oomph.

Song 11 - Andrei Zevakin & Pluuto “Wingman” (Jury 10, Public 4, Total = 14) https://youtu.be/3KXkrZomh6U

If you thought it looked familiar, it was!  The boys had to replay their semi-final performance as they were in COVID quarantine.

Song 12 - Kadri Voorand “Energy” (Jury 5, Public 5, Total = 10) https://youtu.be/35PnjSu15Mc
Well put together package from Kadri. Strong!

So, getting through to the Top 3 (all with 15 points) were:

  • Uku Suviste “The Lucky One” (46.1%)

  • Sissi “Time” (29.4%)

  • Jüri Pootsmann “Magus Melanhoolia” (24.5%)

And winning through with 46.1% of the public vote was Uku Suviste. As it turns out he is the lucky one and gets to represent Estonia at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2021!