The second semifinal of the Estonian selection for Eurovision 2011, Eesti Laul, is about to start. Nine acts will fight for five spots in the grand final, to take place next Saturday in Tallinn. Ten entries were originally expected to be presented tonight, but eventually it was decided that Uku Suviste's entry had to be disqualified as its lyrics were already used in another composition.

How to watch

• Live on ETV at 20:35 CET (21:35 local time)
• Webcast(ERR official)

Participants

1. Sõpruse puiestee & Merili Varik –Rahu, ainult rahu
2. Shirubi Ikazuchi –St. Cabah
3. Sofia Rubina –My melody
4. Mimicry –The storm
5. Orelipoiss –Valss
6. Tiiu Kiik –Second chance
7. MID –Smile
8. Ithaka Maria –Hopa'pa-rei!
9. Rolf Roosalu –All & now

Have your say

You can vote for your favourite act in the second semifinal of Eesti Laul in our pollhere.

LIVE

The show has started. The hosts Lena Kuurmaaand Piret Järviswelcome the audience.

Song 1. Sõpruse puiestee & Merili Varik –Rahu, ainult rahu(Current esctoday.com poll result: 5th – 5.3%)

The first entry of the night is a pop song, which is not very appealing though.The male singer's vocals sound well, although we can't say the same about hers. The instrumentation is a bit simple and the outfits are a bit dated. Plain song, with no notable key change.

Song 2. Shirubi Ikazuchi –St. Cabah (Current esctoday.com poll result: 4th – 9.1%)

Time for a more powerful song. St Cabah is a pop-rock song, with an electronic feature. Eurofans will be more familiar with this type of Estonian sounds. The melody is a bit dramatic, but strong enough to deliver a convincing performance and a positive impression.

Song 3. Sofia Rubina –My melody(Current esctoday.com poll result: 7th – 4.5%)

My melody is a more danceable tune. It gets some inspiration from the 1970s, with a powerful melody since the very beginning. It also reminds a bit of the godspell singing from the United States. Sofia's vocals sound flawless, and the three backing vocalists add up to the performance, conveying an optimistinc message. The overall impression is positive and colourful.

Song 4. Mimicry –The storm (Current esctoday.com poll result: 6th – 5.3%)

Yet another electronic song, with vocals reminding a bit of those of Depeche Mode. The members of the group are wearing fluorescent elements in order to make their performance more effective. The storm also features some DJ effects, like a scratching as musical bridge. The song is limited in terms of instrumentation and vocals, and is quite repetitive.

Song 5. Orelipoiss –Valss(Current esctoday.com poll result: 9th – 3%)

The most atypical entry in the Estonian semifinal is up next. It is cleary folkloric, slow, with a gentle tune. There is also some traditional dance routine and sound effects. The presence of the guitar is a remarkable feature. According to our readers, this entry has no chance to win tonight.

Song 6. Tiiu Kiik –Second chance(Current esctoday.com poll result: 3rd – 10.4%)

Indeed it's a second chance for Tiiu Kiik. Last year she tried to represent Estonia, but failed to do so. Tiiuk Kiik's vocals are mild, acuteand magical. Her style reminds a bit of Enya, but with a catchier rhythm. It would be very interesting to see how this does in the actual Eurovision Song Contest. A backing dancer performs some hip hop dance steps. The public cheer loudly.

Song 7. MID –Smile(Current esctoday.com poll result: 8th – 3%)

Twins are fashionable in this year's national finals. We have to acknowledge that Estonia is the land of the most atypical entries in their national selections, which is indeed refreshing. Smile is hard to be allocated in any musical style, it could be associated to the alternative pop from the 1980s. The lyrics are nearly spoken instead of sung. It is remarkable the use of a cello on stage.

Song 8. Ithaka Maria –Hopa'pa-rei! (Current esctoday.com poll result: 1st – 40%)

Ithaka is the clear favourite to win tonight's semifinal, at least so think our readers. Hopa'pa rei! features an ethnic touch. This performance transmits energy and passion, and reminds of Ruslana's Wild dances back in 2004.Ithaka's vocals are powerful, however the song tends to be quite repetitive after having heard its title nearly a hundred times.

Song 9. Rolf Roosalu –All & now (Current esctoday.com poll result: 2nd – 19.3%)

Rolf will close tonight's performances with his entry All & now. The song reminds a bit of the American boybands from the 1990s, but with a slower tempo. Rolf's vocals are flawless and in tune, as he can hit the highest notes of the song without major problems. The overall impression is positive.

This concludes tonight's performances. Voting lines are now open.

The jury announce their results (50% of the final decision):

• Orelipoiss
• MID
• Rolf Roosalu
• Mimicry
• Ithaka Maria

The results from the televoting are yet to be announced. Phone lines are now closed.

The envelopes containing the qualifyers are about to be opened.

The finalists are:

• Orelipoiss
• Ithaka Maria
• MID
• Rolf Roosalu
• Mimicry