Estonia: “Eurolaul” details annnounced

by Gordon Roxburgh 164 views

Estonian broadcaster ETV, is organising their national selection show Eurolaul, during which the nation decides their 2007 Eurovision Song Contest entry. This year there will be no open submission by artists to Eurolaul. The ten entries will be decided internally. ETV has already asked ten composers to submit songs to the broadcaster.

The list of composers is as follows:

•Koit Toome – Sung Mere lapsed in the Eurovision Song Contest 1998, finishing in 12th place.
•Lenna Kuurmaa
•Soul Militia – They were known as 2XL, and were the backing group to Tanel Pader and Dave Benton, who won the contest in 2001 with Everybody.
•Kotkas-Paulus-Laisaar
•Elmar LiitmaaSven Lõhmus

•Kristjan Kasearu
•Sven Lõhmus
•Hendrik Sal-Saller
•Ines – Ines sung Once in a lifetime in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2000 and finished in fourth place.
•Priit Pajusaar and Glen Pilvre Kristjan Kasearu

All the songs will be recorded in January and Eurolaul will take place in February (no date has been given yet). Hosts of the showwill beMarko Reikop and Maarja-Liis Ilus. Maarja-Liisrepresented Estonia in two previous contests, in 1996 with Kaelakee haal (along with Ivo Linna) finishing in 5th place and the following year with the 8th placed song Keelatud maa. Just liketwo years ago, the television viewers will decide who goes to represent Estonia in Helsinki. Therewill betwo televoting rounds. The first oneto determine the three best songs and then viewers will select, which of these final three goes to Helsinki.

The deadline to submit songs is December 11th 2006 for the nominated composers. Koit Toome said "I will finish my song after I have returned from Germany. I will select this song from my new album". Biggest surprise is Hendrik Sal-Saller, who has been quite sceptical about Eurovision and Eurolaul. Soul Militia, (ex 2XL) are considering to submit two songs. The estimation by ETV is that probably next year there will be again an open competition.

Estonia will compete in the semifinal in Helsinki on May 10th.