Eesti Laul will yet again choose Estonia's representative for Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool.
The 20 competing artists and songs have been released, and ahead of the two semi-finals and Grand Final, the Aussievision has picked and commented on its favourite entries... and it's tight at the top!
=19th: Anett x Fredi - 'You Need To Move On' (0 points)
=19th: Robin Juhkental - 'Kurbuse matused' (0 points)
18th: Wiiralt - 'Salalik' (9 points)
17th: Linalakk, Bonzo - 'Aeg' (11 points)
16th: Andreas - 'Why Do You Love Me' (20 points)
15th: MIA - 'Üks samm korraga' (33 points)
Highs: 8 points from Dale
14th: Neon Letters & Maiko - 'Tokimeki' (35 points)
Highs: 8 points from Emma
13th: Carlos Ukareda - 'Whiskey Won't Forget' (38 points)
Highs: 10 points from Dale, 8 from Mike
"Bro country comes to Estonia! A well produced contemporary song that has country-esque lyrics but brings a more mainstream pop production. Well performed by Carlos and something I'll definitely listen to again." ~ Dale
12th: MERLYN - 'Unicorn Vibes' (38 points)
Highs: 10 points from Estelle, 8 from Laura
"Unicorn Vibes! This has me at the title. Is it a song? A rap? A spoken word piece? Performance art? don’t know, all I can say is that it is bonkers and that’s what I like to see at Eurovision." ~ Estelle
11th: ELLIP - 'Pretty Girl' (55 points)
Highs: 12 points from Hayley, 10 from Kyriakos, 8 from Teddy
"I'm absolutely addicted to this song and have been listening to it on repeat! It is modern, very cool with retro elements, it has a funky beat, sassy lyrics and a songstress with attitude – what a combo! This is a song that sticks in your head as well and I don't think there is anything else like this in Eesti Laul. Also - this song doesn't try too hard - it is just a good track. This video is so slick and sexy as well – another one that has some amazing staging potential. Oh so good!" ~ Hayley
Now for the Top 10...
10th: Inger - 'Awaiting You' (60 points)
Highs: 7 points from Hayley and Emma
Lows: 0 points from Josh, Hugo, Tim, Steve and Liv
9th: m els - 'So Good At What You Do' (63 points)
Highs: 12 pints from Josh, 10 from Tim and Fleur
Lows: 0 points from Cooper, Kyriakos, Hugo, Teddy, Mike, Dale, Hayley and Steve
"Wow. What a track! Mature adult pop sound and crisp vocals will grab listeners straight away.
Xylophone instrumentation in the background gives this song a contemporary classic quality and also calls back to the 80’s classic Love My Way. Reminds me of a younger appealing Belgium 2021 - The Wrong Place. The only flaw I can see is a lack of ups and downs and a more subdued climax at the end of the song. I think the overall quality of the song should override this concern because this my well deserved #1 in an extremely strong National Selection." ~ Josh
"This song is really good at being the triple J, indie pop selection at Eesti Laul this year. It has a simple melody that just has a slight difference in it to other songs this year. The little whistle note in the chorus is very memorable and will help it with its selection. M els voice is quite unique and certainly something that should capture the voters attention. A really good song that I’ll enjoy onwards" ~ Tim
"This just really appeals to me. It's very radio friendly which might get it some extra points. What hinders it is that there's no big moment, so it might stay under the radar. Regardless, it will make my playlist. It's a pleasant listen." ~ Fleur
8th: Bedwetters - 'Monsters' (65 points)
Highs: 10 points from Colleen and Hayley
Lows: 0 points from Kyriakos, Teddy, Emma and Steve
"I love random, albeit slightly awkward song titles, lyrics or artists names that make you look twice. From 'All the Blood' by Czech band We all Poop, to the opening line of 'Eat your Salad' by Citi Zeni. Why is the band called Bedwetters? I don't know, a bit odd, but ok. Is 'Monsters' a banger? Certainly." ~ Colleen
"Wow this song had a massive impact on me from the first listen! I loved the start with the beautiful strings and then that sublime beat kicks in and I thought it would be a dance track, but no.... from nowhere, the guitars kick in with the angsty voice and lyrics. This combination of different elements in the song make it accessible to everyone. The staging potential for this is huge with a monster theme. I am really impressed!" ~ Hayley
7th: kaw - 'Valik' (66 points)
Highs: 12 points from Tim, 10 from Josh, 8 from Liv
Lows: 0 points from Samuel, Mike, Dale, Hayley, Laura, Estelle and Steve
"There’s something very familiar with this song. I know it’s certainly not the most original or creative or a challenging piece of music but it just really clicks. It sounds really good in Estonia and I really enjoy the simplicity of this. It has a really catchy chorus which really helps and a strong pop-rock sound to it. Good luck to this entry, I can’t see it doing brilliantly but it’s quite memorable in places" ~ Tim
"Boppy, modern, catchy and a stand out! It calls backs to 80s/90s and has huge Spotify potential. Can see this being a huge hit in Estonia and I hope this will translate to Eurovision.
Not my regular type of song to be so high in my rankings but something really grabs me in." ~ Josh
6th: OLLIE - 'Venom' (69 points)
Highs: 12 points from Liv, 10 from Cooper, 8 from Steve
Lows: 0 points from Kyriakos, Stef, Mike, Dale, Laura and Estelle
"There isn't anything in this tune that we haven't heard before (about 15 years ago...) but if you're into this vibe then 'Venom' has got you covered. Watching the music video - despite how simplistic it is - really sold me that OLLIE has some eye-catching performance potential and presence. My wish list would be to see intricate 'Dark Side'-esque staging to really pop live." ~ Liv
"This song is the definition of a headbanger, the passion in the vocal is impressive and really made the song pop in this crowd of songs. There are a few rock entries in Eesti Laul this year but this one really does come out on top. I cannot wait to see this live!" ~ Cooper
5th: Elysa - 'Bad Philosophy' (78 points)
Highs: 12 points from Mike and Samuel, 10 from Laura, 8 from Josh
Lows: 0 points from Kyriakos, Stef, Teddy, Dale and Fleur
"Elysa backs up her “Fire”-y Eesti Laul performance in 2022 with an even stronger pop tune for 2023. Yes, sometimes the lyrics are a little predictable, but not as cheesy as last year, and the melody is undeniably catchy. I’m getting major Ava Max vibes from her performance and her vocal timbre reminds me of September (Petra Marklund) who sang the well-known 2000s track “Cry for You”. Hopefully third time lucky will be the charm for Elysa at Eesti Laul and she finally graces the Eurovision stage. Estonia sending a pop princess would also be the perfect contrast to the male country and ballad singers it has sent to Eurovision in recent years." ~ Samuel
"This is pleasing pure pop. It combines some nice 80s vibes with a modern pop production. This isn’t the most sophisticated piece of music, but it has enough for me in this selection to get the nod." ~ Mike
"ELYSA is back with another banger and another serve! I love everything about this, from the 80s homage in the instrumentals, to the catchy melodies and hooks. This is very clever songwriting from Stig Rästa, even if the lyrics sound a little clunky to a native English speaker's ear. Nonetheless, this earworm really stands out among this line-up of Eesti Laul songs and I hope it does well!" ~ Laura
4th: JANEK - 'House Of Glass' (93 points)
Highs: 12 points from Cooper, Kyriakos, Hugo and Steve
Lows: 0 points from Colleen, Stef, Emma and Estelle, 1 from Fleur
"On first listen I was captivated by this song. 'House of Glass' has an x-factor that really drew me to this song, it has an epic production that builds throughout the song and just explodes into an incredible chorus that is stuck in my head. Estonia could really do well with this entry in Liverpool" ~ Cooper
"What a beautiful song! I love this, it has a journey and great build up! The 3 minutes goes by so quickly and the production is crispy and slick. I want to see this on the Eurovision stage!" ~ Kyriakos
"Beautiful, swelling and building song that just conveys a deep message. Janek has velvet vocals and that chorus is so infectious and catchy. I can really feel the Mørland writing and music here - the song structure, the strings and the dramatic final chorus. A true work of art and my favourite of the studio cuts - always the challenge is the stage show. I can envisage some ethereal, glass effect staging (sort of similar to Jaagup’s ‘Beautiful Lie” in 2020 but to fit this song). *chefs kiss*" ~ Hugo
"House of Glass' showcases a great voice (and diction, which is lacking amongst some other EL23 acts singing in English), has a familiar rhythm that develops at expected points (which allows the song to build towards something), and is set in part against a catchy beat. Yes, it’s dated, but so am I." ~ Steve
3rd: Meelik - 'Tuju' (94 points)
Highs: 12 points from Colleen, Stef, Emma and Fleur, 10 from Liv
Lows: 0 points from Cooper, Josh, Hugo, Teddy and Tim, 1 from Steve
"'Tuju' is catchy without being overbearing, it's strange without being alienating, it captured me from the first second. It's rare when a Eurovision song does that for me, but when it does, it's special. The repetition of "do you know what I mean" will be an asset to an international audience, but even without it, I believe it has potential." ~ Colleen
"This song has been climbing up in my rankings and now I am absolutely obsessed with it. I love the chorus, and the fast paced beat, and it's just so darn catchy! I sing it all the time and I want to be listening to it constantly! The way they blend english and estonian so seamlessly through the song is also great!" ~ Stef
"Tuju' stood out to me instantly as the sort of 90's indie pop I loved listening to in my youth. It's catchy to the point you don't even think about the Finnish lyrics - for anyone who's played 'The Sims' it's like the catchy Simlish tunes you find yourself singing along to without understanding a word. The appeal here is more with the deadpan high-school band narrative portrayed in the video which would make this stand out in the live performance. It's got a 'Beatles' type vibe which surely couldn't hurt when Eurovision just happens to be in 'The Beatles' home town. With the right staging this could go off in Liverpool." ~ Emma
"This is catchy. I don't understand much Estonian but I know what I like- and if that means 2000's alt-rock, then that's fine by me. Also among the list, this is quite memorable, for the right reasons. Estonia has not sent a band to Eurovision since 2010, so I would love to see this do well." ~ Fleur
2nd: Alika - 'Bridges' (108 points)
Highs: 12 points from Dale and Estelle, 10 from Samuel, Stef, Hugo, Teddy, Mike and Steve
Lows: 0 points from Colleen, Tim, Emma and Fleur, 1 from Liv
"This to me was the stand out. It starts as a quiet piano ballad and build and builds to show off Alika's impressive vocal with drama to the max plus lots of little hooks. Very much up my alley!" ~ Dale
"I have a real soft spot for a singer playing piano. I know she’d be faking it on the night but that’s ok, throw in the rose petals and I’m all in. It’s a beautiful song that I found quite touching and moving. I also think this song is engaging enough not the be a “put the kettle on” moment." ~ Estelle
"It was so hard for me to choose between this or Lighthouse to give my 10 points to, but I ultimately went with Bridges. Her powerful vocals really remind me of Lady Gaga and I emotionally connect with the song and the melody. Great song!" ~ Stef
"So tight at the top and at the moment this has my 2nd place. I think this has great staging potential, and Alika’s voice will need to carry this over the line live. On the recorded track her vocals are already breathtaking, and this is just a beautiful ballad with beautiful production and lyrics. The piano, the backing vocal, all swells and builds great pace into a masterful final minute. A true star in the making and should be a real contender." ~ Hugo
"Alika has a lovely vocal tone and this is a very nicely written ballad. She brings a freshness to it that captures and the song does build throughout. A jury pleaser!" ~ Mike
"I’m always a sucker for a piano-led ballad. I love Alika’s voice (she has some range!) and, importantly, the song feels structured and has progression. Some lyrics do feel rather stilted/odd though." ~ Steve
And our winner is........
1st: SISSI - 'Lighthouse' (109 points)
Highs: 12 points from Teddy and Laura, 10 from Emma, 8 from Cooper, Stef, Hugo, Tim, Estelle and Fleur
Lows: 0 points from Samuel, Colleen, Mike and Dale, 3 from Hayley
"Sissi has been a consistently great contributor to Eesti Laul over the years, and this feels like the right song to finally get her over the line and get her to Eurovision. "Lighthouse" isn't reinventing the wheel, but it's an emotive and well-executed three minutes that should lend itself to a strong stage performance. Sissi also gives a typically excellent vocal performance on the track - her percussive vocals on the chorus melody are distinctive and really add to the song's impact. Eesti Laul 2023 is shaping up as a good contest, but this one stands out in a strong line-up - please give Sissi her flowers, Estonia." ~ Teddy
"Sissi is back with a fantastic ballad and it's great to see her songwriting improve with each edition of Eesti Laul that she participates in. I can really hear Sissi's emotion and personality shine through in her lyrics and vocal delivery. The visuals of the music video are sublime and I hope that same aesthetic carries over to the live performance. While I wish the song would build a little more, I know that Sissi is a powerful vocalist who can make the most out of a song live" ~ Laura
"How much would I love to see SISSI at Eurovision? She has the voice and 'Lighthouse' could well be the song to take her there. It progresses well from slow soulful piano ballad to angry emotive ending but never loses its beauty along the way - it's almost like she is reciting a poem to music. Would be a worthy winner." ~ Emma
Wow, what a tight race! Just one point separating 1st and 2nd, and also one point separating 3rd and 4th. If these results are anything to go by, we are in for a great Eesti Laul 2023!
Our hosts Grete Kuld and Tõnis Niinemets will welcome us to the semi-finals on January 12 and 14 (morning of Jan 13 and 15 Aus time) and also the Grand Final on Saturday February 11 (morning of Sunday Feb 12 Aus time).
For continued updates on all Eurovision Song Contest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. All the links can be found at: https://linktr.ee/aussievisionnet