One of Eurovision’s more enthusiastic participants – Estonia – has announced its 20 semi-finalists for the annual Eesti Laul competition ERR/ETV received 242 entries to its open call for songs. As we know, the songs selected will be an eclectic mix, and the contenders for 2017 are no exception.

The songs are:

Lenna Kuurmaa – “Slingshot”

Writers: Lenna Kuurmaa, Nicolas Rebscher, Michelle Leonard

Rasmus Rändvee – “This Love”

Writers: Bert Prinkenfeld, Stewart James Brock, Ewert Sundja, Rasmus Rändvee

Angeelia – “We Ride With Our Flow”

Writers: Angeelia Maasik, Andres Kõpper

Elina Born – “In or Out”

Writers: Stig Rästa, Vallo Kikas, Fred Krieger

Leemet Onno – “Hurricane”

Writers: Leemet Onno, Ed Struijlaart

Laura Prits – “Hey Kiddo”

Writers: Tara Nabi, Laura Prits, Andres Kõpper

Daniel Levi – “All I Need”

Writers: Ago Teppand, Daniel Levi Viinalass

Antsud – “Vihm”

Writer: Aile Alveus-Krautmann

Ariadne – “Feel Me Now”

Writers: Margus Piik, Tomi Rahula, Anni Rahula

Koit Toome & Laura – “Verona”

Writer: Sven Lõhmus

Kerli – “Spirit Animal”

Writers: Kerli Kõiv, Brian Ziff

Uku Suviste – “Supernatural”

Writers: Oliver Mazurtšak, Uku Suviste

Janno Reim & Kosmos – “Valan pisaraid”

Writer: Janno Reim

Close To Infinity featuring Ian Karell – “Sounds Like Home”

Writers: Ian Robert Karell, Johannes Kanter, Sander Ulp, Tanel Kordemets

Liis Lemsalu – “Keep Running”

Writers: Liis Lemsalu, Mihkel Mattisen, Gustaf Svenungsson, Magnus Wallin

Alvistar Funk Association – “Make Love, Not War”

Writers: Inga Kaare, Margus Alviste, Jürgen Urbanik

Almost Natural – “Electric”

Writers: Amiran Gorgazjan, Anis Arumets, Noah McNamara, Willie Weeks

Carl-Philip – “Everything But You”

Writers: Carl-Philip Madis, Carola Madis, Arno Krabman, Jaap Reesema, Leon Paul Palmen

Karl-Kristjan & Whogaux feat. Maian – “Have You Now”

Writers: Karl-Kristjan Kingi, Hugo Martin Maasikas, Maian Lomp

Ivo Linna – “Suur loterii”

Writers: Rainer Michelson, Urmas Jaarman

You’ll see a lot of familiar names in this list, so here are some of them.

Veteran writer Sven Lõhmus is back, writing for Koit Toome and Laura. Koit took part in 1998 and came 12th with the song ‘Mere lapsed’ Laura Põldvere was part of Suntribe in 2005 with ‘Let’s get loud’ but she’s also tried on several occasions to represent her country as a soloist. This duo has a strong pedigree.

Lenna Kuurmaa was formally a member of Vanilla Ninja. They represented Switzerland in 2005, finishing eighth with ‘Cool vibes’. She has also competed in Eurolaul/Eesti Laul several times as both a soloist and a member of Vanilla Ninja.

Elina Born was last seen on a Eurovision stage in 2015 when she performed with Stig Rästa and came seventh with the sublime ‘Goodbye to yesterday’.

Ivo Linna is back, some 21 years after his last appearance on a Eurovision stage. He finished 5th in Oslo in 1996 when he duetted with Maarja-Liis Ilus.

Kerli Kõiv has also tried in the past, and was runner-up to Neiokõsõ in 2004 with her song ‘Beautiful inside’.

From this 20, who do you think will be favourite to win Eesti Laul 2017? Would you like to see Estonia win the contest again? Tell us what you think.

Estonia was the first ex-USSR nation to win Eurovision – in 2001 – when Dave Benton and  Tanel Padar came first in Copenhagen with ‘Everybody’. In 2016 Jüri Pootsman failed to make it out of the first semi-final, finishing 18th.

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Author: John Stanton

Source: ERR/ETV, Eurovision Ireland, Youtube