News - Estonia will participate in 2009 Eurovision! | Eurovision Song Contest News - 2009 Moscow, Russia 

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Written by

Stella Floras

Published

17/Sep 2008 at 19:07

Source(s)

ERR, esctoday.com

News

Flag of Estonia

Margus Allikmaa not happy

Estonia will participate in 2009 Eurovision!

At a meeting at ETV headquarters earlier today, it was decided that Estonia will not boycott the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest as 66% of the public voted to see their country participate. Earlier this year, a member of the Estonian Parliament had campaigned for the country to miss the event in Moscow and for Latvia and Lithuania to join them in responce to Russian activity in Georgia.

The poll launched earlier this month by ERR showed that Estonians wish to see their flag flown in Moscow by a majority of 66%. Although Margus Allikmaa, ERR Chairman of the board, is still not convinced Estonia should participate in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest, the board's decision was in accordance with the poll's outcome.

Mr Allikmaa would like to see a local, well-organised song contest for Estonians only and he still feels going to Moscow is not the right decision: "Eurovision was never free of politics", he says, "every country has used the contest for political reasons and so will Russia!. It is very naïve to believe that singing and politics can be kept apart. But as our poll showed that the majority of Estonians wish our country to participate, I have to respect that", he concluded.

Special thanks to Martin Paberit for his assistance with the article.


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Lukmi the big mama [30581]
Mon 22 Sep 2008 03:32:15

Until Estonia can make International hits and artists, Eurovision is a good way to promote artists. Think of Vanilla Ninja.


Allan Tark [27348]
Sun 21 Sep 2008 13:04:39

Mari-Leen Kaselaan- Estonian Eurovisionstar now soloartist like another singer from Suntribe -Laura Põldvere

"Rahutu tuhkatriinu" - "Restless Cinderella"

http://www.youtube.c(...)&feature=related
Suntribe was an Estonian girl-band, comprised entirely of students, which represented their country in the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 in Kiev, Ukraine. The original four-strong line-up was Mari-Leen Kaselaan (b. 2.12.1987), Rebecca Kontus, Laura Põldvere and Jaanika Vilipo. They were later joined by a fifth member, Daana Ots.

The group had to win Eurolaul, the country’s annual pre-selection competition for Eurovision. Their sternest rival proved to be one of their own members - Laura Põldvere was entered as a solo act, and her song Moonwalk attracted a healthy 9906 votes. However, for a third year running Estonia's televoters demonstrated their apparent predilection for girl-bands, giving Suntribe's Let's Get Loud 10583 votes to earn the ticket to Kyiv.

Let’s Get Loud was written by Sven Lõhmus, who also penned the first in the run of girl-band entries to top the popular vote at Eurolaul, namely Vanilla Ninja's Club Kung-Fu in 2003. It failed to qualfy from the semi-final in Kiev.

Laura Põldvere- Sunflowers
http://www.youtube.c(...)&feature=related


Sims Moyal [26444]
Sun 21 Sep 2008 04:54:52

Eurovision and Politics has no connection ?
Eurovision doesn't have anything to do with politics?
Keeps the two a part?

nice sayings..... i wonder where was they when Yugoslavia (what's left of it) was banned from entering the contest since 1993.....


Finn P [18662]
Sun 21 Sep 2008 01:05:05

What the public wants, the public gets and this was the right decision...

But I mean, this is Estonia. I don't know what theyve been doing these years trying to find the worst music in the country, but cmon, just send an entry of the quality of Neiokõsõ (2004), Evelin Samuel (1999), Maarja Liis-Ilus (1997), Koit Toome (1998)... every second estonian seems to ne musically gifted! Just try and you'll be fine. And we'll all forget the Leto Svet thing, because it wasnt very pleasant for anyone i guess.


Lithuania 08 [43686]
Fri 19 Sep 2008 10:46:40

Will be great if Kerli will represent Estonia in ESC :). (But I hope she will not win MTV EMA Best Baltic act award because Happyendless deserve that award XD)


Stockholm calling [44413]
Thu 18 Sep 2008 13:58:10

marc
LOL. I agree with you about "Men" :)


Mina Carnation [51405]
Thu 18 Sep 2008 13:33:19

Well, I've never liked any of their songs but it's good they'll be in Moscow.


Max Raspail [36649]
Thu 18 Sep 2008 11:48:59

Good to see Estonia with us...

But please with one of those great songs they had in their preselections all the last years and neglected them in favour of some unbearable crap-titles...

Please, Estonia, send Laura Poldvere or Rolf Junior with a song like Sunflowers or Liiga Noor... ;)


Cristina Giuntini [30618]
Thu 18 Sep 2008 11:23:29

OK Estonia! Well done! We're glad to have you in the ESC.
But send a better song pleeeeeeeeease... ;-)


Michael UK [23926]
Thu 18 Sep 2008 09:55:48

oh great news , perhaps we can expect another song of the quality of leto svet next year !




Jean-Franois DOMINIQUE [14846]
Thu 18 Sep 2008 09:45:40

Come on Friends! Eurovision Song Contest cannot be free of money and politics and will never be, such others international institutions as: Olympic Games or Football Word Cup, Mundial, and so on... Is sad but is the reality


Axel Kearns [47152]
Thu 18 Sep 2008 09:21:16

Stockholm calling,

My friend you are like a walking encyclopedia.... You know everything. Well done. I did not like Nanne's UK entry at all. And I am a big fan of her's but I think "Men" is one of her weakest songs to be honest.


Pau PV [37672]
Thu 18 Sep 2008 09:00:14

Leto svet, leto svet... I hope Estonia will send another great entry, as usually, to Moscow.


Ulrik Raben [37553]
Thu 18 Sep 2008 08:45:10

Great news!

I hope for something like 2004!


cst 003 [29480]
Thu 18 Sep 2008 07:26:59

Nooooo....
...and I had a hope not to see them in ESC again...
pity...


Night Elf [43921]
Thu 18 Sep 2008 04:47:05

This is a great news !!!

I am very happy to hear this because Estonia is one of my favorite countries in competition (except 2008 of course). But if this wasn't a case this would still be the good news for me, and I hope no other country except Georgia ( :( ) will boycott Eurovision in Moscow.

Good decision for Estonia !!!!!!


drusus 1 [10652]
Thu 18 Sep 2008 04:43:35

As predicted....


Allan Tark [27348]
Wed 17 Sep 2008 23:38:18

So, Estonians :http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VOsjQ9DdAP0
How about that?


Danniela . [47079]
Wed 17 Sep 2008 23:17:26

My best entry from Estonia was at 2004....cant believe it didnt pass the semifinal.....!!!


Stockholm calling [44413]
Wed 17 Sep 2008 22:54:57

Euro Sheep
We like Sahlene (her real name is Anna Sahlin) very much. And Sweden gave 12 points to Estonia in 2002 :) Anna was a popular actress when she was a little girl. Here's a clip from a film based on a book by Astrid Lindgren. Skip to 3:22.
http://www.youtube.c(...)/watch?v=xLoleOZ3qPI


Allan Tark [27348]
Wed 17 Sep 2008 22:34:34

Kerli talks with Eric Blair 2008:
http://www.youtube.c(...)&feature=related


ben kalomonto [52243]
Wed 17 Sep 2008 22:34:26

also the bedwetters... some rock band that won the new sounds of europe award at last years mtv european music awards... sopose they would bring the comic song to the contest


Chris Tr. [28478]
Wed 17 Sep 2008 22:25:12

@Richard... well said!!! But add "everybody" to that list too which costs 1 decade!


Euros 'n' Sheep [52112]
Wed 17 Sep 2008 22:18:38

Stockholm calling
No, I only found out recently - it gave me quite a shock, but I don't know if she would have done better than Lindsay (Sweden's 12 points would have still gone to Antique) and I really loved "No Dream Impossible", I was about 10 and I had the tape which I used to play all the time! :D and do you Swedes not like Sahléne?! :P she has only managed to come 5th in both MFs!!!


Allan Tark [27348]
Wed 17 Sep 2008 22:17:44

More Kerli:
http://www.youtube.c(...)0&watch_response


Willox Willox [32746]
Wed 17 Sep 2008 22:15:35

hmm i would have preferred a boycot.. but hey..its one more song...great :)


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