ESTONIA

The Estonian Final was held on March 2nd at the Nokia Concert Hall in Tallinn, hosted by Anu Välba & Marko Reikop. Before the final there were 2 semi-finals. The winner was chosen in two rounds of voting. In the first round the top 2 songs were chosen by televoting (50%) and an "expert" jury (50%). But the second round the winner was chosen by televoting alone. The winner was Birgit Õigemeel with the song "Et uus saaks alguse" (So there can be a new beginning)

Birgit appears to be on stage alone, however it is then revealed when the light go up that she is backed by 2 male singers, one either side. Birgit is wearing a long flowing white dress which also contrasts with her dark features and long black hair. To begin with Birgit is lit in a solitary spotlight until the chorus when some of the striped  blue lighting comes up. During the next part of the song there is a spaghetti type lighting on the floor, then during the next chorus you get to see the full stage. Finally she moves down the central catwalk and the full lighting.

The song, wholly in Estonian, is a typically Nordic power ballad. Birgit has a very pretty voice and the song shows off its different dimensions. The song is quieter in the verses and is more powerful in the chorus. Most of the performance, apart from the end down the catwalk, is static and most of the movement is done through the lighting and sweeping camera angles. Unfortunately the meaning of the song really doesn't come across to the non-Estonian speaker and it doesn't really have any hook or repeating bit to get you hooked into the song.

This is a very boring song. Unlike "Kuula" which at least had some eye candy and a great voice to look and listen to this has nothing it is absolutely hookless. My main problem with this song is the fact that the chorus of this song has a very close likeness to another Eurovision song. The chorus of this and the Danish entry of 2010 are identical - apart from the speed. If I were Denmark I would be doing my best to make them withdraw this - and would probably be doing Estonia a favour.

So another dreary ballad. It will get votes from the Nordic quarter, and possibly be a favourite with some of thejuries, buy this will not be enough to get through to the final. This has no redeemable qualities and will pass by causing no trouble at all. Call this the "kettle song".

Artist - Birgit Õigemeel

Song - Et uus saaks alguse (So there can be a new beginning)
Music - Mihkel Mattisen
Lyrics - Mihkel Mattisen, Silvia Soro