Äike
02-14-2011, 01:52 PM
Estonia Picks its First Eurovision Finalists (http://news.err.ee/culture/6637c01e-9ed6-4ce5-b0ec-cace856db76b)
http://ext.err.ee/imgen2.aspx?mode=5&id=6637c01e-9ed6-4ce5-b0ec-cace856db76b
The event was hosted by Lenna Kuurmaa and Piret Järvis, two members of the Estonian all-girl rock band, Vanilla Ninja.
( Photo: ERR )
The first semifinal round of the Eesti Laul, the national competition that determines Estonia's Eurovision Song Contest entry, has ended, with the first five contestants securing places in the February 26 final.
Clouds of hairspray and women in bright, pink tights dominated the backstage areas of the ETV studios for the Saturday night event, which was hosted by two members of the Estonian all-blonde rock band, Vanilla Ninja.
Of the ten contenders taking part in the round, Getter Jaani's high-energy pulsing pop song "Rockefeller Street" was the first to get the green light from judges and televoters.
Others who made it through to the final were Jana Kask with her mellow rock tune "Don't Want Anything," jazzy boy band Noorkuu with "Be My Saturday Night," Outloudz with their sophisticated track "I Wanna Meet Bob Dylan," and Victoria with her pop-like "Baby Had You."
A second semifinal will be held on February 19 to fill the remainder of the slots in the final.
This year is the first that Estonia is using a semifinal system. Eesti Laul spokesman Uko Urb told ERR News that the change was made to allow a greater number of up-and-coming artists to gain exposure from the event.
The 20 semifinalists were chosen by a jury from a starting pool of 140 entries submitted at the end of last year.
This year's Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Düsseldorf in the first half of May.
http://ext.err.ee/imgen2.aspx?mode=5&id=6637c01e-9ed6-4ce5-b0ec-cace856db76b
The event was hosted by Lenna Kuurmaa and Piret Järvis, two members of the Estonian all-girl rock band, Vanilla Ninja.
( Photo: ERR )
The first semifinal round of the Eesti Laul, the national competition that determines Estonia's Eurovision Song Contest entry, has ended, with the first five contestants securing places in the February 26 final.
Clouds of hairspray and women in bright, pink tights dominated the backstage areas of the ETV studios for the Saturday night event, which was hosted by two members of the Estonian all-blonde rock band, Vanilla Ninja.
Of the ten contenders taking part in the round, Getter Jaani's high-energy pulsing pop song "Rockefeller Street" was the first to get the green light from judges and televoters.
Others who made it through to the final were Jana Kask with her mellow rock tune "Don't Want Anything," jazzy boy band Noorkuu with "Be My Saturday Night," Outloudz with their sophisticated track "I Wanna Meet Bob Dylan," and Victoria with her pop-like "Baby Had You."
A second semifinal will be held on February 19 to fill the remainder of the slots in the final.
This year is the first that Estonia is using a semifinal system. Eesti Laul spokesman Uko Urb told ERR News that the change was made to allow a greater number of up-and-coming artists to gain exposure from the event.
The 20 semifinalists were chosen by a jury from a starting pool of 140 entries submitted at the end of last year.
This year's Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Düsseldorf in the first half of May.