The Eurovision national final season kicked off with the first quarter final of Eesti Laul 2022. The total of 202 submitted entries were narrowed down to forty so each Saturday until 11th of December 2021 we will be watching 10 acts competing for a chance to advance to the semi-final rounds which are set to take place on 3rd and 5th of February 2022 while the Grand finale of the show will be organised on 12th of February 2022. The hosts of the show were Eda-Ines Etti and Tanel Padar .

The first ten acts featured several returning artists at Eesti Laul. Jaagup Tuisk ended as the runner up back in 2020; Evelin Samuel won Eurolaul back in 1999 and she represented Estonia at Eurovision with Camille singing “Diamond of Night” they ended the show on 6th place. Stig Rasta has won the show with Elina Born singing “Goodbye To Yesterday” and they were the Estonian representative at Eurovision 2015, in addition to that he competed several times as a soloist, as a member of Traffic and as the composer. Speaking of Stig, his song also features a returnee (among the writers) as the winner of Eesti Laul 2019, Victor Crone is part of the writing team to return the favour after Stig co-wrote “Storm”. Kéa competed on two ocassions in 2016 and 2021, Little Mess took part at Eesti Laul 2020 and Traffic competes for the 5th time previously they’ve been part of the show in 2009, 2012, 2014 and 2020.

The running order of the first quarter final was as follows

1. Traffic – Kaua veel
2. Jaagup Tuisk – Kui vaid
3. Kéa – Everytime
4. Fiona and Me – Feel Like This
5. Peter Põder – Koos lõpuni
6. Stig Rästa – Interstellar
7. Maian –  Meeletu
8. Little Mess – Hea päev
9. Boamadu – Mitte kauaks
10. Evelin Samuel – Waterfall

As you’ve seen the first ten acts featured several returning artists at Eesti Laul. Jaagup Tuisk ended as the runner up back in 2020; Evelin Samuel won Eurolaul back in 1999 and she represented Estonia at Eurovision with Camille singing “Diamond of Night” they ended the show on 6th place. Stig Rasta has won the show with Elina Born singing “Goodbye To Yesterday” and they were the Estonian representative at Eurovision 2015, in addition to that he competed several times as a soloist, as a member of Traffic and as the composer. Speaking of Stig, his song also features a returnee (among the writers) as the winner of Eesti Laul 2019, Victor Crone is part of the writing team to return the favour after Stig co-wrote “Storm”. Kéa competed on two ocassions in 2016 and 2021, Little Mess took part at Eesti Laul 2020 and Traffic competes for the 5th time previously they’ve been part of the show in 2009, 2012, 2014 and 2020.

The semifinalist are

1. Evelin Samuel – Waterfall
2. Stig Rästa – Interstellar
3. Boamadu – Mitte kauaks
4. Maian –  Meeletu
5. Jaagup Tuisk – Kui vaid

Out of the qualifiers the first three were selected by the televote and the following two by the jury. The judging panel included following names

• Sissi – singer and participant of Eesti Laul
• Synne Valtri – singer and participant of Eesti Laul
• Egert Milder – singer and participant of Eesti Laul
• Maiken – Songwriter
• Olav Osolin – Advertising and TV professional
• Bert Järvet – Raadio 2
• Vaido Pannel – Sky Plusi
• Andres Puusepp – Star FM

The next quarter final of Eesti Laul is scheduled for next Saturday, 27th of November from 20:35. You can watch it HERE. 

Which of the qualified artists is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below and at our social media links!