I’m going to keep it short and sweet because I have 24 (!!!) MESC songs to listen to and review: with a format revamp that cut down the number of entries to 16 resulting in a much more competitive line-up (as it’s usually the case), Eesti Laul put together a banging national final with two songs I’m obsessed with (as it’s usually the case). Without any further ado:
Janek is 2 for 2 in serving up my favorite song in this contest whenever he shows up. In 2023, it was House of Glass and this year, it’s this anthemic, phenomenal dance nu-schlager track that I. cannot. get. enough. of. He is serving you everything: drama, heartbreak, a stomping beat, a flawless vocal, an earworm of a chorus, and perfectly calibrated camp (“I had fire in my blood/now every part of me is frozen” is everything I love about this specific genre of music). This is easily my favorite track of the whole ESC season so far, and I think it could hit the ideal sweet spot, appealing to both voters and juries. Also, he looks like such a good boy and I want to see him out on stage in Basel with those blue doe eyes and that leather jacket.
Banger. Just an amazing throwback to those all iconic trance tracks of the ’90s that keep inspiring EDM in the 21st century and remain therefore ageless. The production feels crisp and luxe, and the beat just doesn’t let up, adding and subtracting layers throughout the whole track. I also particularly love the fact that it sung entirely in Estonian, showcasing just how incredibly musical Uralic languages actually are. I feel like a minimalist approach to staging here would really enhance the whole performance – I’m picturing a dark backdrop with lasers and pulsating lights. Cut me a check and I’ll tell you more.
This is a Scandipop ballad (it’s co-written by Angelino of MelFest fame after all) and it reminds me of the songs Molly Sandén was taking to MelFest a decade ago, which means I absolutely love it. I mean, the chorus alone:
“Am I dead?
Cigarettes
Hold her head
In our bed
Am I cold?
Is it snow?
Tell me though
Why, I’m the last to know?”
High drama camp boots the house down. Does it reinvent the wheel? No. But it builds very nicely to a soaring last minute, Elysa’s vocal is delivered with the necessary gravitas, and it’s catchy as hell. Another option that could score reasonably well with both sets of votes.
Andrei Zevakin & Karita – Ma ei tea sind
This is just fun. It’s noisy and energetic and repetitive without really wearing out its welcome. I could really see the whole arena coming alive and stomping along to something like this, which makes it a particularly competitive entry in terms of televote, but juries will probably give this peanuts unless it becomes one of the overwhelming favorites. It’s also the track that most approximates what Estonia sent last year, and I think this year the broadcaster is going to be looking in a different direction.
No, we won’t be discussing Tommy Cash (unless he wins).
ESC Etc. 
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