Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020

Eesti Laul 2020 was the twelfth edition of the Estonian national selection Eesti Laul, which selected Estonia's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. The competition consisted of twenty-four entries competing in two semi-finals on 13 and 15 February 2020 leading to a twelve-song final on 29 February 2020.[4] All three shows were hosted by Karl-Erik Taukar and Tõnis Niinemets and broadcast on Eesti Televisioon (ETV), on ETV+ with Russian commentary, via radio on Raadio 2 with commentary by Erik Morna, Margus Kamlat, Robin Juhkental and Kristo Rajasaare as well as streamed online at the broadcaster's official website err.ee.[5][6]

The format of the competition included two semi-finals on 13 and 15 February 2020 and a final on 29 February 2020.[3] Twelve songs competed in each semi-final and the top six from each semi-final qualified to complete the twelve song lineup in the final. The results of the semi-finals was determined by the 50/50 combination of votes from a professional jury and public televoting for the first four qualifiers and a second round of public televoting for the fifth and sixth qualifiers. The winning song in the final was selected over two rounds of voting: the first round results selected the top three songs via the 50/50 combination of jury and public voting, while the second round (superfinal) determined the winner solely by public televoting. In addition to winning the right to represent Estonia at the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest, the winning songwriters and producers were also awarded monetary prizes of €3,000 and €1,000, respectively. The Estonian Authors' Society and Estonian Performers Association also awarded a monetary prize of €1,000 to the top three entries.[7]

On 1 September 2019, ERR opened the submission period for artists and composers to submit their entries up until 6 November 2019 through an online upload platform.[3] Each artist and songwriter was only able to submit a maximum of five entries. Foreign collaborations were allowed as long as 50% of the songwriters were Estonian. A fee was also imposed on songs being submitted to the competition, with €25 for songs in the Estonian language and €50 for songs in other languages. 178 submissions were received by the deadline.[4] A 14-member jury panel selected 24 semi-finalists from the submissions and the selected songs were announced during the ETV entertainment program Ringvaade on 13 and 14 November 2019. The selection jury consisted of Andres Puusepp (DJ), Anu Varusk (Warner Music Baltics regional marketing manager), Birgit Sarrap (singer), Daniel Levi (singer), Eda-Ines Etti (singer), Hendrik Sal-Saller (musician), Jüri Makarov (Rock Summer organiser), Kaupo Karelson (television producer), Lauri Hermann (Raadio Elmar presenter), Madis Aesma (musician), Maiken (singer), Owe Petersell (Raadio Elmar chief editor), Sten Teppan (Vikerradio music editor) and Vaido Pannel (Raadio Sky+ music editor).[8]

Among the competing artists were previous Eurovision Song Contest entrants Laura, who represented Estonia in 2005 as part of the group Suntribe and in 2017 together with Koit Toome, and Stig Rästa (as member of Traffic), who represented Estonia in 2015 with Elina Born. Anett Kulbin, Egert Milder, Inga, Inger, Jennifer Cohen, Kruuv, Laura Prits (lead singer of Ziggy Wild), Mariliis Jõgeva, Rasmus Rändvee, Stefan, Synne Valtri, Traffic and Violina have all competed in previous editions of Eesti Laul. Little Mess' entry was written by Tanja, who represented Estonia in 2014, and Traffic's entry was written by Victor Crone, who represented Estonia in 2019.

The two semi-finals took place on 13 and 15 February 2020 at the University of Tartu Sports Hall in Tartu. In each semi-final twelve songs competed for the first four spots in the final with the outcome decided upon by the combination of the votes from a jury panel and a public televote which registered 12,421 votes in the first semi-final and 20,011 votes in the second semi-final; the remaining two qualifiers were decided by an additional televote between the remaining non-qualifiers which registered 5,452 votes in the first semi-final and 9,477 votes in the second semi-final.[9] In addition to the performances of the competing entries, Ines, who represented Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2000, and the group 5Miinust performed as the interval act in the first semi-final, while the band Black Velvet performed as the interval act in the second semi-final.[7] The jury panel that voted in the semi-finals consisted of Lenna Kuurma, Mari-Liis Männik, Kristel Aaslaid, Priit Pajusaar, Rolf Roosalu, Kristjan Hirmo, Tanel Padar, Jalmar Vabarna and Paul Oja.[10]

The final took place on 29 February 2020 at the Saku Suurhall in Tallinn. The six entries that qualified from each of the two preceding semi-finals, all together twelve songs, competed during the show. The winner was selected over two rounds of voting. In the first round, an international jury (50%) and public televote (50%) determined the top three entries to proceed to the superfinal. The public vote in the first round registered 47,082 votes. In the superfinal, "What Love Is" performed by Uku Suviste was selected as the winner entirely by a public televote. The public televote in the superfinal registered 49,216 votes. In addition to the performances of the competing entries, Tanel Padar, who represented Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2001, Victor Crone, who represented Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019, the group Púr Múdd, and singers Anne Veski and Karl-Erik Taukar performed as the interval acts.[11] The international jury panel that voted in the first round of the final consisted of Mads Enggaard (Dansk Melodi Grand Prix producer), Prince Charles Alexander (American producer), Sylvia Massy (American producer), Felix Bergsson (Icelandic Eurovision Head of Delegation), Daniel Cantor (American producer), Fredi Lunden (Warner Music Finland artist manager), Kazka (Ukrainian band), Kimbra (New Zealand singer and producer) and Brian Henry (British keyboardist).[12]