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About Estonia...
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2004 Result
Points in Semi Final: 57
Position in Semi Final: 12th
Points in Final: Failed to qualify
Position in Final: Failed to qualify
2005 Contest: Must compete in Semi Final
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History (1956 to 2003)
Estonia's previous appearances: 9 year(s) out of 48
Years participated: 1994; 1996-
Best result: 1st (2001)
Estonia has one of the best records of any of the 16 east European newcomers that have appeared at Eurovision between 1993 and 2003 - indeed, only Estonia (in 2001) and Latvia (in 2002) have so far managed to win the contest. Estonia got off to a terrible start when it scored just 2 points in 1994, spared last place only because Lithuania's début scored nothing at all. After missing the following year's contest due to relegation, Estonia bounced back in 1996 with a much improved 5th place, the start of a rather impressive run of results. With an 8th place in 1997, 12th in 1998 and 6th in 1999, it was surely only a matter of time before Estonia won the contest. Ines, with 'Once in a lifetime', was tipped for success in 2000, but had to be content with 4th.
When Estonia did win it caught everyone by surprise, the energetic 'Everybody', by Tanel Padar and Dave Benton, storming to a shock victory in 2001. Estonia came close to winning again the following year, but had to settle for 3rd with Sahlene's 'Runaway'. After such a good record, it's little surprise that 2003's disappointing 21st place for Ruffus and 'Eighties coming back' provoked much consternation and gnashing of teeth. In truth, it was a fantastic song, and while Estonia's Baltic neighbours gave it short shrift, the UK (3 points) and Ireland (8 points) gave it the appreciation it deserved. Perhaps Ruffus, with their retro outfits and sharp lyrics, were just too ironic for most Eurovision televoters. Whatever the reason, Estonia finds itself in the Semi Final, battling against most of eastern Europe for a place in the Final.
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This year's entry
Position in Semi Final draw: 17
Position in Final draw: Failed to qualify
What I said prior to the Semi Final:
"Estonia takes Eurovision very seriously, and has previously had a panel of international experts to select its entry. After last year's drubbing, the country has changed tack in 2004, putting its fate in the hands of the public instead. The result is probably the most unpronouncable entry of the year, with the winning song 'Tii' being performed by Neiokõsõ - I look forward to Terry Wogan tackling that. Seemingly taking their inspiration from last year's Belgian entry, the song is performed in an obscure Estonian dialect, by five women dressed in brown sacks. Instead of the fixed stares and scary hand movements of 'Sanomi', Estonia's entry involves the girls putting their arms round each other, kicking their legs in the air, and doing lots of shouting. The result, depending on your point of view, is an entry which is original and inventive, or an infernal din. I think it's rather charming - but what is Europe going to make of it?"
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What I predicted...
My prediction for Semi Final: 1st to 5th
My prediction for Final: Definite qualifier; 7th to 12th
What I predicted prior to the Semi Final:
"The fan reaction to 'Tii' has not been terribly positive, but Belgium's 'Sanomi' was in the same position last year. That was languishing at the bottom of the polls, with predictions that it would score 'nul points'; instead, it finished just two points behind Sertab's winning song. Estonia's entry this year is really very similar, so it has to be taken seriously. Stuck between a clutch of east European slowies - Macedonia and Slovenia before it, and Croatia afterwards - we can also expect 'Tii' to make a memorable impression. Assuming televoters' tastes are similar to a year ago, I expect this to easily qualify for the Final, where we can more than likely expect Estonia to take up its usual residence in the top ten. I think it's probably a bit too weird to win, though."
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What you thought...
Final Poll Ranking: out of 36 ()
(Updated 15 May 2004; change refers to movement over final week)
In the run up to the Contest, over 5,000 visitors to this site voted for their favourite song in the Soult.com Eurovision Poll.
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What actually happened
I enjoyed this one! The five Neiokõsõ ladies gave a lively performance of 'Tii', and were excellent vocally, while the horned Peter played the drums and cymbals with his bare hands in the background. What is there not to like?
Well, quite a lot, evidently, given that 'Tii' failed to qualify for the Final. To be fair, Estonia's 57 points and 12th place was a creditable performance, but that's little consolation to someone who described it as a 'definite qualifier'. Oh well.
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What the bookies thought...
 | Estonia to win: | 15/05/04 (prior to Final) | - |
| | 13/05/04 (after Semi Final) | - |
| | 11/05/04 | 25-1 |
| | 08/05/04 | 66-1 |
| | 06/05/04 | 66-1 |
| | 04/05/04 | 66-1 |
| | 31/04/04 | 66-1 |
| | 24/04/04 | 66-1 |
| | 17/04/04 | 66-1 |
| | 07/04/04 | 50-1 |
| | 24/03/04 | 50-1 |
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Having spent much of the run-up to Eurovision at 66-1, Estonia's odds were drastically cut to 25-1 the day before the Semi Final. However, with Estonia finishing a tantalising 11th in the Semi Final, and just missing out on qualification, the optimism proved unfounded.
(Odds quoted here were those offered by Coral.co.uk. 'F' indicates favourite, 'JF' joint favourite.)
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Links
 http://www.neiokoso.com/
 http://www.etv.ee/index.php?046842
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Notes (see 'History' above)
- The 1956 Contest (where each country had two songs) is counted as a single appearance;
- Countries eliminated in the 1993 preliminary heat (EE, HU, RO, SK) ARE NOT counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest;
- Countries eliminated in the 1996 preliminary heat (DE, DK, HU, IL, MK, RO, RU) ARE NOT counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest;
- Countries eliminated in the 2004, 2005 and 2006 Semi Finals ARE counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest.
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Your comments (33)
From Kim, DENMARK
Added 22:40:12 2004-5-12
Unfortunatly this song didn't qualify - but i'll buy a cd if it gets available here - clearly the best song in the batch - and it qualified 11'th - DOH! almost :-(
From marka, ESTONIA
Added 13:52:43 2004-5-12
Many thanks for the supporters!
I think that one thing that characterises Estonian songs, is that they are usually tasteful. It does not matter, if it is going to win, we have been there already!
The drummer of this song is going to supprise all of you with his temperament and personality. I think that most other songs are tasteless and cheasy. I was very surprised, that Turkey won last year...Estonian song was very good, but it was too good to win.
Cheers!
From Lady Ice, ICELAND
Added 22:58:9 2004-5-11
Estonia is always one of my favourites, and they sure have not disapointed me this year.
Love this song.
Good luck Estonia.
From tolyas, RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Added 19:41:30 2004-5-9
I'm sure Estonia will bring to all of us great surprise! Good Luck Estonia.. If only i could vote from Russia ( we can't vote unfortunately) Estonia would get 10 points from me after Serbia and Montenegro!!
Tere Eesti! GOOD LUCK AND ALL THE BEST!
From Tibuke, ESTONIA
Added 9:59:23 2004-5-7
to you , me hearties, i want to say - especially to reddy from UK - if ALL the songs would continue to be mainstreams with no identity like in my opinion estonian eurovision songs have been each prec´vious year, then estonia would lose itś natoinal identity like it has happened to UK , mediterranian countries, and many others. i think our song will be something to remember even if it does not make it to the final , and it´ll give a more objective picture of our culture than we ´ve ever managed to do. so whatever comes, it is our party.
From Sándor, FINLAND
Added 8:43:15 2004-5-6
Our dear southern neighbours really can make a lot of good music. This year the song is something new. It's not easy, but "Se on hea laul", it's a good song. Estonia, 12 points.
From Hanna, NORWAY
Added 14:48:43 2004-5-4
I like this song, it's very "surprising" and most of the other countries have songs that we think "hmm where have I heard this before"?? but this one doesn't. I loved SANOMI, and voted only for that one, and it broke my heart when that terrible song won! but this one has nothing to do with sanomi, don't know why people think that!? they've got an ethnical sound, is that the same as sounding the same? not to me anyway. This sounds like something that could have been a "samisk" song, (samer= the norwegian minority, people with a special culture who are living in the north of scandinavia)it sounds cool and has something special, and that's what's important!It's the feeling that people get when they hear this,not the catchy tunes that you know by heart after hearing it 1 time that matters.
From Jerry Green, UNITED KINGDOM
Added 15:45:25 2004-5-3
This song is not at all like SODOMI last year. I do like this song - it's something different than the other plastic crap that some countries have sent this year. Go Estonia! You have my vote!
From Andy Hendrickx, BELGIUM
Added 1:17:3 2004-5-1
Marion... it is Sanomi, not Sunomi! ;-)
From Iain , BELGIUM
Added 9:20:59 2004-4-29
Its only sounds like sanomi to people because it is a ethnic beat- open your eyes, every damn eurovision song sounds the same as the one that preceeded it.
I like this song- its different and well sung, I wish Estonia the bestxx
From Vedat, MACEDONIA, THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC
Added 17:18:2 2004-4-28
I think is great song i like it and is my favorite.
From bria, ESTONIA
Added 16:15:41 2004-4-28
see http://www.eurovision.tv/english/606.htm.. the lyrics are given there
From Marion, GERMANY
Added 12:11:42 2004-4-28
Excactly Graham! I always couldn't understand why people hate that song, while they love last years sunomi. This one sounds very close to me, in fact i like this and didn't like Belgium's Sunomi. They should change Clothe to maintain their Chance to reach the final.
Could one of the Estonian Guys please tell whats the lyrics about?
From eesti inimene, ESTONIA
Added 24/04/2004 21:42
Ma mőtlen ka ,et meie eesti laul on parim ja ta peab minema edasi
From eestlane, ESTONIA
Added 24/04/2004 18:57
tervist, mina arvan, et EESTI LAUL ON PARIM.
I have heard the others, they are so boring and slow...., you knever, ever know who goes bad, who doesn't, but Estonian song is not the worst.
From Andy Hendrickx, BELGIUM
Added 24/04/2004 11:27
the "scarecrow" song 2004
From Joăo Velada, PORTUGAL
Added 22/04/2004 19:46
You, people from Estonia, made a big mistake by choosing «Tii» to go to the Eurovision Song Contest! I know that you made a contest with 10 songs to choose one of them to represent Estonia in Eurovision 2004 and I know very well all of them! So, let me tell you that you made the wrong choise by selecting «Tii»! Estonia had the victory of Eurovision 2004 in their hands, but you wasted this great opportunity! Estonia had so good songs in their seleccion contest! For instance: Slobodan River's «Surrounded», Zone & Cardinals' «Turn The Tide», Kerli's «Beautiful Inside» and Charlene's «Whatever You Say»! «Whatever You Say» is also my favourite, but all of this 4 songs I mentioned above could reach a very good place in Eurovision 2004! Neiokőső's «Tii», in my oppinion, is a pretty bad song and probably will not reach the final; maybe next year! Anyway, good luck for Estonia!
From Vedat, MACEDONIA, THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC
Added 22/04/2004 15:53
Simply its not bad. Good luck Neikoso
From Aivarastonia, UNITED KINGDOM
Added 22/04/2004 00:09
I think Tii is going to do very well indeed - and though its score may not be top 5 it's reaction it FYROM and Australia should be good. I expect to make a lot of money from this 66-1, betting in top 5.
From lill, ESTONIA
Added 21/04/2004 19:18
mulle vaga meeldib!!!!!! tublid tudrukud!!!
From Estboy, ESTONIA
Added 20/04/2004 16:00
Indeed a good comment Triin. I for one love this song beyond words....
Just love it!
From :)fromthere:), ESTONIA
Added 19/04/2004 18:39
good comment Triin:)
From Triin, ESTONIA
Added 19/04/2004 05:09
Estonian song is not a copy from SANOMI.
1. SANOMI was in a language which does not excist, "Tii" is in Southern-Estonian dialect and many people actually speak the dialect.
2. already the rhythm and melody is not the same - how can it be a copy?
3. In Estonian final - from 10 songs only 2 was in estonian, on of them was "Tii". Maarja's song was good, but it was just a song - not the one to be remembered.
4. We have a drummar who looks like a devil :)
From Mike K, NETHERLANDS
Added 18/04/2004 12:40
Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh
From hmm, ESTONIA
Added 15/04/2004 15:41
i don't think so..
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Estonia
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