Estonia was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1994 with the song "", composed by Ivar Must, with lyrics by Leelo Tungal, and performed by Silvi Vrait. The Estonian participating broadcaster, (ETV), organised the national final 94 in order to select its entry for the contest. Ten songs competed in the national final and "" performed by Silvi Vrait was selected as the winner by a jury panel. This was the first-ever entry from Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest, and the first-ever entry performed in Estonian in the contest.

Estonia competed in the Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 30 April 1994. Performing during the show in position 10, Estonia placed twenty-fourth out of the 25 participating countries, scoring 2 points.

Background

The Estonian national broadcaster, (ETV), confirmed its debut at the Eurovision Song Contest 1994 on 7 August 1993, having been unable to debut in the by failing to pass the qualifying round. As part of its duties as participating broadcaster, ETV organises the selection of its entry in the Eurovision Song Contest and broadcasts the event in the country. The broadcaster announced on 1 October 1993 the organisation of '''94 in order to select its 1994 entry.

Before Eurovision '94 94'' was the second edition of the national selection organised by ETV to select its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 1994. The competition consisted of a ten-song final on 26 February 1994 at the Linnahall in Tallinn, hosted by and Guido Kangur and broadcast on ETV.

Competing entries On 1 October 1993, ETV opened the submission period for artists and composers to submit their entries up until 10 January 1994. 34 submissions were received by the deadline. An 11-member jury panel selected ten finalists from the submissions and the selected songs were announced on 14 January 1994. The selection jury consisted of (Eesti Raadio music editor), Heli Lääts (singer), Peeter Vähi (composer), Sven Aabreldaal (music manager), Urmas Leinfeld (Raadio 2 chief editor), (Raadio 2 music editor), (culture critic), Mihkel Raud (musician), Maire Radsin (director), (arranger), Aarne Saluveer (choir conductor) and Jaak Joala (musician). ArtistSongSongwriter(s)Airi Allvee"Hingemaa"Eero Raun, Kalle KoppelEvelin Samuel"Soovide puu"Kaari Sillamaa, Priit Pajusaar"Unelind"Hedvig Hanson and Pearu Paulus"Kallim kullast"Kaari Sillamaa, Pearu Paulus, Alar Kotkas, Ilmar LaisaarHenri Laks"Lähedus"Henri LaksIvo Linna"Elavad pildid"Reet Linna, Heini VaikmaaKadi-Signe Selde"Miraaž"Siiri SiimerPearu Paulus"Päikese lapsed"Leelo Tungal, Elo KongoSilvi Vrait"Nagu merelaine"Leelo Tungal, Ivar MustTõnis Kiis, Anneli Tõevere and Evelin Samuel"Ime"Riina Varts, Heini Vaikmaa Final The final took place on 26 February 1994. Ten songs competed and a jury selected "Nagu merelaine" performed by Silvi Vrait as the winner. The jury panel that voted in the final consisted of Kare Kauks (singer and music teacher), Faime Jurno (Madam N representative), Uno Loop (singer and music teacher), (singer), (music editor), Toomas Vanem (guitarist), Olav Osolin (Kolm Karu manager), Heidy Tamme (singer and music teacher), (Raadio 2 editor), Lembit Ulfsak (actor), Tarmo Kruusimäe (ETV presenter), Maian Kärmas (student), Kaidi Klein (journalist), Peeter Vähi (composer), Indrek Sei (athlete) and Cathy Korju (model).

+ Final – 26 February 1994 Artist Song Conductor Points Place 1 Evelin Samuel "Unelind" Heiki Vahar 73 6 2 Ivo Linna "Elavad pildid" Peeter Saul 112 3 3 Airi Allvee "Hingemaa" Heiki Vahar 72 7 4 Hedvig Hanson and Pearu Paulus "Kallim kullast" 147 2 5 Kadi-Signe Selde "Miraaž" Olari Elts 56 9 6 Pearu Paulus "Päikese lapsed" Heiki Vahar 101 4 7 Evelin Samuel "Soovide puu" 69 8 8 Henri Laks "Lähedus" 54 10 9 Silvi Vrait "Nagu merelaine" Urmas Lattikas 158 1 10 Tõnis Kiis, Anneli Tõevere and Evelin Samuel "Ime" Peeter Saul 86 5 + Detailed Jury Votes Song scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" Total 1"Unelind" 2 2 4 5 7 44467331044473 2"Elavad pildid" 7 10 8 10 2 10575864210108112 3"Hingemaa" 4 7 1 312 1721556425772 4"Kallim kullast" 8 8 10 8 312121021221212121212147 5"Miraaž" 3 4 2 6 4 2384141551356 6"Päikese lapsed" 10 6 7 4 8 886331106885101 7"Soovide puu" 5 3 6 2 5 31512675313269 8"Lähedus" 1 1 3 1 1 6217482772154 9"Nagu merelaine"12121212 10 71012101012886710158 10"Ime" 6 5 5 7 6 56382107136686

At Eurovision

The Eurovision Song Contest 1994 took place at the Point Theatre in Dublin, Ireland, on 30 April 1994. According to the Eurovision rules, the 25-country participant list for the contest was composed of: the winning country from the previous year's contest and host country Ireland, countries that placed higher than the bottom seven of the 1993 contest and any eligible country that did not compete in the 1993 edition. As Estonia was one of the eligible countries which did not compete in the 1993 contest, it was thus permitted to participate. On 16 November 1993, an allocation draw was held which determined the running order and Estonia was set to perform in position 10, following the entry from and before the entry from . The Estonian conductor at the contest was Urmas Lattikas, and Estonia finished in twenty-fourth place with 2 points.

The contest was broadcast on ETV (with commentary by Vello Rand) and on STV1. ETV appointed Urve Tiidus as its spokesperson to announce the votes awarded by the Estonian jury during the show.

Voting Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Estonian and awarded by Estonia in the contest. The nation awarded its 12 points to in the contest.

+ Points awarded to Estonia Score Country 12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points 5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point

+ Points awarded by Estonia Score Country 12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points 5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point

References