Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013

Eesti Laul 2013 was the fifth edition of the Estonian national selection Eesti Laul, which selected Estonia's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2013. The competition consisted of twenty entries competing in two semi-finals on 16 and 23 February 2013 leading to a ten-song final on 2 March 2013. All three shows were broadcast on Eesti Televisioon (ETV) as well as streamed online at the broadcaster's official website err.ee. The final was also streamed online at the official Eurovision Song Contest website eurovision.tv.[3]

The format of the competition included two semi-finals on 16 and 23 February 2013 and a final on 2 March 2013. Ten songs competed in each semi-final and the top five from each semi-final qualified to complete the ten 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. The winning song in the final was selected over two rounds of voting: the first round results selected the top two songs via the 50/50 combination of jury and public voting, while the second round (superfinal) determined the winner solely by public televoting.

On 12 September 2012, ERR opened the submission period for artists and composers to submit their entries up until 10 December 2012. All artists and composers were required to have Estonian citizenship or be a permanent resident of Estonia.[4] 157 submissions were received by the deadline. An 11-member jury panel selected 20 semi-finalists from the submissions and the selected songs were announced during the ETV entertainment program Ringvaade on 13 December 2012.[5] The selection jury consisted of Owe Petersell (Raadio Elmar), Lenna Kuurmaa (singer), Erik Morna (Raadio 2), Alari Kivisaar (Raadio Sky+), Valner Valme (Postimees), Ingrid Kohtla (music editor), Siim Nestor (Eesti Ekspress), Koit Raudsepp (Raadio 2), Maiken (vocal instructor), Tauno Aints (composer) and Kaupo Karelson (Produktsioonifirma Ruut).[6]

On 17 December 2012, "Miljoni roosiga kaardi sul saadan" performed by Tauri was disqualified from the competition due to plagiarism and replaced with "Young Girl" performed by Armastus.[7] Plagiarism accusations were also launched against "Meil on aega veel" performed by Põhja-Tallinn, however ERR later declared that the accusations were false.[8] Between 14 January and 8 February 2013 leading up to the start of the competition, the semi-finalists all presented their songs on the ETV morning programme Terevisioon.[9]

The first semi-final took place on 16 February 2013, hosted by Anu Välba.[10] The live portion of the show was held at the ERR studios in Tallinn where the artists awaited the results while their performances, which were filmed earlier on 8 February 2013, were screened.[9] Ten songs competed for five 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 17,161 votes.[11][12] The jury panel that voted in the first semi-final consisted of Lenna Kuurmaa, Valner Valme, Mart Niineste, Ithaka Maria, Owe Petersell, Kadri Voorand, Janek Murd, Olav Osolin, Kristo Rajasaare, Els Himma and Heini Vaikmaa.[10]

The second semi-final took place on 23 February 2013, hosted by Marko Reikop.[13] The live portion of the show was held at the ERR studios in Tallinn where the artists awaited the results while their performances, which were filmed earlier on 10 February 2013, were screened.[9] Ten songs competed for five 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 23,831 votes.[12][14] The jury panel that voted in the second semi-final consisted of Lenna Kuurmaa, Valner Valme, Mart Niineste, Ithaka Maria, Owe Petersell, Kadri Voorand, Janek Murd, Olav Osolin, Kristo Rajasaare, Els Himma and Heini Vaikmaa.[10]

The final took place on 2 March 2013 at the Nokia Concert Hall in Tallinn, hosted by Anu Välba and Marko Reikop.[13] The five entries that qualified from each of the two preceding semi-finals, all together ten songs, competed during the show.[15] The winner was selected over two rounds of voting. In the first round, a jury (50%) and public televote (50%) determined the top two entries to proceed to the superfinal: "Et uus saaks alguse" performed by Birgit Õigemeel and "Päästke noored hinged" performed by Grete Paia. The public vote in the first round registered 60,284 votes. In the superfinal, "Et uus saaks alguse" performed by Birgit Õigemeel was selected as the winner entirely by a public televote. The public televote in the superfinal registered 59,347 votes.[12] The jury panel that voted in the first round of the final consisted of Olav Ehala, Sandra Nurmsalu, Marten Kuningas, Tõnis Kahu, Toomas Puna, Sofia Rubina, Owe Petersell, Reigo Ahven, Marju Länik, Toomas Olljum and Erik Morna.[1]