1.
Estonia
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Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia, is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia, across the Baltic Sea lies Sweden in the west and Finland in the north. The territory of Estonia consists of a mainland and 2,222 islands and islets in the Baltic Sea, covering 45,339 km2 of land and water, and is influenced by a humid continental climate. The territory of Estonia has been inhabited since at least 6500 BC, in 1988, during the Singing Revolution, the Estonian Supreme Soviet issued the Estonian Sovereignty Declaration in defiance of Soviet rule, and independence was restored on 20 August 1991. Estonia is a parliamentary republic divided into fifteen counties. Its capital and largest city is Tallinn, with a population of 1.3 million, it is one of the least-populous member states of the European Union, Eurozone, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, OECD and Schengen Area. Estonia is a country with an advanced, high-income economy that is among the fastest growing in the EU. Its Human Development Index ranks very highly, and it performs favourably in measurements of economic freedom, civil liberties, the 2015 PISA test places Estonian high school students 3rd in the world, behind Singapore and Japan. Citizens of Estonia are provided with health care, free education. Since independence the country has developed its IT sector, becoming one of the worlds most digitally advanced societies. In 2005 Estonia became the first nation to hold elections over the Internet, in the Estonian language, the oldest known endonym of the Estonians was maarahvas, meaning country people or people of the land. The land inhabited by Estonians was called Maavald meaning Country Parish or Land Parish, one hypothesis regarding the modern name of Estonia is that it originated from the Aesti, a people described by the Roman historian Tacitus in his Germania. The historic Aesti were allegedly Baltic people, whereas the modern Estonians are Finno-Ugric, the geographical areas between Aesti and Estonia do not match, with Aesti being further down south. Ancient Scandinavian sagas refer to a land called Eistland, as the country is called in Icelandic. Early Latin and other ancient versions of the name are Estia and Hestia, esthonia was a common alternative English spelling prior to 1921. Human settlement in Estonia became possible 13,000 to 11,000 years ago, the oldest known settlement in Estonia is the Pulli settlement, which was on the banks of the river Pärnu, near the town of Sindi, in south-western Estonia. According to radiocarbon dating it was settled around 11,000 years ago, the earliest human inhabitation during the Mesolithic period is connected to Kunda culture, which is named after the town of Kunda in northern Estonia. At that time the country was covered with forests, and people lived in communities near bodies of water
2.
Eurovision Song Contest
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The competition was based upon the existing Sanremo Music Festival held in Italy since 1951. The contest has been broadcast every year for sixty years, since its inauguration in 1956 and it is also one of the most watched non-sporting events in the world, with audience figures having been quoted in recent years as anything between 100 million and 600 million internationally. Eurovision has also been broadcast outside Europe to several countries that do not compete, such as the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and China. An exception was made in 2015, when Australia was allowed to compete as a guest entrant as part of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the event. In November 2015, the EBU announced that Australia was invited back as a participant in the 2016 contest after their success in 2015, following their success again in 2016, Australia will compete again in 2017. Since 2000, the contest has also been broadcast over the Internet via the Eurovision website, winning the Eurovision Song Contest provides a short-term boost to the winning artists career, but rarely results in long-term success. Notable exceptions are ABBA, Bucks Fizz and Céline Dion, all of whom launched successful careers after their wins. Ireland holds the record for the highest number of wins, having won the contest seven times—including four times in five years in 1992,1993,1994 and 1996. Under the current voting system, the highest scoring winner is Jamala of Ukraine who won the 2016 contest in Stockholm, under the previous system, in place from 1975 to 2015, the highest scoring winner is Alexander Rybak of Norway with 387 points in 2009. Satellite television did not exist, and the Eurovision Network comprised a terrestrial microwave network, the name Eurovision was first used in relation to the EBUs network by British journalist George Campey in the London Evening Standard in 1951. The first contest was held in the town of Lugano, Switzerland, seven countries participated—each submitting two songs, for a total of 14. This was the only contest in more than one song per country was performed, since 1957. The 1956 contest was won by the host nation, Switzerland, the programme was first known as the Eurovision Grand Prix. This Grand Prix name was adopted by Denmark, Norway and the Francophone countries, the Grand Prix has since been dropped and replaced with Concours in French, but not in Danish or Norwegian. The Eurovision network is used to carry news and sports programmes internationally. However, in the minds of the public, the name Eurovision is most closely associated with the Song Contest, a country as a participant is represented by one television broadcaster from that country, typically, but not always, that countrys national public broadcasting organisation. The programme is hosted by one of the participant countries, during this programme, after all the songs have been performed, the countries then proceed to cast votes for the other countries songs, nations are not allowed to vote for their own song. At the end of the programme, the song with the most points is declared as the winner, the programme is invariably opened by one or more presenters, welcoming viewers to the show
3.
Melodifestivalen
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Melodifestivalen is an annual music competition organised by Swedish public broadcasters Sveriges Television and Sveriges Radio. It determines the countrys representative for the Eurovision Song Contest, and has been staged almost every year since 1959, since 2000, the competition has been the most popular television programme in Sweden, it is also broadcast on radio and the Internet. In 2012, the semifinals averaged 3.3 million viewers, the festival has produced six Eurovision winners and eighteen top-five placings for Sweden at the contest. The winner of the Melodifestival has been chosen by panels of jurors since its inception, since 1999, the juries have been joined by a public telephone vote which has an equal influence over the final outcome. The competition makes an impact on music charts in Sweden. The introduction of semifinals in 2002 raised the number of contestants from around twelve to thirty-two. A childrens version of the competition, Lilla Melodifestivalen, also began that year, light orchestrated pop songs, known locally as schlager music, are so prevalent that the festival is sometimes referred to as Schlagerfestivalen by the Swedish media. However, other styles of such as rap, reggae. The introduction of a final in Stockholm has attracted substantial tourism to the city. The most recent Melodifestivalen winner is Robin Bengtsson who won on 11 March 2017 with the song I Cant Go On and he is set to represent Sweden at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest in Kiev, Ukraine. With seven nations competing, the first Eurovision Song Contest took place in Lugano, Swedens first contest was the third, in 1958. Without broadcasting a selection, Sveriges Radio chose to send Alice Babs to the contest in Hilversum, the song selected was Samma stjärna lyser för oss två, later renamed Lilla stjärna. It finished fourth at Eurovision on 12 March 1958, the first Melodifestival, incorporated into the Säg det med musik radio series, took place on 29 January 1959 at Cirkus in Stockholm, eight songs participated. Four expert juries in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö, and Luleå decided the winner, the competition was won by Siw Malmkvist performing Augustin, but SR decided that the winning song—regardless of its original performer—would be performed by Brita Borg at Eurovision. This policy, of selecting the artist for Eurovision internally and having other artists perform potential Swedish entries at Melodifestivalen, was stopped in 1961, the competition became a stand-alone television programme in 1960, known as the Eurovisionschlagern, svensk final. In the events early years, it was broadcast to Norway, the competition adopted its current name, Melodifestivalen, in 1967. The Melodifestival has failed to be staged on three occasions, in 1964, the competition was cancelled due to an artists strike, Sweden did not send a song to Eurovision that year. Sweden was absent at Eurovision for a time in 1970 because of a Nordic boycott of the voting system
4.
Pop music
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Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form in the United States and United Kingdom during the mid 1950s. The terms popular music and pop music are used interchangeably, although the former describes all music that is popular. Pop and rock were synonymous terms until the late 1960s, when they were used in opposition from each other. Although pop music is seen as just the singles charts, it is not the sum of all chart music. Pop music is eclectic, and often borrows elements from other such as urban, dance, rock, Latin. Identifying factors include generally short to medium-length songs written in a format, as well as the common use of repeated choruses, melodic tunes. David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop music as a body of music which is distinguishable from popular, jazz, according to Pete Seeger, pop music is professional music which draws upon both folk music and fine arts music. Although pop music is seen as just the singles charts, it is not the sum of all chart music, the music charts contain songs from a variety of sources, including classical, jazz, rock, and novelty songs. Pop music, as a genre, is seen as existing and developing separately, pop music continuously evolves along with the terms definition. The term pop song was first recorded as being used in 1926, Hatch and Millward indicate that many events in the history of recording in the 1920s can be seen as the birth of the modern pop music industry, including in country, blues and hillbilly music. The Oxford Dictionary of Music states that while pops earlier meaning meant concerts appealing to a wide audience. Since the late 1950s, however, pop has had the meaning of non-classical mus, usually in the form of songs, performed by such artists as the Beatles. Grove Music Online also states that, in the early 1960s pop music competed terminologically with beat music, while in the USA its coverage overlapped with that of rock and roll. From about 1967, the term was used in opposition to the term rock music. Whereas rock aspired to authenticity and an expansion of the possibilities of music, pop was more commercial, ephemeral. It is not driven by any significant ambition except profit and commercial reward, and, in musical terms, it is essentially conservative. It is, provided from on high rather than being made from below, pop is not a do-it-yourself music but is professionally produced and packaged. The beat and the melodies tend to be simple, with limited harmonic accompaniment, the lyrics of modern pop songs typically focus on simple themes – often love and romantic relationships – although there are notable exceptions
5.
Getter Jaani
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Getter Ragnila Jaani is an Estonian singer and actress. She represented Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 with the song Rockefeller Street, getter was born and raised in Tallinn. In 2015, she graduated night school and was awarded a school diploma. Jaani first became known in Estonia as a participant in the third season of Eesti otsib superstaari. She finished fourth and her performance gained her role of Sharpay Evans in the Estonian version of High School Musical, Jaani represented Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011, with her entry Rockefeller Street coming in 24th place in the final. That same year, she participated as a celebrity contestant on Tantsud tähtedega, in 2012, Jaani presented the scores on behalf of Estonia for the grand-finals of the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan. In 2013, Jaani landed the role of Sandy in the musical Grease,2010, Parim Päev EP2011, Jõuluvalgus Rockefeller Street Talveöö NYC Taxi Sulle, kes sa kaugel Kes on süüdi Meelelahutajad Official website
6.
Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014
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Estonia participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Their entry was selected through Eesti Laul 2014, a final format that consisted of two semi-finals and a final, organised by the Estonian broadcaster Eesti Rahvusringhääling. Tanja was selected to represent Estonia with the song Amazing, and failed to qualify from the first semi-final, Eesti Laul 2014 was the sixth edition of the Estonian national selection Eesti Laul that selected Estonias entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2014. The format of the included two semi-finals on 14 and 21 February and a final on 1 March 2014. Ten songs competed in each semi-final where the top five from each qualified to compete in the final. On 2 October 2013, ERR opened the period for artists and composers to submit their entries. 189 submissions were received by the deadline - the highest amount since the conception of the Eesti Laul format, a jury selected 20 semi-finalists from the submissions and the selected songs were announced during the entertainment program Ringvaade on 12 December 2013. The selection jury consisted of Maarja-Liis Ilus, Janek Murd, Erik Morna, Siim Nestor, Kaupo Karelson, Valner Valme, Tauno Aints, Ingrid Kohtla, Owe Petersell, Toomas Puna and Kostja Tsõbulevski. Sofia Rubina, August Hunt, Norman Salumäe, Tanja, Traffic, Liisi Koikson, Tuuli Rand, Kadri Koppel, composer Sven Lõhmus has previously composed three Estonian entries, Lets Get Loud, Rändajad and Rockefeller Street. In the weeks leading up to the start of the competition,1. ^ The title of Kõrsikuds song is a wordplay with two homonyms. The first semi-final of Eesti Laul 2014 took place on 14 February 2014, hosted by Helen Sürje and Henrik Kalmet with additional commentary provided by Indrek Vaheoja, the performances of the competing songs were filmed earlier between 6 February 2014 and 9 February 2014. Ten songs competed for five spots in the final with the decided upon by the combination of the votes from a jury panel. The second semi-final of Eesti Laul 2014 took place on 21 February 2014, hosted by Helen Sürje and Henrik Kalmet with additional commentary provided by Indrek Vaheoja, the performances of the competing songs were filmed earlier between 6 February 2014 and 9 February 2014. Ten songs competed for five spots in the final with the decided upon by the combination of the votes from a jury panel. The final of Eesti Laul 2014 took place on 1 March 2014 at the Nokia Concert Hall in Tallinn, hosted by Marko Reikop and Henrik Kalmet. Five songs from each semi-final, all together 10 songs, competed in the first round of the competition where a jury, the public vote in the first round registered 52,190 votes. Amazing performed by Tanja and Maybe-Maybe performed by Super Hot Cosmos Blues Band qualified to the super final, in the super final, Amazing performed by Tanja was selected as the winner through a public televote which registered 57,272 votes. During the semi-final allocation draw on 20 January 2014 at the Copenhagen City Hall, in the first semi-final, the producers of the show decided that Estonia would perform 3rd, following Latvia and preceding Sweden
7.
Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015
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Estonia participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 with the song Goodbye to Yesterday, written by Stig Rästa. The song was performed by Elina Born and Stig Rästa, Estonian broadcaster Eesti Rahvusringhääling organised the national final Eesti Laul 2015 in order to select the Estonian entry for the 2015 contest in Vienna, Austria. After two semi-finals and a final, Goodbye to Yesterday performed by Elina Born and Stig Rästa were selected, in the first of the Eurovision semi-finals Goodbye to Yesterday placed third out of the 16 participating countries, securing its place among the 27 other songs in the final. In Estonias twenty-first Eurovision appearance on 23 May, Goodbye to Yesterday finished in seventh place, prior to the 2015 Contest, Estonia had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest twenty times since its first entry in 1994. Estonia has won the contest once in 2001 with the song Everybody performed by Tanel Padar, Dave Benton, in 2014, Amazing performed by Tanja failed to qualify Estonia to compete in the final. On 17 September 2014, the broadcaster revealed details regarding their selection procedure, Eesti Laul 2015 was the seventh edition of the Estonian national selection Eesti Laul, which selected Estonias entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2015. The competition consisted of twenty entries competing in two semi-finals on 7 and 14 February 2015 leading to a ten song final on 21 February 2015, all three shows were broadcast on Eesti Televisioon. The format of the included two semi-finals on 7 and 14 February and a final on 21 February 2015. Ten songs competed in each semi-final where the top five from each qualified to complete the ten song lineup in the final. The results of the semi-finals were determined by the 50/50 combination of votes from a professional jury, the original format of Eesti Laul featured only the two highest ranked songs from the first round of voting in the final qualifying to the second round of voting. In 2015, the final round featured three finalists instead of two. ERR opened the period for artists and composers to submit their entries between 17 September 2014 and 1 December 2014. A record 219 submissions were received by the deadline—the highest amount since the conception of the Eesti Laul format, a jury selected 20 semi-finalists from the submissions and the selected songs were announced during the ETV entertainment program Ringvaade on 4 December 2014. The selection jury consisted of Erik Morna, Toomas Puna, Owe Petersell, Siim Nestor, Kaupo Karelson, Valner Valme, Lenna Kuurmaa, Ago Teppand, Anne Veski, Ingrid Kohtla and Mingo Rajandi. Among the competing artists was previous Eurovision Song Contest entrant Robin Juhkental who represented Estonia in 2010 as part of the group Malcolm Lincoln. Airi Vipulkumar Ka nsar, Elina Born, Liis Lemsalu, Luisa Värk, Maia Vahtramäe, NimmerSchmidt, Stig Rästa and Wilhelm had all previously competed in Estonian national finals. The first semi-final of Eesti Laul 2015 took place on 7 February 2015, hosted by Helen Sürje and Indrek Vaheoja with additional commentary provided by Mart Juur, the performances of the competing songs were filmed earlier on 30 January 2015. Ten songs competed for five spots in the final with the decided upon by the combination of the votes from a jury panel
