Last Saturday, Estonia selected five lucky songs for the final of Eesti Laul 2012 on 3 March.  This Saturday they do the same again to compete the 10 song line up for the final.  Let’s find out more about the remaining songs…

Song 1: traFFic – NASA

Band traFFic was formed in 2006 and consists of Silver Laas and Stig Rästa.  Their first single, Kallis, ära küsi, was a popular hit on radio and mae the top 10 of Raadio 2 aastahitil.  This was followed up by Vastassuunas.  in 2007, Reigo Ahven and Ivo Priillin joined the band and released theit next single Vihm.  Another hit, Meie laul, a collaberation with Maarja-Liis Ilus (Estonia 1996, 1997) became a big hit on Raadio Uuno, reaching No.7.  Their eponymous début album Traffic followed and topped the charts.

In 2008 Traffic participated in the estonian national final, performing a song written my Imre Sooäär and Riina Kindlam, duetting with Luisa Värk. The song It’s never too late finished eighth.  Later in 2008, Traffic released their next single, Sõnad.  They also release a second album, imaginatively called ‘2‘.  They came back to the newly renamed Eesti Laul 2009 with another song See päev.  It came second to Urban Symphony and Rändajad.

The song NASA is written by Ago Teppand and Jaan Pehk.

Song 2: Lenna – Mina jään (I’ll Stay)

Lenna Kuurmaa was born in 1985 and between 1990 and 2002 was a member of ETV’s Laastekraani Muusikastuudio, performing at festivals in Italy, the UK, Russia and the USA.  She also learnt the violin.  In 2002 she participated in the talent show Fizz Superstar, making it to the quarter-finals.  In 2003, Lenna was a member of Vanilla Ninja and participated in Eurolaul with the song Club Kung Fu.  While winning the public vote, they finished last in the contest.  However, in 2005 we saw Vanilla Ninja representing Switzerland with the song Cool vibes.  They finished eighth.  Two years later, Vanilla Ninja were back in Eurolaul 2007 with the song Birds of peace.  Despite a lot of support, they finished fourth to Gerli Padar.  Lenna made her first solo appearance in Eesti Laul in 2010 with the song Rapunzel.  It finished second to Malcolm Lincoln.

The song is written by Mihkel Raud and Lenna Kuurmaa.

Song 3:
Malcolm Lincoln – Bye

Malcolm Lincoln first started out as a solo-project of Robin Juhkental, when in the autumn of 2009 he uploaded his first songs to MySpace under the name Malcolm Lincoln.  Later, he asked Madis Kubu to join him for their first gig on 31 October 2009 in Tallinn.  In December, Vaiko Eplik, an Estonian singer-songwriter and producer, contacted Juhkental and offered releasing a small volume of records under his label Mortimer Snerd and with himself as the producer.  Later, Juhkental submitted two potential songs from the upcoming album,  I’m Still Standing Here and Siren to Eesti Laul 2010.  Siren was picked as one of the 10 final songs and later won.  It was performed together with a vocal quartet Manpower 4.  At the end of April 2010, Malcolm Lincoln signed an artist contract with Universal Music.  The band released their debut album Loaded With Zoul on 20 May 2010.  They performed at the first semi-final of the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest , but failed to qualify for the final. In February 2011, Malcolm Lincoln went through a line-up change and Ott Adamson and Jakob Juhkam were added to the band.

The song is written by Robin Juhkental.

Song 4:
Tenfold Rabbit – Oblivion

The band has only been formed for six months.  They were formed in the university town of Tartu and have an average of 20.  However, they are musicians of mny years standing; on drums and guitar.  They are Andres Kõpper, Rain Parve, Meelik Samel and Martin Petermann.  Andres is also a film director and his first film  Vasaku jala reede, a black cooledy thriller, has been the subject of critical acclaim.

The song is written by the band.

Song 5:
Birgit Õigemeel & Violina – You’re Not Alone

Birgit was born in 1988 in Kohila in central Estonia.  She first came to major prominence when she won the first series of the talen competition Eesti otsib superstaari
in 2007.  During the competition, she performed covers of songs by Gloria Gaynor, Ines (Estonia 2000), Pink and Evanescence.  In 2008 she released her first eponymously named album.  Four singles were released from it, including 365 days, which was also entered into Eurolaul 2008.  Written by the veteran team of Pearu Paulus, Ilmar Laisaar, Alar Kotkas and Jana Hallas.  She finished third to Leto svet by Kreisiraadio.  In November 2008 she released her second, a Christmas album, entitled Ilus aeg.  This album included a cover of the Wham! hit Last Christmas. The hits have continued, with four songles being released from her third album Teinereisel pool.  This has cemented her place firmly in the Estonian music scene.

Violina is a musical ensemble that formed in 2008.  It is made up of Daana Ots, Johanna Marie Ainomäe and Käll Haarde.  In 2009 they performed for members of the Spanish royal family when they visited Estonia.  In 2010 they participated in Eesti Laul, collaberating with Rolf Junior and the song Maagiline päev (Magical day).  It finished third to Malcolm Lincoln.  This song was featured on their 2010 album Maagiline.

The song is written by Mihkel Mattisen.

Song 6:
Soul Militia – The Future Is Now

Soul Militia have been around in various guises since 2001.  In that year, they were known as 2XL and backed Estonian winners Dave Benton & Tanel Padar with the song Everybody in Copenhagen.  The band is now a three-piece – Lauri Pihlap, Sergei Morgun and Kaido Põldma.  Their style, not surprisingly, is soul combined with R&B.  In 2002 they released their first album On the rise.  This yielded several single releases, including Whutcha want and Mind made up.  In 2003, they released Freak in me, which was one of th most expensive videos made in the Estonian music industry. 

The singles continued with their second album Silence before the storm.  From this came their first song in Estonian, Tõmbab käima.  They were brought to the attention of Lenny Kravitz and warmed up for him whenhe performed at the A Le Coq Arena in 2005.  By 2007 they attempted to represent Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song My place.  They came fifth.  At this point, Soul Militia embarked on solo projects, with arguably Lauri having the best success.  He released a solo album Split Personality which has spawned 10 singles.  Now back together, The future is now is the first single off their next album

The song is written by Lauri Pihlap.

Song 7:
Mimicry – The Destination

Mimicry are a band that has been together for a few years and consists of Timmo Linnas, Kaspar Ehlvest, Ivar Kaine, Kene Vernik and Paul Lepasson.  This is their third attempt at Eurovision glory, having been in Eesti Lauls in 2010 and 2011.  In 2010, they came eighth to Malcolm Lincoln with their song New.  One year later with the song The storm they finished tenth to Getter Jaani.

The song is written by Paul Lepasson.

Song 8:
Orelipoiss – Zombi

Orelopoiss is Jahn Pehk who was born in 1976 in the town of Paliveres.  For some years he was in the Estonian armed forces before studying gardening and environment protection.  By 1996, he was at the George Ots music school in Tallinn studying pop and jazz.  Since then he has specialised in his own particular brand of poetry.  Titles such as URDU, River Condor, A small book of porn and Women are so wonderful have gained him a following.  Former Eurovision participany Vaiko Eplik (Estonia 2003) even used
his poem Nopime ettekujutuse vilju paranoiapuult in song.  In 1998 Jahn became a member of the band Claire’s Birthday fronted by Vaiko Eplik.  This band became Ruffus and participated in the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest with Eighties coming back. 

Orelipoiss started in earnest in 2005 when he submitted a song for Eurolaul 2005.  He didn’t make it, but it didn’t put him off.  In 2011 he was back in Eesti Laul with a song Valss.  He made it to the final, finishing third to Getter Jaani.  Orelipoiss’ discography includes collerabations with Koer on the album Pure and Köök on the albums Telegramm, Üheksakümmendüheksa and Õnn.

The song is written by Jaan Pehk and Olavi Ruitlane.

Song 9:
Teele Viira – City Nights

Teele Viira was born in 1988 and came to prominence inn Estonia in the talent show Eesti otsib suuperstaari in 2011.  She finished fourth to eventual winner Liis Lemsalu.  During the competition she sang covers by Ivo Linna (Estonia 1996), Soft Cell and Guns’ n’ Roses.  Since 2007, like some other Eesti Laul semi-finalists, she has studied at the George Ots music school studying jazz.  While there, she’s also become an accomplished footballer, also playing for Kuuresaare FC.  In other fields, Teele has also participated in a local production of High School Musical playing Taylor McKessie. 

The song is written by Priit Uustulnd and Teele Viira.

Song 10:
Cat Eye – Ride

Finally, Cat Eye are a band consisting of singer Karel Kattai and Margaret Kalomess. They take their name from the English pronunciation of Karel’s surname.

The song is written by Karel Kattai, Tanel Roovik and Margaret Kelomees