Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 1998
Encyclopedia
Estonia was represented by Koit Toome
, with the song "Mere lapsed
", at the 1998 Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 9 May in Birmingham
. "Mere lapsed" was chosen as the Estonian entry at the national final, Eurolaul
, on 24 January.
in Tallinn
, hosted by Marko Reikop and Anu Välba. Ten songs took part with the winner being chosen by an "expert" international jury. Other participants included former Estonian representatives Janika Sillamaa
and Ivo Linna
, and the following year's Evelin Samuel
. "Mere lapsed" was an unexpected winner and had never been ahead in the voting until the final juror's votes enabled it to snatch an unpredicted last minute victory.
and preceding Turkey
. At the close of voting "Mere lapsed" had picked up 36 points (over half of which comprised a maximum 12 from Finland
and 8 from Slovakia
), placing Estonia joint 12th (with Portugal
) of the 25 entries. The 12 points from the Estonian televote were awarded to Sweden
.
Koit Toome
Koit Toome is an Estonian singer and musical actor.-Career:In late 1994 the highly successful pop duo Code One consisting of Koit Toome and Sirli Hiius was formed by the producer Mikk Targo...
, with the song "Mere lapsed
Mere lapsed
"Mere lapsed" was the Estonian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1998, performed in Estonian by Koit Toome.The song was performed twenty-third on the night, following Norway's Lars Fredriksen with "Alltid sommer" and preceding Turkey's Tüzmen with "Unutamazsın"...
", at the 1998 Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 9 May in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. "Mere lapsed" was chosen as the Estonian entry at the national final, Eurolaul
Eurolaul
Eurolaul was an annual televised competition to select a song to represent Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest made by the Estonian Public Television Service ETV. For many years the competition differed from the national selections of most other countries in that the outcome was solely...
, on 24 January.
Final
Eurolaul was held at the studios of broadcaster ETVEesti Televisioon
Eesti Televisioon is the national public television station of Estonia. It made its first broadcast on 19 July 1955.The bulk of ETV's funding comes from government grant-in-aid, around 15% of which is in turn funded by the fees paid by Estonian commercial broadcasters in return for their...
in Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
, hosted by Marko Reikop and Anu Välba. Ten songs took part with the winner being chosen by an "expert" international jury. Other participants included former Estonian representatives Janika Sillamaa
Janika Sillamaa
Janika Sillamaa is an Estonian singer and actress.Born to the family of musicians, Janika found herself on stage at a very young age: in the musical theatre Colombina, founded by her mother Kaari Sillamaa, she played lead roles in children's musicals, such as "Thumbelina" and a revue programme...
and Ivo Linna
Ivo Linna
Ivo Linna is an Estonian singer.He represented Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 1996 with the song "Kaelakee Hääl" which would go onto finish 5th at the contest, held in Oslo that year....
, and the following year's Evelin Samuel
Evelin Samuel
-Career:Evelin Samuel has been singing since childhood and was even recorded by the studios of the Estonian Radio at a very early age. In late 1980s, Evelin joined the children's musical theatre Colombina whom she performed with at the 1992 Roskilde Festival in Denmark.In 1993, she finished 4th at...
. "Mere lapsed" was an unexpected winner and had never been ahead in the voting until the final juror's votes enabled it to snatch an unpredicted last minute victory.
| Draw | Artist | Song | Votes | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Koit Toome Koit Toome Koit Toome is an Estonian singer and musical actor.-Career:In late 1994 the highly successful pop duo Code One consisting of Koit Toome and Sirli Hiius was formed by the producer Mikk Targo... |
"Mere lapsed Mere lapsed "Mere lapsed" was the Estonian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1998, performed in Estonian by Koit Toome.The song was performed twenty-third on the night, following Norway's Lars Fredriksen with "Alltid sommer" and preceding Turkey's Tüzmen with "Unutamazsın"... " |
97 | 1 |
| 2 | Kaire Vilgats Kaire Vilgats Kaire Vilgats , born on January 11, 1976 is an Estonian singer and actress.Vilgats was born and grew up in Pärnu, a resort town in South-West of Estonia... & Lauri Liiv |
"Kristallid" | 47 | 8 |
| 3 | Kate | "Tulepuuhuulte luule" | 79 | 3 |
| 4 | Evelin Samuel Evelin Samuel -Career:Evelin Samuel has been singing since childhood and was even recorded by the studios of the Estonian Radio at a very early age. In late 1980s, Evelin joined the children's musical theatre Colombina whom she performed with at the 1992 Roskilde Festival in Denmark.In 1993, she finished 4th at... |
"Unistus igavesest päevast" | 94 | 2 |
| 5 | Rumal Noorkuu | "Säravad tähed" | 65 | 5 |
| 6 | Tõnis Mägi Tõnis Mägi Tõnis Mägi is an Estonian singer, guitarist, composer and actor. He is one of the most influential and remarkable names in the Estonian rock music for the past 40 years.... |
"Mõni mägi" | 36 | 10 |
| 7 | Siiri Sisask | "Tagareas" | 53 | 7 |
| 8 | Janika Sillamaa Janika Sillamaa Janika Sillamaa is an Estonian singer and actress.Born to the family of musicians, Janika found herself on stage at a very young age: in the musical theatre Colombina, founded by her mother Kaari Sillamaa, she played lead roles in children's musicals, such as "Thumbelina" and a revue programme... |
"Viimne valge kuu" | 69 | 4 |
| 9 | Mona & Karl Madis | "Maailm kahele" | 42 | 9 |
| 10 | Evelin Samuel Evelin Samuel -Career:Evelin Samuel has been singing since childhood and was even recorded by the studios of the Estonian Radio at a very early age. In late 1980s, Evelin joined the children's musical theatre Colombina whom she performed with at the 1992 Roskilde Festival in Denmark.In 1993, she finished 4th at... & Ivo Linna Ivo Linna Ivo Linna is an Estonian singer.He represented Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 1996 with the song "Kaelakee Hääl" which would go onto finish 5th at the contest, held in Oslo that year.... |
"Andesta" | 56 | 6 |
At Eurovision
On the night of the final Toome performed 23rd in the running order, following NorwayNorway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and preceding Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. At the close of voting "Mere lapsed" had picked up 36 points (over half of which comprised a maximum 12 from Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
and 8 from Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
), placing Estonia joint 12th (with Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
) of the 25 entries. The 12 points from the Estonian televote were awarded to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.