Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2001

Finals performanceFinal result1st, 198 pointsEstonia in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2000 • 2001 • 2002►

Estonia was represented by Tanel Padar, Dave Benton and 2XL, with the song '"Everybody", at the 2001 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 12 May in Copenhagen. "Everybody" was chosen as the Estonian entry at the national final, Eurolaul, on 3 February.

"Everybody" went on to bring Estonia one of the most unexpected victories in Eurovision history. It is also historic for representing the first Eurovision victory by one of the "new" nations – the considerable number of countries which had joined Eurovision post-1992 – and also for Benton becoming the first (and to date only) black performer to win a Eurovision title.

Before Eurovision

Eurolaul 2001

The final was held at the studios of broadcaster ETV in Tallinn, hosted by Marko Reikop and Elektra. Eight songs took part with the winner being chosen by an "expert" international jury. All songs were presented in English for the first time.[1]

Final – 3 February 2001
Draw Artist Song Songwriter(s) Points Place
1 Soul Control "Life Is a Beautiful Word" Sven Lõhmus 60 5
2 Iris "Sounds of the Sea" Imre Sooäär, Kersti Kuusk 62 4
3 Maian Kärmas "The Right Way" Maian Kärmas 51 6
4 Hillar Vimberg "Cat Story" Hillar Vimberg 29 8
5 Kadi Toom "A Little Chance" Maian Kärmas, Priit Pajusaar, Glen Pilvre 64 3
6 Yvetta Raid "Smile" Kristina-Maria Laur, Risto Laur 31 7
7 Tanel Padar, Dave Benton and 2XL "Everybody" Maian Kärmas, Ivar Must 77 1
8 Liisi Koikson "Someday" Kelli Uustani, Jüri Salumäe 66 2
Detailed International Jury Votes
Draw Song
SWE
DEU
ISR
IRL
CYP
GBR
DEN
ISL 		Total
1 "Life Is a Beautiful Word" 10 5 8 10 5 6 10 6 60
2 "Sounds of the Sea" 5 6 6 7 10 12 6 10 62
3 "The Right Way" 7 7 7 5 8 4 8 5 51
4 "Cat Story" 4 3 5 3 3 3 5 3 29
5 "A Little Chance" 6 8 10 8 6 7 12 7 64
6 "Smile" 3 4 3 4 4 5 4 4 31
7 "Everybody" 12 12 12 6 12 8 3 12 77
8 "Someday" 8 10 4 12 7 10 7 8 66

At Eurovision

On the night of the final Padar, Benton and 2XL performed 20th in the running order, following Germany and preceding Malta. Pre-contest betting had rated Greece as the favourite for victory, with Denmark, France, Slovenia and Sweden also in the frame and Estonia nowhere in sight. The first half of the voting was very tight, and after 12 countries Denmark was in the lead on 99 points, with Estonia and France on 92 and 90 respectively. However, from that point Estonia quickly pulled away and at the close of voting "Everybody" had received 198 points and become a very surprising winner by a clear margin of 21 points over eventual runners-up Denmark.[2] The song had received nine maximum 12s – from Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, Turkey and the United Kingdom – with only one country (Portugal) failing to award it any points at all. The 12 points from the Estonian televote were awarded to Denmark.[3]

Voting

Points awarded to Estonia[4]
Score Country
12 points
10 points
8 points
7 points
6 points
5 points
4 points  Bosnia and Herzegovina
3 points
2 points  Croatia
1 point
Points awarded by Estonia[4]
Score Country
12 points  Denmark
10 points  France
8 points  Latvia
7 points  Sweden
6 points  Greece
5 points  Slovenia
4 points  Russia
3 points  Spain
2 points  Malta
1 point  Germany

References

  1. ^ ESC National Finals database 2001
  2. ^ "Final of Copenhagen 2001". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  3. ^ "ESC History - Estonia 2001". Archived from the original on 15 October 2007.
  4. ^ a b "Results of the Final of Copenhagen 2001". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  • v
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ParticipationArtistsSongs
  • "Amazing"
  • "Bridges"
  • "Diamond of Night"
  • "Eighties Coming Back"
  • "Et uus saaks alguse"
  • "Everybody"
  • "La forza"
  • "Goodbye to Yesterday"
  • "Hope"
  • "Kaelakee hääl"
  • "Keelatud maa"
  • "Kuula"
  • "Let's Get Loud"
  • "Leto svet"
  • "The Lucky One"
  • "Mere lapsed"
  • "Muretut meelt ja südametuld"
  • "Nagu merelaine"
  • "(Nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi"
  • "Once in a Lifetime"
  • "Partners in Crime"
  • "Play"
  • "Rändajad"
  • "Rockefeller Street"
  • "Runaway"
  • "Siren"
  • "Storm"
  • "Through My Window"
  • "Tii"
  • "Verona"
  • "What Love Is"
  • Note: Entries scored out signify where Estonia did not compete
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Countries
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Songs