Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2001
Encyclopedia
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, with a song which is generally regarded as one of the weakest winners ever. 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.
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.
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 juries 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. 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.
Tanel Padar
Tanel Padar is an Estonian singer. He is best known for winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2001. Padar became famous by winning the Kaks takti ette, a biennial televised competition for young Estonian singers, in 1999...
, Dave Benton
Dave Benton
Dave Benton is a pop musician and 2001 winner of the Eurovision Song Contest.Benton was born on the Caribbean island of Aruba in 1951 and in his 20s moved to the United States...
and 2XL
Soul Militia
Soul Militia is an Estonian hip-hop act, internationally most notable for winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2001 as backing singers for Tanel Padar and Dave Benton, with the song "Everybody". The group consists of Lauri Pihlap , Sergei Morgun and Kaido Põldma . A fourth member, Indrek Soom ,...
, with the song '"Everybody", at the 2001 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 12 May in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. "Everybody" 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 3 February.
"Everybody" went on to bring Estonia one of the most unexpected victories in Eurovision history, with a song which is generally regarded as one of the weakest winners ever. 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.
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 Elektra. Eight songs took part with the winner being chosen by an "expert" international jury. All songs were presented in English.
Draw | Artist | Song | Votes | Place |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Soul Control | "Life Is a Beautiful Word" | 60 | 5 |
2 | Iris | "Sounds of the Sea" | 62 | 4 |
3 | Maian Kärmas | "The Right Way" | 51 | 6 |
4 | Hillar Vimberg | "Cat Story" | 29 | 8 |
5 | Kadi Toom | "A Little Chance" | 64 | 3 |
6 | Yvetta Raid | "Smile" | 31 | 7 |
7 | Tanel Padar Tanel Padar Tanel Padar is an Estonian singer. He is best known for winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2001. Padar became famous by winning the Kaks takti ette, a biennial televised competition for young Estonian singers, in 1999... , Dave Benton Dave Benton Dave Benton is a pop musician and 2001 winner of the Eurovision Song Contest.Benton was born on the Caribbean island of Aruba in 1951 and in his 20s moved to the United States... & 2XL Soul Militia Soul Militia is an Estonian hip-hop act, internationally most notable for winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2001 as backing singers for Tanel Padar and Dave Benton, with the song "Everybody". The group consists of Lauri Pihlap , Sergei Morgun and Kaido Põldma . A fourth member, Indrek Soom ,... |
"Everybody" | 77 | 1 |
8 | Liisi Koikson | "Someday" | 66 | 2 |
At Eurovision
On the night of the final Padar, Benton and 2XL performed 20th in the running order, following GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and preceding Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. Pre-contest betting had rated Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
as the favourite for victory, with Denmark, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
and 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....
also in the frame and Estonia nowhere in sight. The first half of the voting was very tight, and after 12 juries 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. The song had received nine maximum 12s – from Greece, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Slovenia, 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...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
– with only one country (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...
) failing to award it any points at all. The 12 points from the Estonian televote were awarded to Denmark.