Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2003
Encyclopedia
The Eurovision Song Contest 2003
was the tenth time that Estonia
had entered the Eurovision Song Contest
, and was the ninth time that they competed in the final. Estonia had hosted the 2002 finals
, and had won the 2001 contest
, meaning that they had been one of the key participants in recent years. The preselection process used was again an international judging panel, with the Eurolaul
event again be broadcast across the country. The panel would select Ruffus
as their favourite, and the group would go on and compete in the final, placing 21st.
studios on February 8, 2003, and were hosted by Marko Reikop and Romi Erlach. As with all previous Estonian preselections, a judging panel from various countries was used to decide the 2003 Eurovision entrant. Amongst the judging panel was six former Eurovision entrants, including Michael Ball
, Renars Kaupers
and Moshe Datz. The judging panel would favour the entries by Koit Toome
and Ruffus, with Ruffus winning by one point and going on to represent Estonia in the Riga
final.
The 2003 preselections were controversial in that a public televote just before the Eurolaul event clearly showed that the girl group
Vanilla Ninja
's entry "Club Kung Fu" was the favourite of the nation. Residents of Estonia had been calling for the voting process to be changed to a public televote, as the Eurovision finals itself had some years ago, but Eesti Televisioon had decided to continue with a judging panel. This would prove to annoy many viewers, as despite Vanilla Ninja's clear popularity, the judging panel placed them tied last in the voting. Vanilla Ninja would still end up participating in the Eurovision final two years later, however, representing Switzerland
with the song "Cool Vibes
" (and beating the Estonian entry by Suntribe
in the process).
Eurovision Song Contest 2003
The Eurovision Song Contest 2003 was the forty-eighth Eurovision Song Contest, held at the Skonto Hall in Riga, Latvia on 24 May 2003. The hosts were Marie N and Renārs Kaupers. Sertab Erener, the Turkish entrant, won the contest with "Everyway That I Can", scoring 167 points. The winning...
was the tenth time that Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state 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 , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
had entered the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
, and was the ninth time that they competed in the final. Estonia had hosted the 2002 finals
Eurovision Song Contest 2002
The Eurovision Song Contest 2002 was the 47th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place on 25 May 2002 at the Saku Suurhall Arena in Tallinn, Estonia....
, and had won the 2001 contest
Eurovision Song Contest 2001
The Eurovision Song Contest 2001 was the 46th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 12 May 2001 in the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was the first time in 36 years that Denmark hosted the Eurovision Song Contest, thanks to the Olsen Brothers' win the previous year in Stockholm...
, meaning that they had been one of the key participants in recent years. The preselection process used was again an international judging panel, with the 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...
event again be broadcast across the country. The panel would select Ruffus
Ruffus
Ruffus was a britpop band from Estonia that was originally known as Claire's Birthday. They represented their country in the Eurovision Song Contest 2003.-Members:...
as their favourite, and the group would go on and compete in the final, placing 21st.
Preselection
The 2003 preselections took place at the Eesti TelevisioonEesti 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...
studios on February 8, 2003, and were hosted by Marko Reikop and Romi Erlach. As with all previous Estonian preselections, a judging panel from various countries was used to decide the 2003 Eurovision entrant. Amongst the judging panel was six former Eurovision entrants, including Michael Ball
Michael Ball (singer)
Michael Ashley Ball, born 27 June 1962) is a British actor, singer, and radio and TV presenter who is best known for the song "Love Changes Everything" and musical theatre roles such as Marius in Les Misérables, Alex in Aspects of Love, Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Edna Turnblad...
, Renars Kaupers
Renars Kaupers
Renārs Kaupers, artistic name Reynard Cowper is a Latvian pop singer and songwriter.He is the lead singer of the Latvian pop/rock band Brainstorm, which came third at the Eurovision Song Contest 2000 with their song "My Star"...
and Moshe Datz. The judging panel would favour the entries by 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...
and Ruffus, with Ruffus winning by one point and going on to represent Estonia in the Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
final.
The 2003 preselections were controversial in that a public televote just before the Eurolaul event clearly showed that the girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
Vanilla Ninja
Vanilla Ninja
Vanilla Ninja is a three-piece Estonian girl band which has enjoyed chart success in a number of countries across Europe, especially in Estonia, Germany and Austria....
's entry "Club Kung Fu" was the favourite of the nation. Residents of Estonia had been calling for the voting process to be changed to a public televote, as the Eurovision finals itself had some years ago, but Eesti Televisioon had decided to continue with a judging panel. This would prove to annoy many viewers, as despite Vanilla Ninja's clear popularity, the judging panel placed them tied last in the voting. Vanilla Ninja would still end up participating in the Eurovision final two years later, however, representing Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
with the song "Cool Vibes
Cool Vibes
"Cool Vibes" was the Swiss entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2005, sung by Estonian girl band Vanilla Ninja. The song was composed by David Brandes and "Jane Tempest" , and was written by Bernd Meinunger, under the pseudonym "John O'Flynn"....
" (and beating the Estonian entry by Suntribe
Suntribe
Suntribe was an Estonian girl-band, composed entirely of students, which represented their country in the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 in Kiev, Ukraine. The original four-strong line-up was Mari-Leen Kaselaan , Rebecca Kontus, Laura Põldvere and Jaanika Vilipo...
in the process).
| Position | Artist | Song | Points |
| 1st | Ruffus Ruffus Ruffus was a britpop band from Estonia that was originally known as Claire's Birthday. They represented their country in the Eurovision Song Contest 2003.-Members:... |
"Eighties Coming Back Eighties Coming Back "Eighties Coming Back" was the Estonian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2003, performed in English by Ruffus.The song was performed twenty-third on the night... " |
65 |
| 2nd | 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... |
"Know What I Feel" | 64 |
| 3rd | Kadi Toom | "We Are Not Done" | 58 |
| 4th | Nightlight Duo | "I Can B the 1" | 52 |
| 5th | Kadi Toom | "Have a Little Faith" | 48 |
| 6th | Maiken | "No Matter What It Takes" | 47 |
| 7th= | Family | "Don't Ever Change" | 33 |
| 7th= | Slobodan River Slobodan River Slobodan River was a pop-rock band from Estonia, featuring Ithaka Maria, Tomi Rahula and Stig Rasta.... |
"What a Day" | 33 |
| 9th= | Vanilla Ninja Vanilla Ninja Vanilla Ninja is a three-piece Estonian girl band which has enjoyed chart success in a number of countries across Europe, especially in Estonia, Germany and Austria.... |
"Club Kung Fu" | 32 |
| 9th= | Viies Element | "Have It Your Way" | 32 |