Introduction

• Participant(s): Victor Crone
• Song: "Storm"
• Writer(s): Stig Rästa, Victor Crone, Fred Krieger
• Composer(s): Stig Rästa, Vallo Kikas, Victor Crone, Sebastian Lestapier
• Broadcaster: ERR
  
• Social media:        
  
• Team review: 

In the very popular Estonian national Final Eestilaul, there were many interesting and crazy songs like every year. In some year the Estonians are sending the save bank to Eurovision. So this year as well. The winning performer is a Swede, this is not the first time Estonia is having Swedish singers: Sahléne in 2002 with “Runaway” 3rd place, Sandra Oxenryd in 2006 with “Through My Window”, 18th place in the Semi Final. Guest singers are warmly welcomed by the Estonians.

This year it’s Victor Crone with his song “Storm”. The song has been composed by Stig Rästa, who participated himself in Vienna with “Goodbye To Yesterday” together with Elina Born. Stig also composed “Play” for Juri Pootsman.

Victor Crone was born in Österåker, close to Örebro in 1992. He grew up in a music orientated family, his grandma is a singer and his father a guitar player. Victor started to play the guitar in the age of 15. When he was 18 he moved to Los Angeles and also Nashville to improve his music experiences. Victor is also passionate ice hockey player. In 2015 he participated in the Swedish Melodifestivalen for the first time. Together with Swedish-Iranian rapper Behrang Miri and the song “Det rår vi inte för” he did not pass the duel in the Second Chance show. In 2016 Victor met the Estonian composer Stig Rästa during a song writing camp. The connected immediately and have been working on “Storm”. In the meantime Victor visited Estonia many time and now he is even based there and learns Estonian.

The song “Storm” is an easy pop song with no big climax. Unfortunately, this is not the kind of song from Estonia you would expect. It’s a bit too monotonous and exchangeable. Especially with the successful composer Stig Rästa the expectations might be very high. The song is about the difficulties in life that we can stand the storm:

A storm like this
Can break a man like this
But when it all calms down
We're still safe and sound

With this entry a qualification for the Grand Final is uncertain. At least a very good stage performance and a choir must be taken to increase the chances.

History

• Debut: 1994
• Participations: 25
• Victories: 1
• Finals: 15 (6 since 2004)
• Top 10: 10
• Chances for Top 10: 36%
• Chances for Final: 40%

Estonia had its debut in the year of 1994. In the year before there has been an international pre-selection, which was held in Ljubljana, Slovenia to choose the songs for three open spots for the ESC in Millstreet, Ireland 1993. The Estonian entry “Muretut meelt ja südametuld” sung by Janika, could not achieve one of the higher placings, with the effect that Estonia debuted one year later with Silvi Vrait and “Nagu Merelaine”, who made a disappointing 24th place with only 2 points.

Nevertheless the Estonians really became Eurovision enthusiasts over the years with lots of good songs and a great enthusiasm. This year in Tel Aviv, Estonia is celebrating its 25th anniversary in the ESC. Unfortunately, the last two year, Estonia did not make into the Grand Final anymore. Neither Jüri Pootsmann with “Play” in 2016, nor Koit Tomme & Laura with “Verona” could bring back Estonia into the Grand Final of the ESC, but last year’s entry “La Forza” by the opera singer Elina Nechayeva, could make a great 8th rank in the final. But there have been many strong and memorable songs with good placings, and mostly Estonian entries can qualify for the Grand Final, statistically the chance for a place in the final is at 40%. Estonia reached the Grand Final 15 times and even reached a Top10 position 10 times! In 2001 the big dream came true: Tanel Padar and Dave Benton could win the ESC; this was the first time that Estonia could achieve a victory and the also the first time of an Eastern European country at that time. The victory of Davel and Tanel was a big surprise for the most of the viewers, the bets place Estonia in the middle field. At the end the soul dance number “Everybody” has been shining and convincing the most. The year after the Estonian broadcaster ETV has organized a wonderful event in the capital of Tallinn. The Estonian national final is called “Eesti Laul” and has brought many contemporary and experimental music into the spotlight. In this event all music genres can be found, and some of them make it to Europe thanks to the ESC.

Biggest successes

1x 1st place

• Tanel Padar, Dave Benton & 2XL - "Everybody" (2001)

1x 3rd place

• Sahléne - "Runaway" (2002)

2x 4th place

• Ines - "Once In A Lifetime" (2000)
• Ott Leppland - "Kuula" (2012)

Video Nostalgia

• “Nagu Merelaine” | Silvi Vrait , Rank 24, 1994, Dublin
  
• “Diamond Of Night” | Evelin Samuel and Camille , Rank 6, 1999, Jerusalem
  
• “Siren” | Malcolm Lincoln , Rank 14 (Semi Final), 2010, Oslo