Estonia

Rändajad Urban Symphony

"Kõrbekuumuses liiva lendab kui jääkülma lund..."

There's a prevailing mindset among certain Eurovision fans that if a song isn't the brainless pop for which the contest is frequently maligned by average viewers and those in the music industry, it doesn't deserve a place in the line-up. If it isn't an undemanding ballad or schlager or some other confection, and it displays a degree of intent and integrity that sees it referred to as proper music, it's pretentious. That's the label that's stuck on a handful of songs each year - particularly those which feature a string arrangement and make a point of highlighting it on stage - and the people who support them, as if entering such a thing in a popular music contest is getting ideas above your station. But Eurovision embraces a surprisingly diverse range of music, and results in recent years have shown that the televoting audience will, on the whole, recognise and reward quality whatever form it takes. Estonia will undoubtedly be hoping they do so in Moscow, since Rändajad qualifying would see the country in the final for the first time since 2003.

And the indications seem to be that Urban Symphony will in fact make it that far in Russia. Whatever the accusations levelled at Rändajad by those who prefer their Eurovision more along the lines of Carry Me In Your Dreams or Be My Valentine!, the majority of fans would appear to be behind the Estonian entry: it is one of relatively few countries tipped to almost certainly qualify from the 2nd semi-final. This probably has as much to do with the draw as it does any intrinsic quality the song has, since it stands out a mile among the last 10 or so entries and is an oasis of calm after the OTT Ukrainian number. Some have said that the risk Rändajad runs is in its reserve - the fact that it is slightly cold and aloof - but this is entirely in keeping with (a) what it's about and (b) it being Estonian. Considering the support it has gained despite being performed in a language next to no one understands, even that might not be a problem. There's just something about the song that makes it... absorbing.

Of course, the fact that Rändajad is being performed in Moscow in Estonian* may work in its favour, since the audience will be left to focus on the music and visuals. There is something utterly mesmerising about Sandra Nurmsalu and her vocals, and the rhythm of the song - its insistence and persistence; completely in keeping again with what the song is saying - pull you into and along with it in a way that is almost hypnotic. The fact that the composition is anchored around the violin, viola and cello makes it accessible to viewers all over the continent, but perhaps more importantly, the Eastern touches to the percussion and synths see the song covering all of the bases. It's no exaggeration to say that Rändajad is one of 2009's most complete and attractive packages.

On a personal level, I am extremely proud as a quasi-Estonian that our entry will be the only one in Moscow of all the former Soviet states to be performed entirely in its native language. The whole point of rejigging the national final was to produce a song [only incidentally for Eurovision] which was fundamentally Estonian, and that's what Rändajad is, right down to the way it feels and the quiet confidence with which it's delivered. It's bizarre to think that it comes from the studio of Sven Lõhmus, the same man who inflicted Let's Get Loud on Europe in 2005, but that in itself should be enough to tell those scoffing at the song that there's little about it that's pretentious: there's room for all sorts at ESC. Even if it is, I don't care: it's the best Estonian entry in a long time, one of 2009's most iconic and easily one of the year's best.

*A language a lot of people seem to agree might as well be made up ;-)