Joined at the hip hop

No major act, other than ABBA, to this codger’s knowledge, has emerged from among the winners. Judging music, after all, is a dubious thing, all about personal taste. But it is interesting to follow the Estonian national competition to determine the country’s representative at the competition. There have been some quite dandy efforts over the years. This year’s Eesti Laul winners have produced a number that is quite worthy, deserving a listening. 

First off though, the lean one has never been a rap fan. (Although, after a failed attempt at becoming a bluesman slyness suggested a genre – not gender – change. Emulating 50 Cent the stage name would have been Tritsat Kopeck. The cost of a regional minibus ride in Tallinn during the end of the occupation). The North American version, replete with driving repetitive beat and crotch-grabbing, never mind the foul-mouthed and misogynistic lyrics is enough to send one to a monastery for silent contemplation. But hip-hop? Usually tongue-in-cheek, and sometimes rather fun.

5MIINUST, who describe themselves as hip-hoppers, not rappers has for some time cast a spell over audiences, precisely because of imaginative presentation and more important singing in Estonian are very different. For this year’s Eesti Laul they teamed up with Puuluup, wooden magnifying glass, (splendid palindrome, our people are good at such word play), a folk duo playing unusual instruments. Their collaboration, (Nendest) narkootikumitest ei tea me (küll) midagi – We don’t (yet) know anything about (these) drugs - is energetic, addictively so. The lyrics are a blast and so is their choreography, as enthusiastically performed on the video of the winning performance.