Leto svet
"Leto svet" was Estonia's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008, performed by Hannes Võrno, Peeter Oja and Tarmo Leinatamm from the Estonian comedy group Kreisiraadio. It gained the right to represent Estonia after winning the national Eurovision Song Contest final in Estonia (Eurolaul) on 2 February 2008. Though being landslide winner, it created some controversy among Estonian and international Eurovision fans. The song did not make it past the first semi-final, being ranked 18th (out of 19 songs) with just 8 points (7 from Finland and 1 from Moldova).
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| Eurovision Song Contest 2008 entry | |
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| Finals performance | |
| Semi-final result | 18th |
| Semi-final points | 8 |
| Entry chronology | |
| ◄ "Partners in Crime" (2007) | |
| "Rändajad" (2009) ► | |
Reception in Serbia
The song received a lot of attention in the host country, Serbia, since most of the lyrics are performed in agrammatical Serbian.
Spoof elements
Pop songs
As most pop songs have simple melody and reliance of rhythm machine, "Leto svet" is over simplistic and the lyrics are made of random words from a dictionary, and feature several non sequiturs about food.
Eurovision
As culturally similar countries vote for each other, "Leto svet" used lyrics in one of the former Serbian languages. As Eurovision relies heavily on stage show, the performance used extremely simplistic and absurd dance moves. At one point Peeter Oja tries to pick up an accordion (a rather commonly used instrument in Estonia), which explodes, yet the accordion in the background continues playing, which could be poking fun at people not actually playing their instruments in Eurovision.
Estonian culture
Sexually touching a piano is probably a spoof of Estonian artist Rein Rannap, who experiments with piano, and has competed in Eurolaul at least one time. Tarmo Leinatamm's afro is probably parody of song "Everybody", that featured non-native Estonian singer Dave Benton who won the contest in 2001.
Sudden ending
At one point the song seems to be ending with the music heading to what sounds like the end and the singers bowing, but then the song continues on in complete deception of expectations.
Changed foreign lyrics
A short passage near the end of the song is presented in Finnish. The line mitäs nyt, kesävalot nyt? ("what's this now, summer lights now?") is repeated four times. However, during the performance in the semi-final the last line was changed to kesäpanot nyt ("summerfucks now"), which can clearly be heard and seen as there is a close-up of one of the performers saying the line. A Finnish girl rock group Ilona had a hit called "Kesäpano" in 1987.
