Estonia participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö, Sweden. The Estonian entry was selected through the national selection "Eesti Laul 2013", organised by the Estonian broadcaster ERR. The song "Et uus saaks alguse", performed by Birgit and written by Mihkel Mattisen and Silvia Soro, represented the country and qualified from the first semi-final. The song went on to place 20th in the final, scoring 19 points.
On 12 September 2012, ERR announced the selection details for Eesti Laul 2013, announcing that the format would include two 10 song semifinals on 16 and 23 February 2013 and a final between 5 qualifiers from each semifinal on 2 March 2013. The submission period lasted until 10 December 2012 and only entries from Estonian citizens were accepted. On 13 December 2012, ERR presented the 20 semifinalists in their daily entertainment program Ringvaade. The semifinals were selected out of 157 submissions by a professional jury panel composed of Owe Petersell, Lenna Kuurmaa, Erik Morna, Alari Kivisaar, Valner Valme, Ingrid Kohtla, Siim Nestor, Koit Raudsepp, Maiken, Tauno Aints and Kaupo Karelson. On 17 December, ERR announced the disqualification of the song "Miljoni roosiga kaardi sul saadan" performed by Tauri citing that the song sounded too similar to a previously existing song. The entry was replaced with the song "Young Girl" by Armastus. Plagiarism accusations were launched against the song "Meil on aega veel" performed by Põhja-Tallinn, however on 20 December 2012, ERR cleared the song for the competition and declared that the accusations were false. Between 14 January 2013 and 8 February, all participating entries were presented to the public live in the television program Terevisioon. On 24 January, ERR made all 20 songs available on their website. The jury panel for the semifinals consisted of: Lenna Kuurmaa, Valner Valme, Mart Niineste, Ithaka Maria, Owe Petersell, Kadri Voorand, Janek Murd, Olav Osolin, Kristo Rajasaare, Els Himma and Heini Vaikmaa.
Semi-final 1
The first semifinal of Eesti Laul 2013 took place on 16 February 2013 and was hosted by Anu Välba. The live portion of the show included all competing artists awaiting the results in the green room while the actual performances were pre-recorded earlier on 8 February. Ten songs competed for five spots in the final with the outcome decided by combining the votes of a jury panel and a televote which registered 17,161 votes. The five qualifiers were Grete Paia, Kõrsikud, Teele, Tuuli & Ula, Winny Puhh and Elina Born. The jury's top five had four eventual qualifiers - Armastus was in the jury's top five instead of Grete Paia. The televote's top five had four eventual qualifiers - Rosanna Lints was in the televote's top five instead of Teele & Tuuli & Ula.
Semi-final 2
The second semifinal of Eesti Laul 2013 took place on 23 February 2013 and was hosted by Marko Reikop. The live portion of the show included all competing artists awaiting the results in the green room while the actual performances were pre-recorded earlier on 10 February. Ten songs competed for five spots in the final with the outcome decided by combining the votes of a jury panel and a televote which registered 23,831 votes. The five qualifiers were Liisi Koikson and Söörömöö, Birgit Õigemeel, Rolf Roosalu, Rasmus Rändvee and Facelift Deer and Põhja-Tallinn. Of the jury's top five, only Liisi Koikson and Söörömöö ended up qualifying - Flank, Tenfold Rabbit, Marie Vaigla and Liis Lemsalu did not qualify after the public televotes were added.
Final
The final of Eesti Laul 2013 took place on 2 March 2013 at the Nokia Concert Hall in Tallinn, hosted by Anu Välba and Marko Reikop. On 25 February, the draw for the running order occurred and was hosted by Marko Reikop at the Solaris Centre in Tallinn. Five songs from each semifinal, all together 10 songs, competed in the first round of the competition where a jury and public televote decided the top 2 - Birgit Õigemeel and Grete Paia, who proceeded to the super final. The public vote in the first round registered 60,284 votes. Birgit Õigemeel and the song "Et uus saaks alguse" was the winner in the super final, a result determined exclusively by a public vote between the two finalists which registered 59,347 votes. The jury panel for the final was composed of: Olav Ehala, Sandra Nurmsalu, Marten Kuningas, Tõnis Kahu, Toomas Puna, Sofia Rubina, Owe Petersell, Reigo Ahven, Marju Länik, Toomas Olljum and Erik Morna.
At Eurovision
Estonia was allocated to compete in the first semi-final on 14 May for a place in the final on 18 May. In the first semifinal, the producers of the show decided that Estonia would perform 2nd, following Austria and preceding Slovenia. On stage, Birgit had three backing singers: Lauri Pihlap, Raimondo Laikre and Kaido Põldma. Lauri Pihlap and Kaido Põldma previously won the Eurovision Song Contest 2001 as part of the group 2XL, together with Tanel Padar and Dave Benton. Estonia qualified from the first semi-final, placing 10th and scoring 52 points. At the first semi-final winners' press conference, Estonia was allocated to perform in the first half of the final. In the final, the producers of the show decided that Estonia would perform 7th, following Belgium and preceding Belarus. Estonia placed 20th in the final, scoring 19 points.
