Tommy Cash and Estonia’s High-Stakes Eurovision Gamble
If you think Eurovision’s all about glitter ballads and safe pop, Estonia is here to knock that idea sideways. For 2025, the Baltic country is sending Tommy Cash—a notorious rapper and avant-garde visual artist—with his electric new track Espresso Macchiato. He clinched his Eurovision ticket by taking the top spot at Eesti Laul, Estonia's fiercely competitive national selection, and his win signals the country’s determination to turn heads, shock, and maybe snag a win that’s eluded them since 2001.
Tommy Cash isn’t your everyday pop star. He’s built his reputation on pushing the limits, whether it’s performance art, music videos, or his offbeat social media presence. This time, he’s bringing his full visual arsenal to the Eurovision stage. Expect something far removed from standard-issue love songs—Cash’s performance is a riot of rapid-fire rhymes, surrealist staging, and tongue-in-cheek posturing that always leaves audiences wondering what’s next.
The track itself, Espresso Macchiato, leans hard into this disruptive spirit. Fans and critics alike have called it the wild cousin of Sabrina Carpenter’s 2024 megahit Espresso, backed with an even bolder confidence. But instead of smooth pop charm, Cash offers quirky lyrics and punchy rap lines, all punctuated by a beat that demands you get up and move. The song doesn’t camouflage its ambition either—it’s built to get stuck in your head and possibly blare across European beach parties by July.
Estonia's approach here isn't without risk. Eurovision crowds and juries are famously unpredictable when it comes to entries that bend genres and eyeballs at the same time. The country has embraced this unpredictability, almost cultivating a reputation for rolling the dice with the wildcards—remember their 2023 electronic entry or the jazz-infused track in 2018? Cash’s selection signals Estonia’s belief that Eurovision is just as much about delivering a visual and cultural shock as landing a catchy chorus.
Why ‘Espresso Macchiato’ Might Just Work
Competition for a Eurovision win is brutal, but Estonia seems to know exactly what it takes to break through the noise. Tommy Cash's performance doesn't just rely on the music—his stagecraft is every bit as intricate as his sound. Think high-concept costumes, strange props, and choreography that borders on performance art. Theatrics aside, he’s an artist who commands your attention, whether you love the act or can’t make sense of it.
And let’s talk strategy: by drawing comparisons to a recent chart hit like Sabrina Carpenter’s 'Espresso', Estonia is tapping into the current musical zeitgeist, but flipping it with their own twist. It’s clever—and it could pay off big. If Cash’s act lands right with both juries and televoters, Estonia could be headed for their first win since 2001, when Tanel Padar, Dave Benton & 2XL took the trophy home with 'Everybody.'
For now, all eyes are on Tommy Cash as he fine-tunes an act nobody expects, yet everyone will be talking about. Can Estonia’s wildest export serve up the jolt that Eurovision needs—and maybe become Europe’s summer soundtrack? Buckle up; it’s about to get interesting.
