The big news, in terms of names at least, is the return of Yohanna (Iceland’s Eurovision entry in 2009 with ‘Is It True’) and Birgitta (Iceland 2003, ‘Open Your Heart’) at this year’s national final for Iceland to find their entry to the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest. And also getting us excited is the inclusion of Iceland’s very bestest songwriter, Örlygur Smári. AND – that pop beauty pictured above, is Klara from Icelandic girlband The Charlies (formerly Nylon), who enters the contest as a solo singer.
The two semi finals take place over the same weekend at the end of this month, with a grand final to follow on February 2nd.
Below is the full list of songs, artists, and composers that will be competing. And this morning, Icelandic broadcaster RUV made all 12 songs available to listen to online in full. You can listen to them here. (just scroll to the bottom of the page)
Semifinal 1- 25 January (Friday)
Magni Ásgeirsson – Ekki Líta Undan (Composer: Sveinn Rúnar Sigurðsson Lyrics: Ingibjörg Gunnarsdóttir)
Eyþór Ingi Gunnlaugsson – Ég á Líf (Composers & Lyrics : Örlygur Smári and Pétur Örn Guðmundsson)
Svavar Knútur Kristinsson and Hreindís Ylva Garðarsdóttir Hólm – Lífið Snýst (Composer: Hallgrímur Óskarsson Lyrics: Hallgrímur Óskarsson and Svavar Knútur Kristinsson)
Birgitta Haukdal – Meðal Andanna (Composers: Birgitta Haukdal, Sylvía Haukdal Brynjarsdóttir and Jonas Gladnikoff Lyrics: Birgitta Haukdal, Sylvía Haukdal Brynjarsdóttir, Michael James Down and Primoz Poglajen)
Edda Viðarsdóttir – Sá sem Lætur Hjartað Ráða För (Composer: Þórir Úlfarsson Lyrics: Kristján Hreinsson)
Jóhanna Guðrún Jónsdóttir (Yohanna) – Þú (Composer and Lyrics: Davíð Sigurgeirsson)
Semi final 2- 26 January (Saturday)
Erna Hrönn Ólafsdóttir – Augnablik (Composer: Sveinn Rúnar Sigurðsson Lyrics: Ingibjörg Gunnarsdóttir)
Unnur Eggertsdóttir – Ég Syng! (Composers : Elíza Newman, Gísli Kristjánsson and Ken Rose Lyrics: Eliza Newman, Gísli Kristjánsson and Hulda G. Geirsdóttir)
Klara Ósk Elíasdóttir – Skuggamynd (Composers: Hallgrímur Óskarsson and Ashley Hicklin Lyrics: Bragi Valdimar Skúlason)
Sylvía Erla Scheving – Stund Með þér (Composer & Lyrics: María Björk Sverrisdóttir)
Jógvan Hansen and Stefanía Svavarsdóttir – Til þín (Composer: Sveinn Rúnar Sigurðsson Lyrics: Sveinn Rúnar Sigurðsson and Ágúst Ibsen)
Haraldur Reynisson – Vinátta (Composer & Lyrics: Haraldur Reynisson)
