After two semi final rounds which have taken place over the last two weekends, Icelandic broadcaster RUV will this weekend (Saturday, March 11th) host the final of their national contest to find Iceland’s Eurovision entry.
Seven songs will compete on Saturday night – three direct qualifiers from each heat, plus one wildcard selection (HI HILDUR!). You can listen to the seven songs below.
Our choice for the win? We’d love to see ‘Paper’ by Svala take the crown, and hopefully send an ice cold slab of Nordic synthpop down to the Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv. But we’d also take the warmer climes of the tropical-lite ‘Tonight’ by Aron Hannes.
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Arnar Jónsson & Rakel Pálsdóttir – Again
(Hólmfríður Ósk Samúelsdóttir)
A traditional Nordic ballad that reaches for a touch of the epic, but lands on dull and barely leaves an impression. On us, that is! The Icelandic folk voted this through over what is a much superior ballad – so they’re clearly hearing something in it that we’re not.
Aron Hannes – Tonight
(Sveinn Rúnar Sigurðsson/Ágúst Ibsen)
Tropical house gets a bad rap these days cos it’s SO over done. But we forget that when it’s done right, it’s got the potential to be an absolute tune and a half. ‘Tonight’ is done right, and is indeed that 150% moment. We would LOVE to see this head to Eurovision, and take Iceland back into the final.
Hildur – Bammbaramm
(Hildur Kristín Stefánsdóttir)
An odd pop song that doesn’t really sound like anything else in the competition, and floors you with both its individuality and its relentless charm. Hang on – isn’t that the formula for winning Eurovision? Viewers didn’t vote this one through to the final originally, but that aforementioned relentless charm might have more of an impact second time around. It’s our bronze pick in the line-up.
Rúnar Eff Rúnarsson – Make Your Way Back Home
(Rúnar Eff Rúnarsson)
A rock ballad that builds slowly into a big finish. Not our kind of thing, but as we’ve seen many times before, the Icelandic majority totally dig it. Balls.
Aron Brink –Hypnotised
(Aron Brink/Þórunn Erna Clausen/Michael James Down/William Taylor)
Someone was watching Melodifestivalen last year, and were equally as impressed with ‘Kizunguzungu’ as we were. And while it didn’t inspire us to pen an afro-infused belter in the same style, we’re sure as hell glad that it drove these lot to. ‘Hypnotised’ is an undeniably charming tune that with a bit of beefing up to the production, could totally bang. It would be an odd choice for Iceland to pick to represent them at Eurovision – but we’ve all seen much odder things take place on that stage.
Daði Freyr Petúrsson – Is this love?
(Daði Freyr Petúrsson)
YAY – an electropop song! But no. A horrendously ill conceived electropop song. Who knew one could get the genre to sound so cringe? If you’re ever feeling a lack of appreciation towards the Scandi-lectro greats – just listen to this.
Svala – Paper
(Einar Egilsson/Lester Mendez/Lily Elise/Stefán Hilmarsson)
This is fantastic! An atmospheric and fraught, synthpop mid-tempo ballad. It’s ALL about the chorus on this one. Which we’d say bodes well for Eurovision. It’s difficult to predict how the Icelandic viewers will take to this one in the context of the final, but with an engaging performance, the sky (Kyiv) is the limit.
