On Saturday night, Icelandic broadcaster RÚV is all set to kick off its pre-selection to find the artist and song which will represent Iceland at the Eurovision Song Contest in May.
Iceland will choose its Eurovision entry, as usual, via Söngvakeppnin – a three-week affair consisting of two semi-finals followed by a March 12th final. In each semi we’ll have five songs perform, with a public vote deciding on two songs to progress to the final. This four-song final will then be made into five songs via a jury wildcard.
In Söngvakeppnin, all songs must be performed in Icelandic in the semis, even if the intention is to perform in English at Eurovision. As such, all ten songs have been released in an English version and in an Icelandic version (with the exception of one, which will be performed in Icelandic even if it goes to Turin).
Björg Magnúsdóttir, Jón Jónsson and Ragnhildur Steinunn Jónsdóttir will be on hosting duties for the three weeks, but for now – let’s take a look at the first semi, which is taking place on Saturday night. We’ll be posting a link to watch on our Twitter and Facebook tomorrow (@scandipop on both). And these will be the five songs that you will be witnessing battling it out on the night, should you tune in:
Semi-Final 1: 26 February
Útgáfan/Don’t You Know – Amarosis
(Már & Ísold)
Retro-tinged charm with an up-tempo, string-laden production that’s actually quite difficult to dislike. So why try
Ljósið/All I Know – Stefán Óli
(Andri Þór Jónsson, Birgir Steinn Stefánsson, Stefán Hilmarsson)
A universally appealing, radio-friendly toe-tapper that is unassumingly competitive, and most certainly the instant dark horse of the competition.
Gía/Volcano – Haffi Haff
(Steinar Jónsson, Sigurður Ásgeir Árnason, Hafsteinn Þór Guðjónsson)
It’s difficult to comprehend that Fire Saga wasn’t going to be in anyone’s mind when selecting the songs for Söngvakeppnin 2022, but we didn’t think it would be as blatant as this. Even Will Ferrell would blush, and likely turn ‘Volcano’ down for being too absurd. Us though – we’re keeping it.
Hjartað Mitt/Heart Of Mine – Stefanía Svavarsdóttir
(Halldór Gunnar Pálsson, Magnús Þór Sigmundsson)
Wholesome Eurovision pop. Which, if we’re honest with ourselves, is what we’re all here for at the end of the day. Stefanía has this Heart Of Ours. Even though it sounds like something that would snatched our heart Eurovision 2002, too.
Með Hækkandi Sól – Sigga, Beta & Elín
(Lovísa Elísabet Sigrúnardóttir)
Folk-laden pop that falls somewhere between First Aid Kit and Iceland’s very own Sycamore Tree. We love both of those acts referenced, and we love this song, too.
