Tonight, Iceland decided its representative for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. Seven acts competed in Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins and Jónsi and Greta Salóme won the Icelandic ticket to Baku. Former Eurovision participants Páll Óskar and Hera Björk performed as special guests during the show.

After three preliminary heats that have been held this year, a total of seven acts competed to win the final of Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins. The show was hosted by Brynja Þorgeirsdóttir and the 1997 Icelandic Eurovision representative Páll Óskar from Iceland’s biggest music hall, Harpa.

The songs:

Song 1: Heiða and Guðrún Árný – Aldrei Sleppir Mér (Written by: Greta Salóme Stefánsdóttir).

The song still sounds great despite the lack of one of its leading voices. They were originally a trio but, with the abandonment of Gréta Salóme to concentrate this evening fully on her other song, we have a quite different performance to what we saw in the previous show with only two singers. Guðrún Árný began playing the piano during the first seconds and they were dressed in the same way as in the previous performance in long white dresses.

Song 2: Magni Ásgeirsson – Hugarró (Written by: Sveinn Rúnar Sigurðsson og Þórunn Erna Clausen).

Exactly the same performance as we saw in the previous heat and it confirms that this would be a superb choice to win.

Song 3: Rósa Birgitta Ísfeld – Stund Með Þér (A Moment With You) (Composer: Sveinn Rúnar Sigurðsson, Lyrics: Þórunn Erna Clausen).

She was dressed very provocative. She wore a transparent shirt, through it you could see her red bra, and a black tight skirt, a headdress of red flowers on her hair and a gold necklace. With her on stage there were two male backing dancers and two female backing singers all of them elegantly dressed in black.

Song 4: Simbi and Hrútspungarnir – Hey (Hi) (Composer & Lyrics: Magnús Hávarðarson).

Nothing new to note regarding the performance we saw two weeks ago. Their voices do not sound as on point tonight as they did in the previous heat, but they delivered once again a great performance.

Song 5: Regína Ósk Óskarsdóttir – Hjartað Brennur (Fire in My Heart) (Composer: María Björk Sverrisdóttir, Marcus Frenell, Fredrik Randquist, Anna Andersson Lyrics: Kristján Hreinsson & Anna Andersson).

It is always a pleasure to hear her because she gives off a lot of happiness. She wore a nice dress whose skirt was shinning in various colors. The choreography was a bit different from what we had seen before and it was much more synchronized with the five female backing singers.

Song 6: Blár Ópal – Stattu Upp (Get Up!) (Composer/Lyricist: Ingólfur Þórarinsson og Axel Árnason).

No doubt this was the more energetic performance of the night. They were dressed in casual clothes, mainly dark pants and plaid shirts. At the end, they approached the edge of the stage to receive the audience applause who were cheering them during the whole performance.

Song 7: Jónsi and Greta Salóme Stefánsdóttir – Mundu Eftir Mér (Remember Me) (Composer/Lyricist: Greta Salóme Stefánsdóttir).

Given the standing ovation from the audience we end with the favorites of the night. Same performance and clothing than in the first heat of the competition when they qualified for this final.

The show:

The two-hour show started with the performance of Hera Björk, 2010 Icelandic representative, singing a great version of the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest winner song Molitva and the 1998 Swiss winner Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi.

The stage scenery was the same as we have seen in previous weeks in the RÚV’s studio and, as usual, each song was introduced by a video where the singers were talking about the song and their experience in the competition.

While the audience were voting for their favorites took place Páll Óskar‘s performance. He wore the same black suit he had worn during the evening.

The result:

The decision was made by a choice of televoting and professionel jury.

Jónsi and Greta Salóme and Blár Ópal were called to the stage as the final two acts. At the end it was announced that Jónsi and Greta Salóme will follow in the footsteps of Sjonni’s Friends having the honor to bring the Nordic Island into the final of the Eurovision Song Contest for the fifth year in a row.

Iceland will participate in the first semifinal of the Eurovision Song Contest on Tuesday 22 May in Baku, Azerbaijan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mepztXfP9_c