Tonight the second semi-final of Iceland’s Söngvakeppnin took place with another three acts filling the final three slots.
The final of Söngvakeppnin 2018 will be held on March 3, so there will be another two weeks until we find out the Icelandic representative.All of tonight’s songs had to be sung in Icelandic.
The Songs
Aron Hannes – Golddigger
Returning after his wonderful entry last year, Aron has an eighties type funky dance number this year. Performed as expected with a troupe of backing dancers, they were all dressed in white T-shirts. This should sail into the final.
Rakel Pálsdóttir – Óskin mín
Also back for another try is Rakel, who’s been landed with a song, very similar to Michael Jackson’s Ben. As a result, it would seem this should likely qualify. A quiet gentle song with no gimmicks. other than it is well sung. Rakel performed the song sitting on a stair, shaped like a bed, in a light pink robe-like gown. She was accompanied by one man and two female backing singers, plus a cellist.
Stefanía, Agnes & Regína – Svaka stuð
Three daughters with a song similar to Queens of Roses Fisherman in Lithuania’s shows last year – yes check that out. The song has a bit of a dance beat but again it’s from Top Of The Pops in the seventies. The harmonies were pretty good though. Dressed in old glammy type costumes the whole feel of the performance was flashy disco, including a glitter ball, two Weather Girls types and a sleazy dancing DJ.
Þórir & Gyða – Brosa
The first duo of the evening and the token Ed Sheeran type number, in fact, look away at the beginning and you’d think it was Ed. However as the song continues it becomes an acoustic country styled song, which makes it stand out a bit more. A mouth organ completes the package. Oh and a four piece backing band lounging on couches behind them.
Dagur Sigurðsson – Í stormi
A piano lead in introduces Dagur, at what at first appears may be an operatic type song. Instead, it is a plodding big sound ballad, at times sounding a bit like Journey. A marching band drum accompanies the song towards the final up-lifting chorus. A four piece backing choir helps the song along.
Áttan – Hér með þér
This has a light mellow beat to it, with the duo singing they will be here for you. Again, four backing singers are used as a distraction as the song is not all that much of a dance number. Pleasent and colourful but not outstanding. The audience though gave it the biggest cheer of the evening, so its probably going to the final.
The Results
The Icelandic public chose the there acts to go to the final. They are
Aron Hannes – Golddigger
Áttan – Hér með þér
Dagur Sigurðsson – Í stormi
Iceland At The Eurovision Song Contest
For such a small country, Iceland has sent some pretty good entries to the Eurovision. In the nineties, Sigga was a regular competitor with her bands, Stjórnin in 1990 and Heart 2 Heart in 1992 and as a solo artist in 1994. The songs Eitt lag enn, Nei eða já and Nætur, placed 4th, 7th, and 12th respectively.
In 2003 Birgitta opened the contest with Open Your Heart, which placed 8th giving Iceland, their fourth out of five top ten results.
In 2008 Euroband rescued the country from three nonqualifying years, and took This Is My Life to 14th place.
Svala and Paper, last year has now completed the second set of three nonqualifying years for Iceland. They will no doubt be hoping this losing streak ends this year.
Below is the first of tonight’s finalists, Aron Hannes and Golddigger.
