The eighth semi final of the Icelandic selection for the Eurovision Song Contest is about to take place. You can watch the webcast by following the link below.
Live coverage by Bjarni Heiðar Halldórsson.
The three composers of tonight are introduced by video clips reflecting their careers.
1. Menn Ársins – If you were here
Composer Þórarinn Freysson is playing the guitar himself. The song is a mid-tempo ballad with a slight blues attitude. The overall performance is very simple but fits well with the song. Probably not spectacular for the Eurovision Song Contest although songs of this style have proved to be succesful in the Icelandic selection so far.
Þorvaldur Bjarni says that he doesn't have enough patience for this kind of song and he thinks that it has nothing to keep the listener's attention while the lyrics would have to be sharper. Selma and Erpur Eyvindarson disagree stating that it's a pleasent song dleivered in an honest way. Þorvaldur Bjarni adds that there was an on-going melody loop throughout the song which reminded him of a song by Í svörtum fötum.
2. Eurobandið – Fullkomið lif
The performers wrote the lyrics to the song themselves. The entry is a typical Euro uptempo dance pop song. The song is performed live although this is not obligatory this year! The two front singers are backed by many background dancers (definitely more than four!) all dressed in black with a very professional choreography. Towards the end there is some glittery stuff… very Eurovision indeed! The band includes Regína Óskand Friðrik Ómar. The keyboard player of the Euroband, Grétar Örvarsson, is also well known to Eurovison fans. He sang along with Sigga Beinteins EITT LAG ENN (One more song) which ended up in forth place in Zagreb in 1990. He also composed the song NEI EÐA JÁ which got seventh place in Malmö, Sweden in 1992.
Þorvaldur Bjarni says that the band is very professional and that the composer has done everything right to create a Eurovision song for this project. Selma says that this song will play if you look in the Eurovision Song Contest dictionnary and that this song has similarity to songs that have done well in recent years. Erpur Eyvindarson says that it's a "euro homo" song, but in a very good way – because that's what they need! The only critique they got from the jury was that they felt they were a little too serious on stage and should've just let loose a little more.
3. Hara – I wanna manicure
Composer Hallgrímur Óskarsson says in his previous attempts he's been focusing on the song mainly…. but this time he's realised that there are so many factors other than just the song, so he is going for a visual approach. Hara sisters bring a whole beauty salon on stage. The choreography is very spectacular and it should be taken into consideration that the vocals are not live. The performance includes fireworks, spectacular moves and can hardly be forgotten. The song is an up-tempo disco dance pop song typical for the Eurovision Song Contest.
Þorvaldur Bjarni says that the band will need fireproof clothes while Selma think it's a very musical number, very visual and highly entertaining. Erpur says that IF you would remove the fireworks… the dancing… and all those visual effect, then he doubts there would be enough left. Þorvaldur says that the visual side was amazing and that Hara were very lively. Nevertheless, if the song made it through he wanted it to be a bit re-worked so that it sounds more professional, like the other two songs.
