News - Iceland: Interview with Fridrik of Euroband | Eurovision Song Contest News - 2008 Belgrade, Serbia 

Before appearing on the Eurovision stage for today rehearsals of the second Eurovision Song Contest semi final, Fridrik of Euroband talked to esctoday.com. In this interview Fredrick mentions this views on the contest , the pressure of qualifying from the semi final and how Euroband were formed

What was it like to finally win the Icelandic final?
"Fantastic. It was a difficult path to get there - third, then second and finally first! The reaction was very positive. In the newspapers it said we got 70% of the public behind us".

After the final in 2007 you looked very disappointed. Why did you decided to try again?
"Yes of course I was disappointed. I liek Eirikur's song very much and I knew that I wouldn't win because the audience wanted Eirikur to win. In the last few year's the Icelandic public has always picked the singer over the song. But my disappointment was over after three minutes and I only looked forwards. Eirikur is fantastic". 
 
Apparently you recorded two albums before your 18th birthday?
"Yes. But it's quite funny because I sounded like a duck. I am very proud of these albums though and was determined to record them, even though I don't listen to them any more nowadays. At the time, the Icelandic president came to visit the little northern town where I lived, and I sang for him in a concert. It was a huge event for me. There is a lot of talent in the north, but in order to be successful and get on in your career you do have to move to Reykjavik".

Do you watch the Eurovision at home?
"Oh yes, always, ever since our first entry 'Gledibankinn' in 1986, when I was 5 years old. Last year I was convinced that Serbia would win. It was also my favourite song. An astonishing voice and a good performance. Actually I tend to like the entries from Eastern Europe. I don't agree with all this politics - I just think that in recent years the east has had better songs than the west. Music is not about politics, it's about uniting Europe. My favourite amongst winning entries is Carola 'Fangad Av En Stormvind' by the way".

How does it feel to represent your country?
"For me it's a huge thing. Eurovision is the biggest television event of the year in Iceland and absolutely everyone watches. I think it's one of the high points of my career".

Some people think that the semifinal system and televoting are ruining the contest. Is that true do you think? Will there still be a contest in 10 years?
"I really hope that there will still be a Song Contest. I think it is always good to be in the semifinal; the audience gets to hear the song twice, after all. I have no time for protests about neighbourly voting and so on. The audience are not stupid. In the end they vote for the best song, and that's it".

Was it deliberately planned to sing in duet with Regina after you both finished in second place in the Icelandic preselections?
"Actually it wasn't. The composer asked me to sing This Is My Life solo. But I thought it would be a good idea to bring Euroband to the contest. What would Eurovision be without Euroband, after all? (laughs)".

Is there any pressure to get through the semifinal; after all Selma, Silvia and Eirikur all failed at that point.
"Oh yes! There is a lot of pressure! (laughs). But no stress! Regina and I are very focussed. Regina has already told me that as a backing vocalist you can drink beers every evening but as a lead vocalist the party definitely stops (laughs)! But I am perfectly OK with that. By the way, Selma's sisters are here helping with the choreography for us".

How did Euroband come to be formed?
"After our preselection entries in 2006 we decided to form Euroband. We love these songs, and in our show we sing songs from Greece (My Number One), Sweden, Ukraine (Wild Dances), Denmark, Germany, Turkey (Every Way That I Can), Norway (In My Dreams as a ballad), UK (Making Your Mind Up in Icelandic and Ooh Aah Just A Little Bit), Switzerland (we have recorded Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi by Celine Dion in English version for our first album), Ireland and Israel (Hold Me Now and A Ba Ni Bi are also on the album)".

Your last solo album also contains Icelandic cover versions, including Rock'n'Roll Kids. But this song looks back on lost youth and you are still young!
"Yes I know! Maybe I don't understand English very well (laughs). Actually the Icelandic lyric is quite different from the English one. My ex-mother-in-law wrote it about her son, who was a drug addict and an alcoholic. It's a song about her wanting her son back. That was one of my favourite songs from the contest. Very atmospheric. And anyway I sing it well (laughs)".

How did you get together with composer Oggi? Was This Is Your Life written especially for you?
"I asked Oggi to write a song for Euroband, but that is a long time ago. He asked Paul Oscar if he wanted to perform the song, but Paul thought the song would sound better with my voice. But Paul asked him if he could write the English version, which he did, and he collaborated with Peter Fenner to complete the lyric in English".

Selma has said that you went to Thailand to get the purple silk for the preselection performance in Iceland.
"Well I did get the purple material there, but I didn't only go there to buy the material! I was actually on holiday with friends, but we did also buy the silk and enough extra to make the big wings for Regina".

Your entry this year is one of the favourites with fans. What do you think of that?
"Really? Well thanks that is great of course. But of course the fans' favourite can change - there is still some time to go yet. The fans have liked Icelandic entries over the years but none of them have got into the final. In the end we need votes and support over and above our beloved Eurovision fans".

Thanks very much and thanks for talking to us Fridrik. Good luck!

Thanks and best wishes to all the readers!