News - Iceland: National final on 14 February | Eurovision Song Contest News - 2009 Moscow, Russia 

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Written by

Stella Floras

Published

15/Nov 2008 at 23:42

Source(s)

RUV, esctoday.com

News

Iceland broadcaster, RUV, 2007 - © RUV
© RUV

Sixteen songs in four heats

Iceland: National final on 14 February

Two hundred and seventeen songs were submitted to the Icelandic broadcaster in their open call for songs for the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest preselection. Sixteen of those were selected to proceed to the next phase which will include four televised heats in January, leading to the Sngvakeppni Sjnvarpsins 2009 final in January.

Sixteen songs by thirteen authors will compete in sets of four on 10, 17, 24 and 31 January, for the honour to represent Iceland in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. Eight of them, two from each round, will qualify to the Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins final which will take place on 14 February.

The authors whose songs have made it to the semi finals are:
1. Albert G. Jónsson, 1 song
2. Einar Oddsson, 1 song
3. Einar Scheving, 1 song
4. Erla Gígja Þorvaldsdóttir, 1 song
5. Grétar Sigurbergsson, 1 song
6. Halldór Guðjónsson, 1 song
7. Hallgrímur Óskarsson, 2 songs
8. Heimir Sindrason, 2 songs
9. Óskar Páll Sveinsson, 2 songs
10. Torfi Ólafsson, 1 song
11. Trausti Bjarnason, 1 song
12. Valgeir Skagfjörð, 1 song
13. Örlygur Smári, 1 song

Trausti Bjarnason returns once more to the Icelandic preselection. He has written among others Blómaböm for Briet Sunna Valdemarsdóttir and Segðu mér for Jónsi in 2007. Furthermore, he wrote Þer við hlið in 2006 for Regina (Ósk) of Euroband (Iceland 2008) who was beaten by the then hugely popular act of Silvia Night.

Örlygur Smári is the composer of the 2000 Icelandic participation (Tell me, 12th place) as well as the 2008 entry (This is my life, 14th place). Hallgrímur Óskarsson composed the 2003 entry (Open your heart, 8th place). 

Very special thanks to Eurofan Iceland for the contribution to the article.


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renee lind [20623]
Mon 17 Nov 2008 21:13:00

@the author of this article:
Paul Oscar's full name is Páll Óskar Hjálmtýsson, Óskar Páll Sveinsson is a totally different person!!!

And please, Iceland; Bring Jónsi back!!!


James S [22775]
Mon 17 Nov 2008 20:06:47

Best of luck Iceland - (my favourite ESC country) they always put in such a good effort but are very rarely rewarded


Molly Parton [29330]
Mon 17 Nov 2008 00:18:31

What are the 92 ESC songs better than All Out Of Luck?


ryan walsh [36624]
Sun 16 Nov 2008 22:39:48

iceland is a great esc country, best years were 1990,1991,1993,1994,1997,1999, 2004,2005,2007,2008 they should have won in 1990 1999 and 2008 in my opinion, but i hope they do well. yes course they can afford too host it, sure didnt the EBU pay for the contest this yr in belgrade!! and also Reykjavik is a fab city for everything.


Just-in Iceland [28531]
Sun 16 Nov 2008 22:35:16

Óskar Páll Sveinsson is not Paul Oscar like it says up there... it's a different guy.
Paul Oscar's full name is Páll Óskar Hjálmtýsson. Interesting assumption though.




Mina Carnation [51405]
Sun 16 Nov 2008 21:00:30

Good luck to Iceland although I've never loved any of their songs. Maybe this year :D


Boom-Bang-a Bang [24256]
Sun 16 Nov 2008 20:47:10

Can they afford to participate this year?


Stockholm calling [44413]
Sun 16 Nov 2008 19:27:50

Jonny
Yes, "Angel" was a good song and "Tell me" and "Open your heart" too. You've added some great links to your profile :)




Jonny K [46850]
Sun 16 Nov 2008 17:17:05

Little Imp
Sorry ;) My mistake.

Stockholm
I like 'Valentine Lost' alot aswell :) Although I think 'this is my life' has to be my fave Icelandic entry :D What about 'angel' from 2001, I like that song, I mean its not one of their best entries but its nice to listen to . . do you like it?


Little Imp [37093]
Sun 16 Nov 2008 17:07:48

@ Johnny: Not Best. The list is about successful songs.


Willox Willox [32746]
Sun 16 Nov 2008 17:06:16

Silvia Night come back please!!!


Stockholm calling [44413]
Sun 16 Nov 2008 16:49:36

Interesting Jonny. "All out of luck" was my number one in 1999 :)
But I think "This is my life" and "Valentine lost" are the best Icelandic entries.

Good luck to Iceland !


Jonny K [46850]
Sun 16 Nov 2008 15:49:25

Heres something . . .
Allkindsofeverything.ie decided that "all out of luck" (Iceland 99) is the 93rd best eurovision song ever :) Which isn't bad considering theres been more than 1000 songs since it started :)

http://www.allkindso(...)thing.ie/Top100a.htm


Marcell Fehr [36766]
Sun 16 Nov 2008 14:51:40

Good luck Iceland!!!!
One of the best country in ESC, and Euroband should have won in Belgrade.
I hope they will send another fantastic song to ESC.


Ciaran Tuttiett [29300]
Sun 16 Nov 2008 14:03:16

I wish Iceland the vest best of luck for 2009. Iceland ALWAYS have brilliant songs sent to the Eurovision and never get there deserved awards!

Reykjavik I hope presents the 2010 Eurovision!!! :-D


Mi reina [45031]
Sun 16 Nov 2008 11:07:17

Best of luck to Iceland.


Jonny K [46850]
Sun 16 Nov 2008 11:03:21

Btw a bit off topic but on my profile there are now links to watch the 1969 and 1973 contest online in full! (and they buffer fine ;)) Plus the second semi this year (which Iceland was in so this is kinda related) and some other eurovision related programmes and stuff :D


Alvaro Blay [40587]
Sun 16 Nov 2008 10:50:52

Come on Iceland!
Im sure you will select a grat song, as you've done this year.
If you have passed to the final being lost in the north atlantic, thats because your song was FANTASTIC.


Jonny K [46850]
Sun 16 Nov 2008 10:05:03

I'm glad the composer of "tell me" is back, that was a good song :) As was "open your heart" and "this is my life" :D


Liam Clark [24749]
Sun 16 Nov 2008 03:50:30

Iceland is one of the countries that always puts in a good effort and is rarely rewarded, lets hope 2009 is the year they get the glory they deserve, or at least close to it!


Michael UK [23926]
Sun 16 Nov 2008 02:35:44

they deserved top 3 in 2003 and 2008, good luck in 2009


Ben Gray [44512]
Sun 16 Nov 2008 01:36:45

Thank god, nice simple format. Hopefully the shows and songs will be good too. Iceland deserve to win sometime soon.


Oh, no Svala Björgvinsdottir... but at least Örlygur Smári is back :) Tell Me and This Is My Life were both awesome...


Dan N [29106]
Sun 16 Nov 2008 00:35:17

So glad to see Trausti Bjarnason!! I love Segdu mer and Per vid hlid.


Glen Bartlett [22315]
Sun 16 Nov 2008 00:20:47

Valentine's Day?!

Hope a married couple get through, otherwise there may be some divorce papers to sign!


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