The Icelandic affair - is it coming home?

Iceland has a different story to tell in Eurovision 2011. The usual plans changed when one of the finalist Sigurjón Sjonni Brink, aged 36, suddenly died only 12 days before the semifinal he was scheduled to perform of a brain haemorrhage caused by an aneurysm.. His wife and co-writer of the song Thorunn needed urgently to decide how to go. She came to the conclusion with his friends that Sigurjón would have wanted the show go on. Six of his collegues joined forced and performed the song, it qualied for the final where it won easily the Icelandic final (25.449 votes against the fan favourite Jóhanna's Nótt with 18.506)

Aftur heim become Coming home for Düsseldorf and is performed by guitarist Vignir Snaer Vigfusson, drummer Benedikt Brynleifsson, piano player Palmi Sigurhjartarson, guitarist Gunnar Olason, bass player Hreimur Örn Heimisson and singer Matthias Matthiasson under name Sjonni's Friends.

Gunnar, Vignir and Benedikt all have already Eurovision experience: Gunnar as part of TwoTricky in 2001, Vignir with Birgitta in 2003 and co-wrote Selma's entry in 2005, Benedikt played with Eirikur in Helsinki 2007. Also Vignir, Benedikt, Gunnar and Hreimur performed with Sjonni in the Icelandic national final in 2010 with Waterslide.

Sjonni was a real Eurovision fan with his wife and this would have been already his 5th national final song in Iceland. They submitted the song in the very last minute. The day before the deadline there still was no demo recorded and the song had English lyrics (as Countryside) only but the rules requested lyrics in Icelandic!

Thorunn Clausen herself suffered and miraculously survived a stroke in 2009 and wrote the lyrics of Coming home as a vivacious, optimistic celebration and a reminder of the fragility of life. She has four children by Sjonni.

"Some say I'm a bit of a fool

Driving down the road I stop to listen

I hear your laughter in the trees

your whisper in the breeze

my love is you"

On a personal note I wasn't really keeon on this song at first and jumped the wagon "this only won because of Sjonni's death" and wanted Jóhanna to win but now I see it as a tribute, and a possible black horse. Not many believe in this song's chances in Düsseldorf but I think they will hit the right note and take Iceland to the final. Well written and performed little song that hopefully gets the message through with its own merits, not for the sad story. Do you think the message will come home in Europe?

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