EUROVISION 2024 ICELAND: HERA BJÖRK - SCARED OF HEIGHTS + SÖNGVAKEPPNIN 2024

One of the most troubled national selections this year was Iceland's Söngvakeppnin 2024. In surface it all went as usual: two semifinals with songs in Icelandic and then the final with free language rule. The most hulabaloo was around Bashar Murad, a Palestinian singer-songwriter who competed with a song co-written by Hatari member (The infamous Free Palestine flag episode in Eurovision) and the fact that Iceland and Rúv didn't confirm the participation in Malmö until the very last minute. In the end Hera Björk pulled a surprise win - it may or may not been orchestrated as an anti-Murad act.... Looking it all from afar it seemed at times the whole affair had taken Söngvakeppnin in hostage.

Hera Björk Þórhallsdóttir (51) is of course a very familiar name in Eurovision circuit. In 2010 she placed unfairly only 19th in Eurovision with quite fantastic Je ne sais pourquoi, You may have spotted her also in the Icelandic backing group several times. Add a few national final participation in Iceland and also Denmark and you got her, a real Eurovision diva.

Her recording career includes two albums, two Christmas albums, one soundtrack and half a doxen singles added with some collaborations including Maltese Eurovision diva Chiara.

So, what do I think? I must say the Icelandic selection was the most mediocre I can remember and the only song that stand out somehow was Murad's. Hera is great vocalist but the song is very anonymous, yet heard before a zillion times and flows by without a trace. Any success it will achieve in Malmö will be thanks to Hera and her vocals and personality I'm afraid.

In our Home Jury Iceland scored between 3 and 6, so it didn't impress too much.....

Söngvakeppnin 2024

Semifinal one (February 17, 2024)

Blankiflúr - Sjá þig

Cease Tone - Ró

Væb - bíómynd

Sunny - Fiðrildi

Anita - Stingum af

Semifinal two (February 24, 2024)

Sigga Òzk - Um allan alheiminn (wildcard)

heiðrún anna – þjakaður af ást

Bashar Murad - Vestrið villt

Maiaa - Fljúga burt

Hera Björk - Við förum hærra

Final (March 2, 2024)

Bashar Murat - Wild west 47.663

Hera Björk - Scared of heights 32.067

Sigga Òsk - Into the atmosphere 30.709

Væb - bíómynd 29.393

Anita - Downfall 24.600

Superfinal:

Hera Björk - Scared of heights 32.067 + 68.768 = 100.835

Bashar Murad - Wild west 47.663 + 49.832 = 97.495

Comments

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GOODBYE, FAREWELL...

The time has come. After all these years, 5,7 million visits, 12.000 articles I guess the time has come. As much as I love and care for Eurovision it just doesn't feel the same. The Corona years took their toll and the past two years and certain decisions have helped me to mature the idea that next year I will hear the songs for the first time in semi-final just like any so called local. The bubble has burst. Add the toxicity in social medias and fandom. The arrogant teenagers who saw their first contest somewhere 2017 or even 2021 who think they know it all and only their opinion matters. Did I mention the toxic atmosphere on social medias? I'm too old for that sh*t. It's been a long ride that took me to various Eurovision on spot as a fan and tourist, as a journalist, as a delegation member. I met some great people, made memories of lifetime. In stressful, sad periods of my life this blog has been my safe place, a place to escape and forget everything else for an hour o...

Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

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