Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Now as Iceland has withdrawn from Eurovision song contest at least in 2026, let's have a look of some Icelandic favorites of mine over the years. Starting off with Euroband's banger that is one of my all time favourite and sure to put me in the mood anytime in seconds! This is my life!  Enjoy! 2008 Euroband - This is my life (14th) 1997 Páll Òskar - Minn hinsti dans (20th) 2003 Birgitta - Open your heart (8th) 1994 Sigga - Nætur (12th) 2019 Hatari - Hatrið mun sigra (10th) 2022 - Systur - Með hækkandi sól (23rd) 2009 Yohanna - Is it true? (2nd) 2025 Væb - Róa (25th) 2010 Hera Björk - Je ne sais quoi (19th) There would have been quite a few to pick up as well but these sounded the ones at this time and space.  Special mentions go to: 2013 Eyþór Ingi - Ég á líf (17th) 2007 Eirikur Hauksson - Valentine lost (sf 13th) 2005 Selma - If I had your love (sf 16th) 1985 ICY - Gleðibankinn (16th) 2018 Ari Olafsson - Our choice (sf 19th)

After dueting Marco Mengoni in Hola, co-written by Mahmood Tom Walker duets with Lena.  Is it time to do Eurovision?

After the 30 minutes techical rehearsal the countries have another 20 minutes rehearsal to polish their acts and after this they should be done with the camera angles, lighting and the rest. Minor adjustments can bee still done after next week's semi-final dress rehearsals but they are unlikely.  AZERBAIJAN - AISEL -X MY HEART And i’ll never sto o o o op, luna moon me up To the t o o op Vocals **** Staging **** Song ***** Overall ****  qualifier  ICELAND - ARI OLAFSSON - OUR CHOICE                                                                   In every single language There’s a word for love and for blame Vocals **** Staging ** Song ** Overall *** Sadly non qualifier  ALBANIA - EUGENT BUSHPEPA - MALL No words can describe the feeling that grows...

The serious business is on. The first acts are having their 30 minutes technical rehearsals to check out the stage, the lights, the camera angles - all this has been already worked out with substitute artists and on going negotitions between RTP and EBU people on spot and the delegations at home the past few weeks. Now it's time to put the theory into practise and make the necessary changes, adjustments and final touches and see how everything looks and feels like in the real world. I will be following the rehearsals at home, spicing up the comments with those picked up from social medias and websites. Enjoy! Azerbaijan - Aisel - X my heart Aisel and her four backing singers/dancers, including Portuguese Rui Andrade, are working those mountains in a choreography that feels a bit too busy at times and dry ice. All dressed in white with mainly white and blue/purple backdrop it seems rather simple and traditional staging with the added props and wind machines. I suspect w...

  Iceland - Ari Ólafsson - Our choice Ari (19) is one of the youngest artists this year and his song is one of the oldest. Pure old school Eurovision and therefor a pearl to cherish. Even more so as he has proven to be a great vocalist live despite his age sounding good and looking so fresh and innocent. He has also proven himself in the social medias and pre-contest promotional events - is there anyone who doesn't like him as a person? This is anthemic, almost religious hymn with lyrics... well, let's forget the lyrics and just enjoy the melody and his convincing performance! The video makes me want to visit Reykjavik, even if it seems to be the size of one block .-) Sadly they didn't bring this Icelandic version though. This blogger would love to see this as shocker qualifier but the odds are heavily against it: starting number, semi one, betting odds... but hey, miracles do happen! And televoters decide. 7/10 Belarus - Alekseev - Forever Ukrainian Nik...

  Oh dear. I never thought he'd win but here he is: the winner! Ari Olafsson has won the Icelandic final with Our choice. He beat Dagur Sigurðsson in the superfinal. Cool! 01. Dagur Sigurðsson – Í stormi (24.547+20.183=44.730) 02. Ari Ólafsson – Our Choice (18.408+17.453=35.861) 03. Heimilistónar – Kúst og fæjó (17.619+14.183=31.802) 04. Aron Hannes – Gold Digger (14.848+ 16.090=30.938) 05. Fókus – Battleline (12.859+13.091=25.950) 06. Áttan – Here for You (3.360+10.637=13.997)

  Iceland reaches the final tonight as well after two semifinals where all songs were performed in Icelandic. Now for the final the language is free and obviously Kúst og fæjó stays in Icelandic as there was no English version prepaired, but surprisingly also Í stormi . Will it be Fókus and their middle of the road radio pop? Áttan's light & groovy pop? Ari's You raise me up -esque and almost gospely anthem? Or Heimilistónar's "funny" 60's girl group revival 40 years after? Or Aron Hannes and his Gold digger that propably ends like Estonian Play if chosen? Or Dagur's drama? I have no idea. I say a big NO to the grannies and maybe choose Ari?  Fókus - Battleline Áttan - Here for You Ari Ólafsson - Our Choice Heimilistónar - Kúst og fæjó Aron Hannes - Gold Digger Dagur Sigurðsson - Í stormi