Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

I'm totally out of sync with Icelanders this year. I never understood how Unnur Eggertsdóttir made it to the final, mind you superfinal!! So all my hopes were on Eyþór Ingi Gunnlaugsson that was my favorite along with Magni from the beginning. In a kid's lullaby kind of way. But he sings very well if you can get beyond his G:son lookalike hype. And Unnur clearly has a song for Junior Eurovision. In every way. But it's a little better than Shoo-bee-doo, sorry Sjúbidu . But still.... what's going on that island?! Lol. Out with Johannas , Birgittas , Jogvans , Magnis   .. in with ... Eyþór Ingi Gunnlaugsson and Èg à lif . Phew...

After two semifnals last week where a couple of fan favorites were kicked out with this blogger's favorite Magni, who then luckily got jury's wildcard, one can expect anything in tonight's national final in Iceland. Apparently Birgitta is the big favorite now, but in my list she ranks at number 6.... We'll see. If I can't have Magni, Eyþór will do. Or even Haraldur, anything but that manufactured bag of Eurovision clichés by Santa Birgitta & The Burqhas. Yawn. It seems like me and Iceland don't get along this year. And the line up for the final turned out rather poor after all. Greta Salomé will be there as a guest performing.... and so are Euroband and Selma! :-) Magni Ásgeirsson - Ekki líta undan   Svavar Knútur Kristinsson & Hreindís Ylva Garðarsdóttir Hólm - Lífið snýst   Eyþór Ingi Gunnlaugsson - Ég á líf   Birgitta Haukdal - Meðal andanna   Jógvan Hansen & Stefanía Svavarsdóttir - Til þín   Haraldur Reynisson - Vinátta   ...

The Icelandic are full of surprises this year. Another favorite is out of the final, namely Erna Hrönn Ólafsdóttir !  But we have three more finalists selected by the 50-50 jury-televote and the jury's wild card went to Magni Ásgeirsson, so there is some justice left in Iceland, too. Also the two I wanted made it, namely Jógvan and Haraldur. Here are the qualified ones: Jógvan Hansen & Stefanía Svavarsdóttir – Til þín Unnur Eggertsdóttir – Ég syng! Haraldur Reynisson – Vinátta  + Magni Ásgeirsson – Ekki líta undan (wildcard)

Iceland started their search tonight with the first semifinal. Only six songs and unfortunately the level of the songs isn't as good as it has been, me think s. Jóhanna Guðrún Jónsdóttir kicked off the night with Þú . It was better than I expected, I have to say.  Magni Ásgeirsson followed with Ekki líta undan , this blogger's favorite by far. After that followed to completely uninteresting ones Svavar Knútur Kristinsson & Hreindís Ylva Garðarsdóttir Hólm with Lífið snýst and Edda Viðarsdóttir with Sá sem lætur hjartað ráða för even sporting someone doing the sigh language, already very worn off gimmick in thiese circuits.  Eyþór Ingi Gunnlaugsson and Ég á líf got us back to better things and the night ended with fan favorite Birgitta Haukdal  and her backing group in burqas (or something) and Meðal andanna .  Fan favorite or not, this blogger thinks it's boring, uninspired and did I say boring? If it was up to me Magni, Eyþór and after all...

Six songs tonight, among them Eurovision veterans Jóhanna and Birgitta, and this blogger's favorites Magni and Eyþór. Three songs will qualify for the final on February 2, 2013 based on 50-50 jury-televote. Show start at 22.00 CET and you can watch it on RÚV's website. The second semifinal takes place tomorrow night. Jóhanna Guðrún Jónsdóttir - Þú Magni Ásgeirsson – Ekki líta undan Svavar Knútur Kristinsson & Hreindís Ylva Garðarsdóttir Hólm – Lífið snýst Edda Viðarsdóttir - Sá sem lætur hjartað ráða för Eyþór Ingi Gunnlaugsson - Ég á líf Birgitta Haukdal - Meðal andanna

RÚV has published the Söngvakeppni 2013 entries online this morning here . Fans are waiting miracles from previous Eurovision entrants Birgitta Haukdal and Jóhanna, but this blogger has high hopes for Magni. I will get back to these once I get over the buffering.... lol.

RUV has announced the singers for Söngvakeppnin 2013 tonight. Two previous Eurovision entrants, Yohanna and Birgitta Haukdal are trying a bis, and this bloggers eternal favorite Magni Ásgeirsson is back again after  Ég trúi á betra líf in 2011 and especially Hugarró in 2012 that I consider maybe the best national final song that didn't win.... But there is also Jógvan Hansen again...  First semi final - Friday 25th January Magni Ásgeirsson - Ekki Líta Undan  (Sveinn Rúnar Sigurðsson-Ingibjörg Gunnarsdóttir) Eyþór Ingi Gunnlaugsson - Ég á Líf  (Örlygur Smári-Pétur Örn Guðmundsson) Svavar Knútur Kristinsson and Hreindís Ylva Garðarsdóttir Hólm - Lífið Snýst  (Hallgrímur Óskarsson-Svavar Knútur Kristinsson) Birgitta Haukdal - Meðal Andanna   (Birgitta Haukdal-Sylvía Haukdal Brynjarsdóttir-Jonas Gladnikoff-Michael James Down-Primoz Poglajen) Edda Viðarsdóttir - Sá sem Lætur Hjartað Ráða För  (Þórir Úlfarsson-...

The Icelandic national final Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2012 will take place tonight. Six of the songs qualified from the three semifinals, and one, Stund med , was added as a wildcard. Also Greta Salóme, the composer of Aldrei sleppir mér will no longer perform with it with the other girls who now go as a duet. Great will concentrate on the other duet with Jónsi. Once again Iceland managed to pick out a rather interesting and high class selection out of the semifinalists that didn't overall impress that much. How do they do it year after year? And knowing they will most likely translate into English and remix and rework the song almost any could we a worthy entry in Baku 2012. My favourite though is Magni. And if Greta & Jónsi, Blás Opal or Regina wins that's ok, too. But Hugarró is outstanding! And Paul Oskar will be co-hosting the show despite the fact he'd like Iceland to withdraw for Azerbaijan's human rights situation. Anyways, it starts at 21.30 CET and you ...

To end a very good evening for my guessing and wishing Iceland. I only got the other finalist right, never saw those girls coming I must admit and I find the song rather dull. But all that matters is Magni's fantastic Hugarrò made it. Magni Ásgeirsson - Hugarró Greta Salóme, Heiða and Guðrún Árný - Aldrei sleppir mér

The third and last semifinal in iceland takes place tonight. Again two songs will advance to the final chosen by a jury/televote. Great tries a bis as she already is in the final in duet with Jónsi. Magni tries again to win the national final. Will he be 4th time lucky? My bet's on Magni and Svenni. Listen the songs here . Greta Salóme, Heiða & Guðrún Árný – Aldrei sleppir mér Herbert Guðmundsson – Eilíf ást (Eternal love) Íris Lind Verudóttir – Aldrei segja aldrei Magni Ásgeirsson – Hugarró Svenni Þór – Augun þín

Amongst the five countries choosing their entry tonight is Iceland with a strong line up. Jóhanna and Magni are the big favourites so it's all about ballads or will they battle each other out, or will the fans of late-Sjónni Brink vote his song all the way? And will Erna outsing the others? Update: Ok, as expected Icelanders went for respect and nostalgy and voted Sjónni's song for Germany. Magni came second.  Haraldur Reynisson - Ef ég hefði vængi Erna Hrönn Ólafsdóttir - Ástin mín eina Yohanna - Nótt Matthías Matthíasson & Erla Björg Káradóttir - Eldgos Jógvan Hansen - Ég lofa Magni Ásgeirsson - Ég trúi á betra líf Sigurjón's friends - Aftur heim 

Tonight the third semifinal takes place in Iceland and you can follow it live on RÚV's website as usual. Tonight it's a solid back, all male cast and two of the biggest names are in; Magni Ásgeirsson and Jógvan Hansen and the delicate matter of Sjónni Brink's song. I have not written in this blog about his sudden and sad death at the age of 36 just a couple of weeks ago but it doesn't mean I haven't cared. I have. I have always liked his songs in the Icelandic selections and he will be missed. His song will now be performed by his friends, by the request of his family. Let's see if the Icelandic will vote the song all the way to Germany out of respect? I like all the songs tonight and can't pick up my favourites. Listen yourself here . I will update this post with results later. Georg Alexander - Morgunsól Magni - Ég trúi á betra líf -> FINAL Jógvan - Ég lofa -> FINAL Buff - Sáluhjálp Sigurjón's friends - Aftur heim -> FINAL

We have known already some time Yohanna will return to the Icelandic national selection this year but now another big name has been revealed: Magni Áskeirsson. For years one of the leading Icelandic stars he shot to the fame in the States as participant of CBS talent hunt Rockstar Supernova in 2006. In 2007 he sung with Birgitta Haukdal the fantastic Núna veit ég in the Icelandic final but they didn't win (but I loved the song). With his band À Móti sól he has released already 8 albums plus some solo stuff. Will this be his definatele solo break through? And Yohanna of course scored a solid 2nd place in Eurovision 2009 with Is it true? for Iceland, "the best placing we could afford" as they said propably being rather happy Norway won instead. Has the economical crisis ended and can Iceland host this time if she takes the revenge? And guess what? Magni's song is co-written by certain Maltese Gerard James Borg....