Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018

Eurovision Song Contest 2018
Country  Iceland
National selection
Selection process Söngvakeppnin 2018
Selection date(s) Semi-finals:
10 February 2018
17 February 2018
Final:
3 March 2018
Selected entrant Ari Ólafsson
Selected song "Our Choice"
Selected songwriter(s) Þórunn Erna Clausen
Finals performance
Semi-final result Failed to qualify (19th, 15 points)
Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2017 • 2018 • 2019►

Iceland participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 with a song selected through the national final Söngvakeppnin 2018 organised by the Icelandic broadcaster RÚV.

Background

Prior to the 2018 Contest, Iceland had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest thirty four since its first entry in 1986.[1] Iceland's best placing in the contest to this point was second, which it achieved on two occasions: in 1999 with the song "All Out of Luck" performed by Selma and in 2009 with the song "Is It True?" performed by Yohanna. Since the introduction of a semi-final to the format of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2004, Iceland has failed to qualify to the final six times. In 2017, Iceland failed to qualify to the final with the song "Paper" performed by Svala.

The Icelandic national broadcaster, Ríkisútvarpið (RÚV), broadcasts the event within Iceland and organises the selection process for the nation's entry. Since 2006, Iceland has used a national final to select their entry for the Eurovision Song Contest, a method that has once again return for the selection of their 2018 participation.

Before Eurovision

Söngvakeppnin 2018

Söngvakeppnin 2018 was be the thirteenth edition of Söngvakeppnin, the music competition that selects Iceland's entries for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Format

Twelve songs in total competed in Söngvakeppnin 2018, where the winner was determined after two semi-finals and a final. The two semi-finals that took place at the Háskólabíó conference hall in Reykjavík on 10 and 17 February 2018, with six songs competing in each, and the final took place at the Laugardalshöll in Reykjavík on 3 March 2018, where top three songs from each semi-final competed. In addition to that, a special jury panel selected a wildcard act for the final out of the remaining non-qualifying acts from both semi-finals.[2]

Competing entries

RÚV opened a submission period between 6 September 2017 and 20 October 2017 in order for interested parties to submit their entries. The submitted songs were not allowed to exceed three minutes, but had to contain lyrics in Icelandic for the semi-final and were to be performed in the same language as they are to be performed at the Eurovision final.[2] RÚV announced the selected acts on 20 January 2018 with both Icelandic and English versions of each competing entry.[3] On 5 February, Guðmundur Þórarinsson and Þórir & Gyða swapped semi-finals, because of Þórarinsson's involvement in a cup match for IFK Norrköping.[4]

Artist Song Composer(s)
Icelandic title English title
Ari Ólafsson "Heim" (Home) "Our Choice" Þórunn Erna Clausen
Aron Hannes "Golddigger" "Gold Digger" Sveinn Rúnar Sigurðsson, Valgeir Magnússon, Jóel Ísaksson, Oskar Nyman
Áttan "Hér með þér" (Here with you) "Here for You" Egill Ploder Ottósson, Nökkvi Fjalar Orrason
Dagur Sigurðsson "Í stormi" (In a storm) "Saviours" Júlí Heiðar Halldórsson, Guðmundur Snorri Sigurðarson
Fókus "Aldrei gefast upp" (Never give up) "Battleline" Þórunn Erna Clausen, Primoz Poglajen, Jonas Gladnikoff,
Michael James Down, Sigurjón Örn Böðvarsson, Rósa Björg Ómarsdóttir
Guðmundur Þórarinsson "Litir" (Colours) "Colours" Guðmundur Þórarinson, Fannar Freyr Magnússon
Heimilistónar "Kúst og fæjó" (A broom and a dustpan) N/A Elva Ósk, Katla Margrét Þorgeirsdóttir, Ólafía Hrönn Jónsdóttir,
Vigdís Gunnarsdóttir
Rakel Pálsdóttir "Óskin mín" (My wish) "My Wish" Hallgrímur Bergsson, Nicholas Hammond
Stefania, Agnes & Regína "Svaka stuð" (Enormous fun) "Heart Attack" Agnes Marínósdóttir, Aron Þór Arnarsson, Marino Breki Benjamínsson
Tómas & Sólborg "Ég og þú" (Me and you) "Think It Through" Tómas Helgi Wehmeier, Sólborg Guðbrandsdóttir, Rob Price
Þórir & Gyða "Brosa" (To smile) "With You" Guðmundur Þórarinson, Fannar Freyr Magnússon
Þórunn Antonía "Ég mun skína" (I will shine) "Shine" Þórunn Antonía Magnúsdóttir, Agnar Friðbertsson

Semi-finals

Semi-final 1

The first semi-final took place on 10 February 2018 and six of the competing acts performed. The top three entries decided solely by televoting advanced to the final.[5]

Semi-final 1 – 10 February 2018
Draw Artist Song Televote Place Result
1 Þórunn Antonía "Ég mun skína" 5 Eliminated
2 Tómas & Sólborg "Ég og þú" 6 Eliminated
3 Ari Ólafsson "Heim" Advanced
4 Heimilistónar "Kúst og fæjó" Advanced
5 Fókus "Aldrei gefast upp" Advanced
6 Guðmundur Þórarinsson "Litir" 4 Eliminated

Semi-final 2

The second semi-final took place on 17 February 2018 and six of the competing acts performed. The top three entries decided solely by televoting advanced to the final.

Semi-final 2 – 17 February 2018
Draw Artist Song Televote Place Result
1 Aron Hannes "Golddigger" Advanced
2 Rakel Pálsdóttir "Óskin mín" 6 Eliminated
3 Stefanía, Agnes & Regína "Svaka stuð" 5 Eliminated
4 Þórir & Gyða "Brosa" 4 Eliminated
5 Dagur Sigurðsson "Í stormi" Advanced
6 Áttan "Hér með þér" Advanced

Final

The final took place on 3 March 2018 and six of the competing acts have performed. The top two entries were advanced to the superfinal where the winner was decided.

Final – 3 March 2018
Draw Artist Song Televote Jury Total Place Result
1 Fókus "Battleline" 12,859 13,091 25,950 5 Eliminated
2 Áttan "Here for You" 3,360 10,637 13,997 6 Eliminated
3 Ari Ólafsson "Our Choice" 18,408 17,453 35,861 2 Superfinalist
4 Heimilistónar "Kúst og fæjó" 17,619 14,183 31,802 3 Eliminated
5 Aron Hannes "Gold Digger" 14,848 16,090 30,938 4 Eliminated
6 Dagur Sigurðsson "Í stormi" 24,547 20,183 44,730 1 Superfinalist
Superfinal – 3 March 2018
Artist Song Televote[6] Percentage Place
Ari Ólafsson "Our Choice" 44,919 53.23% 1
Dagur Sigurðsson "Í stormi" 39,474 46.77% 2

At Eurovision

Split voting results

The following five members comprised the Icelandic jury: [7]

  • Védís Hervör – Chairperson – singer, songwriter
  • Hlynur Ben – singer, songwriter
  • Hannes Friðbjarnarson – musician
  • Jón Rafnsson – musician
  • Erla Jónatans – singer, music teacher

Points awarded to Iceland

Points awarded to Iceland (Semi-final 1)
Televote
Iceland did not receive any televoting points in the Semi Final 1.
Jury
12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points
5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point

Points awarded by Iceland

References

  1. ↑ "Iceland Country Profile". EBU. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  2. 1 2 Avelino, Gerry. "Iceland: Söngvakeppnin Opens Submissions, Triples Prize Money". Eurovoix.com. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  3. ↑ Herbert, Emily. "Iceland: Söngvakeppnin 2018 Artists Announced". Eurovoix.com. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  4. ↑ Kristiansen, Wivian Renee. "Litir and Brosa to swap semis". ESCXTRA.com. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  5. ↑ Luukela, Sami. "Iceland: Söngvakeppnin 2018 semifinal split announced". ESCXTRA.com. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  6. ↑ "Afgerandi sigur Ara í einvíginu". visir.is. Vísir. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  7. ↑ Groot, Evert (30 April 2018). "Exclusive: They are the expert jurors for Eurovision 2018". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
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