A little while ago through the official social networks of the contest, it was announced that the draw of the semi-finals of this year’s contest will also apply to Eurovision 2021. Read more
A few moments ago, the EBU revealed the list of the participating countries at the upcoming contest of Eurovision 2021, on 18th, 20th and 22nd of May in Rotterdam the Netherlands. Actually they are the same 41 nations that were about to take part in the 2020 contest that was canceled due to the COVID19 pandemic.
EBU and the Dutch host broadcasters NPO, NOS and AVROTROS have already revealed the 4 scenarios which their are focused on, and they abide by the restrictions and the facts of the pandemic and according to which the Eurovision 2021 will take place. The scenario, which will be chosen, will be announced in due time.
Martin Österdahl, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, said:
“We are grateful for the commitment of the 41 participating broadcasters in helping us bring the Eurovision Song Contest back in 2021.”
“We have the exact same line up of countries that would have competed in 2020 and we are thrilled that they will all return next year. Together with our host broadcasters we are continuing to develop the 4 different scenarios and maintaining a dialogue with all participants. The team from NPO, NOS and AVROTROS are working hard on ensuring the Eurovision Song Contest will provide the excitement and innovation expected by over 180 million viewers, despite the challenging circumstances.”
Of the 41 nations taking part, 35 will compete in two Semi-Finals with 10 successful acts from each Semi-Final joining the Big 5 (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom) and hosts the Netherlands in the Grand Final.
Sietse Bakker, Executive Producer of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021, said:
“It is fantastic that the same 41 countries that would have taken part this year still want to come to the Netherlands in May 2021. This demonstrates their confidence in our country still being able to organize a successful Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam next year, after the cancellation of the 2020 edition.”
“We have set the bar high to create 3 amazing live shows for an audience of 180 million people, even in these challenging times. To achieve this, we are working on an extensive protocol that guarantees the health of employees, participants, the press and visitors as much as possible.”
Participating broadcasters
The following countries (and EBU Member broadcasters) will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam:
Albania (RTSH)
Armenia (AMPTV)
Australia (SBS)*
Austria (ORF)
Azerbaijan (Ictimai TV)
Belarus (BTRC)
Belgium (VRT)
Bulgaria (BNT)
Croatia (HRT)
Cyprus (CyBC)
Czech Republic (CT)
Denmark (DR)
Estonia (ERR)
Finland (YLE)
France (FT)
Germany (ARD/NDR)
Georgia (GPB)
Greece (ERT)
Iceland (RUV)
Ireland (RTE)
Israel (KAN)
Italy (RAI)
Latvia (LTV)
Lithuania (LRT)
Malta (PBS)
Moldova (TRM)
The Netherlands (AVROTROS)
North Macedonia (MKRTV)
Norway (NRK)
Poland (TVP)
Portugal (RTP)
Romania (TVR)
Russia (Channel One)
San Marino (RTV)
Serbia (RTS)
Slovenia (RTVSLO)
Spain (TVE)
Sweden (SVT)
Switzerland (SRG SSR)
Ukraine (UA:PBC)
United Kingdom (BBC)
*EBU Associate
It is worth to be mentioned this is the first time since 1990 that we have the same amount of participating countries in two consecutive years.
Source: Eurovision.tv
Through his social media accounts, Daði Freyr Pétursson announced that he is going to represent Iceland in Eurovision 2021. Of course, he will be accompanied by the Gagnamagnið.
Eurovision 2021!
⁰I’m coming back next year and Gagnamagnið is joining me!
So I guess I’m writing another Eurovision song.
Also closing the Think About Things chapter of my life with some remixes released today:https://t.co/SZ6X8IY1ub
Thank you for all the support! pic.twitter.com/ovbxqCjfTp— Daði Freyr 🥑 (@dadimakesmusic) October 23, 2020
Iceland becomes 22nd country confirming the same artist from the canceled 2020 edition for the 2021 contest.
Moreover Daði Freyr stated that he has not written a song yet but he is going to do so (write a new one) for the upcoming contest.
Daði Freyr Pétursson with Thing About Things was one of the hot favourites to win the 2020 contest. There weren’t a few those who wanted him back for 2021.
What do you think? Will he manage to bring the first trophy ever to the nation of ice and fire?
https://youtu.be/1HU7ocv3S2o
The head of delegation of Iceland at the Eurovision Song Contest, Felix Bergsson, gave a very interesting interview to the former head of delegation of Czechia, Jans Frost Bors. Felix Bergsson revealed that the public broadcaster of Iceland has yet to decide whether to select Daði Freyr internally or to organise their national final shows of Söngvakeppnin. The relevant announcements will be made in two-three weeks.
In an in-depth interview, Felix Bergsson spoke to Jan Bors and his new project, Humans of Eurovision. The head of the Icelandic delegation in the competition, referred to how his country managed to be at the Eurovision epicenter in the last two years. How they changed the national final, reducing the number of songs participating in the Söngvakeppnin, which gives them more time and money for each act.
Felix explained in detail what his job is, that he actually takes over the winner of Söngvakeppnin in early March and deals with everything related to Iceland’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. The video clip, the final production of the song, the stage appearance, but also the necessary promotion.
Jan could not help but ask Felix about the 2019 experience and the Hatari. Felix responded very honestly saying it was a very difficult year for him. The Hatari essentially participated solely because they wanted to convey their message, which was purely against Israel and in favour of Palestine. In addition to their obligations for the competition, the Hatari were also shooting a documentary, explaining the reasons for their participation. This was also the biggest difficulty of that year, the balance between their obligations as Iceland’s representatives in the competition and their obligations for this documentary, which was more important for them, since it was the reason why they participated in that year’s Eurovision.
In the end, Felix Bergsson explained that due to the pandemic and the budget cut of the Icelandic public broadcaster, no decision has been made yet on how to choose their participation in the next competition. That is, if they perform Söngvakeppnin normally or if they give Dadi another chance, after this year’s great acceptance of Think about Things. But soon and more specifically in the next 2-3 weeks we will have official announcements.
Below you can watch the entire interview of Felix Bergsson to Jans Bors
Obviously, RUV would also like to emulate the rest of the Scandinavian public televisions and make Söngvakeppnin, which is very popular in the country, next year as well.
However, the fact that Daði Freyr Pétursson, who was this year’s winner of Söngvakeppnin, was also the biggest favorite to win Eurovision 2020, has put RUV in second thoughts. In an interview on July 10, the head of the mission, Felix Bergsson, revealed that the country’s decision for Eurovision 2021 will be announced in September.
Today, Daði Freyr Pétursson announced the dates of his tour, starting in March.
In the above photos, which were published through the personal account of the Icelandic singer, on Twitter, we observe that his tour will last from March to June, with the whole of May declaring free according to his schedule.
So we could assume that Dadi is somehow showing us that he will be Iceland’s representative at Eurovision 2021 this year as well. An official announcement, about the Icelandic representative, is expected soon.
This year, Daði Freyr Pétursson, with Think About Things, was one of the favorites for Eurovision 2020, which was canceled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HU7ocv3S2o
Would you like to see Daði Freyr Pétursson to return at Eurovision 2021?
The success of Think About Things, with Daði og Gagnamagnið far exceeded the small Icelandic border and is by far the most commercial song from this year’s contest. Now Think About Things is also known in Italy, since it is used as a theme song in Big Brother!
There are many who argue that Iceland for many reasons would be this year’s winner of Eurovision. Before the contest was canceled, Think About Things was the biggest favorite to win, and its success became even bigger after that!
To his surprise, Daði himself found that his song is used as one of the main soundtracks of the Italian Big Brother:
Hér er byrjunin á þætti 2 sem var í gær pic.twitter.com/Hvkn6b21fJ
— Hildur Hinriksdóttir (@hildurina) September 20, 2020
So far, Icelandic public broadcaster has not announced whether Daði will represent the country again at Eurovision 2021 or whether the national final Söngvakeppnin will take place. Although the head of delegation had stated that we would be aware of their final decisions in early September, however there was no official announcement yet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HU7ocv3S2o
“Netflix doesn’t push the song in any way” – these are the words of Daði Freyr, the frontman of Daði og Gagnamagnið, the Icelandic representatives at this year’s Eurovision. In recent weeks, the band’s “Think About Things” section has become a sensation in all social media and with a large number of celebrities expressing their love.
Supporters range from Hollywood actror Russell Crowe and designer Bridal Princess Diana to one of Britain’s leading political journalists.
Viral phenomena, by their very nature, spread rapidly through the internet, and for no reason at all. But some Europeans seeking to make sense of a pointless world have come up with their own theory – Netflix pays verified Twitter users to support Daði and the band as a way of promoting Will Ferrell’s upcoming Eurovision movie on the Netflix platform.
Speaking in a blog by Birta Rán and Guðný Rós – the creative mind behind the music video “Think About Things” – Daði says:
“We didn’t pay Russel Crow to share the video. We didn’t pay anyone to share anything. The only thing I paid for was to make the video, to make the costumes and the material to make the instruments.
Many people really believe that Netflix is paying to promote us and the reason is supposed to be that our song is in next season’s Stranger Things. This is not the case.
Netflix doesn’t push the song in any way. It would be great if Netflix really paid to promote the song, I’d be okay with it and wouldn’t be ashamed to say it because it would be great. But that’s not the case”.
There are dozens of reports on Twitter, Reddit and elsewhere, but the situation is about as follows.
Netflix is making a Eurovision movie starring Will Ferrell, Rachel McAdams and several other Hollywood A-Listers. In the film, the central couple plays two Icelandic singers competing in a song contest.
In some of the behind-the-scenes photos, Ferrell is seen with long hair, bringing something of the Daði style.
From this summary, we move on to the “Think About Things” which goes viral. The logic is that Netflix is undertaking some sort of special marketing strategy to promote the movie by promoting the song.
According to the theorists, the streaming giant is either paying or asking celebrities to send backing tweets.
So far, none of the famous tweeters have responded to online rumors. However, British journalist Rob Holley – the man who first uploaded the video to Twitter – told a fan that “I tweeted because I’m a fan. As I did with Alligator or Verona. How Does the Internet Work? Do you honestly think that fans like me and you have been deceived? ” Despite the explanation, he appeared to remain convinced.
Source: wiwibloggs.com
For the 15th consecutive year, Iceland has chosen to participate in the Eurovision Contest through Söngvakeppnin. This year, two semifinal rounds took place on February 8 and 15, with the final taking place on Saturday, February 29.
Daði & Gagnamagnið were named “Winners of the Söngvakeppnin 2020 and therefore representatives of the country at the 65th Eurovision Contest with “ Think About Things ”. These winners gained over 30,000 votes!
Analytically:
| SEMI-FINAL 1 – 8 FEBRUARY 2020 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DRAW | ARTIST | SONG | TELEVOTE | PLACE | RESULT | |
| 1 | Kid Isak | “Ævintýri” | 3.651 | 3 | Eliminated | |
| 2 | Elísabet | “Elta þig” | 1.989 | 5 | Eliminated | |
| 3 | Brynja Mary | “Augun þín” | 3.374 | 4 | Eliminated | |
| 4 | Ísold & Helga | “Klukkan tifar” | 6.654 | 2 | Advanced | |
| 5 | Dimma | “Almyrkvi” | 14.984 | 1 | Advanced | |
| SEMI-FINAL 2 – 15 FEBRUARY 2020 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DRAW | ARTIST | SONG | TELEVOTE | PLACE | RESULT | |
| 1 | Daði & Gagnamagnið | “Gagnamagnið” | 11.218 | 1 | Advanced | |
| 2 | Hildur Vala | “Fellibylur” | 1.336 | 6 | Eliminated | |
| 3 | Iva | “Oculis Videre” | 10.924 | 2 | Advanced | |
| 4 | Nína | “Ekkó” | 5.905 | 3 | Wildcard | |
| 5 | Matti Matt | “Dreyma” | 5.634 | 4 | Eliminated
|
|
Although Nína failed to reach the top in the semifinals, she eventually qualified for the Söngvakeppnin 2020 final, on the advice of the Icelandic broadcaster RUV.
| FINAL – 29 FEBRUARY 2020 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DRAW | ARTIST | SONG | JURY | TELEVOTE | TOTAL | PLACE | RESULT |
| 1 | Ísold & Helga | “Meet Me Halfway” | 17.170 | 5.568 | 22.738 | 4 | Out |
| 2 | Daði & Gagnamagnið | “Think About Things” | 24.289 | 36.035 | 60.324 | 1 | Qualified |
| 3 | Nína | “Echo” | 15.286 | 6.515 | 21.801 | 5 | Out |
| 4 | Iva | “Oculis Videre” | 18.426 | 19.072 | 37.498 | 3 | Out |
| 5 | Dimma | “Almyrkvi” | 14.867 | 22.848 | 37.715 | 2 | Qualified |
| SUPERFINAL – 29 FEBRUARY 2020 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DRAW | ARTIST | SONG | TELEVOTE | PLACE |
| 1 | Daði & Gagnamagnið | “Think About Things” | 118.643 | 1 |
| 2 | Dimma | “Almyrkvi” | 80.183 | 2 |
A few hours ago, Iceland became the new big favorite to win in Rotterdam! Read more HERE.
A total of 157 songs have been submitted to Iceland’s public broadcaster, RÚV, ahead of the Icelandic selection for Eurovision 2020, in the hope all to compete in the “Söngvakeppnin 2020” national final in February. The application period was open until October 17, with interest being particularly high. In fact, the total of applications this year exceeds 20% of the last year.
All songs will be evaluated by a seven-member jury composed of RÚV executives, professional musicians, composers and songwriters. In the process of listening to the songs, the committee will know neither the singers nor their composers.
The top-ten songs chosen by the experts will be revealed in January. Then, on February 8 and 15, they will take part in the two semifinals that will take place at the Reykjavik Háskólabíó Convention Center. Two songs from each semifinal will qualify for the grand final on February 29 at the Laugardalshöll Indoor Stadium. RÚV reserves the right to issue a wild-card for the final in one of the 6 songs that failed to reach the final stage.
In the semifinals, all songs must be interpreted in Icelandic. Instead, in the final, the artists have to interpret the songs in the language they intend to sing in the Netherlands if they win the Icelandic national final. The winner of the “Söngvakeppnin 2020” will represent Iceland at the 60th Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam’s Ahoy Arena.
In the 64th edition of the contest held in Tel Aviv last May, the iconic Hatari represented Iceland with the song “Hatrið mun sigra” ranking 10th with 232 points.
