Israelis are urging Icelanders to vote for Hera Björk instead of Bashar Murad!

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The Eurovision Song Contest is another venue where the crises and conflict in the Middle East are clearly reflected. An example of this is the debates over Israel‘s participation in this year’s event.

Iceland‘s participation this year has political ramifications as well. Palestinian-born artist Bashar Murad is one of the artists claiming to represent the country. Due to this circumstance, the artist is the clear favourite to represent the country and has concurrently boosted Iceland in the betting tables.

Given this, a significant number of Jews have opposed to this entry. Indeed, there have been calls for Icelandic citizens to boycott Murad’s participation in the “Israeli-Icelandic Conversation” Facebook page, which strives to promote relations between the two countries. A such example is the post made by Yogev Segal, the group manager, urging Icelanders to vote for Hera Björk, the country’s representative in the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest, in order to prevent Bashar Murad from winning.

In view of the above, developments over the next period are expected to be of particular interest.

Below you can watch the performances of Hera Björk and Bashar Murad:

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the Eurovision 2o24 updates!

Source: Heimildin

Iceland: The Söngvakeppnin Grand Final running order!

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Iceland’s broadcaster, RÚV, has released the order in which the 5 artists will perform on the Söngvakeppnin stage to compete for the much anticipated ticket to Malmö!

The running order will be as following:

  1. Bíómynd – VÆB
  2. Scared of Heights – Hera Björk
  3. Downfall – ANITA
  4. Wild West – Bashar Murad
  5. Into The Atmosphere – Sigga Ózk

The voting

In the Grand Final, the result is to be decided after two rounds of voting. In the first round, the Icelandic public and an international jury will decide, with the top two in the ranking advancing to the second round. There, only the Icelandic public will be entitled to vote, whose votes will be combined with those of the first round to determine the night’s winner.

We are therefore extending our appointment for Saturday, March 2, when we will find out who will represent the country at Eurovision 2024!

Source: RÚV

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the latest news regarding Iceland’s participation in Eurovision 2024!

Iceland: The results of the second semi-final of Söngvakeppnin 2024!

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Tonight was the second semi-final of Söngvakeppnin 2024, the national process through which the representative of the island of ice and fire is sworn in for the Eurovision Song Contest. This year, however, the country’s participation is not considered a sure thing, as the issue of the conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine and the former’s participation in the contest is a point of friction in Iceland’s public sphere. The second semi-final of Söngvakeppnin 2024 took place at Truenorth Studio, in Reykjavik.

 

The second night was hosted by Ragnhildur Steinunn Jónsdóttir, Sigurður Þorri Gunnarsson and Unnsteinn Manuel Stefánsson.

The participants

Five participants competed for the two tickets to the Grand Final of Söngvakeppnin 2024 on March 2.

  1. Sigga Ózk – Um allan alheiminn / Into the Atmosphere
  1. Heiðrún Anna – Þjakaður af ást
  1. Bashar Murad – Vestrið villt / Wild West
  1. MAIAA – Fljúga burt
  1. Hera Björk – Við förum hærra / Scared of Heights

With the completion of the competitive part, the lines opened for the voting of the TV audience. With the voting completed, the two songs that qualified for the final are:

  1. Hera Björk – Við förum hærra / Scared of Heights
  2. Bashar Murad – Vestrið villt / Wild West

At this point, it should be recalled that the jury will be asked to select a fifth finalist as a wild card among the six songs that did not qualify directly from the two semi-finals.

  1. Sigga Ózk – Um allan alheiminn / Into the Atmosphere

Our appointment is renewed for next Saturday 2 March for the Grand Final of Söngvakeppnin 2024.

What is your opinion on the results? Tell us what you think in the comments!

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the news about Eurovision 2024!

 

Iceland: Söngvakeppnin 2024 Continues with Second Semi-Final!

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Tonight marks the continuation of the journey to select Iceland’s representative for the 68th Eurovision Song Contest with the second semi-final of Söngvakeppnin 2024.

Format

Comprising of two semi-finals and the grand final on March 2nd, these three shows will determine the artist who will compete for Iceland’s colors in Malmö.

Five artists will compete in each of the two semi-finals, with the top two in votes from Icelandic viewers advancing to the grand final. This means that at least four artists will participate in the grand final of Söngvakeppnin 2024, with the Icelandic public broadcaster having the right to grant a wildcard to one additional artist to compete in the final.

In the grand final, the result will be determined after two rounds of voting. In the first round, the Icelandic public and an international jury will jointly decide, with the top two in the ranking advancing to the second round. There, only the Icelandic public will have the right to vote, and their votes will be combined with those of the first round to determine Iceland’s representative in Eurovision 2024.

Finalists

The first two finalists of Söngvakeppnin 2024 are:

  1. VÆB – Bíómynd / Movie Scene
  2. ANITA – Stingum af / Downfall

Second Semi-Final

The five artists competing in tonight’s second semi-final of Söngvakeppnin 2024 are:

  1. Hera Björk – Við förum hærra / Scared of Heights
  2. Heiðrún Anna – Þjakaður af ást
  3. Bashar Murad – Vestrið villt / Wild West
  4. Sigga Ózk – Um allan alheiminn / Into the Atmosphere
  5. MAIAA – Fljúga burt

The hosts for tonight are Ragnhildur Steinunn Jónsdóttir, Sigurður Þorri Gunnarsson, and Unnsteinn Manuel Stefánsson.

The second semi-final of Söngvakeppnin 2024 begins at 20:45 CET and can be watched through the official website of the Icelandic public broadcaster by clicking HERE.

Diljá represented Iceland in last year’s contest with the song “Power,” finishing 11th in the second semi-final with 44 points, failing to secure a spot in the final.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the developments regarding Iceland’s journey in the contest!

Betting Odds Reshuffled with Ukraine Leading the Pack!

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With less than a month remaining until the official release of all entries for the 68th Eurovision Song Contest, we are entering the most crucial month of the pre-Eurovision period, with national finals multiplying week by week.

For this reason, one of Eurovisionfun’s most beloved and talked-about columns returns, with betting analyses for Eurovision 2024 back in action.

While you prepare for the pivotal weeks ahead with the revelations of most entries ahead of May, bookmakers have already been hard at work, with the winner section of Eurovision 2024 already being offered by some companies. So, let’s take this opportunity and present to you what we know so far for the next contest.

Ukraine Emerges as the Top Favorite

As mentioned earlier, February is the month of most national finals, and understandably, this has caused reshuffles in the betting tables. Far ahead in the first position sits Ukraine. The Eastern European country, which has consistently topped the betting odds in recent weeks, is considered the major favorite by bookmakers to win in Malmo.

The triumph of Alyona Alyona & Jerry Heil at Vidbir, where they “flattened” their competition, has skyrocketed the odds for Ukraine to win the 68th Eurovision Song Contest. At the moment, a Ukrainian victory returns up to 3.8 times the bet.

Italy has now risen to the second position. Angelina Mango’s victory with “La Noia” at the San Remo Festival has put the Mediterranean country in a particularly advantageous position, with bookmakers considering it the second most likely winner at the moment. Italy’s odds range from 7.5 to 10.

Croatia Takes the Third Spot

Croatia now sits in third place. The release of the video clip for Baby Lasagna’s entry, considered the major favorite to represent the Balkans in Malmo, has propelled Croatia to third place, just a breath away from second-placed Italy. Croatia’s victory is currently bet on odds ranging between 8 and 10.

In the fourth position is Sweden. The host country of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest is once again considered one of the big favorites of this year’s competition, with SVT executives and Swedish Eurofans eager for the historic eighth victory to take place on Swedish soil. A victory for Sweden is offered at odds between 11 and 15, showing a slight increase compared to our last analysis.

Rounding up the top five is Belgium. The recent release of “Before the Party’s Over” by Mustii seems to have thrilled betting companies, placing the Western European country within the Top 5 for the first time during this Eurovision season. Belgium’s victory is bet on odds between 10 and 15, just below the fourth position.

Top 10

In sixth place with clearly declining trends is the United Kingdom. Olly Alexander’s “Dizzy” teaser seems to have neither thrilled nor convinced bookmakers, who have now placed the United Kingdom outside the top five. It’s a significant drop, with the UK’s victory now returning up to 15 times the bet.

From there onwards, deviations from the group of leading six countries begin. Thus, in seventh place is Norway, whose victory now returns up to 21 times the bet. Similar odds are found for Iceland in seventh place, awaiting the second semifinal of the national selection, where Bashar Murad, of Palestinian descent, competes.

Lithuania follows in eighth place, which has returned to the top ten after Silvester Belt’s selection with “Luktelk“. Odds range between 17 and 21. France has returned to the top ten after a long time, with Slimane, whose potential victory triples the bet placed on it. Finally, Switzerland completes the Top 10, with odds ranging between 23 and 34.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_8cNbF8FLI

Do you believe Alyona Alyona & Jerry Heil can make history in Malmo and give Ukraine its fourth victory in its twenty-year presence at the Eurovision Song Contest? Let us know in the comments!

Iceland: Last week’s Söngva­keppn­in almost the same TV ratings as last year!

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The average TV ratings for last Saturday‘s semifinal night of Söngva­keppn­in, the Icelandic national selection process was 35 percent. Last year’s average ratings were 37 percent. Cumulative ratings were 45 percent, compared to 48 percent last year.

Considerable pressure was exerted to cancel the contest in Iceland and thereby not participate in Eurovision. Many people said they would boycott the contest if it were to be held. Rúnar Freyr Gíslason, director of the competition, says it is awesome to see how much interest there is in the competition, as it is obvious that despite the continuous protests and calls for boycott, the interest remained high.

The finalists

The two songs which secured their place to the final, after the Icelandic people cast their votes, are:

  • Væb – “Bíómynd”
  • Anita – “Stingum af”

The format

Ten songs are equally allocated in two semi-finals and two entries qualify from each semi-final to the Final, a result eventuating by 100% televote. Meanwhile, the producers of the show have the option to add a fifth finalist as a wildcard from the semi-finalists.

The Final is comprised of two rounds. In the first round, the two acts that qualify for the Super Final will be decided by jury and televote. In the second round, the country’s representative will be determined solely by the public vote.

The schedule

The Second Semi-Final of Söngvakeppnin 2024 is scheduled for next Saturday, February 24th. The Final is set to take place on Saturday, March 2nd.

Source: RÚV/Amanda Guðrún Bjarnadóttir

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Iceland: The results of Semi-Final 1 of Söngvakeppnin 2024!

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Iceland is on the lookout for its representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö, Sweden. Hence, Söngvakeppnin 2024 kickstarted tonight, since Semi-Final 1 aired with Ragnhildur Steinunn Jónsdóttir, Sigurður Þorri Gunnarsson and Unnsteinn Manuel Stefánsson as the hosts of the show.

The show

The show began with Ragnhildur Steinunn Jónsdóttir and Sigurður Þorri Gunnarsson performing a mendley of iconic Icelandic entries, such as “Is It True?” and “Hatrið mun sigra“.

A total of five songs competed in tonight’s first semi-final and eventually, two of them grabbed the ticket to the Final, as it was determined by 100% televoting process.

Blankiflúr – “Sjá þig” / “Love You”

 

CeaseTone – “Ró” / “Flow”

 

Væb – “Bíómynd” / “Movie Scene”

 

Sunny – “Fiðrildi”

 

Anita – “Stingum af” / “Downfall”

 

 

Sigga, Iceland’s 1994 representative performed her Eurovision entry “Nætur” as an interval act.

The results

The two songs which secured their place to the final, after the Icelandic people cast their votes, are:

  1. Væb – “Bíómynd” / “Movie Scene”
  2. Anita – “Stingum af” / “Downfall”
The format

Ten songs are equally allocated in two semi-finals and two entries qualify from each semi-final to the Final, a result eventuating by 100% televote. Meanwhile, the producers of the show have the option to add a fifth finalist as a wildcard from the semi-finalists.

The Second Semi-Final of Söngvakeppnin 2024 is scheduled for next Saturday, February 24th.

The Final is comprised of two rounds. In the first round, the two acts that qualify for the Super Final will be decided by jury and televote. In the second round, the country’s representative will be determined solely by the public vote. The Final is set to take place on Saturday, March 2nd.

It is worth pointing out that Iceland’s participation at the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest is under doubt, due to the current situation in Gaza and Israel’s involvement in the Contest. Therefore, RÚV will be in consultation with the crowned winner of Söngvakeppnin 2024 in order to make the final call regarding the country’s participation, with the former having the last word on the matter.

 

Stay tuned at EurovisionFun for all the news regarding the Icelandic participation and more!

Iceland: Söngvakeppnin 2024 Commences with First Semi-Final!

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Tonight marks the beginning of the journey to select Iceland’s representative for the 68th Eurovision Song Contest with the first semi-final of Söngvakeppnin 2024.

Format

Comprising of two semi-finals and the grand final on March 2nd, these three shows will determine the artist who will compete for Iceland’s colors in Malmö.

Five artists will compete in each of the two semi-finals, with the top two in votes from Icelandic viewers advancing to the grand final. This means that at least four artists will participate in the grand final of Söngvakeppnin 2024, with the Icelandic public broadcaster having the right to grant a wildcard to one additional artist to compete in the final.

In the grand final, the result will be determined after two rounds of voting. In the first round, the Icelandic public and an international jury will jointly decide, with the top two in the ranking advancing to the second round. There, only the Icelandic public will have the right to vote, and their votes will be combined with those of the first round to determine Iceland’s representative in Eurovision 2024.

First Semi-Final

The five artists competing in tonight’s first semi-final of Söngvakeppnin 2024 are:

  1. CeaseTone – Ró / Flow
  2. Blankiflúr –  Sjá þig / Love You
  3. ANITA – Stingum af / Downfall
  4. Sunny – Fiðrildi
  5. VÆB- Bíómynd / Movie Scene

The hosts for tonight are Ragnhildur Steinunn Jónsdóttir, Sigurður Þorri Gunnarsson, and Unnsteinn Manuel Stefánsson.

The first semi-final of Söngvakeppnin 2024 begins at 20:45 CET and can be watched through the official website of the Icelandic public broadcaster by clicking HERE.

Diljá represented Iceland in last year’s contest with the song “Power,” finishing 11th in the second semi-final with 44 points, failing to secure a spot in the final.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the developments regarding Iceland’s journey in the contest!

Betting Odds: Ukraine Leads by Margin | Greece and Cyprus out of Top 20!

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Following the first Super Saturday of the year, we saw significant reshuffling in the betting odds chart. Three new songs were selected last night, and the odds saw many changes, with Ukraine maintaining its top position, and moreover, with a clear lead. Bad news for Greece, which has significantly dropped compared to our previous article, and for Cyprus, which, despite gaining ground, still finds itself low in the rankings.

Top 5

Ukraine remains in the first position, with a considerable lead over its pursuers. A victory for Teresa Maria is playing out in odds of approximately 3.5, with no significant changes compared to our previous article. The United Kingdom, after the release of a teaser for Olly Alexander’s song “Dizzy,” temporarily dropped to third place, but is now back in second. A victory for the United Kingdom is playing out in odds ranging from 7 to 9. Italy is third, and after Angelina Mango’s victory, its odds have dropped, with a victory playing out in odds from 7.5 to 11. Sweden is fourth, and so far, has not convinced that it has a winning song. Rounding out the top 5 is Israel, which, after Eden Golan’s victory, regained some ground it had lost in the previous period.

The other countries making up the top 10 are Iceland, Croatia, Georgia, Finland, and Ireland.

Greece and Cyprus

Greece continues to lose ground and is now found in 21st place. A victory for Marina Satti is playing out in odds of up to 66, when just a few months ago, it was playing out in odds up to 35. Cyprus, on the other hand, had an upward trajectory in recent days, likely due to the publicity received from the filming of the video clip in Limassol. Cyprus is now in 27th place, with a potential victory for Silia Kapsis playing out in odds of up to 90.

The many fluctuations we have seen this year at the top of the betting odds herald an exciting year where we won’t know the winner early on, as happened in the previous two seasons. Of course, under the proviso that no song emerges as a clear favorite, and betting companies crown it the unbeatable favorite, as was the case with Stefania and “Tattoo.” We are likely heading towards a repeat of 2021, where things didn’t clear up even during rehearsals, as we had 3-4 songs that were betting favorites vying for victory on almost equal terms.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments!

Eurovision 2024: Ukraine is now the frontrunner to win!

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As February, the most crucial month of the pre-Eurovision period, unfolds, national finals are multiplying week by week. Simultaneously, an increasing number of songs that will compete in the 68th Eurovision Song Contest are being revealed. For this reason, one of Eurovisionfun’s most beloved and discussed columns returns, featuring betting analyses for Eurovision 2024.

As you prepare for an “hot” Eurovision February with the reveals of most entries ahead of May, bookmakers are already hard at work. The section for the winner of Eurovision 2024 is already available at some companies. Let’s take this opportunity to present what has been observed so far for the upcoming competition.

Ukraine Emerges as a Strong Favorite

As mentioned in the introduction, February is the month of numerous national finals. The first “Super Saturday” of the year has already caused reshuffling in the betting odds. Ukraine stands far ahead in the first position. The Eastern European country, consistently at the top of the betting boards in recent weeks, is considered the major favorite by bookmakers to win in Malmo.

The triumph of Alyona Alyona & Jerry Heil at Vidbir, where they convincingly outperformed their competitors, has significantly affected the odds for Ukraine‘s victory in the 68th Eurovision Song Contest. At present, Ukrainian victory returns up to 3.5 times the stake, compared to odds ranging from 5.7 to 7 just a few days ago.

With the widespread sympathy towards Ukraine due to the ongoing Russian invasion and the quality of Ukrainian entries in Eurovision, betting companies consider the fourth win for Ukraine in its twenty-year Eurovision history highly probable. The competition’s current odds have also been influenced by the relatively weak competition compared to previous years.

Top 5

The United Kingdom maintains its second position. The odds for the United Kingdom have dropped and are lower than they were ten days ago. The assignment to Olly Alexander and the expectations created by the BBC’s choice put pressure on the odds, ranging between 6 and 7. Currently, the United Kingdom appears as the most likely competitor to Ukraine based on bookmakers.

Italy retains the third position just a day before the highly anticipated Sanremo Festival, which boasts one of its strongest line-ups in its long history. The odds for Italy have slightly decreased, and the country is currently offered in odds between 8 and 10. The events in the small Ligurian town in the coming days are expected to influence Italy’s standing in the betting odds.

Iceland occupies the fourth position. Bashar Murad‘s song in Iceland’s national final did not convince bookmakers that it could secure the coveted victory in Reykjavik. Iceland has fallen to the fourth position with noticeably declining trends. The potential maiden victory for Iceland is currently being betted between 7 and 12 times the stake.

Sweden secures the fifth position. As the host country of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest, Sweden is once again considered one of the major favorites. The odds for Sweden winning within its borders are between 11 and 13, showing a slight increase compared to the last analysis.

Top 10

In the sixth position is Israel, which sees its odds fluctuate but still maintains a relatively high position. The geopolitical reality and the war in Gaza keep Israel in contention, with victory odds ranging between 11 and 13.

From seventh place onward, significant deviations from the top six countries begin. Lithuania, in seventh place, has seen a considerable drop in odds, with the potential maiden victory returning up to 26 times the stake.

The same trend is observed for Norway, Ireland, and Croatia, which complete the top ten. All three are playing with odds above 20, with Norway‘s odds turning red after the Gåte‘s selection, while Ireland‘s turned green following the choice of Bambie Thug. Croatia‘s entry – most possibly – by Baby Lasagna and the artist’s popularity have brought Croatia into the top ten for the first time this season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_8cNbF8FLI

Can Alyona Alyona & Jerry Heil make history in Malmo and give Ukraine its fourth victory in twenty years of Eurovision participation? Share your thoughts in the comments! Eurovisionfun will continue to provide updates and analyses as the Eurovision journey unfolds. Stay tuned for more exciting developments in the world of Eurovision 2024!