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Iceland: Bashar Murad has not decided whether he will take part in Eurovision 2024!

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Bashar Murad is, so to speak, the face of the days. The artist of Palestinian origin, who is one of the ten candidates in Iceland’s national final for Eurovision 2024, says in an interview on the country’s public television that he has not decided whether he will participate in the contest, since of course he is the winner of Söngvakeppnin .

The news of Bashar Murad’s participation in Söngvakeppnin, before we had even heard his song, was enough to propel Iceland to the top of the betting table.

Bashar Murad rose to prominence in Iceland after collaborating with Hatari in 2019, right after Eurovision ended that year. In an interview with RUV, Bashar Murad denies the accusations that his participation is essentially a tool of political exploitation, while he answers that he has not yet decided whether he will finally participate in Eurovision 2024, since he is the winner of Söngvakeppnin.

We actually started working on this project a year and a half ago and considered participating in the competition last year (2023). But we decided it would be best to wait another year. So the work on this started in August last year…And who knows what will happen? It also depends on the situation we are in. Things change day by day. I take it one day at a time.

RUV has declared that its participation in Eurovision 2024 is not a given and the decision on this will be made after the end of Söngvakeppnin, in consultation with the winner of course.

Iceland will decide on Eurovision 2024 on March 2. You can listen to Bashar Murad’s Wild West in the video below:

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: RUV

Iceland: A singer from Palestine among Söngvakeppnin 2024 contestants!

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The artists and songs for Söngvakeppnin 2024, the national final of Iceland, are going to be announced in a few days, however, we may already know one of the artists taking part.

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Iceland: The country’s participation in Malmö is uncertain!

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Just a few days before the reveal of Söngvakeppnin’s 2024, Iceland’s national selection for Eurovision 2024, entries, it appears that the nation’s participation in Malmö is not certain yet.

This uncertainty stems from Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2024, despite the ongoing conflict in Gaza. After receiving backlash and protests, RÚV has decided to reconsider the country’s participation in Malmö and take the final decision on a later stage and under some circumstances.

How will the decision be made?

Taking into consideration the political implications of the upcoming Eurovision and the pressure on broadcasters and participants regarding Israel’s participation, RÚV has decided that the winner of Söngvakeppnin 2024 will be consulted before making a final decision regarding its participation in Eurovision 2024. This implies that Söngvakeppnin 2024 will take place as expected.

According to Rúnar Freyr Gíslason, Söngvakeppnin’s 2024 manager:

Deciding with RÚV’s participation in Eurovision after Söngvakeppnin ends is completely new. The contestants who have been selected for the competition, and will be revealed on Saturday, were able to accept this result. Criticism of participation in Eurovision certainly does not go unnoticed by them.

As the Söngvakeppnin’s 2024 Final is scheduled for March 2, RÚV’s final decision is expected around mid-March.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzlTcA0OC5s&themeRefresh=1

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Source: RÚV

Iceland: More than 500 musicians demand withdrawal of Iceland from Eurovision!

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A number of musicians showed up outside the radio house to present the petition to broadcaster Stefan Eiríksson. Confetti was shot over the broadcaster during the handing over of the list, as can be seen in a video footage taken by protesters that gave mbl.is permission to publish.

Pálmi Gunn­ars­son, Páll Óskar, Gréta Salóme, Bríet, Friðrik Dór, Svala Björg­vins­dótt­ir and Daní­el Ágúst Haraldsson are among more than 500 on a petition of musicians demanding that Iceland withdraw from Eurovision Song Contest, because Israel is participating in the contest.

Israel participates

Playwright Sal­vör Gull­brá Þór­ar­ins­dótt­ir told mbl.is:

“Musicians are encouraging RÚV to take a stand by withdrawing from Eurovision if Israel participates.”

Salvör also points out that Reykja­vík­ur­dæt­ur signed the list, as well as members of the band Celebs. The European Broadcasting Union has now announced that Israel will take part in this year’s contest. Salvör adds citing the results of a survey conducted by Prósent before Christmas:

“There’s really no other option for RÚV than to take a stand with Palestine. Because there is a strong will among the people to do so.”

According to the findings of this poll, about 60% of the population strongly or rather agree that Iceland should withdraw from the contest.

There have been calls to ban Israel from Eurovision 2024. In Finland, 1300 artists signed a petition asking for Israel to be removed. The British representative Olly Alexander has also shared in public his opinion against Israel. Also just recently Montaigne signed an open letter to the EBU asking the ban of Israel from the contest and Ben Dolic joined her by doing the same.

Source: mbl.is
Photo: Þórdís Reynis

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Iceland: Protest against Israel’s participation at Eurovision 2024 outside the Public Broadcaster offices!

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Earlier today, protesters gathered in front of the offices of the Icelandic Public Broadcaster RUV, calling for the disqualification of Israel from Eurovision 2024 due to the Israel-Gaza conflict. Around 50 people assembled in Reykjavik,  in support of Gaza and with one of their main demands to Israel’s withdrawal from the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest which will be held in Malmö, Sweden.

Stefan Eiríksson, the director of Icelandic Public Radio, met with a delegation of protesters who handed him a petition with 9,500 signatures calling for withdrawal from the 68th Eurovision Song Contest if Israel takes part. They urged RUV to put pressure on both the EBU and other public broadcasters to prevent Israel’s participation in the competition.

Sama Arla, the spokesperson of the protesters, stated that if Israel participates in Eurovision 2024, then RUV should withdraw Iceland’s participation.

“Iceland, like all the other countries competing in the Eurovision Song Contest, has the power to demand that Israel’s participation is re-examined in light of the fact that Israel is committing genocide. We know that there is usually a lot of controversy about RÚV’s lack of action on the matter. We want to see more action from RÚV. Also in the case of Russia, it was initially not expelled from the competition until the Finns threatened to withdraw. Anyone can take that first step and we want Iceland to do so.”

When asked whether they will be any further action if RUV  does not boycott the contest the reply was:

“This is a Public Television Network that should listen to the voices of the people in the country. It will be unusual if the decision to boycott the competition is not accepted.”

A few days ago, RUV, through Stefan Eiríksson, announced that Iceland would participate in Eurovision 2024. He stated that Iceland would not ask for the disqualification of Israel from the contest, emphasizing that the event should remain separate from political matters.

So far, no EBU member has officially asked the disqualification of Israel from Eurovision 2024.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates!

Source: Euromix

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Iceland: The Association of Composers and Lyricists calls on RÚV to abstain from Eurovision 2024 because of Israel!

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The Association of Composers and Lyricists of Iceland opposes the country’s participation in Eurovision 2024 unless Israel is disqualified.

Last night, through its official Facebook account, the Association of Composers and Lyricists of Iceland, F.T.T. (Félag tónskálda og textahöfunda) announced that they have sent a request to the radio director and RÚV board stating the following:

The board of FTT tonight sent this request to the radio director and board of RUV:

Reykjavik 11 December 2023

The board of FTT, an association of composers and lyricists, calls on RÚV not to participate in Eurovision in 2024 unless Israel is denied participation in the competition on the same grounds as Russia in the last competition. We all have a duty to take a stand against war and the killing of civilians and innocent children. We always have the choice not to put our name to such things, whether we are individuals or state institutions. We owe it to the nations that act with military force to not share with them in an event that is always characterized by joy and optimism.

The board of FTT:

Bragi Valdimar Skúlason, chairman
Védís Hervör Árnadóttir, vice-chairman
Sóley Stefánsdóttir
Ragnhei ður Grondal
Andri Olafsson
Hallur Ingólfsson
Hildur Kristín Stefánsdóttir

It is not the first time that Iceland has expressed discomfort in issues concerning Israel, recalling that in 2019 there was opposition to hosting the competition in Jerusalem, but also the representatives of the country themselves that year took a political position during the announcement of the results on the night of the final. Any response from the country’s public broadcaster is awaited with interest.

Do you believe that the aforementioned request will have an impact on Iceland’s participation? Let us know your thought in the comments below.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the updates around the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest!

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Daði Freyr: Iceland is winning Eurovision 2024!

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With a post on X (formerly Twitter), Iceland‘s representative at Eurovision 2020 and 2021, Daði Freyr, created excitement for the participation of the Land of Ice and Fire in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest.

He was quick to clarify, in response to comments, that he does not intend to return to Eurovision 2024 himself.

As we have informed you in a previous article, Iceland’s broadcaster RÚV will once again select its entry through Söngvakeppnin, with the grand final taking place on 2 March 2024.

RÚV received 118 entries for Söngvakeppnin 2024. The final list of participants will be announced on 27 January in Lögin i Söngvakeppninni.

Daði’s words imply that within the entries submitted to RÚV there is a very good song or even a well-known artist with great ambitions for the island nation, which, although it has been participating in the competition since 1986, has not yet won the first place.

Daði Freyr may not have been able to compete at Eurovision 2020 with his viral hit Think About Things, but he returned the following year with 10 Years and won 4th place, scoring 378 points!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSMhu-PrLME&t=6s

Do you think Iceland can win Eurovsion 2024? Write us in the comments!

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Iceland: Söngvakeppnin 2024 Final on March 2!

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Iceland has already confirmed its participation in Eurovision 2024 and will select its representative on 2 March with the grand final of Söngvakeppnin 2024.

RÚV, Iceland’s national broadcaster, has announced the timetable of the national final. The competition will consist of three shows: the first semi-final on 17 February, the second semi-final on 24 February and the final on 2 March. The winner of the competition will receive the golden ticket to represent the Land of Fire and Ice at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö, Sweden.

Each semi-final will consist of five entries competing live. The two songs from each show with the most votes from the TV audience will qualify for the grand final. The show’s producers also have the option of adding a fifth finalist as a wildcard from the other contestants. The show will again be presented by Ragnhildur Steinunn Jónsdóttir, Sigurður Þorri Gunnarsson and Unnsteinn Manuel Stefánsson.

RÚV received 118 entries for Söngvakeppnin 2024. The final list of participants will be announced on 27 January in RÚV’s Lögin i Söngvakeppninni.

Artistic direction for Söngvakeppnin 2024 will be provided by Högni Egilsson, Selma Björnsdóttir, Samúel Bjarki Pétursson and Gunnar Páll Ólafsson. Selma is the well-known Eurostar, former Eurovision representative of Iceland, taking second place in 1999 in Jerusalem with the song “All Out of Luck“, but failing to qualify in 2005 in Kiev with the song “If I Had Your Love“.

Diljá represented Iceland in this year’s competition with the song “Power“, finishing 11th in the second semi-final with 44 points, failing to advance to the final.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzlTcA0OC5s

Source: ruv.is

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Iceland: Einar Stefánsson from Hatari will be the Icelandic spokesperson for Eurovision 2023!

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A member of the group Hatari, is going to announce the twelve points of the Icelandic Jury. Drummer Einar Stefánsson from the band that represented the country in Tel Aviv in 2019 with the song  Hatrið Mun Sigra is scheduled to be the this year’s Icelandic spokesperson. Hatari managed to finish in the tenth place.

As of now, the following spokespersons have been confirmed for Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool:
  • Albania– Andri Xhahu
  • Austria– Philipp Hansa
  • Azerbaijan– Narmin Salmanova
  • Cyprus– Loukas Hamatsos
  • Estonia – Ragnar Klavan
  • Finland– Bess
  • Greece – Fotis Sergoulopoulos
  • Iceland – Einar Stefánsson
  • Ireland – Niamh Kavanagh
  • Israel – Ilanit
  • Italy – Kaze
  • Latvia– Jānis Pētersons
  • Netherlands– S10
  • Poland– Ida Nowakowska
  • Portugal – Maro
  • Romania– Eda Marcus
  • San Marino – John Kennedy O’Connor
  • Spain – Ruth Lorenzo
  • Sweden– Farah Abadi
  • Switzerland– Chiara Dubey
  • Ukraine– Zlata Ognevich
  • United Kingdom– Catherine Tate

Down bellow you can find a video of EurovisionFun reacting to this year’s Icelandic song:

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Source: RUV

Iceland: Power by Diljá winner of the third Alla leið episode!

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The third episode of the Icelandic preview show Alla leið was broadcast a while ago. The big winner was Dilja from Iceland, with the song Power.

The four judges of Alla leið evaluated eight more songs of this year’s contest, with Iceland’s Power topping the chart.

The results were as follows:

  1. Iceland – Diljá – “Power” – 12 + 12 + 12 + 12 – 48 points
  2. Belgium – Gustaph – “Because of You” – 10 + 10 + 5 + 10 – 35 points
  3. Denmark – Reiley – “Breaking My Heart” – 6 + 10 + 10 + 8 – 34 points
  4. Armenia – Brunette – “Future Lover” – 7 + 6 + 8 + 12 – 33 points
  5. Cyprus – Andrew Lambrou – “Break a Broken Heart” – 3 + 8 + 12 + 5 – 28 points
  6. Greece – Victor Vernicos – “What They Say” – 5 + 2 + 12 + 7 – 26 points
  7. Estonia – Alika – “Bridges” – 6 + 7 + 2 + 7 – 22 points
  8. Romania – Theodor Andrei – “D.G.T (Off and On)” – 1 + 4 + 1 + 2 – 8 points

Next week the Alla leið  panel will be rating the songs of the second half of the second semi-final.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all news regarding the Alla leið results!