Greta Salóme has released the final version of her Eurovision entry “Hear Them Calling”. And while the song hasn’t undergone a major revamp, the tension and drama has increased, and more orchestral sounds have been added.
The mix of the song that Greta performed at Söngvakeppnin 2016 had plenty of drama, but the Eurovision version seriously ramps it up. While the original vocal track and instrumentation remain the same, the production of the song ensures it feels louder, fuller and so much more dramatic.
The one big addition is some violins, adding a strong orchestral feeling to the original folky instruments. The false ending has been kept in the song – the pause that prompted the Söngvakeppnin to start cheering like the song was over. But any problems from that could be sorted out with the staging.
Since 2008, Iceland has regularly qualified for the grand final, with their run only broken last year when Maria Olaf failed to make it to the final in Vienna. Greta Salóme placed 20th in 2012 when she performed “Never Forget” with Jónsi. Iceland has come tantalisingly close to winning Eurovision twice, with second placings in 1999 and 2009. The volcanic island nation will not doubt be looking to Greta Salóme’s song of Nordic intrigue to achieve that elusive win.
Greta Salóme – “Hear them Calling”
What do you think? Can the final version of “Hear Them Calling” get Iceland its first Eurovision win? Don’t forget to vote in our poll for the best Nordic entry.
@EugeneESCUK: Only 2 brief comments on your reply: a) I mentioned Mumfords and Sons pretty much because anyone like me who knows their repertoire and style can easily see the influence in Greta’s entry although it would be fair to state that such influence comes from all the remarkable folk indie pop groups and artists from Iceland and there are many out there to be heard … you will not find them on the UK charts next to Rihanna saying Work 85 times for no reason but still … only a lunatic would want that … Having said this, I… Read more »
I would not be that patronizing if I were you. And I would not just make stuff up and present it as facts.
Here the songwriter Ali Zuckowski says in 2014 that the song was already four years old, after he was asked by Charlie Mason to write a song for a Shirley Bassey project, that never came
http://kurier.at/kultur/musik/conchita-wurst-und-ihr-rise-like-a-phoenix-ein-vier-jahre-alter-hit/65.477.934
Yes, it is a James Bond song, published after but written well long before Skyfall was published….. (and Skyfall is a very typical James Bond theme as well)
@Eugene, Rise Like A Phoenix was written in 2010, well before Skyfall hit the radio and was already rotting in a desk of the composer until he decided to send it to Conchita who called for songs for her Eurovision bid. Maybe the zeitgeist was still inspired by Skyfall but certainly not RLAP itself.
This song are not going to the final
@EugeneESCUK: If Greta is gonna win or not honestly that is as subjective as anything else in Eurovision for the most part … but the “current” criterium you mention is not necessarily the one criterium that will definitively state the winner otherwise Conchita would have not won in 2014 and much less The Common Linnets … still the folky sounds of Greta follow the same lines of Mumford and Sons which enjoyed success not 5 or 10 years ago but 3 years ago … They may not be a trendy sound right now and not being commercially relevant but denying… Read more »
Wonderful & top 3
To dark to finish high. Perhaps they can improve the staging. IDT her projections work all that well on the Stockholm stage with its staggered LED walls. Perhaps something incorporating the LED floor will work better.
@EugeneESCUK I’m with you. I also feel that the song isn’t enough current for the competiton this year. It feels a lot like 2013 or even older. The competition is moving forward and this is not the right direction. However I really like the song, but winner? Probably not.
I might like this song more if the lyrics made sense to me.
“They” are calling, singing & whispering. Who are “they” and why are doing this to Greta?
I was disappointed with this entry after seeing Greta’s first live performance, but I think it’s improved now. The visuals behind her are intriguing and the song has more power than before. I would like to see the lighting on Greta improved as it feels still that I can’t really connect with her. This might sound like an odd thing to say, but I would also love to see her with bigger hair — at the moment it’s so flat and doesn’t suit the grandeur of the song.
This is not a real rivalry. Sweden and Russia do not want to be strong. They want others to be weak.
Iceland has probably solid song, but this is not a masterpiece and that’s why this is not rival for Sweden and Russia.
One of my favorites this year. In my top 3. Lately Eurovision lacks such kind of songs, being dominated by the generic pop songs. So I am very happy that Iceland sent such a good and strong song. I hope it will do well at the contest and reach at least top 10.
Still 7th favorite. She does take a similar approach to Loreen and Måns but it is far from being a copy. People might prefer more unique performances but there is nothing wrong from drawing inspiration from successful entries in the past. However, she does not do it as well as Loreen and Måns (still good enough to be top 10), neither is the song. The main chorus doesn’t feel powerful enough, it almost feels as if it is overshadowed but the instrumental parts.
Robyn Gallagher
Hahaha. This song don t have any chance to win or to be in TOP 5, TOP 10 in final.Maybe Iceland stay in semfinal like last year. Only I have predict that they wili sing last in first semifinal thanks to SVT and reference group full of western nordic members.
Leonard
and Ira and Francesca can join your gruop of not great voices live.
How could this be a copy of Måns when it’s the same director behind it? Stop complain about it and enjoy the song.
Say what you want, but Greta misses two major key factors, although she tries so hard to tick all Eurovision winning formular boxes. – Her song is far from unusual and will not surprise nor mesmerize the viewers nor the jury. At this level of high quality Eurovision has evolved to in recent years, we always had plenty of formulaic songs and favourites but to victory stormed those who captivated the audience with something new and fresh to Eurovision. (Although I dont buy my own arguement with Emmelie de Forest and would have predicted Netherlands for the win, therefore the… Read more »
There are three female singers I do not like this year (voice and song): Greta, Zoe and Samra. Samra’s voice is the worst of all of the female contestants.
@Florian
Granted, Loreen did not invent the capoeira dancing nor did mans invent screen projection and there is bound to be similarities in to previous winners, but they were first to introduce them to eurovision and Greta Salome or whoever came up with the production surely had both at the back of his mind. Its too close of a resemblance…watch at 0:40-0:44,iyou’d think its loreen
All of you guys saying this is a copy of Loreen and Mans’s entry should really reexamine their perception of reality. 1. Loreen was dancing – Greta is just making some hand gestures and gets o her knees two times. – Loreen never wore the fuzzy costume in her performances – Greta’s costume is actually quite distinguishing. 2. Mans had screen with neon projection – Greta uses shadow manipulation. 3. Loreen and Mans had dance-pop entries – Greta has pop-folk. However, no one seems to bother with song originality and quality in this SONG contest anymore. FACT TO BE CONSIDERED:… Read more »
Best Nordic entry this year. It sounds quite like Dotan if it needs to be compared to anything. This is a clever entry, if the vocals are spot on life (not like last year, Iceland), it’s top 3 material!
Let’s face it: there hasn’t been any really original entry into eurovision in ages. I think because they usually get no votes whatsoever…
@BBB – Too be honest, out of all the female singers this year, Greta’s live vocals are the least suspect. I have never heard anybody say she cannot deliver live.
Let’s be real: she’s pretty much interacting with shadows on a backdrop. I don’t remember Loreen or Mans doing that, perhaps it’s because Greta hasn’t COPIED but rather been INSPIRED? There’s a major difference, and I’m pretty sure we’re going to see a different country copy Mans or Loreen more closely.
This is a bad song. It is a copy of Loreen ( choreography) and Mans ( Animation) and music is generic, boring song.
How can you say this is good song? This is really boring song
Lol at people saying that Måns didnt invent the LED screen and Loreen wasnt the first one with those dance moves, yeah well of course? But they were first to do in Eurovision in that form.
And yes, people still remember loreens staging. Its just four years ago, people still have working memories, right? ???? its considered to be one of the best winners of all time, so trust me, its not something that the GP will forget.
Alianzas milenerias, lo que se conoce como amiguismo vecinal.Hipocresia
blondboybc
maybe wili be strong contender if Greta have good live vocals. But she can t sing very well in 2012 , Jonsi had push the song with his strong vocal, and she sang badly in that duet.
This has been and remains in my top 5 and is definitely a contender for the win, despite what bookies are saying now. Good luck, Iceland! 😀
She obviously was inspired by some previous winners, but I ain’t mad cos she does it WELL.
That’s the rule, do It equally good If not better than what you try to copy.
And It works.
My predcition for draw , because draw decide host and reference group
full of members from western countries many from nordic and SVT producer SVT like uptempo song for opening and close or song with tehnical inovattion
I semifinal
1.Russia
2.San Marino
3.Croatia ( to push out 4 favorite to win)
4.Hungary
5.Armenia
6.Moldova
7.Greece
8.Finland (to support neighbour)
9.The Netherlands (to support western country)
10.Azerbaijan
11.Estonia
12.Czech Republic
13.Bosnia Herzegovina
14.Austria
15.Montenegro
16.Malta (swedish author)
17.Cyprus (swedish author)
18.Iceland (to support nordic neighbour)
It seems that nobody from Mans fandome remembers the fact that he actually copied already made visual performance during Melodifestivalen – that’s why he had to change slightly the shape of it. At least Greta come up with new idea for using that screen. And she composed her entry all by herself.
Good song, in song is weakest Greta voice.
I have been thinking about our entry this year and I have to say that I am really optimistic. First of all, this is one of the best Icelandic Eurovision song we have submitted to the contest for years. I am also pretty sure that Greta will do a fantastic job in Stockholm in May. She’s a great performer. This might be the song that’ll bring the victory up north to Iceland (something that we have been waiting for 30 years). One more thing. Please for goodness sakes people, stop saying she is “copying” Måns performance with the background. Måns… Read more »
Absolutely love this! My favourite Icelandic entry ever! And I definitely wouldn’t have any problems with this winning.
People, please stop comparing it to Loreen with the dance moves and Mans with the staging, Loreen wasn’t the first singer to flail around the ESC and Mans wasn’t the first to use the LED wall. Iceland 2016 is art and it is culture, something that most ESC songs are lacking due to Swedish over production of a number of entries. This will do well.
Beautiful song 🙂 Should qualify with no problems. I would like to see it win the whole thing.
Not too much changed and that they did change did not really add anything to it.
I can honestly see this winning. It’s my Number One and easily the strongest song from the nordics, artfully staged and well performed. Greta, you have my votes!
Even non-Eurovision fans have working memories. They may not have obsessed over Loreen’s staging like the fandom, but to think that all memory of it has been obliterated is mistaken. It was unique. (Until now!)
This was already my favourite this year and now I am just completely in love with this song. I’m glad its more or less the same but it now has a bit more drive which will get the audience fully engaged throughout.
@Osterrike
Being bland and formulaic is the inescapable outcome of a prescriptive marking scheme.
I don’t understand the comparison to Loreen? yeah some dance moves are similar but the whole performance is completely different
Greta will slay!!! She is going to be so fantastic!!!! Come on Greta!!!
It would be so exotic and exciting if the contest were to go to Iceland. My favorite right now is Sweden, Iceland and France 🙂 Netherlands is growing on me as well..
Y”all shut up about the Loreen/Mans comparison. Greta does a totally different thing on stage. She is amazing!
Besides that, neither did Loreen invent capoeira dancing or whatever that was (which Greta does not do, anyway!), nor did Mans invent interacting with a screen. Having proper staging for your song is not an exclusive right only Sweden can use. And my any means, Greta is the most original and creative one of those three. Let’s not forget how she wrote the song all by herself.
I was hoping for more drama with this and they delivered so good for Iceland.
It is bland and formulaic, an attempt to appease Eurofans from within the bubble
I’m with you on this one William! 🙂
I really like Iceland’s song. One of my top10 favorites songs this year.
I don’t agree at all with all these people that are claiming Greta just copied the performances of Loreen & Mans.
I think that its her own special version & not a copycat.