She’s the Icelandic diva and Eurovision star who had to skip the pre-party season due to her busy schedule in Los Angeles.

But on Tuesday Svalata made it clear that she’s been paying attention to the world of Eurovision — and that she’s ready to make it her own — when she uploaded an acoustic cover of last year’s winning song “1944” to her Facebook page.

Rocking the off-duty model look, she wore head-to-toe black, replete with her signature platforms, a pair of slouchy sweatpants and an on-trend leather jacket.

Beautiful song!

My team last night singing Ukraine's Eurovision entry last year! Please share if you like it 🙂

Posted by SVALA on Tuesday, April 25, 2017

The dark colours matched the nihilistic lyrics of the song — “When strangers are coming, they come to your house, they kill you all and say, ‘We’re not guilty.'”

But where there is death there is also life, and that came through in her on-point vocals and lovely harmonies with her backing vocalists, who will also accompany her to Kyiv.

Although she doesn’t speak a word of Crimean Tatar, Svala managed to pull it off with the aid of her smartphone. Language doesn’t matter, y’all. It’s all about the music and that emotion.

Svala doesn’t just strip back other people’s songs — she knows how to work hers down to the rawest note.

Earlier this winter, she performed an acoustic version of “Paper”, showing that the song works well outside of electro. Supported by piano and guitar, Svala’s pure vocals are just what the doctor ordered.

Eðvarð Egilsson, her brother-in law and a former member of her band Steed Lord, has also been having a little fun with the song on the side.

He recently remixed it and cranked up the noise just a wee bit. Now it’s a proper club banger, too.

Paper (Edvard Egilsson Remix)

Paper REMIX by Edvard Egilsson Meet me in the club it's going down!

Posted by SVALA on Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Svala and her team will fly to Kyiv at the end of the month, and rehearsals will start as soon as she lands. She’ll perform in the first semi-final on May 9 and attempt to put an end to Iceland’s two-year hiatus from the finals.

What are your thoughts about Svala’s cover? Will her versatile approach to music be enough to bring Iceland back to the Saturday scoreboard? Please, comment below!

Read more Iceland Eurovision news

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Oljay
Oljay
7 years ago

GOD damn it’s easier to say TURKIC! Instead crimean tatar.. Crimean people, Azerbaijani people, turkmens et c. They all speak Turkic.

Pavel
Pavel
7 years ago

She sounds phenomenal live !

Andrés Jakob
Andrés Jakob
7 years ago

Svala is great. What a voice guys! I am so looking forward to hear and see her on the great stage. She is the best. Iceland, Paper #12points.

Gokhan
Gokhan
7 years ago

Well done Svala for “1944”.

As for “Paper”, I don’t like the original version. However, acoustic version makes an u-turn. Simplicity works and works great there. This version would guarantee the qualification.

As for the make-up, please go for natural, do not use needless colors.

karma
karma
7 years ago

Svala’s Paper is not good enough to qualify. Byebye, Iceland!

This is my opinion (TIMO)
This is my opinion (TIMO)
7 years ago

This is nice song and she can deliver the song at its best, that is perfect match Iceland is so underrated, oh and she is showing her respect for Ukraine and jamala by not using her full voice while singing 1944 not trying to be better than jamala singing her song, good luck Iceland you have contemporary contender this year 🙂

alexey
alexey
7 years ago

Tatar, not tartar

Stop disrespecting our culture

Kristín Kristjánsdóttir
Kristín Kristjánsdóttir
7 years ago
Reply to  alexey

@Alexey. That “R” was not supposed to be there. A little type-o, and for that I am very sorry. I would not dream of disrespecting anyone´s culture.

olvresc
olvresc
7 years ago

She sings better in Crimean Tatar than English.

John
John
7 years ago

Wow – what a great commercial voice! This lady can sing anything. I’m surprised the music industry in L.A. hasn’t utilized her more. Could be on the US radio right now.