Iceland has failed to make it to the Eurovision final for four years in a row. But the small island up in the north is resilient and has launched the search for their representative in Tel Aviv for 2019. Söngvakeppnin 2019 consists of two semifinals and one final, where the winner will be declared by a 50% televote and 50% jury vote.
The first semi-final will take place February 9 in Háskólabíó. Five acts will compete for two spots in the final, which takes place in Laugardalshöllin on March 2.
With the running order set, we want to know: Who do you think should win the first semi? And which of the acts should go on to the final? You can have your say in our poll!
The competing songs for Söngvakeppnin have been released both in Icelandic and in English. As they will be sung in Icelandic in the semi-finals, we’re only showing the Icelandic versions for this poll. Of course, you can listen to the English versions here. (Note that two songs only have an Icelandic version — Hatari’s “Hatrið mun sigra” and Elli Grill and co with “Jeijó, keyrum alla leið” — so there are only 8 songs on this playlist).
Below you can listen to all of their videos. Then vote in our poll. You can vote for as many songs as you’d like, but you can only vote one time. Be sure to click next to both of the acts you want to see in the final before pressing submit.
Hatari – “Hatrið mun sigra”
Þórdís Imsland – “Nú og hér”
Daníel Óliver – “Samt ekki”
Kristina Skoubo – “Ég á mig sjálf”
Hera Björk – “Eitt andartak”
Who should qualify from Semi-Final 1 of Söngvakeppnin 2019?
[polldaddy poll=10226865]Who should qualify? And who do you think will qualify? Let us know down below!
I hope hate will prevail, of course! 😛
This year, Iceland has the case of a runaway winner – Hatari! Their song is epic, dark, smart and memorable! Iceland, you should definitely pick them if you want to finish in top 10!
Hatari for the epic win!
Those guys from Hatari are even more ironic than AWS. I wonder if they would be willing to talk seriously in interviews.
Normally I love divas, but this year I am giving my full support to Hatari! I don’t think I understand what is going on but their song has such a catchy chorus. And they look good in leather.
F1 champion Lewis Hamilton was recently spotted wearing a pink tracksuit. I just thought I’d mention it, having seen your username. What a coincidence.
Hatari or no one else. Last time they qualified was back in 2014 and it was with a unique song that was super good! Hatari have the chance to do so well at Eurovision
Hera Bjork for me. She’s the lonely who had impressive my ears in this selection. And the music is very beautiful. “Classic” but really good.
I’ve grown to enjoy the chorus of the Hatari song, but I just can’t enjoy that demon vocal in the verses…
They have a karaoke version on Spotify! 🙂 with the nice vocals in the chorus. 🙂
Many people have said it already, but I have to say it too. Hatari are the only ones who could make it to the final, possibly even crack the top 10, especially if the staging fits the song. If they were to go with Hera, who doesn’t even seem to be the number 2 choice for most people, it’s needless to say that they will once again fail to qualify. Besides, I don’t think Hera is nearly as remembered by fans as Sunstroke Project were (true, the epic sax guy memes helped there), so she won’t get easy votes that… Read more »
Hera has an amazing voice but I honestly wish she had a better song. The ballad is nice but potentially forgettable. If she had a song with more of a beat like “je ne sais quoi” I would probably have voted for her in this poll. As it stands she’s my 3rd/4th choice of this SF. Hatari is so experimental and out there its honestly a pretty good choice just because it will be remembered, even if it doesn’t get to the finals in eurovision.
1. Hatari – Hatrið mun sigra
2. Daníel Óliver – Samt ekki / Þórdís Imsland – Nú og hér (both better in Icelandic)
Hatari should wave the Icelandic flag in Tel Aviv. It’s not my fav music style, but they are outstanding and they are, literally, the only way Iceland can qualify this year.
hatari >:) and kristina i guess
Love Hatari. Fridrik is probably my fsv in the other semi tho. I think Licky Licky is channelling Alex Bognibov lol
Hatari would be the best choice for Iceland. They have to stop sending generic songs already. Last time they made a risky choice was in 2014 and that was the last time they made it to the finals.
Hatari is the only winner in this national selection. 12 points from The Netherlands
Hatari pour la France….12 points…..
Please no, Hatsry si horrible star he and oldie os por misic
Only songs from this semifinal I would send to final are: Ég á mig sjálf (Mama said) and Nú og hér (What are you waiting for).
Hatari – ’cause it stands out
Kristina – ’cause I love this style of music
The exact same choices and reasons for me 🙂
Wow Hatarai is so strange yet so appealing! I feel like their uniqueness gives them a chance of going far at eurovision.
Hatari or nobody. The gap has never been so big. They literally have the choice between a top 10 songs and four songs outside the top 40.
This is so true, if Iceland wants a chance to qualify they just have to send Hatari!
I’m going to say [ordis] Imsland will win the Semi. Very difficult to spell out her name on my phone with that leading symbol-letter, so sorry about that. She has a nice song and should win over both the audience and the jury. Hatari would normally walk through to the final with good staging, but this is Iceland we’re talking about, so I predict this won’t happen. The jury there probably won’t appreciate it, so Hatari are relying on a landslide audience vote… in Iceland. Good luck with that. 🙂 Hera Björk is a fan favourite and should in theory… Read more »
Maybe I am wong but I think the semifinal is only televotes. So Hatari should qualify. Even in the final, there are only 4 songs and all they need to do is be top 2 with the jury and televotes combined to make it to the super-final.
“There will be two semifinals where results will be determined by 100% televote and a grand final consisting of 50% televote and 50% jury vote, which will result in a two-song ‘super-final’. The ultimate winner will then be decided by the public and the public alone.”
Ahh. Thank you for the correction. I didn’t know about 100% televote in the Semi Finals.
My biggest fear is that we will just go with a “safe” choice like the last 4 years have been, Hatari is getting a lot of positive reactions in Iceland so I think we’ll be seeing them in the final, but after that, they could end up like SUNDAY
TOUS LE MONDE POUR LE GROUPE HATARI VOTONS POUR CE GROUPE LOL
voyons on se calme un peu 😉
English lyrics of Daníel Óliver- Licky Licky is so creepy…. lol
I am still amazed how such a small country like iceland can come up with such a great variety of songs. I mean it is even smaller than Malta in relation to population. Some countries which are 20x times bigger can’t even come up with a decent selection for one show!
HATARI HATARI HATARI EN FORCE 12 POINTS DE FRANCE
I think Hatari could save Iceland, very cool and edgy! otherwise they risk to stay in semi again…
I saw some videos of Hatari, live and MVs, and they are awesome. I want to see them on ESC: their performance will be iconic, I’m sure.
Please, Iceland!!! It’s different and daring and talks about the hate that sorround us every day!!! It’s a really good choice to return to ESC final.
I really want Hatari to win, it would stand out A LOT in Eurovision. But I feel like Iceland will choose Hera just because of her voice and she will end up just like Ari.
Based on English versions “What Are You Waiting For?” is my favorite in this semifinal, “Mama Said” is cool, “Moving On” is nice, “Licky Licky” is poop but Hatari are just something else! very frantic and unapologetic, not sure if I love it or just not keen? I get the feeling their erotic shock value would be too much for viewers and especially juries who I can easily see ranking them down in Tel Aviv if Iceland chooses them.
Hatari make me wonder how much of a niche a niche is in Iceland.
Good luck!
Hatari is definately not my type of music, but it’s the best choice Iceland can make and total 180 degree turn from last year. I think it’s hit-or-miss, but the courage might pay off, looking at the fact that last year Hungary came 5th in the televote in SF2. With crazy staging and energy, who knows, maybe we’re talking about something more that just qualification to the final?
Wrong year to bring in the juries with a song like Hatari’s (which is the strongest in this very weak NF once again from Iceland)
Either Hatari or Þordís. I also voted for Daníel though. The rest is too forgettable.
Only Hatari!!! Iceland please
I would never call for an act that is called “hatred must prevail”. Disgusting!
You seriously think Hatari’s being serious with these lyrics? Lmao, what the heck.
I guess satire is not for everyone lol
Read the lyrics again. You will be surprised.
Its hatred will prevail not must. Its a warning or pessimistic view not a desire.
Find the word irony in dictionary
Hatari ftw!
Hatari is just out of all this. Love Hera and Pordis too. But they stand out.
Could be awesome for Eurovision!!!
Hatari is the one and only choice. Otherwise Iceland will once again not reach the final.
You don’t think Hera would reach the final? I thought, like Kaliopi, there might be enough love and respect for her from juries and fans to push Iceland through the SF, even if her song isn’t everything.
To be fair, it’s not only “not everything”, it’s nothing, Kaliopi was better and look what happened to her.
Easily Thórdís and Hatari.
Hatari is definitely my choice, but I’m not sure if they would qualify in the contest, cuz juries… :/
Is that even a question? You probably haven’t seen Hatari’s music video. 🙂
Only Hatari