During the semi finals of Söngvakeppni 2016 — Iceland’s national selection for Eurovision 2016 — wiwibloggs managed to work our way into the contestants’ green room. And by golly: we just couldn’t leave before speaking with the gorgeous favourite in Iceland, Miss Greta Salóme! She had only come off stage a few moments earlier, but was kind enough to talk to us about “Raddirnar”. When this interview took place, no one knew if Greta would advance to the final or if she would share an English-language version of the song. She did not give anything away, but we now know that she does, in fact, have an English version prepared for the final. It’s called “Hear them calling”.

Greta as always, is fabulous. She admits that if she wins Söngvakeppni, she will seriously have to clear her schedule for May, which is kind of hectic, and said that entering the contest seemed like a good idea in October. But here she is, in the finals and with a pretty good chance of going all the way to Stockholm.

Greta Salóme — “Raddirnar” (Hear Them Calling) Interview

Following her semi-final show, a lot of fans commented on Twitter and Facebook that she had “copied” Måns Zelmerlöw by using a fancy backdrop. This is, of course, ridiculous. Måns does not have a copyright on elaborate stage effects. And, in any event, she isn’t even using LED — she’s using shadows, which pre-date Måns’ performance by several million years. (Fans of Britain’s Got Talent will remember Attraction, the Hungarian shadow troupe that won the show back in 2013). “They’re completely different,” she says. “I didn’t want to use the LED-screen or anything. I wanted to do something different.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp6gYJE3oLE

Watch more of our interviews on our YouTube channel

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Fredrik
Fredrik
8 years ago

Who cares what she says. It’s what people will perceive in 3 minutes.

If those shadows and birds are going to do all the staging for her, I don’t think it will finish at the top of any semifinal, but could get to the final. She sings pretty good.

Brian
Brian
8 years ago

You can answer that to the media in your country when Europe votes and leaves you outside the final JUST because your performance will remind of the previous year’s winner Mans Zelmerlow, dear

Tha
Tha
8 years ago

Using shadows in the background isn’t a new idea, and isn’t a copy of Mans. Does anybody remember Lithuania 2007?

YoungsterJoey
YoungsterJoey
8 years ago

“she’s using shadows, which pre-date Måns’ performance by several million years”

I’m sorry, but that made me LMAO!!! Oh, the shade!
But, yes, Greta’s is better than Mans.

ESC freak ESC
ESC freak ESC
8 years ago

she have probably been inspired by “heroes´´ but it’s not similar . but if she goes to eurovision will many understand this and she may loose votes. still deserves top 10 though IMO

Ben Rafter
Ben Rafter
8 years ago

Of course it’s similar, but who cares? Hers is way better.

Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
8 years ago

This is nothing lie Sweden 2015, and this song is 30 times better. i hope it wins in Iceland.

Cratis
Cratis
8 years ago

Call it copying or inspiration or whatever you want, but there is no denying the similarities. It’s as if Greta set out to answer the question – what would a mix of Euphoria and Heroes look like? Whether intentional or not, I imagine that in may she’ll take a hit due to this, just like Cascada.

Colin
Colin
8 years ago

There are 30-43 acts each year, for decades. Plus thousands of songs and videos all over the world. Of course there’s going to be some similarities to many of them. But if the song is good on it’s own and the resemblance is not the main thing that keeps it up, you should just enjoy it. Nothing is 100% original without any resemblance to anything ever before created, but one must differentiate ripoffs, inspirations and accidental similarities.