Iceland: Söngvakeppnin 2019 will include two semi-finals and “an exciting, loud, and lavish grand final”

The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RÚV) has revealed more details about Söngvakeppnin 2019 and it looks as if Iceland is aiming high this year. This is despite some calls to boycott the contest that were initially made last year.

In a press release that was published in English on RÚV’s website under the title “Iceland gearing up for Eurovision frenzy”, RÚV teases a promising selection process this year.

For all you English speaking fans of our local competition here is an article from #RÚVEnglish about the competition you won´t need to google translate! 😉 #12stig https://t.co/KEWa3j40JU

— Söngvakeppnin á RÚV (@RUVEurovision) January 24, 2019

Söngvakeppnin’s Format

Söngvakeppnin 2019 will start tonight at 20.45 CET with an introduction show that will include a brief about the songs in the competition after which they will be released to the public. RÚV emhpasises that a higher variety and diversity of songs will be presented this year, as indicated in their press release.

“The variety and diversity of the songs are higher than ever. There’s something for almost everyone this time round…but we’d be made to stand in front of the wind machine singing endless key changes if we revealed any more at this stage. You’ll just have to tune in on Saturday”.

The Semi Finals
10 songs will be competing in this year Söngvakeppnin, 5 in each of the 2 Semi-finals. The best 2 songs in each Semi-final will proceed to the Grand Final. The selection in each Semi-final will be made by both the public and a panel of judges, although no names have been mentioned yet.

The Grand Final
The 4 qualifiers from the semi-finals and a “wild card” that will be chosen by RÚV from the songs which have failed to qualify, will compete over a ticket to Tel Aviv. The selection of the winning song will be made by an international panel of expert judges who will give their opinions and their points, alongside with the public vote.

In order to keep the tension high and to add more drama to the show, the 2 songs that will receive the highest mark will compete head-to-head in a final round without revealing their full marks. Only after this round, the the winner will be declared.

The Interval Act
According to the press release, Ari Ólafsson, who represented Iceland last year in Lisbon, will perform in the interval, as well as a well-known Eurovision star from another country whose details will revealed next week.

Here is the full schedule as published at http://www.ruv.is:

Friday 8 February, 18.40 CET: A warm-up show with introduction of the five competitors and details about their songs and preparations ahead of the first semi-final.

Saturday 9 February, 18:45 CET: The first Semi final, live from Háskólabíó

Friday 15 February, 18.40 CET: A warm-up show with an introduction of the remaining five competitors and details about their songs and preparations.

Saturday 16 February, 18:45 CET: The second semi final, , live from Háskólabíó

Saturday 2 March, 18.45 CET: The Grand Final, live from Laugardalshöll.

All the shows will be available to view on the RÚV website and on catch-up both internationally and in Iceland. Tickets to attend the three live shows are not on sale yet, but will be available for a very reasonable price from 30th January, through Tix.is.

Iceland’s lucky number 9?
There’s something magic about the number nine. Both Selma and Yohanna gave Iceland their best results, each with second-place finishes, in 1999 and 2009. Does this mean another silver medal is written in the stars for Iceland at Eurovision 2019? Or perhaps a gold one? And indeed RÚV promises “an exciting, loud, and lavish live show”.
Except for Cyprus, Iceland is the most veteran country in the contest without a single victory.

Do you like Söngvakeppnin’s format? Do you believe that 2019 will be Icleand’s lucky year again? Tell us what you think in the comments’ section below.