Iceland has started the process of selecting Ari Ólafsson’s successor and tonight, we saw the first heat of Söngvakeppni take place in Reykjavík.

“Variety” was the word of the evening, as we got to see a rock-hard ode on the destruction of capitalism, a 60’s infused number devoted to the empowerment of women, soft dance-pop, a ballad from a Eurovision alum and a musical breakdown and analysis of dating through social media. Whew!

Prior to this evening, there was already huge buzz surrounding the controversial, yet entertaining duo of Hatari. They became a fan favourite early on, both in Iceland and abroad, and there seemed to be no way of stopping them. And so it was tonight — for Hatari galloped their way easily out of the semis with a powerful BDSM infused performance with ironclad dancers and a person crawling around on the floor in chains, which (most likely) represented the death of capitalism. They would be a bold choice for Iceland, and Benjamin Netanyahu might just have to learn how to wrestle Hatari style

Hera Björk is no stranger to Eurovision, and she meant business tonight when she performed her power ballad and marked her spot in the finals in March, safely and without hassle.

She was a long way from the flowing red dress from Oslo, dressed all in black, but she put her heart and soul into the performance, which she described as “very personal”.

In a week we will see the other five hopefuls take the stage and two of them will advance to the grand finals of Söngvakeppni which will be held in Laugardagshöll arena on March 2nd.

What do you think about tonight’s results? Are you happy with the qualifiers? Did the right songs advance to the finals? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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Dalth
Dalth
5 years ago

Hatari is a wonderful racket hope Iceland picks this

Dalth
Dalth
5 years ago

Hatari is great been starting to give up on the scandies with all the midlle of road dross they been sending in recent years thank god for Iceland, best song of 2019 so far

ESCdenmark
ESCdenmark
5 years ago

Hatari is horrible! One of the worst songs I have heard this year! Its okay its wierd, but this is too much..

Gurl
Gurl
5 years ago
Reply to  ESCdenmark

Neverthelles, non-typical ESC song can make fans enough to be in final, just like AWS last year.

Christian
Christian
5 years ago
Reply to  ESCdenmark

Yes it’s for me one of the worst too indeed. I don’t understand why fans hype it so much.

Gin
Gin
5 years ago

This was interesting.
The song from the Icelandic Band That Must Not Be Named or the filter monster gets me, reminds me strangely of the theme for “IT Crowd” mixed with something really familiar. Maybe a Sisters of Mercy song, or Bauhaus? Depeche Mode? All of them? Can’t quite put my finger on it.
I didn’t love it at first listen, but I definitely welcome it. It was different, and appealed to my semi-industrial sensibilities.

ESCalator
ESCalator
5 years ago

Hera is a great singer, but this song…nope. Too boring.

Hatari needs a back vocalist (hidden behind the stage) with a stronger falsetto to duplicate the singer.

HallsiKallsi
HallsiKallsi
5 years ago
Reply to  ESCalator

Apparantly the sound was great in the arena, but the televised version had some technical problems, which isn’t anything new in Söngvakeppnin

Rasmus
Rasmus
5 years ago

Why are countries going so safe? Denmark,Belarus, Latvia, Sweden,UK,Iceland. I want more risks. I love Montenegro though.

Gurl
Gurl
5 years ago
Reply to  Rasmus

Lol, Montenegro’s choice is definition of safe

Uyo
Uyo
5 years ago

Hatari’s performance didn’t live up to the stuido version. It’s now weirdly boring. It can’t make me wanna scream, “Yes!!!!! This has to win!!!” If it’s in Eurovision, they have to get the staging right to make it stand out.

Alon I srael
Alon I srael
5 years ago

Hatari is a eurovision winner!

Milla
Milla
5 years ago
Reply to  Alon I srael

I think it’s too bold.

uwu vision
uwu vision
5 years ago

Hera Björk’s song is boring to me. I would much rather have had Imsland in the final. Hatari is definitely a good song, though. I do wonder how many people voted for Hera just because shes Hera Björk? i mean, her voice is great… but the song…

DavidR
DavidR
5 years ago

If they won’t send Hatari, Iceland is cancelled.

Sakis
5 years ago

On adore en France hatari en force hatari 12 points

Sakis
5 years ago

Les chanteurs hatari sont formidables …ils sont rigolos….et surtout ils apportent un humour…j’aime Héra Björn….mais trop classique ….a mon goût…

Donc votez hatari en force pour Islande ….dans 15 jours…lol

Hatari hatari hatari hatari

Roy Moreno
Roy Moreno
5 years ago

Just not Hatari, please… Iceland won’t qualify

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago
Reply to  Roy Moreno

Maybe. but anyone else won’t qualify much harder.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
5 years ago

I can’t take another national selection making a terrible choice. You know what to do, Iceland.

Notmysong
Notmysong
5 years ago

I think Iceland has the best song so far (if Hatari wins)… however the performance is putting me off a bit. But having listend to the song halfway through I also got ab bit bored…hmm :-/ Still I guess it would qualify. – Let’s wait and see. 🙂

Héctor
Héctor
5 years ago

Okey, I kinda like Hatari. It was fascinatingly terrifiying: that guy growling the hell out looks like he is undergoing a demonic possession (his face…), the dancers with black eyes and chains, the guy walking around chained, the other guy banging the boxes during the whole 3 minutes… “Hatrið mun sigra” wouldn’t be out of place in an Icelandic remake of American Horror Story (especially in the first season, if you know what I mean…). The falsetto part needs to be fix though, it sounds really bad live. Hatari is the obvious winner in Iceland, but I’m afraid this BDSM… Read more »

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
5 years ago
Reply to  Héctor

Eurovision is a contest primarily for adults. It is theoretically timed late enough to accomplish this (except in Australia, obviously). The 16-17 entry age is a grey area I personally object to, because International Law on child rights is quite clear – a minor is a person under the age of 18 (unless I am mistaken). Families might watch Eurovision together, but it is always with parental responsibility in mind. Adult themes will always be present in art and music, and long may it be so. Having said that, would the contest have been the same without Blanche or Kristian… Read more »

Milla
Milla
5 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

My son have stayed up and watched eurovision since he was 10 years old. I think Hatari is too much. Defenetely the music video.. I wouldn’t dare to show it to him, he would get nightmares. There are limits I think to what you can send to eurovision. Lordi’s masks pale in comparison. And bondage is something that can stay in people’s bedrooms. So no.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
5 years ago
Reply to  Milla

In principal, as an artist, I could enter a song about an adult topic. That is part of what Eurovision guidance accepts I can do. The EBU can make certain exceptions for offence; that’s fine. It might still be that the EBU objects to Hatari on those grounds – it is admittedly borderline. But in principal, the contest is effectively aged 16+. There is a Junior contest specifically for younger contestants and viewers. That’s the intention of having the two contests instead of just one. To tone down certain aspects of the adult contest solely to suit child viewers goes… Read more »

poe-tay-toe-chips
poe-tay-toe-chips
5 years ago
Reply to  Milla

Your telling me your son would be more scared of a little skin and leather than he would be a big man with bat wings and a monster face?

suuuuuuuure….

poe-tay-toe-chips
poe-tay-toe-chips
5 years ago

Also if your problem is sexuality in the show, ….Czech 2018 and Sweden 2017 both had songs with very sexual lyrics and they were still allowed

I think your real problem is that Hatari makes you uncomfortable because for once, it’s men instead of women

Teddie
Teddie
5 years ago
Reply to  Héctor

I was actually pleasantly surprised with how well the falsetto was handled. It’s no small task to maintain the volume and break through the mix, however, he did it pitch-perfect

Sabrina
Sabrina
5 years ago

Maybe the name of the band means something really bad in some language? Thanks for being always helpful, Robyn! 😀

Skiwalko
Skiwalko
5 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

It means danger in suahili. Kinda appropriate for this situation.

Sabrina
Sabrina
5 years ago
Reply to  Skiwalko

Indeed. But it wouldn’t explain the filter reacting to it. Maybe the fact everybody was using the band’s name (let’s not provoke the monster) made the filter see it as a spam attack.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
5 years ago

Thanks Robyn.

Gurl
Gurl
5 years ago

Just cancel everything and send Hatari

brennan
brennan
5 years ago

is hatari’s song really about the destruction of capitalism tho
the lyrics seem like more of a criticism of far-right movements in europe

Marcelo
Marcelo
5 years ago
Reply to  brennan

If that’s true, it will be so funny considering countries like Poland and Hungary compete in the same semi. Hatari has to win!

123
123
5 years ago
Reply to  Marcelo

why would Hungary and Poland be far-right?

Lolz
Lolz
5 years ago
Reply to  123

Because they are, lmao

Lolek
Lolek
5 years ago
Reply to  Marcelo

I don’t think their group/song is necessarily meant to be taken too seriously. They largely seem to be singing about (against) capitalism as well as fascism (sometimes putting the two together) but their interviews come across as mostly satirical in nature. Sort of like Silvia Night – but of a very DIFFERENT variety/breed. Either way I enjoy their performance and style!

Skiwalko
Skiwalko
5 years ago
Reply to  brennan

No, it’s just Christian pop. I don’t know what other meanings are you looking for, guys.

Joe
Joe
5 years ago
Reply to  brennan

Except antifa isn’t just anti-fascist but also pro-communist, which is arguably even worse. They are two sides of the same coin.

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago

It is aa really curious thing. I thought that it might be the band name, but unfortunately, it happens on plenty other occasions as well. 🙁

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago

Sorry for the “spam”. Now, all the comments I entered are appearing.

DenizNL
DenizNL
5 years ago

Nice my bottom 2 qualified!
Can someone pls tell me why Hatari is so amazing?
Are normal pop songs without SM clothing not good enough for you?

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
5 years ago
Reply to  DenizNL

eurovision fans think they are “bold” and “deep” for standing up against the far right or sonething like that… The viewer at home will just see them as a joke act tho.

Weißbrot
Weißbrot
5 years ago
Reply to  Frisian esc

No fam, we just like the song and the rest of this selection is a hopeless snoozefest.

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
5 years ago
Reply to  Weißbrot

Yes but there wasn’t a single eurovision fan who liked aina mun pitaa in 2015 so how do they suddenly all like this one? No offense but i feel people mostly like the image.

Weißbrot
Weißbrot
5 years ago
Reply to  Frisian esc

Yeah, these songs aren’t really that similar in my opinion.

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago
Reply to  Frisian esc

Come on, this one is quite melodic, it is an actual song. (And the lead singer is very easy on the eyes).

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
5 years ago

Is he? I hadn’t noticed! I was too busy watching Italy’s selection. 😛

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Fair enough. Italy’s entire top three is easy on the eyes.

Joshua
Joshua
5 years ago

Hatari MUST win. After seeing their performance, I’m a bit concerned though. The guy singing the chorus wasn’t in his best shape. I understand the chorus is supposed to be quieter than the verses, but he sang them in an underwhelming quiet falsetto. I think they could have easily turned down his mike’s volume for a better result. Good thing is that they have a lot of time to get better for the final.

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago
Reply to  Joshua

Honestly, i think he may even ruin everything. At Eurovision. In Iceland, they still have no competition, no matter how bad he is.

Eurofan1999
Eurofan1999
5 years ago

I was in the audience and he sounded very good so I think that the production messed up and they will be great next time! It sounds very dull in tv but he was great live! Hope the television doesnt ruin this

Lolek
Lolek
5 years ago
Reply to  Eurofan1999

you were? Lucky!! Hope it was fun Eurofan1999!

Katitam
Katitam
5 years ago
Reply to  Joshua

I read on YT from a guy that was there in the studio that he sounded very well. Maybe it’s a transmission issue? But I’m a little agree with you. The first chorus was a little weak.

Skiwalko
Skiwalko
5 years ago

Yeah, Hatari delivered pretty much what I expected (I especially appreciate the guy just hammering those two boxes whole performance).

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
5 years ago

Ooo I got filtered too. How exciting!

Sabrina
Sabrina
5 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

I tried 3 different comments and all of them got filtered. Can I at least say I totally agree with Iceland’s decisions tonight?

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
5 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

Indeed. 🙂

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

It is out of hand. The most basic-worded sentences don’t get through.

Skiwalko
Skiwalko
5 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

It seems that the crisis is over and our comments are back. Nonetheless Evil Filter is still an issue to fix, Wiwibloggs.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
5 years ago
Reply to  Skiwalko

Yey, our full conversations have re-appeared. Wiwi comments make sense once again.

Dani
Dani
5 years ago

Hatari was so good. They have to win!!

Jordy
Jordy
5 years ago

I LOVE hatari their song but they scare me a little bit anyone can explain why they’re so quiet

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago
Reply to  Jordy

It’s part of the act, I reckon.

Miyaya
Miyaya
5 years ago
Reply to  Jordy

It’s just their thing. When they aren’t being Hatari, they are normal people.

Jordy
Jordy
5 years ago
Reply to  Miyaya

I would love to see them smile

Miyaya
Miyaya
5 years ago
Reply to  Jordy

Then look at their Facebook and Instagram accounts. They are very cute when they smile.

Sabrina
Sabrina
5 years ago

I would pick Hatari and Hera too. Them because it’s the entry that can make Iceland stand out in Tel Aviv, her because she gave a great vocal performance. The other acts were enjoyable though.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
5 years ago

I watched Hatari and Imsland. Hatari was exactly how I imagined it would be, which likely says more about me than it does the artists. 😛 Bravo Hatari. Imsland I thought did well too, but considering Hera Björk’s popularity, the result is not a surprise.

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago

Hera Björk is insufferable. What a non-song. I’d rather have Ari back, even.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
5 years ago

Well, as Ari sang, there’s always a choice we can make.

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Only Iceland can make the right choice.

Lolek
Lolek
5 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Hahaha well punned!

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago

It’s not even a competition. No one but Hatari is any good. I didn’t enjoy it fully, though. The band leader was amazing and awesome, but other guy almost wrecks it for me. An able choir singing his parts would be better.

Quint
Quint
5 years ago

Omg yes i was afraid Hatari woudn’t qualify but i’m soo happy they did!! Please win!!

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago

This filter is insufferable.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
5 years ago

Said the bean to the filter 😛
(Another coffee bean joke, I know.)

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

LOL. The amount of jokes is endless, really.

Escfan
Escfan
5 years ago

My fav out already, great!! Iceland have now become my least favourite country in Eurovision. Hatari is bull shit but it’s obvious they’ll send them, so I hope they flop hard

uwu vision
uwu vision
5 years ago
Reply to  Escfan

what was your favourite?

Ruby
Ruby
5 years ago

Yay Hera Björk to the final, good job!

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago

I reiterate: This is not a competition, only Hatari are any good in Iceland. Having said that, I wasn’t entirely thrilled. The band leader was awesome, but the other one almost ruined it for me. I’d rather they get a good choir to sing his parts, I did not enjoy him.
(Hera’s “song” is insufferable. I’d rather have Ari back, even.)

Weißbrot
Weißbrot
5 years ago

Great, Hatari’s through, now let them win please.

Skiwalko
Skiwalko
5 years ago

Hatari qualifed, I can sleep calmly. Nice show overall, Iceland.