After winning Söngvakeppnin 2019 by a landslide, Iceland’s act for 2019 has continued to take their home nation by storm, taking home the award for “Performer of the Year” at the Icelandic Music Awards.
In true and typical Hatari style, band members Matthías, Klemens and Einar used the opportunity to say a few words directly aimed at Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Iceland’s Prime Minister.
Upon accepting the award, the group’s front man Matthías Tryggvi Haraldsson decided to speak out:
“Dear Prime Minister. We are indeed your avid supporters. But we think it is time that you tell the Icelandic nation once and for all – if Iceland is, in fact, a part of group of nations that stand for basic human rights, democracy and abiding to the law, we are a little confused here.”
It is believed the statements made by the front man refer to a series of recent scandals within the Icelandic government. His statement was also made days after police force being used during a peaceful protest outside the Icelandic Congress Building in Reykjavík.
The comments also come days after outcry on Israeli ground. Israeli attorney and activist Nitsana Darshan-Leitner is calling for the Interior Minister Aryeh Deri to ban Hatari from performing at Eurovision in May as a result of their widely publicised stance on Palestine.
Yet again, Hatari has us wondering what they will do next. But they most definitely deserved the award and we congratulate them wholeheartedly for their accolades.
Are you excited to see what Hatari will do – or say – next? Let us know in the comments!
They do command the stage, lots happening as if it’s a rocky horror stage play, & both vocals compliment each other. Many discounting this as divisive but I recall that said of Lordi and to a certain extent last year’s winner. People will be voting for this purely to try understand wtf they just saw/heard. Amazing really.
The dark horse? Quite possible. They can win like Lordi did.
They’re even more handsome dressed smart 🙂
They look even better here, and they have two dogs that are very posh.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s7NJplHd6Y
@William Lee Adams – Have you seen this yet from Conchita Wurst? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pQHwVwRbiQ
I love it.
I think Hatari and Conchita should meet…
Correction: it’s from Wurst.
Lyrics by Eva Klampfer (“Lylit”)?
Evrópa hrynja !!!!!!
Sad news about Iceland. I hope they can sort their issues out without such repression.
On the other hand, the message that the band is sending through their song does not seem to be compatible with their stance for “abiding to the law”. Sorry guys, but I am not seeing or buying the irony here. The band are coming across to me as clumsy when addressing the wider political climate, at least with their song entry. Despite all that, I do love the entry – it is very powerful and haunting. Obviously I am conflicted.
You forgot about them. Now the new darling is Duncan.
Considering how the protesters were mostly refugees and the police decided to pepper spray them (I find it important to note that pepper spray can be potentially fatal for people with certain health conditions), I’m just gonna say that Matthias’s question was completely valid.
Like…yeah, police pepper-spraying peaceful protesters does in fact go against all those things he mentioned. That response isn’t typical of Iceland, so I think it’s reasonable to bring that into question.
mess
They look so different out of costume.
I don’t know the band and their motivations very well at all (and I support freedom of speech, they have the right to be speaking out against anything they see fit) but it feels like they’re coming and speaking out against all this stuff and I’m wondering are they trying to make a statement on something their passionate about, or are they just passionate about making statements to cement this reputation of an anti-establishment, alternative group. For me they aren’t coming across as very authentic and honest, even if what they’re speaking out against is noble, they’re just seemingly speaking… Read more »
Well, the band certainly aren’t the only people wondering why the Icelandic police did that to peaceful protesters, I’m betting. Iceland’s more peaceful and much less violent than most countries. It also has the lowest crime rate of any country. So, people notice and quickly question when something violent happens there.
I know not everything they do and say is serious, but I’m pretty sure in this situation they probably mean it.
They are coming to Poland this year! I am happy!
When and where?
In August. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu7SInag7Gp/