It was a night of glitz, glamour and fun when the grand finals of Söngvakeppnin 2020 took place in Laugardalshöll Arena in Reykjavík tonight. Five songs competed for the big prize but in the end, it was Daði & Gagnamagnið who captured the hearts of Iceland and will follow Hatari’s footsteps to Rotterdam.
The set up was very similar to prior years. The public began the voting as soon as the show started, and sent Daði & Gagnamagnið and DIMMA onward to the superfinal duel, where voting continued. The votes from the first round were combined with the votes from the second round which determined Daði & Gagnamagnið as the winner of Söngvakeppnin 2020.
Last year’s winners Hatari presented the Söngvakeppnin trophy to Daði Freyr in a solemn ceremony. The anticapitalists presented the trophy on bended knee, which Daði graciously accepted.
Daði Freyr first competed at Söngvakeppnin 2017, where his song “Is This Love?” placed second overall. He returned this year with his band Gagnamagnið (The Data). The group includes Daði’s wife, his sister and three friends. His winning song “Think About Things” was written as an ode to his baby daughter.
As well as the captivating live performance, the song also comes with a video that has fast gone viral. The music video attracted the attention of stars such as Russell Crowe and Rylan Clark-Neal, who have tweeted their support.
An evening of iconic performances
Four-piece metal DIMMA band proved their popularity by making the superfinal. The group was founded in 2004 and have released five studio albums and two live albums. The band has a strong fan following in Iceland and among metal fans in Europe.
The superfinal results also meant a shock non-qualification for Iva with her ethereal song “Oculis Videre”. While the song won’t be heading to Eurovision, it has introduced audiences to Iva and given her an international fan following.
It was not only the five songs that took the stage. Hatari made an appearance, including a performance of “Hatrið mun sigra” with a children’s choir. The Norwegian trio — and Eurovision 2019 televote winners — KeiiNo also made an appearance, performing their new single “Black Leather”.
Söngvakeppnin 2020 – Grand finalists
- Daði & Gagnamagnið – “Think About Things”
- DIMMA – “Almyrkvi”
- Ísold & Helga – “Meet Me Halfway”
- Iva – “Oculis Videre”
- Nína Dagbjört – “Echo”
Söngvakeppnin 2020 – Superfinal results
- Daði & Gagnamagnið – “Think About Things”
- DIMMA – “Almyrkvi”
Did Iceland make the right choice for Rotterdam? Did you agree with the results? What was your favourite performance of the night? Please comment your thoughts below.
the bookies must be very drunken!
this is an ordinary fun song based on very simple discobeats – surely not the badest idea when you have an overkill of ballads in the field so far but the popsongquality of “on fire” is far above this song. 🙂
The choreography is so basic too. Like something kids could do. It’s a fun song for sure but not top 10. The odds are dumb this early anyway.
Did anyone else see Iceland’s performance and think about this scene from Revenge of the Nerds?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mRG2oAQhso
Where can I get a Daði jumper?!?! Need my Eurovision outfit!
It’s sold out for now, but it will surely be back online at this site: https://dadi-gagnamagnid.myshopify.com/
Just give me a break! What is this? It seems this year it’s corny and weird songs and performances that are trendy. But this is way too silly for my taste. Then I like Lithuania a whole lot better. And the odds on this one? Come on!!
The Roop: We’re strange and 80s-influenced!
Daði & Gagnamagnið: Hold my mead.
Douze points pour l’Islande!
“Hatari made an appearance, including a performance of “Hatrið mun sigra” with a children’s choir.”
Did I tell you how much I love Hatari?
Cool entry !! Iceland has in 2019 and 2020 become a factor in Eurovision.
I saw all the hype around them before they were chosen but I wanted to see who the Icelandic will choose first. I just listened for the first time the song right now. J’adooreeee! It’s so fun, positive, upbeat with their own 80s style (The background, clothes, instruments)! It’s so good to have a happy song and so rare. Vive l’Islande!
Can’t be compared with the super entry of Lithuania. Downvote as much as you want bitches.
I like Dadi. The song is cute and funny. It’s a subtle joke act well done in a synth-pop style and I can easily see it qualifying. I am shocked and disappointed that Iva wasn’t in the superfinal. Her song is just glorious and would have likely been my ESC winner.
Sorry Colin, I am sniggering at your first statement: “I like Dadi.” 😀 Where Dadi is “Daddy”. …
Well, I thought it was funny.
You are right about the reasons imho, when I saw the performance I knew this won’t and shouldn’t win. I posted it in the post about the poll after I had watched all 5 acts – I didn’t say there that the stick and the crown immediately put me off.
Obvious winner but a lovely amusing song that is undoubtedly gonna do well on televote in ESC, Dadi seems a really nice chap too and is overwhelmed with the viral support. Iceland had a brilliant final tonight, all 5 songs were really good and this year’s Songvakeppnin was the strongest since 2015 or dare say as far back as I can remember… 2009! DIMMA deserve as much credit finishing runner-ups, always great to hear Hard Rock in NFs as the genre is totally exiled from popular culture these days. Oculis Videre was beautiful and chilling, don’t get me wrong but… Read more »
I completely get the hype and believe me, I really hope eurofans would stop to think just about themselves but about the BROADER NUMBER of casual viewers that will watch the show and will be so drawn by the quirkiness of this number. In that case everyone would be more objective.
Top5 in the final minimum.
BYE
Sounds very dated. I don’t like it.
The 80s are back. An uptempo disco song. It’s a nice happy song, and as most Iceland entries a bit weird.
I am not sure what to think about this… Its not bad, not that great either. I am disappointed Iva didn’t win.
I don’t get the hype…Not my cup of tea definitely and comparing to Lithuania this one is worse.
Great choice! Excuse me but IVA was so much overrated! What is this with opera singers in the ESC that they get instant acceptance regardless of the song?… I am so glad she didn’t win and that I don’t have to listen to this anymore. And I am speaking as someone that loves opera and frequently goes to the opera
Right now it’s not my favourite, it’s just about in my top 10. But I’m sure it will grow on me even though oculis videre was by far my favourite
This is my number 1 now!
Lithuania is still the superior entry
Yes it’s not even close really between these two. Lithuania is a clear top 5 and this is borderline qualifier. But it’s a fun song still.
This song is cleverly written and performed on stage with wit and humor without falling into the ‘joke act’ bag. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the night and was worried that the technical issues would penalise them, but so glad that the Icelandic audience supports them that much! Reykjavik 2021!
I’ll admit it’s not a song that I would normally like but it grew on me and stood out in the middle of all the ballads and slower songs. Now it’s in my top 5 🙂
This is something you would see in a high school musical. It kind of reminds of the talent show in Napoleon Dynamite.
Such a fun song 🙂 I’m super happy it won the selection and so far it’s in my top 10
I am not going to lie but I like that Icelandic entry for Eurovision Song Contest 2020. Not a winner per say but at least in the top 10 if they qualify to the final. Well done Iceland! 8 points from me.
I don’t think Iceland will win Eurovision with this song, but it is a fun number and that could work in its favor to qualify.
Very fun entry. Love the vibe.
Islandia 4/10
Great choice Iceland. I personally like this more than Roop. They are actually singing and doing it well (As opposed to long dance sequences with no singing in “on fire”). Love the staging and the art in the background for this one. Currently my number 1. Obvious qualifiers.
It’s a fun song but the staging is so amateurish here compared to Roop. I don’t think it’s in the same league. This one will barely qualify and Roop is top 5 and a possible winner.
Love it. Great, quircky and fun entry. There is a danger this might get the Nordic block vote instead of Lithuania now then.. But I hope they both will get points from us and that they won’t cancel each other out ?
Iceland has less diaspora than Lithuania. Last year, they got by that by having an intense song with a really different sound. This year, the Nordic countries will give them good scores and if they’re really charming other countries will probably give them good scores too.
Lithuania has diaspora in Norway and Sweden so they will be fine with Nordic vote 🙂
They aren’t in the same semi. Also if you think about it….people who like quirky entries will probably give points to both Iceland AND Lithuania in the final. The chances of a person voting for one but not the other are very low.
my new winner! i’m sad to see so much hate for him and his song, but it seems to always be what happens after a fan favorite doesn’t win sadly. good luck in rotterdam daði!!
Just watched the winners’ encore. I have to appreciate that even though it’s just the national final, Dadi already knew to end it with a “Thank you, Europe!”
Pears and Apples. Why many of you think that “On Fire” (Lithuania) and “Think about things” (Iceland) are similar? Both are contemporaneous but without anything in common! There are plenty of countries already with ballads, most of them bad and yet all of them are different!
Yes. I’ve re-watched both and they are not that similar. They are enjoyable and there’s some dance/movements but I felt two different moods.
Both have strong personality but that’s good
Indeed ! It’s ridiculous how people compare songs only because they have a beat and a thoughtful stage presence
It’s a fine song, although I keep finding the staging very distracting. Definitely not comparable to THE ROOP for me, I don’t understand why people keep making such comparisons. Although I really liked IVA that staging was quite awkward unfortunately – they improved some things from the semi, but messed up others actually, so the result was quite predictable after all.
I could be miserable and say that “Iceland chose to remain blind”, but that wouldn’t actually be true. The live performance of “Oculis Videre” never quite worked, and both Dadi and the rock band (Dimma) had stronger live performances. Also Nina to a certain point performed well enough to be in the superfinal. It was a good competiton. But I am sad because my favourites didn’t win tonight, and I think Iceland might have robbed Eurovision of a very special song.
Honestly, I think we all wanted it to be special. It had two chances to be special and hadn’t managed it yet. Maybe, if it was picked, they’d have gotten it all worked out but then again, maybe it wasn’t as special as we thought it was in the first place?
I guess now, we’ll never know.
Ooh, this is a surprise. I was sure Iva was going to win. I do wish Dadi was still singing in Icelandic instead of English, but I understand the need to appeal.
He originally wrote it in English about his daughter. I don’t think it felt as genuine in Icelandic in this case.
YASSSS! My number 1 now.
I didn’t hear this song until just now…..Iceland always produces something different….this song and the performance is great! The opposite of dull and morning….
Cute although Lithuania’s entry is similar and… superior tbh. They might end up canceling each other out. But I do think Lithuania has the most hype at this moment, which I don’t think it’ll die down until May.
I don’t see any similarity. Same genre perhaps.
I understand people’s disappointment about Iva’s not winning, It has been proven this Sarah Brightman’s style does not work here and we have already enough ballads. “Oculis Videre” is a great song but not for ESC.
I was happy with either this or Oculis Videre. Like I said, the Roop comparisons will be inevitable, but fortunately they’re in different semis, and I think the sweet, quirky fun of this song will be appreciated and has a good chance at the final.
Do you really see similarities? You just said Iceland song is “fun” while “On Fire” deals with serious issues. They are just different from the rest but in their very own particular way.
I think bass-voiced, unique-looking guys with distinctive dances to indie-pop songs with instrumental hooks are a rare but repeated commodity this year. But in hindsight, yeah, they’re pretty different. I enjoy them both.
Nah it’s not for me although I suspect it might grow on me as the weeks go by. All the songs chosen tonight for eurovision have been fairly poor. Does any country want to win this thing, still not convinced I’ve seen a winner yet hopefully all the contenders are leaving it until the last minute.
If things go as I think Finland with “Cicciolina” Israel with “I love you” Italy and “Fai Rumore”, Germany and their “Violent thing” and of course Lithuania “On Fire” (so far) will take the top places. I love Belgium’s “Release me”. I really dislike Spain and France. Well, there are plenty of songs to be announced!
A great example of how fun can be great musically and intelligent. Goes straight to my top 10
You really f…d up, Iceland. You had one job: send IVA. No top 10 like last year, no final. Sad!
ill be ready for u to swallow ur words when we get to Rotterdam
Yay! Finally a good song! I really like it.
Fun, feel good, quirky, unique sound, memorable hook. What’s not to like?
I do however think this and Roop might cancel each other out because is there really room for two eccentric songs in the final? And Roop has the better song..
This is much better than the ROOP though
Don’t agree! ROOP has the edge!
I don’t see a resemblance.
It’s not in the same league as Roop. But I agree it was the best choice for Iceland. It’s a fun song. Just too amateurish to make real noise in the contest.
Nope, not my thing.
Wtf is wrong with 2020?
To everyone who told me this wasn’t going to win I’d like to rub it on your faces.
The best song won, periodt
Omg, first time I hear this and I love it.
To be honest, I didn’t hear “Think about things” until today since I liked IVA so much. But even since I heard “Think about things”,I can`t get it off my head. Great choice, Iceland!
I’m so glad this song now will get the attention of millions and millions of viewers and will forever become part of the Eurovision bubble! Because of that, this song is already a winner, but I wouldn’t be surprised at all if this snatches the Grand Prize in May!
We are proud of Iva anyways. I am really crying but I think the outfit ruined everything and the staging unfortunately did not help, that’s why she didn’t go to the superfinal. It was a tough competition
I have to say however that what they chose might be liked by many people, but I personally hate it as I hate The Roop. Fortunately Iva can come back next year and we won’t see Da?i and his stupid band very soon, I hope never again.
You’re my man!!! Same here!!!
She is good! But you are right! Staging was cheesy and the song in my opinion not Eurovision Friendly