“Netflix is not pushing the song in any way” — those are the words of Daði Freyr, the frontman of Daði og Gagnamagnið, Iceland’s Eurovision 2020 act. In recent weeks, the group’s track “Think About Things” has become somewhat of a viral sensation across social media with a whole host of celebrities tweeting their love for the number.
These supporters range from Hollywood actor Russell Crowe to the designer of Princess Diana’s wedding dress to one of Britain’s top political journalists.
Viral phenomenons, by their very nature, spread rapidly across the internet without any rhyme or reason. But certain Eurofans seeking to find sense in a senseless world have come up with their own theory — Netflix is paying verified Twitter users to tweet about Daði and the gang as a way to promote Will Ferrell’s upcoming Eurovision film on the platform.
According to Daði, that’s not the case.
Daði Freyr denies Netflix Rumours
Speaking in a vlog from Birta Rán and Guðný Rós — the creative minds behind the “Think About Things” music video — Daði says:
“I did not pay Russell Crowe to share the video. I didn’t pay anybody to share anything. The only thing I paid for was to get the video made, get the costumes made and the material to make the instruments.
A lot of people actually think that Netflix is paying to promote us and the reason is supposed to be that our song is in the next season of Stranger Things. That’s not the case.
Netflix is not pushing the song in any way. It would be cool if Netflix was actually paying for pushing the song, I — [shrugs] — I would be fine with that and I wouldn’t be ashamed to say it because that would be super cool. But that’s not the case”.
Iceland at Eurovision 2020 — The Netflix conspiracy theory
There are dozens of threads on Twitter, Reddit and elsewhere, but the general gist goes something like this.
Netflix is making a Eurovision movie starring Will Ferrell, Rachel McAdams and several more Hollywood A-Listers. In the film, the central pair play two Icelandic singers competing in the song contest.
In some behind-the-scenes pictures released from the set, Ferrell is seen sporting long limp hair, which somewhat resembles Daði’s style.
From this synopsis, we jump to “Think About Things” going viral. The logic is that Netflix is undertaking some sort of guerilla marketing strategy to promote the movie by hyping the song.
According to the theorists, the streaming giant is either paying or asking celebrities to send the adoring tweets.
So far, none of the famous tweeters have responded to the online speculation.
What do you think of the theories? Are you laughing at them or do you think there’s some truth to them? Let us know in the comments.
Iceland is so nice! And hey, for those curious, the blue haired singer (Hulda) is also a very talented actress. I just found this short with her posted online: https://youtu.be/5RWFzJg5caA
It was a well-orchestrated worldwide twitter- and press stunt. Yeah – of course dadi did not pay Russel Crowe. that’s a ridiculous proposition. but Netflix put all the gears in effect to make sure Dadi was hyped internationally. It all happened within hours.
obv he will be the winner I dont have any doubts now. the song is meh but ok go netflix. they’re smart I guess
RELAX
I’d love seeing Björk performing as interval act
kids love it, but are they allowed to vote? NO. Calm down people it not gonna win, nor finish in top 5. I see future. Sorry for broken hearts.
You didn’t really see the future did you?
This is the most fake hype ive ever noticed… I mean the song is cute… but not even top 10 material..
1-4 Germany, Italy, Lithuania,
5-8 Sweden, Norway, Belgium
9-12 Czech Republic, Albania,
13-16 Estonia, Greece,
17-20 United Kingdom,
21-24 Poland, Spain,
25-28 Belarus, Iceland, Romania, Ukraine
29-32 Australia, France, Serbia, Slovenia
33-36 Armenia, Georgia,
37-40 Croatia, Latvia, Moldova,
If anything, Crowe’s tweet has something to do with Netflix, not them. Imagine you are in charge of Eurovision Film (or TV series, whatever) on Netflix and want to promote it right now. How would you do it, so that it wouldn’t feel forced? They just picked most recent entry that could’ve possibly go viral and it happened to be Iceland. If they released their song a few weeks ago and now Lithuania would come out this weekend, Russel would tweet about The Roop. Would you hate them instead? Probably. You’re all saying how negative community is when someone says… Read more »
Wasn’t that the same one that spoke out strongly in favor of an esc boycott of Iceland last year? and how credible is it?
this song will probably end up like Iceland did in 2014
i think this is all coincidental, no conspiracy happening whatsoever.
In fact, i think this is only happening because a lot were upset that it’s not IVA. Also, who says that this is a joke entry? That’s a very low blow considering that he wrote this song for his daughter, which really touching if you happen to listen to what he’s singing.
I listened Dadi’s song way before Russell Crowe tweeted about it. You don’t have to have an extraordinary talent to understand how contemporary ‘Think about Things’ is, if you’re interested in music except only following Eurovision. Can’t say if Netflix did any shady promotion behind, but at least that wasn’t the reason why I preferred it over any other act in this year’s Icelandic selection. He deserved it and could have already won without any media influence. The fact that IVA couldn’t make it to the superfinals, but DIMMA did, explains there wasn’t a scenario where Dadi stole the votes,… Read more »
Iva just missed out, it was very close between Iva and Dimma, the result was very convenient for a few nervous Netflix execs.
Sure, and my point was it was supposed to be Iva and Dadi. The fact Iva didn’t make it to the final is not a result of Netflix or whatever people involved in promotion, it’s the way people expressing their disappointment that she couldn’t make it all the way to the end. If it was Iva vs. Dadi, then people could’ve blamed him for costing the win.
I don’t believe that there’s a conspiracy going on. But if Netflix actually *are* doing some PR thing, then they botched it already by having these big celebrity names involved this early. I think Russell Crowe randomly tweeting about the song is what really switched people from thinking it was a funny coincidence into this full-blown conspiracy theory.
I think Netflix is definitely doing some shady things behind the scenes to create hype for this song, if Iceland wins, it will be amazing promo for their movie.
And I am str8.
Even if it was the case the performance is soo good, that’s all that matters. The level this year is average and iceland and lithuania really stand out and bring talent and fun. With what they announced for russia îm curious to see, because their band can deliver performance and showtime but there s no real or melody. .
Literally everything this year is either average or below. You can’t have standards this year.
First world problems
With so much good music in Iceland, does the audience vote for that? For the love of God! Iva lost to this bad candidate?
I hope that one day Iceland will redeem itself for this error and send Iva in an internal selection. Iva is the most powerful singer that year. We really wish she won this year! I’m sorry Iceland, but this year you are definitely not going to the final ..!
Don’t forget that the metal band DIMMA were also in the superfinal. DIMMA are extremely popular in Iceland and Dadi had the buzz song. Iva was the newcomer with a style of music that isn’t normally popular in Iceland. She had an uphill battle .
Iva was my favorite before the final too but I still have to admit that the staging wasn’t great and her background singers didn’t sound right. Dadi and Dimma really did have better performances and that’s why they went to the superfinal instead of her.
Her bad stagings did her in. I hope she gets another chance to return.
They only care if Israel is involved
Yes just like Azerbaijan totally didn’t pay to win in 2011…
USA just really can’t stay out of things, wars and european song contests alike
Moscow 2021 is the only choice to give America nightmares.
Smiley laughing face
Smiley laughing face
(Emojis don’t work lol)
This sounds chaotically tempting
The plot of the Netflix movie hinges on Iceland being the underdog – if they went and actually won the contest in reality, their whole premise would be undermined. In any case, Iceland winning or not isn’t going to make people watch the movie – so why would they bother?
As an American I can tell you know that no matter how hard Netflix tries to promote the movie, not many people are going to watch it.
I believe Dadi when he says Netflix isn’t involved with his song.
I have to say though I love the song, if it wins esc and hatari didn’t i would be kinda sad. I feel it’s a little over hyped at this point.
Yes same here. Hatari were better though same for IVA
Hatari were really bad. The song and their vocals were not good. Not everything “different” and “wierd’ equals quality. This year is less special but the song is much more lovable.
Hatari was overhypd to the skies
the hype around this song is so fake. it’s a fun song but it’s not THAT good
NOTHING this year is that good. Like I said a million times you can’t have high standards this year. We’ve already got over half the songs out. This year is too far gone.
And since the title of the article mentions “online conspiracy theories” (as if influencers getting paid to promote a product is something fictitious that only minds bent on conspiracies can possibly imagine) when will RUV comment on the widely reported news back in January that Netfix signed a deal to promote the icelandic entry in this year’s contest worth 10 million kronas? Why doesn’t RUV tell us if that piece of news (first reported by an icelandic website called visir.is) is true or not?
You do realize that 10 mill Icelandic kronas is only worth about 60.000 British pounds? That’s not exactly a very big amount in that world. So even if that is true then I don’t see any point to be particularly bothered by it. Besides, Think about things went viral long before we knew that it would be the Icelandic representative, and I understand why it went viral, because it’s just good and funny and sweet and original. Those are the stuff that tend to organically go viral. I was early on an Oculis Videre-fan, but when I heard Think about… Read more »
Why would Netflix want to promote THIS specific song? I don’t understand what they stand to gain by Dadi winning over Iva over DIMMA over someone else? Also — sponsoring Iceland’s Eurovision selection doesn’t mean they’re sponsoring Dami at ESC? it’s all so weird to me.
Because this song is perfect representation of what Americans think Eurovision is about.
Americans don’t have the slightest clue what eurovision is in the first place! They wouldn’t even know if Eurovision was a joke (which is mostly a British mentality) to say.
Americans don’t even know Eurovision exists. And the ones that do are genuine fans like I am who watch it every year. Literally ask an American on the street what they think Eurovision is about. The answer you’ll probably get is “…What is Eurovision?”
Im still on the fence about all this. One thing I will say though is, just because Daði Freyr wasn’t personally contacted/didn’t himself pay to have his song promoted by Netflix, doesn’t mean Netflix isn’t doing it anyway/the team behind the eurovision movie aren’t doing their own marketing campaign.
At the end of the day, the best song should win – regardless of any Netflix pushing it. And, even if there is some kind of push behind this, the televote would make it obvious that it isn’t the people’s favourite. I say let’s wait and see what happens in May.
Lol, sure.
Pretending lobbying doesn’t exist is not a good strategy just so you know. Russell Crow out of the blue tweeting “Song.” is super weird. The whole hype over this is weird. Not a conspiracy, just a marketing approach which in the era of hundreds of internet chanels is incredibly easy.
Actually the “Song.”-tweet was just a follow up, after he retweeted a tweet in German by Johnny Haeusler (verified) that said: “Ich: Dieser langweilige, witzlose Eurovision Song Contest interessiert mich nicht. Island: You sure?” and which contained a retweet of Common Eurofan Girl’s tweet that said: “Iceland did it again. Everything about this entry is hypnotical, brilliant and innovative. I really hope they win the ticket to Eurovision https://t.co/mKBctnHqiW” With a video from the MV of “Think About Things” that was uploaded to twitter by the journalist and Eurovision-fan “Rob Holley” He just stumbled across the retweet and saw the… Read more »
How much is Netflix paying you?
So numerous celebrities simply decided to follow the icelandic national selection of all things, came across this rather indifferent Daft Punk-y number and then decided to promote it BY PURE ACCIDENT. And online “influencers” are not paid to push products online. Seriously?
You are not indie or quirky dear, you are a sellout.
Almost EVERYTHING that goes viral is obscure at first, the whole magic of something going viral is that obscure stuff is gradually spread across the internet through word of mouth you fucking bellend. Remember ‘what does the fox say’, which came from an obscure Norwegian comedy show and also went viral? I’m pretty sure no other Europeans or Americans were watching a Norwegian comedy programme either. Yet it went viral. If you actually paid fucking attention, it spread because Rob Holley, a EUROVISION JOURNALIST tweeted about it. It spread from there. And also, yeah, the first people you think of… Read more »
How do you know Russell Crowe has nothing to do with Netflix, are you his agent?
We all know celebrities are die hardcore fans of Eurovision and follow the national finals selections lol.
Heard Adele watches Supernova and O melodie pentru Europa every year
Adele has watched the contest at least once, and she seems to like it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RWe9XfKJYI
They didn’t need to follow the national final when it already was spreading on Twitter….
Most of them probably didn’t even know it had to go through a national final. It was just a cool song and video to them.
You seem to know a lot…….
That’s what someone who is being pushed by Netflix would say.
i read that is a bds fan and didn’t want to come to Israel are this is the eurovision spirt?
yeah he was one of the most vocal supporters of iceland’s failed boycott of the eurovision in israel last year. he clearly doesn’t get the point of this contest and would rather put his anti-israel bias ahead of everything
Which reminds me…Why are they allowed to participate this year?
Really? That makes me like him even more. There is no other country in Eurovision that are as corrupt as Israel. It would have been a fair boycott. It will forever be Palestine
Russia is nowhere near as bad as Israel. They opress civilian Palestinians on a daily (in their own country mind you) and the situation in Israel is as close to a modern apartheid as you are going to come. And if you only knew how ridicolous that statement is, I hate communism as much as I hate capitalism. Although zionism is the root of all evil in the world
You mean you don’t like jewish people I guess
Oh right back at you – So you mean you dont like palestinians I guess, such a childish thing to say .. I dont have a problem with jewish people, its what they do with their beliefs that matters. There are a lot of ethnic jews who criticize the religion and Israel. Not every jew is a zionist.
Are we not meant to keep politics out of Eurovision? There are plenty of other places you can go to get your Israel hatred on.
Very funny. Look at some of the songs that have won in the recent years. Eurovision is already political my guy, so whats the point of keeping politics away if its already very political? I didnt start this thread so I dont know why you think I should go away when im simply replying on the subject that other people brought up.
You can go back to 2019 now.
The European life cycle 1) being far left, demonize Jews and Israel, whitewash Islam and Muslims 2) pack the European countries with millions of Muslims, because hte enemy of my enemy is my ally 3) watch how terrorism, rape, murder, knife-crime, drugs, pedophilia and other types of fellony suddenly soar sky-high 4) call everyone “racist”, “islamophobe”, “far right” etc for speaking out the truth 5) having the country loose faith in the far left government and the far left media 6) turn right. and support Israel against the real enemy. I don’t worry dude, your country stuck somewhere between 3… Read more »
For other people that reads this: This is what a zionist looks like, you think im stupid and all but this is the situation in Israel. Zionists are disgusted by muslims and they think they are superior. Zionists think the stupid goyim (non jews) will see them as superior when their messiah come. This is in their religion. If you dont believe me, look it all up. For mr Idan Cohen: Zionism is the reason we have these immigration waves in the first place. They want to expand Israel and in order for them to do so they create these… Read more »
Shut up, Mustafa
Europe believed your lies maybe 20 years ago, people now know how’s the real Nazi – who kills Jews, Gays, Women and minorities.
the religion of piece my ass. maybe the religion of piss.
Yes because Israel has expanded sooooo much in its 70 years of existence. Seriously get some perspective or get out of here and go keyboard bash on some conspiracy website.
Netanyahu o trump no lo harían mejor que tú, solo tienen más poder frente a tu irrelevancia, pero los tres sois la misma mierda
Isn`t a movie about Eurovision coming out from Netflix,if im not mistaken?
So much hype only to end up between 10-20 place in May. This doesnt have the appeal that Lithuania has
Same opinion here
Either we’ve got a secret complex conspiracy going on, which involves Netflix, Twitter users, Will Ferrell, Russell Crowe, bookmakers and God knows who else… or it’s just a really good song. One of these is true.
Seriously, major celebrities around the world came across one song in an obscure national Eurovision selection all by themselves?
Or didn’t you know that internet “influencers” get paid to push products?
Maybe… or maybe people share it with others because they like the song and find it funny or catchy or interesting. I only know of one major celebrity, and he’s lived in Australia for many years, so he probably knows what Eurovision is and might have simply come across “Think About Things” by accident. Maybe I’m naive, but it’s hard for me to believe these conspiracy theories, they sound absurd.
It’s all a conspiracy though! National final doesn’t go your way? Conspiracy! Act doesn’t do as well as you thought? Conspiracy! Open your third eye!
It’s all crackerbarrel conspiracy stuff. Who cares? Little Big are representing Russia! THAT’S big news!
Oh, c’mon.
This s**t of a song is worth winning? Are you kidding me? ESC went mad.
sure jan
Haha those words ran through my head when i read this
Why jan?
https://youtu.be/Sops77UKn4g