Does “Husavik” deserve the Oscar for best original song? We’re pretty sure a lot of viewers of the Eurovision Movie might think so. The heart-felt, soaring ballad takes the Will Ferrell movie to its highest emotional highs, completing a surprisingly touching journey for a movie peppered with penis jokes and a big-cat-loving Russian who can’t button his shirt. Mimed on stage by Rachel McAdams, the song is voiced primarily by Molly Sandén, a three-time Melodifestivalen finalist and a favourite of our readers. She doesn’t just have the voice of an angel — she has the spirit and power of the elves that give Rachel’s character so much strength. If none of this makes sense, you really need to watch the movie!
At the time of writing this post, the song is winning our “best song on the soundtrack” poll rather convincingly. And it’s also climbing the Worldwide iTunes chart, coming in at number ten. Over the past three days, as the film has trended in Netflix markets like the US, UK and Ireland, the song has climbed past hits including Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber’s “Stuck with U”, and Ava Max’s “Kings & Queens”.
Netflix Eurovision song “Husavik” reaches Top 10 of Worldwide iTunes Song Chart
The song has some pretty bright lights behind it. Savan Kotecha has given us hits like Ellie Goulding’s “Love Me Like You Do” and The Weeknd’s “Can’t Feel My Face”. He teamed up with Rickard Göransson, whose writing credits include Jessie J’s “Burnin’ Up” and Avril Lavigne’s “Rock n Roll”, and Fat Max Gsus, who, among other things, has provided vocals for Tove Lo.
Savan told Vulture that the song was “the hardest nut to crack”, as it cements Sigrit’s relationship with Lars and impacts the texture and spirit of the movie’s end.
Director David Dobkin said he and Savan put in some hours on this one.”The number of bars — dropping the pre-chorus on the second verse, all of it was just an incredible piece of construction. The way that works in the movie is what you as a filmmaker hope for,” he said. “Savan and I went back and forth over dozens of versions of the same song, reworking it — what should be in Icelandic, what should not, when does it come in. It needed to work for the movie in a very specific way in my head.”
The song is anchored in a place — Husavik — but its themes are universal. The thoughtful lyrics tug on heart strings from the start, as Sigrit gives voice to her longing: “I’ve tried and tried again, to let you know just where my heart is, to tell the truth and not pretend.” It’s by chasing a dream at Eurovision that Sigrit confirms what she wants is already at home: “All I needed was to get away, just to realize that I was meant to stay, where the mountains sing through the screams of seagulls…”
How are the Eurovision Movie songs performing on Spotify?
So how do the songs on The Story of Fire Saga soundtrack stack up against each other? Here’s how the newly-released songs compare in terms of Spotify streams. Please note: This is accurate as of 23:00 BST on June 28.
“Volcano Man”, “Amar pelos dois” and “Fool Moon” have obviously been out for some time, which explains why they’re at the front of the pack. The newly released songs are in bold. You’ll see that Demi Lovato’s “In The Mirror” and the aforementioned “Husavik” are far and away the most popular numbers.
- Amar pelos dois – 19,214,684
- Volcano Man – 342,348
- Fool Moon – 224,233
- In the Mirror – 166,284
- Husavik – 164,760
- Double Trouble – 79,654
- Jaja Ding Dong – 61,707
- Double Trouble Remix – 60,649
- Song-a-long – 46,295
- Lion of Love – 32,727
- Running with the Wolves – 22,882
- Eurovision Suite – 21,019
- Happy – 17,281
- Coolin’ With Da Homies – 16,883
- Come and Play Masquerade – 13,805
- Hit My Itch – 11,468
Husavik lyrics — Will Ferrell, My Marianne (Molly Sandén), Rachel McAdams
(Verse 1: Molly Sandén)
All by myself
With this great big world before me
But it’s all for someone else
I’ve tried and tried again
To let you know just where my heart is
To tell the truth and not pretend
(Pre-Chorus: Molly Sandén)
All I needed was to get away
Just to realize that I was meant to stay
(Chorus 1: Molly Sandén)
Where the mountains sing through the screams of seagulls
Where the whales can live ’cause they’re gentle people
In my hometown, my hometown
Thought I made it clear, do I have to sing it?
It was always there, we just didn’t see it
All I need is you and me and my home
(Post-Chorus: Molly Sandén)
Vera með þér, með þér
Í Húsavík við Skjálfanda
Í heimabærinn minn
(Verse 2: Molly Sandén, Will Ferrell)
You want the world (Want the world)
All the neon lights and billboards
To be seen and to be heard (Heard)
And I followed you (Oh-ooh)
But now I know what makes me happy
And I can tell you feel it too
(Chorus 2: Molly Sandén)
Where the mountains sing through the screams of seagulls
Where the whales can live ’cause they’re gentle people
In my hometown, my hometown
Where the northern lights burst out in colors
And the magic nights surpass all others
Það eina sem ég þrái er, að vera
(Post-Chorus: Molly Sandén & Will Ferrell)
Vera með þér (Vera með þér), með þér (Vera með þér)
Í Húsavík við Skjálfanda
My home, my hometown
Such a fantastic ballad and one I could definitely picture actually being performed at ESC. And being the ballad-to-dance-remix fan that I am, I also imagine remix team 7th Heaven working their magic on this song as well, I can totally hear it in my head and it would be amazing if they actually got commissioned to remix the song, it would sound even better with their spin on it!
Its a horrible clichéd song you would hear on The Greatest Showman. I’m not a fan of formulaic songs and automated vocals.
I do not think Molly want to go to ESC anymore. Through the years she have struggled finding her identity as an artist and now latest year she found her style and I think she is happy with that, it has gone really well for her here in Sweden. She doesn’t need MF or ESC anymore to break through as an artist.
Molly sanden is the only way sweden can win again but i am sure if she participates in 2021 they will give her a generic pop song and pressure her to win. She needs an authentic song.
I fohdn the film really good the song at the end stole it for me it would actually win Eurovision
It’s a beautiful song and works really well as part of the film’s storyline for Lars and Sigrit and for what it says about Eurovision, which has its flamyobyance and camp but also songs that are touching and heartfelt.
The line “Where the whales can live ’cause they’re gentle people” is beautiful and poignant.
Pity Iceland is whaling nation and until 12 months ago was killing whales, temporarily stopped.
Actually I gave it a try yesterday and I should say the film was tacky but entertaining. There are a lot of wrong details about Eurovision (the voting in the SFs for example, the song remastering within the rehearsals) and songs that sounds like what people think Eurovision is (The XXI Viking, Lion of Love, Volcano Man, …). Demi Lovato’s “Mirror” and “Husalvik” are good though. If you are plain bored then try it. I thought it would be more offensive for serious fans but it’s just a so-so parody with some fan service like the “Sing-A-Long” moment. I do… Read more »
It has that same kind of chipper, never-say-never Eurovision spirit to it throughout, and even their parodies aren’t that far off from how the contest makes fun of itself (you all know the exact example I’m thinking of). It’s not high on rewatchability compared to other Will Ferrell movies (I’ve seen Anchorman four times and Zoolander three), but it’s very pleasant. You’d have to be a really sensitive Eurofan to take serious offense to anything here.
Yeah, I agree with both of your takes on it, Hector and Joe. I think the film tries to offer elements of fan service while also aiming itself primarily at an average audience for a Will Ferrell comedy, which will largely be non-Eurovision fans. It’s clearly a film made with love and affection for Eurovision, which I appreciate, but I don’t think it captures everything that Eurovision is and aspires to, such as its messages of unity and the power of sharing music and culture.
That’s the attitude I like to hear!
I give them massive props for having their big triumphant moment be a song that is, in fact, closer in spirit to Arcade or Amar pelos dois than one of the crazy spectacles. Just to show this kind of music has a place at Eurovision too for people who might leave the film thinking it’s all just random insanity.
Also, for those complaining that they never did reveal who won the contest in the movie, I feel like it’s beside the point in the end, given that the whole message is more about celebrating authentic creative expression over all else.
I wonder if it was one of the EBU conditions – sorry, we can’t let you have a winner, it may give an advantage in the real thing. Which it very well may have.
That’s a really good point, Jonas. Makes sense, seems fairer, and places the emphasis on participation and celebration rather than competition.
I’ve read Netflix planned to give this a limited theatrical release window. If true, Husavik and the other original songs in the movie will be eligible for next year’s Academy Award for Best Original Song.
A recent temporary rule change from a couple of months ago (in response to the pandemic) might allow Netflix to still submit the songs for Oscar consideration but it’s still expected that a theatrical release within the eligibility period is still possible for those who had their release plans ruined by COVID-19.
That would be awesome!
If only Sweden would send stuff like this to the actual contest. I kinda prefer ‘Husavik’ to all of Eurovision 2020.
If this was Iceland’s actual entry, a qualification and top 5 would be 99% guaranteed. This is a ballad done right. Props to Molly.
I adore this song, but am I the only one who feels Will Ferrell’s parts in the song (albeit small) kinda tarnish an otherwise flawless song? I am hoping someone uploads a version of the song without Will’s vocals, just as someone did for ‘Rockabye’ without Sean Paul (which sounds way better than the original!).
You are not the only one. I would rather it all be Molly Sandén’s vocals since Will Ferrell isn’t an especially wonderful singer. But it’s still listenable to me tbh
He’s pretty much the only background nuisance to otherwise flawless vocals by Molly.
I dunno. He didn’t add much to it, but I didn’t find him distracting or overly much compared to, say, his character’s verse in Michael’s goodbye song from The Office, which ruined an otherwise very sweet moment.
Couldn’t they have at least named Molly Sandén as the featured artist? I mean, maybe people will look her up after listening to the song but still…
I think I read that she chose to go as My Marianne because she didn’t want the music from the film to be confused with her personal stuff