They’re the Nordic country who were hot favourites to win Eurovision 2020 before its cancellation. But now Iceland has a new dilemma to face ahead of Eurovision 2021: should they hold Söngvakppenin or should they internally select Daði Freyr?

Iceland’s Head of Delegation Felix Bergsson discussed Iceland’s situation in a video interview with ex Czech Republic Head of Delegation Jan Bors. The two had a long chat, talking about Söngvakeppnin, the pandemic and Eurovision 2021.

Bors asked Bergsson to spill the tea on Iceland’s plans for Eurovision 2021 — but the Icelandic HoD had nothing to confirm. He explained:

“There have been no decisions and nothing has been announced yet. It’s still a question — are we going to have a preselection or are we going to go with the same artist again?”

In recent years, Icelandic broadcaster RÚV has accepted entries for its national final from mid-September to mid-October. As things are, it is now too late for RÚV to use this timeline for 2021, suggesting that the broadcaster may have made other plans.

Bergsson also revealed that funding is tighter in the age of the pandemic. The HoD said:

“Covid changed everything. We — like everybody else — are fighting for money at the moment. There’s huge cuts at RÚV at the moment, so we are really making decisions what to do. And even though Eurovision is the biggest event and the pre-selection is one of the biggest events that we take part in every year, they are still counting the money.”

This suggests that RÚV may be looking to internally select Söngvakeppnin 2020 winner Daði og Gagnamagnið in order to keep costs down. Skipping the Icelandic national final could mean reallocating its budget towards Iceland’s Eurovision 2021 efforts.

But it seems there won’t be long until Iceland reveals its plans for Eurovision 2021. Bergsson said “hopefully we will be able to come out with it in the next two or three weeks.”

Will Daði og Gagnamagnið represent Iceland at Eurovision 2021?

Daði Freyr and his group Gagnamagnið won Iceland’s national final Söngvakeppnin 2020 with their popular song “Think About Things”. They were due to head to Eurovision 2020 in Rotterdam before the contest was sadly cancelled.

Since then, the Icelandic artist’s song went on to be a break-out hit and was especially successful in the UK, where it reached 34 in the singles chart.

While other Eurovision broadcasters have internally selected their Eurovision 2020 acts for 2021, broadcaster RÚV has not yet made a statement on the subject.

Earlier this month Daði Freyr told a German newspaper that he was willing to return to Eurovision — but only if he was internally selected. He explained,

“The only way we’ll be going is if they send us straight to Eurovision. […] I want to compete, but it’s just so much work to do the Icelandic competition, and at this point, it doesn’t really make sense for me to do that whole thing again. If we can go straight to Eurovision, we can focus on that the whole time instead of having to split the focus.”

Fans have also noticed that Daði’s upcoming European tour does not have any dates booked in May 2021, suggesting he could be keeping the month free for Eurovision.

But with neither RÚV nor Daði Freyr able to confirm anything at this stage, fans will just have to keep waiting for news.

What do you think? Should RÚV internally select Daði og Gagnamagnið for Eurovision 2021? Or should they still go ahead with Söngvakeppnin? Tell us your thoughts below!

Read more Iceland Eurovision news here

22 Comments
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Fabio
Fabio
3 years ago

I don’t think they were going to win at all…

Candy
Candy
3 years ago
Reply to  Fabio

I think they and Little Big would have had roughly the same audience, and both wouldn’t have won the jury vote.

Sabrina
Sabrina
3 years ago

Sometimes fans forget that some broadcasters haven’t the same funds of others and some national final are sort of a niche thing. Though this last part doesn’t apply to Söngvakppenin, since Iceland LOVES Eurovision. Of course we would love if all national finals would be national landmarks like Sanremo and Melfest, but that’s not the case. Budgetwise and “competitive-wise”, it makes perfect sense to internally select Dadi. Especially since a huge part of the charm of the act goes beyond 2020’s song itself.

Last edited 3 years ago by Sabrina
Alex
Alex
3 years ago

I think it is quite clear that Daði og Gagnamagnið  will be internally selected with a song of his choice or at least they will do something low-key (online?) to select his song.

Nicky
Nicky
3 years ago

yes of course that Dadi will represent Iceland at ESC2021, he’s their best chance at winning

Nas
Nas
3 years ago
Reply to  Nicky

of course I expect you to change your opinion in a few days like usual

Jonathan Laurin
Jonathan Laurin
3 years ago

Just how other readers think, I have the feeling that Eurovision 2021 would be a big risk for Dadi Freyr and his group. Not that they might not end up high, for Iceland they would he a good deal because I think that even a weak song could be enough to qualify, which is always great for them. But the hype for Dadi is so big, they were the unofficial winners. And if winners return, they usually don’t repeat their success and most likely disappointed (for example Dana International or Alexander Rybak). The hype is too big and Eurovision 2021… Read more »

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
3 years ago

Considering the viewers at home haven’t seen dadi yet I don’t think it would be too early. Also this year is the most logical to send him in an internal selection considering rúv is already low on money because of the corona crisis.

Alo
Alo
3 years ago

I think it’s kinda tricky to send dadi again.
It will probably be hard to replicate the hype of “think about things”.

leo
leo
3 years ago
Reply to  Alo

I do agree because of the niche of that song, which also has a meaning rooted to a specific occasion (being a dad for the first time), the musical style, the covers (the one of Jedward will stay with me for a long time), and (whilst he has sometimes performed in different clothing) the jumpers, can only be done so many times, even though it is a special song and true crossover moment. But whatever is best for both parties.

Nas
Nas
3 years ago
Reply to  leo

Well the jumpers were a thing ever since his first Songvakeppnin, just look at the “Is This Love?” performance from 2017 edition

Nicky
Nicky
3 years ago
Reply to  Alo

just go for think about things again

Leo
Leo
3 years ago
Reply to  Nicky

I’d love it but he’d Be tired of it And loath to live off one song, same with Armenia.

Erasmus
Erasmus
3 years ago

Yeah Czechia and Iceland are both becoming (lowkey already are, especially Czech Rpeublic) super strong esc countries thanks to them!

Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Erasmus

Well, sadly, Jan isn’t the Czech HoD anymore (hasn’t been since spring) but the dude steered them in the right direction.

Erasmus
Erasmus
3 years ago
Reply to  Joe

true:)

Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Erasmus

Jan really was one of the superstar HoDs of the mid-to-late ’10s. Him, Edoardo Grassi, and Nicola Caligiore all did wonders.

Denis
Denis
3 years ago

34 on UK Top 40 isn’t exactly successful is it:)
As much as I like dadi I don’t think it would be fair for anybody if he went. Everybody would just compare that song to Think About Thing and that isn’t good for any artist..

Ashton
Ashton
3 years ago
Reply to  Denis

You mean how everyone will compare the new songs of the MANY already selected artists to their previous ones? And btw, I’d love to see how successful you are on the UK top 40, Denis. Any no.1 hits lately?

Leo
Leo
3 years ago
Reply to  Ashton

I sometimes feel that, because I agitate if his style is too singular (in contrast to the acts from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Slovenia, Moldova and Romania amongst others who have done songs or covers in a variety of styles), even though his voice and niche is ace, his covers are excellent and Think About Things is my number 2 from 2020 (behind Armenia).

Xoxoxo
Xoxoxo
3 years ago

We want Gagnamagnid!

Erasmus
Erasmus
3 years ago

The decision will take place in this or next week tho. Felix said in two or three weeks, but the interview was filmed on the 11th of October, which means a week ago! So yeah it’s closer