Photo: RÚV

The Wiwi Jury — our in-house team of music unprofessionals — is reviewing and rating the 37 competing songs in Eurovision 2023. Next we review Iceland, who have chosen Diljá with “Power”.

With great power, comes great responsibility — the responsibility to review! Read on to find out what we had to say.

Diljá – “Power” (Iceland Eurovision 2023)

Review: Diljá – “Power”

Pablo: There is something captivating about “Power”, and more specifically Diljá’s performance, that makes this number a joy to listen to and repeat over and over in my playlist. Perfectly serviceable, inspiring pop that sounds ‘now’ with mesmerising peaks and valleys, and a dangerously catchy “p-p-p-power” hook. It has a factor that just hits the right spot for people with all music preferences to like it. Watch out for this one, because there’s nothing more effective for people than an honest package, and this one might be the most honest of all 37. Don’t count Iceland out, because they can strike gold with any tool.

Score: 8.5

Simon: Something in me likes the nod to the 80’s vibe of Iceland, but it’s a tough task to swoon me after the likes of Hátari and Daði Freyr. Diljá definitely has power (I know…) in her voice and I like the theme of female liberation and empowerment in the lyrics, although it gets a little repetitive for my taste. This song doesn’t hold the power over me just yet, so it will land at a mid-table score hoping for a surprise in the live shows.

Score: 5.5

Kristín: What can I say about my beloved country? “Power” is definitely a power number. Heavy beat, somewhat catchy chorus and we of course have the tsunami that is Diljá — and I say this in the most positive way, for the girl has some serious pipes and her energy and love for the stage is off the charts! In any other year, this would’ve been a sure-fire to the finals, but I fear that it will be a steep hill to climb this year, for there are sooooo many strong female-led songs and many of them better than “Power”. But I will not put it past Diljá to go against all the odds and come out on top because she is a fighter!

Score: 7

Jonathan: Icelandic drum and bass here to give us a power boost. “Power” is a thumping track that Diljá commands well, drawing us in through the first verse and then hitting us with her strong vocals in the chorus. The staging at Söngvakeppnin was rather lacklustre, particularly into the second half. But hopefully Iceland can give Diljá something more interesting to work with in Liverpool, because they’ve got a banger of a song on their hands.

Score: 8

Renske: “Power” is a sweet powerpop anthem. It feels a bit too similar to many entries we have seen from other countries in the 2010s. It sounds like a watered-down version of a classic top 10 power ballad from the last decade. The message is good and Diljá is a talented singer-songwriter, but for Eurovision in 2023, it simply cannot weigh up against other entries. 

Score: 5.5

Iceland Eurovision 2023 ranking

In the Eurovision 2023 Wiwi Jury, we have 20 jurors but only have room for five reviews. The remaining scores are below:

Antranig: 7

Cinan: 7

Dayana: 7

Deban: 5

Diego: 6.5

Forrest: 2.5

Lucy: 8.5

Luis: 7

Oliver: 6

Rick: 8.5

Ron: 6

Ruxandra: 6

Samuel: 8.5

Tom: 7.5

William: 5.5

We have removed the highest and lowest scores prior to calculating the average. This is to remove outliers and potential bias. We have removed a low of 2.5 and a high of 8.5.

Wiwi Jury verdict: 6.78/10

What do you think of Iceland’s Eurovision 2023 entry? Share your own score and review for Diljá’s “Power” below!

95 Comments
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frustratedgirl
frustratedgirl
1 year ago

Are you just never going to react to the entries from Iceland, Moldova, Estonia or Greece or what?

Kristian
Kristian
1 year ago

It’s a good pop song. I liked the song since it was first performed in Icelandic. The girl has good vocals , and a pa-pa-pa-powerful performance. The pa-pa-pa part though makes it a bit childish. The staging needs to be more distinctive for this to pick up votes. Had the semi also included juries this would have surely qualified. Now relying on a vocal for a decent but not extraordinary pop song , makes it lurk in dangerous waters.
Score: 7.5/10
Semi: 8-12
Final: 18-30

Dave
Dave
1 year ago

This is too generic, both by Iceland’s standards and overall. While it’s not a copy of anything I can think of, it sounds like many songs I’ve heard before.

Anna Karenina
Anna Karenina
1 year ago

She f**ked up by choosing to send the English version instead of the Icelandic one. That one is captivating. This one isn’t.

Timi
Timi
1 year ago

The track doesn’t say a lot to me, but her performance is perfect, PERFECT. I really like the live version; she delivers a beautiful experience.

Vivian
Vivian
1 year ago

Iceland’s a pretty underrated one this year. The strength of this entry probably lies solely in how well Diljá is able to perform this live. The only gripe I have with this entry is that the staging at Söngvakeppnin didn’t match the song in my eyes in the slightest, and her styling could use a few changes.

It’s a 7/10 for me. Great song when it comes on, though it doesn’t have a full memorable hook that makes me addicted to it

Anhel
Anhel
1 year ago

It’s one of the songs that I really liked initially but got stale fast. And honestly the p p p power is my least favorite part.

ThorBeta
ThorBeta
1 year ago

It’s a decent song I guess, but I don’t have much to say about this one. It leaves me completely cold and indifferent unfortunately. It’s also quite repetitive both sonically and visually (at least in their national selection’s performance) and it just feels like a long 3 minutes.
6/10 and 27th in my ranking. Might or might not qualify and if it does I guess it will end up somewhere on the right side of the scoreboard.

Scott
Scott
1 year ago

For me this is an ‘almost’ track- it gets ever so close to being memorable but something is lacking in it- not sure what- it’s ever so slightly missing the mark.

ANDREW BROWN
ANDREW BROWN
1 year ago

This song is poor. Repetitive. Cannot see this q q qualifying.

Stephanie
Stephanie
1 year ago

That score is way too high for what it actually is

Sabrina
Sabrina
1 year ago

It’s a fine pop song that loses a bit of power (it was stronger than me, sorry) the more I replay it. I’m not a fan of the “p-p-p-power”, so the Icelandic version worked better for my ears. Diljá really elevates the material though. Her attitude and energy turn what could be a national final filler into a pleasant watch. I just hope the Icelandic delegation gives her some sort of storytelling with staging, otherwise she’ll keep doing all the heavy work by herself. 5.75

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago

Diljá as a performer brings all that is good here, the song itself not so much.

Héctor
Héctor
1 year ago

Certainly she is an artist, she knows how to sell the song and I really like her acting. The atmosphere, based on the smoke and the flashes, is on point too. It all is useful to elevate an, otherwise, average song. Again, as Australia, Iceland will have its chances by being in the 2nd SF.

Iceland places the 28th in my top:

17. Australia (6.75)
23. The Netherlands (6.5)
25. Malta (6.5)
28. Iceland (6.25)
30. Denmark (6)

Fizz
Fizz
1 year ago

Her vocals go all the way in this track.
I dont say she is a bad singer, but this loses my attenton very quick.

Pablo Nava
Editor
1 year ago

I’ve grown out of the “in SK, everything Icelandic is automatically better” phase, and tbh this song was delivered more convincingly like this than the Icelandic performance.

Thallo
Thallo
1 year ago

The song feels special in Icelandic, I wish they kept even half the song in its original language.

I hope this qualifies though, it’s a great song and Dilja is a great performer.

Amar pelos dopis
Amar pelos dopis
1 year ago

Iceland 1/12

The original version 3/12

esclou
esclou
1 year ago

songvakeppnin was unusually weak this year, but ‘power’ was iceland’s best option! the kinda drum and bass sound as well as the ‘p p p power’ lyric i think could be catchy enough to the audience for them to vote for this! diljá has shown us great stage presence, but i am intrigued to see the staging for this song. 7.5/10

Ultima Thule
Ultima Thule
1 year ago

The song is nothing special, but Dilja is amazing, after Alika the best vocal this year. I would like to hear this twice, but nothing more than that.

8/10.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
1 year ago

“Power” seems to me to be written specifically for live entertainment purposes, with both the performer and the audience in mind. Certainly the wonderful energy that Diljá exudes is infectious, and this is a big positive for this entry. Now onto the music… The music here consists of a typical song structure with some variation, but not much development. There is some nicely rooted tonality going on with F minor and A-Flat major throughout the song. The melody has some nice emotive phrasing in the Verses, but it’s difficult to hear this in the live performance released so far; the… Read more »

Esc addict / Shut up and watch my ...
Esc addict / Shut up and watch my ...
1 year ago

One of the two songs of this year using “po, po, po” in the lyrics 😉 .
Diljá represents very well her song as she is very powerful and energetic on stage. The song itself is quite repetitive and not really outstanding but Diljá manages to make us forget that with a captivating execution, she really deserves to qualify.

Poul Rissen
Poul Rissen
1 year ago

Dilja is a great performer! The song is OK, energetic, fresh, but nothing spectacular. But she delivers. She knows how to sing (let alone her voice which is amazing) and perform. I feel this is going to be in the final just because of her performance. Afram Island!

ESCJake23
ESCJake23
1 year ago

6/10

Dilja is the star here. I can’t take my eyes off her. The song is ‘fine’ but on it’s own it is forgettable however Dilja is instantly intriguing, likeable and captivating and elevates this entry.

Skiwalko
Skiwalko
1 year ago

I’m a little obsessed with Dilja. While the song gets tired after a couple of listens, she never gets tired on the stage. The first time I saw the live performance, I was fully expecting her to do a cartwheel or jump into a split by the end of it, and her Bjorkesque growls have that untamed, carnivorous quality that’s mesmerising to watch. When she says she’s got her power in her hand, she means it. “Power” reminds of Svala’s “Paper” from 2017, where I think there was a potential for an interesting song, the just bud never bloomed into… Read more »

Tibor
Tibor
1 year ago
Reply to  Skiwalko

If only the song was a little more “björkesque”, not just her growls and her attitude.

Skiwalko
Skiwalko
1 year ago
Reply to  Tibor

Now that I think of it, I’d love Dilja to cover “Birthday” or “Big Time Sensuality”.

Tibor
Tibor
1 year ago
Reply to  Skiwalko

Diljá with “Big Time Sensuality” would be an easy top 5 finish.

Efthymios
Efthymios
1 year ago

Another entry I cannot connect with this year. I don’t know, it just feels that there’s some p-p-p-power lacking from the song itself, it only leaves a small, JUST noticeable, impactful impression to you. I’m REALLY trying to like it enough to have it as one of my qualifiers but unfortunately, I simply cannot do that. My #27.

Efthymios
Efthymios
1 year ago
Reply to  Efthymios

*rating 6/10. It still is listenable but it’s just there.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Efthymios

Yeah, the ”cannot connect” is the biggest issue for me too. I decided to go with my instinct and put songs I have seemingly bigger issues with ahead if they make me want to actively discuss them much more frequently. Songs like Poland, Ireland, or Israel (which is probably my most controversial ”not for me” song this year). I sometimes find myself humming ”we are oneeee” or ”baybeh”, and that’s something to consider. Not something to advertise, I know… 😉 Even Israel, which I don’t find ”as catchy” is a little puzzle box with so much potential with the right… Read more »

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

I agree in that regard. When actually *really, really* dislike the song (say, something like Israel last year, or Romania 2013), then I’ll definitely put it way below songs I’m just shrugging off. This year, however, I feel like even ”the bad ones” have some aspects I actually kinda like. Not in a way that I genuinely consider them good, but in a way that I can still pad a 0.5 or 1 point here and there for the entertainment value. This year, I don’t think I’m going with below a 3/10, and there are some years in which that’s… Read more »

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
1 year ago
Reply to  Efthymios

There do seem to be a lot more “bland” entries than usual this year though. Last year, there were bad entries but for out and out blandness, I can only really point to maybe Bulgaria and N.Macedonia.

It is definitely a much larger category this time around, at least for me anyway.

Emily
Emily
1 year ago

32) Iceland – Iceland were my number one last year…. and now there’s this. There’s nothing inherently wrong with Power but it’s among the bunch that I don’t hold much of an opinion of as it’s one I skip past or just completely forget about. It’s just a song that exists. Dilja’s energy is probably what saves it, and personally I don’t feel like it’ll qualify.

I do feel kinda dirty for putting Iceland this low, but it is what it is. 4/10

Lorena
Lorena
1 year ago

Sorry, but I cannot connect with this song.

Zanoni
Zanoni
1 year ago

Iceland had a few songs like this this year, that sounded ordinary at first but won me over eventually with appealingly retro texture, even if they were only modest victories. What elevated this song over the rest was Dilja’s chaotic energy– the rolling around, the kicking, the growling. I find her a very engaging performer to watch. I wouldn’t shed a tear for this song in SF1, but in SF2 it’s one of my qualifiers. I would have preferred the song in Icelandic, which would cover up its so-so lyrics with local flavor. 6.5/10

jack
jack
1 year ago

this song is amazing in my opinion, it comes on in the car and i’m instantly engaged and sing along. it’s gone under the radar but hopefully with amplified staging much better than the national selection it will qualify for the grand final. 8/10 (12th)

Colin
Colin
1 year ago

ICELAND – Every year, there are one or two entries that just pass me by, and this year it’s Iceland. There’s nothing inherently awful in it, but there’s nothing that I find engaging either. The lyrics are nice, but the empowerment theme is so common nowadays that it needs more oomph to be memorable. The song is too tame for the club, and the frequently mentioned ”power” just never kicks in. I have trouble remembering the verses. The chorus has a hook, but the p-p-p-power part feels like it’s rhythmically off and a product of a clunky translation from Icelandic.… Read more »

Thanos
Thanos
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

With the other reviews I’ve read I think I am among the most lenient with this song and I didn’t expect that tbh 🙂 . Now I wonder what your last place of the year is.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Thanos

I don’t think that my last place will come as a shock to many, but it’s a song that already not that popular, so I don’t find much rush in pointing that out. I’m actually kinda bummed to put Iceland this low, but it’s just not impactful for me. I may appear very strict this time, but there will be songs where I’ll probably be the most lenient one. There’s particularly one in the first half of semi 2, where I’ll likely be the only one to give it above a 5. Still, I’m ready to be surprised!

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

When I think about it, I feel like Briekimchi might give that song over a 5 too, but I still think that my rating will be a tad higher. We’ll see…

I’m interested to see what’s your last place, Thanos. As well as your winner. Might be some surprises on the board overall.

Thanos
Thanos
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

I have 4 songs that I like almost to the same degree and they are I think completely different to each other. I think I managed to rank them ultimately. They are all 10/10 for me and will get all votes I can give them (well 3 are in the first semi and 1 is a big 5 country so I can’t do a lot in the semis). My last place is a rather divisive entry. And I am actually sorry that I’ve put it last because you guys certainly deserve to finally qualify to the final after so many… Read more »

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Thanos

I have a few on top that I find amazing too. My 1st has actually switched a couple of times, which is exciting. Your last place is well-placed on my list, but I *fully* understand what’s just offputting for a lot of people. It’s so out there that it provokes a strong reaction either way. That’s why I imagine it might qualify, but I can also understand the frustration from those who dislike it if that happens. Especially if it leaves a fan-favorite in the semi. I am happy you voted for Mia, and once again, I thank you for… Read more »

Thanos
Thanos
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

No problem for the votes! I mean S10 was my winner last year so it was a pleasure to vote two times for her :). And the wolves were fun even if they were not among my preferred choices. Well looking forward to seeing which songs you like the best this year!

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Thanos

Hints: My current top 5 songs include 3 women and 6 men, singing in 6 different languages. Three of them previously tried out for ESC in different years. One of them in a different country, even. All of them reached the finals of their respective selections on previous attempts as well. We are certain to see one of them in the ESC finals, and I’m almost certain that two more are a lock. I am concerned for the other two, and that’s where I’ll channel my semi votes, mostly. I think I’ve said a lot! 🙂

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

My top 5 songs. Objectively, I expect to see two of them in actual top 5, but at this point, it’s just speculation.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

Two of them are right. One is actually my 6th. I gave Australia a high 7.5, but I have more than 10 songs with above 8. Not a bad effort, Ari! 🙂

Thanos
Thanos
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

I have a few guesses but I will keep them a secret for now. The one who tried for ESC for a different country perplexes me a bit (or my near perfect memory has started forgetting things 🙂 ). My top 4 consists of 4 different genres of music, two of them more alternative than the other two. 4 different languages make an (even brief) appearance and we have 6 men and 1 woman. And yeah most of these people have in one way or another been related to ESC in the past. One of these acts will surely qualify,… Read more »

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Thanos

I can’t wait to share my top reviews, and to see yours. I’ll try to do the math here, and see whether I’m right. The hints are cool – precise enough to have something to work with, yet vague enough to actually keep it interesting. 🙂

Skiwalko
Skiwalko
1 year ago
Reply to  Thanos

It’s definitely not Latvia, Serbia, Sweden and Italy.

Thanos
Thanos
1 year ago
Reply to  Skiwalko

I am not allowed to say anything just yet 🙂

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
1 year ago
Reply to  Thanos

Yours is more like a maths puzzle because of the gender/member numbers but I’ll give it a go. Most of these people being involved in Eurovision (assuming national final participation is acceptable) in the past is a puzzler as that means at least four of the people, so making that easier, assume the big five entry is Italy. Cover four more of the males by assuming Latvia (which includes two different languages so only needing one more to be covered). It can be the borderline act. Why not go with Sweden as the female act, a previously involved in Eurovision… Read more »

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

I know you want to reveal but this is too fun not to guess. Two of your three previous tryouts might be Sudden Lights (Latvia – 4 men of the six and two languages covered), Teya and Salena (Austria – 2 women, one of which Salena is your different country tryout for Serbia, does also include another language than English so up to three). That would leave us with 1 woman and two men for the final three, one of which previously tried out in a national selection and reached the final. I’ll go with Spain as Blanca Paloma would… Read more »

Thanos
Thanos
1 year ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

Jesus I forgot that Salena has competed for Serbia. Yes so Austria is definitely in Colin’s top 5. I have found the other 4 exactly the same as yours so I am positive we have found his top 5.
Now for my top 4: Since Skiwalko also found it I’ll reveal that your are 4/4 correct 🙂 .

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Thanos

I got Sweden and Italy immediately, and I’m happy that Latvia and Serbia are also there. We’ll have A LOT in common on top of our lists.
Spoiler alert: I have Italy and Sweden ranked quite high too. 🙂

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
1 year ago
Reply to  Thanos

Heehee. I knew the Salena one straight away because I was *very* vocal about her participation in the Serbian national final with *that* song.
So glad I got the four! It’s a strong top four. :3

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

Briekimchi and Thanos, you know me very well, and you have put a lot of effort into exploring this. At first, I wanted to stay cryptic, but with so much effort, you two deserved some answers: So, yes, between the two of you, you found them all! Briekimchi, you have four out of five, with Portugal currently being outside of my top 10. But the 5th one has been mentioned around here. Blanca Paloma, Teya, and Salena are three women, so a man performs this 5th song. With my excitement when he won his NF, I think that it will… Read more »

Thanos
Thanos
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

So Portugal is wrong? Well then it has to be Luke right? Blanca is the one we will surely see in the final, Finland and Austria are sure qualifiers, Latvia and Serbia are the ones you are unsure of their qualifications. If so we really have very similar favourites. The male/female numbers add up, the three previous NF participants are Sudden Lights, Blanca and Salena and the 6 languages are English, Spanish, Serbian, Italian, Latvian and Finnish.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Thanos

Yes! 🙂 My top 5 are guessed right, and we will have a lot of similarities in our top 10 this year. 🙂

Thanos
Thanos
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

Well I am surely glad someone will be voting for Latvia and Serbia in the first semi since I can’t vote there. Do the best you can we need these two in the final 🙂 .

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Thanos

I’ll go really heavy on the telephone for both of them. I agree, we need them in the finals! 🙂
Also, both Briekimchi and you deserve a toast for being so good in guessing. 🙂

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

Thanks so much! I can’t believe that my 1am maths let me down in such a basic way and I definitely would’ve gotten that last one if I had kept my numbers straight.
It’s a great top five but I wouldn’t expect any less from you!

I’d have loved to do something similar…but posting up a ranking video on Youtube that’s easy enough to find probably takes most of the fun out of it. Maybe next year!

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

That’s interesting that “p-p-p-power” comes across to you as a clunky translation issue. In the UK we have had the TV advertising campaign “p-p-pick up a penguin” in the past, so it actually doesn’t come across as non-English to me.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Perhaps because I’ve heard the Icelandic version, and there’s no prolonging of a single word, but several different words in the chorus instead. Might be me subconsciously perscribing it to the translation. Not that prolonging the single letter is always clunky at all. Now that I’m reminded, it’s sometimes quite well done.

Jack
Jack
1 year ago

I just don’t understand what people are hearing!! In the live performance her vocals were really shaky and she appeared to really struggle to reach the notes she wanted to. Sounds like she is straining for a big fat poop. I just don’t get it, average song, weak vocal performance, crap staging. Pretty bland and boring over all. It’s a no from me

Marcin
Marcin
1 year ago

Amazing that the bookmakers place Dilja in NQ territory, while pretentious rigmarole such as Estonia and Lithuania are given much higher chances to qualify. This should be with the likes of Sweden and Norway near the very top.

Leo M
Leo M
1 year ago

She’s got a good voice, like her energy but the song is very average and a little forgettable. Borderline qualifier

WESSEL
WESSEL
1 year ago

Not material for the final! Just bland to my ear!

Anonymous91
Anonymous91
1 year ago

a Sia wannabe, and a very bad wannabe at that, emotionless in those high notes compared to Sia whom gives it 110% passion, emotion, fire in every single high note slayage

also a very basic mediocre song

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
1 year ago

On the plus side, it’s not as if some masterpiece was overlooked in Iceland that enabled “Power” to punch its ticket. So, it’s not quite 2017 all over again but wow, am I getting some heavy “Paper” vibes from this entry. It feels like Iceland were determined to do generic Scandi-pop with that inauthentic 80’s overtones, regardless of whether there was a quality song supplying that exact flavour. Outside of neighbourly votes for something this familiar, I don’t really see what the thinking was behind this being a potential entry. Definitely one of the least exciting entries of the year… Read more »

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
1 year ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

Excitement. It’s here!

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

It was worth a wait. You are the more generous one this time around, but to be fair, my original score for this was also 4.5. It just faded into background even more since. Overall, our impressions aren’t far apart.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

All that waiting and I spot a typo immediately. The pain. ;;

I think I originally, during the national final, gave this a 5.0 but, then I went back and looked at what I gave that rating to last year and this song just didn’t hold up.

And similarly, I often forget that this song is competing. Not a good sign.

David
David
1 year ago

I think people are sleeping on this because the other Nordic countries are taking all the attention. Can see this making top 15 in the final and top 5 in semifinal.

Young_At_Heart_In_Austin
Young_At_Heart_In_Austin
1 year ago
Reply to  David

I have this song in my top five overall due to its catchiness and the lyrics which I believe are for everyone because so often even without noticing we give our power to other people instead of just standing in it and harnessing. I’ve got tickets for SF1 so I’m sad I’m not going to be able to see this song performed live. We’ll done Dilja!

Cviti97
Cviti97
1 year ago

I have a feeling that 80% of the songs will have the score/verdict between 6 – 7.

Anna Karenina
Anna Karenina
1 year ago
Reply to  Cviti97

Which is annoying. That’s why I appreciate it when reviewers don’t shy away from giving low marks (2s and 3s) to those that really deserve them.

Thanks you to the reviewers who do ( you know who you are).

just an esc fan
just an esc fan
1 year ago

Watching Söngvakeppnin, i was surprised that we didn’t have a masterpiece of a song this year. All were mostly good, nothing great maybe with the exception of Celebs. The winning entry is exactly that. Just good. Nothing surprising, nothing new, it just exists. What saves it, has to be the great vocals of Diljá.

With a lack of allies being intense I can’t see this qualify. This isn’t Systur level to save it even in a weak semifinal, but ofc many can change.

Rating: 7/10 (19th)

Thanos
Thanos
1 year ago

22nd place: ICELAND: Iceland offers us a classic middle-of-the-road song. Nothing more, nothing less: and for that reason it’s also near the middle in my rankings. Dilja is a good performer that helps elevate the song. For me the song can also seem a bit monotonous after the halfway point as it doesn’t seem to evolve as it progresses. It ultimately is just full of oh-oh-oh and p-p-p-power and many times I may skip the song after some time. Nevertheless it is pleasant and harmless. I think it will struggle to qualify.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
1 year ago
Reply to  Thanos

Being that I don’t really enjoy any part of this song, I did overlook the lack of progression but you’re completely right to point it out. It doesn’t go anywhere. The only thing they add is some additional shouting during a breakdown section towards the end before going back to more-of-the-same from that chorus.

Thanos
Thanos
1 year ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

Yes the lack of progression is a big issue for me. This way the song falls flat after a while and that’s really discouraging for me to finish listening to it. They could have tried to make it evolve a bit more. Still it wouldn’t be my favourite song since like you, I also don’t fully 100% enjoy the existing repeated parts of the song, but it would certainly improve.

Tibor
Tibor
1 year ago

2023 is a very loud year, we have a severe lack of more quiet and introspective tones and the lineup feels sometimes as if everyone is shouting over each other. No one encapsulates this feeling better for me than Diljá. “Power” consists mainly of a – competent – vocal that tends to get a little shrill and a hammering beat that could already have been used twenty years ago. Melodically the song isn’t half bad, but it’s just too much of an assault to my senses for me to let it play or feel indifferent about, so it’s part of… Read more »

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
1 year ago
Reply to  Tibor

Exact same ranking for Iceland. No. 31…and I song I would definitely kick out for others in SF2.
Would point in the direction of my review but, something I wrote triggered the “Awaiting Approval” officers. Can’t imagine what it was. XD

Tibor
Tibor
1 year ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

Sometimes it really eludes me what is swallowed by the filter and what is let through … Can’t wait to read what you have to say.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
1 year ago
Reply to  Tibor

If they let me know, I’d be sure to re-word it. It’s been like four hours now and another completely different song has come and gone since!

fever
fever
1 year ago

The song is catchy, tho maybe not the best of the best. Nevertheless, Diljá’s energy and vocal do give it a great lift.
A safe qualifier for me in SF2. Good luck in GF!

Vera
Vera
1 year ago

My number 26. I think it’s a cool song, I don’t skip it when it comes on. But comparing it to some other Icelandic entries we’ve had recently, it’s just simply not as good.

Kosey
Kosey
1 year ago

37. Diljá – Power (Iceland) – 4/10 – I seem to have developed a reasonable slice of irrational feeling towards this track and I am not entirely sure why. It is not a terrible song by any means, but somehow it has ended up last on my list and in the cold light of day, I do feel bad about that. I can’t exactly describe what it is that has not connected with me so much – it could be the gospel twinges, which are definitely not for me, or it might be that the centrally important “p-p-p-power” is, for… Read more »

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
1 year ago
Reply to  Kosey

I didn’t think there’d be many who’d have this ranked lower than I do but here we are! We do rate it quite similarly though so, you’re probably just overall a bit kinder than I am!
“Pumping” is a good word and usually, it’s a good thing. Just, for this song, it doesn’t work and makes it an irritating listening experience.

We’re onboard when it comes to this one.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

I’m meaner than both of you this time around. This is currently my penultimate, and I gave it a 3.5/10. It’s on a cusp with a 4, but I decided being a bit strict this time around. I don’t actively dislike this, but it just completely passes me by. Poland and Ireland are at least giving me some meme value. This is… here. But I do love Dilja’s vocals and personality.

Tibor
Tibor
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

Even if you say you’re mean, you’re still the nice guy, there’s no way around it, Colin.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Tibor

Thank you very much, Tibor. 🙂 I appreciate your comment.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

Also, right back at you. 🙂

Rambo Amadeus
Rambo Amadeus
1 year ago

This entry officially marks the end of Iceland’s very good 2019-2022 run for me, it was good while it lasted. The p-p-p-power hook is quite clunky so I would have preferred to see the Icelandic version at ESC instead, it does feel like a borderline qualifier that gets completely overlooked once into the final and just finishes bottom 6 in the end.

Karl
Karl
1 year ago

I quite like this song. She’s very energetic and I dig her perky vibe. And we don’t often get drum and bass at Eurovision, so it’s cool we have this this year. I just feel the Icelandic version is more impactful and would have had better chances of qualifying. Still, good luck to Diljá. I hope she makes the final.