We headed north for the latest national final of the season. Iceland’s Söngvakeppnin 2025 began on Saturday evening with semi-final 1.
Five acts competed for three spots in the grand final. Who made it? The public chose VÆB, Stebbi Jak and Ágúst.
Guiding us through proceedings was Benedikt Valsson, Guðrún Dís Emilsdóttir and Fannar Sveinsson.
Söngvakeppnin 2025: Semi-final 1
Qualifiers
- VÆB – “RÓA”
- Stebbi Jak – “Frelsið Mitt”
- Ágúst – “Eins og þú”
Non-qualifiers
- Birgo – “Ég flýg í storminn”
- Bia – “Norðurljós”
In the semi-finals, all acts must perform in Icelandic. Those who advance to the grand final will now have the option to change to English.
Are you impressed by the show? Do you think anyone from this heat could go on to win Söngvakeppnin 2025? Let us know in the comments below.
I can’t believe Iceland left Birgo out in the SFs. I mean, your selection is already weak, why do that? It’s not that they would’ve qualified easily with Birgo but certainly it was one of their few shoots.
I’m okay with Stebbi JAK qualifying though I’m not sure if it will be appreciated in Eurovision.
I wasn’t too attached to the non qualifiers so I’m fine with the results.
VAEB is the only sensible choice, Iceland.
At this point, yeah, I don’t think they have any other choice if they want a fighting chance in the first semi final.
I was waiting for Stormchaser Birgo to win the whole selection and now is out this does not make sense
I’m devastated that Birgo didn’t make the final. I really thought she could win the whole selection with ease, and maybe even qualify for the grand final at Eurovision.
Her missing one of the final spots is seriously one of the biggest ESC robberies in recent years. Her song, voice & staging were all solid. She was Iceland’s only (little) hope for a Grand Final place at Eurovision…
I think that none of the other contestans can bring Iceland back to the Grand Final. Such a missed chance. Such a shame…
OR… a really outdated, cliched song. How about that?!
You can’t convince me that the 3 songs that went through were better, otherwise you’ll be gaslighting yourself.
I agree. At least one of the composers is Swedish. I’ve heard the song and I immediatly knew that Swedes had put their hands on it 😀
Not particularly surprised that Birgo is out knowing that voting in Icelandic semis can be unpredictable and I don’t think that it was particularly strong live. I expect Væb to win this but I don’t expect a strong result for Iceland this year.
So you are deaf because she sing heavenly…one of the best live perfotmances in a national selection.
The Icelandic voting system is the problem I’m from Iceland and can explain why BIRGO did not go through. It’s mostly because there are not many people in Iceland, and ágúst (Eins og þú) Is just better known and many people know him personally for an example from his band and as A friend and say I know him let’s vote for him. Which is very sad.
Thank you, that helps put some sense to it.. I can see Agust being charming and well liked, despite the super boring song.
Wtf Iceland ?!
Yay for Vaeb, but no Birgo?! What the hell, Iceland?! You’re really going back to your flop era pre-2019. I guess it’s all on the brothers/twins.
lol, Birgo not qualifying and Iceland dead last in the odds (when most of the contestants aren’t even revealed yet), they seem hellbent on NQing with a repeat of last year. That movie was perhaps on to something.
I am sorry but Iceland is cancelled. There has to be some fault at receiving votes or technical errors while voting, its not possible that Birgo is out. Its the only good song they have, the other song is for fangirls. Iceland is dunking in the odds.
Birgo out. WTH! Makes zero sense
It does if you saw the Icelandic streaming patterns on Spotify. Heck, Iceland thought the English verson of Birgo’s song was better and that version didn’t even make the top 5 Songvakeppnin entries.
Then why didn’t they vote for Birgo if they wanna hear the English language version in the final? Make it make sense.
Because the 3 which did qualify were in the top 5 of the Songvakeppnin entries Icelandic people liked.
Idek how Birgo didn’t qualify, I saw it doing decent/well in the Eurovision final bruh. I was curious how she would stage it and thought the staging was solid too
Birgo failed to qualify. Iceland, fools of the highest order. Vaeb overrated.
Can someone from Iceland please explain why Birgo didn’t go through!? It’s my favourite song from the whole selection. When I saw it didn’t go through, I watched the video expecting that maybe the vocal tanked…but it didn’t! Maybe shaky in parts but certainly solid, and the staging was great. I am so perplexed.
Well, wow, didn’t expect Virgo to not even qualify for the final. Iceland might as well be doomed this year, not that her alone would save them but at least they would have SOME chances to qualify in May.
Birgo ffs autocorrect.
Wait, what?! Birgo didn’t qualify? That’s shocking. At least Vaeb got through, right?
I am SHOCKED. This just seems so weird! The best song didn’t even qualify?? HOW? I’m so confused! Maybe they made a mistake and read it from bottom to top and announced those who were last? HELPPP
Vaeb qualified. So the best song did qualify.
That’s what I was feeling during Lithuania’s selection, when Tai kur namai didn’t qualify. I was about to say Liepa too but I just found out that the Liepa and Black Biceps & Liepa have just been given wildcard slots to the final, so it’s 12 finalists now instead of 10. I guess the complaints were heard and this is making up for mistakes.
Iceland, you deserve to NQ for literally ROBBED Birgo.
Birgo is out? In favor of Agust?????? Why Iceland?
Same reaction!!!
Gutted – Birgo was My winner for sure, to be the final song.
I’m sorry??? I just watched her performance earlier and thought “Okay, this one is winning the entire selection”. How??
Sad that 3 of my favourites are in one semi final.
Birgo, Væb and Bia.
Bia is a little too cliche so don’t think it may do well in the show it’s very Húsavík (not that there’s anything wrong with that!)
Think Birgo is perfect for epic stage design and power.
Væb I just think is super fun!
August is super dull to be honest.
Stebbi could do well, but not my thing.
My qualifiers are Stebbi, Birgo and Vaeb
That’s my prediction too.
Vaeb have improved over last year. That is a massive relief. That said, Emmy called dibs on the silver suits at Eurovision lol.
They seem to be the only one without an English version so don’t actually know what they’re singing about (I should stop being lazy and find a translation) but don’t need to know to just have fun!
Bia is cute.
August is the first act I don’t think will qualify. It’s a pleasant song and the staging was fine, but not as high quality as the first 2
I get his and Dagur’s song mixed up because they are too similar to my ears.
Ok Iceland is 2/2 for great staging. Rooting for Birgo to win Songvakeppnin!
Stebbi Jak have great staging. It’s deffo a song that would benefit from staying in Icelandic tho