Iceland_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest

Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest

Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest

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Iceland has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 35 times since its debut in 1986, missing only two contests since then, in 1998 and 2002, when prevented from competing due to finishing outside qualification places the preceding years. The country's best result is second place, which it achieved with Selma in 1999 and Yohanna in 2009. The Icelandic broadcaster for the contest is Ríkisútvarpið (RÚV), which also broadcasts Iceland's national selection competition, Söngvakeppnin.

For the most recent participation, see Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. For the upcoming participation, see Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.
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Iceland has achieved a total of seven top ten placements, with the others being Stjórnin finishing fourth (1990), Heart 2 Heart seventh (1992), Birgitta eighth (2003), Hatari tenth (2019) and Daði og Gagnamagnið fourth (2021). Since the introduction of the semi-final round in 2004, Iceland has failed to qualify for the final eight times, including four years consecutively (2015–18). To date, Iceland is the only Nordic country that has yet to win the contest.

History

Iceland's best position at the contest is second place, which they have achieved twice: in 1999 when Selma represented Iceland with the song "All Out of Luck", and came second to Sweden's Charlotte Nilsson and in 2009 when Yohanna came second to Norway's Alexander Rybak with the ballad "Is It True?".

In contrast Iceland's worst result in a grand final is last place, which has been achieved twice to date: in 1989, when Daníel Ágúst received nul points for his entry "Það sem enginn sér", and in 2001, when Two Tricky received three points for their entry "Angel".

With the introduction of semi-finals in 2004, Iceland automatically qualified for the final that year due to Birgitta's eighth place the previous year. In 2008, Iceland reached the final for the first time since then, when Euroband sang "This Is My Life". Iceland qualified for the final in seven consecutive contests between 2008 and 2014 before failing to qualify for the final from 2015 to 2018. In 2019, Hatari brought the country back to the final for the first time since 2014, finishing tenth, which was followed by a fourth-place finish for Daði og Gagnamagnið in 2021, Iceland's joint-second best result to date, and a 23rd-place finish for Systur in 2022. Another non-qualification came with Diljá in 2023.

Despite these mixed fortunes, Iceland is the second most successful country never to win the contest (behind only Malta).

Sigríður Beinteinsdóttir has participated five times (as a member of a group in 1990 and 1992, as a solo artist in 1994, and as a background vocalist in 1991 and 2006). Hera Björk has participated four times (as a backing vocalist in 2008, 2009 and 2015, and as a solo artist in 2010). Stefán Hilmarsson has participated twice (as a member of a group in 1988 and as a member of a duo in 1991), as have Selma Björnsdóttir (1999 and 2005), Eiríkur Hauksson (as a member of a group in 1986 and as a solo artist in 2007. Eiríkur has in addition participated for Norway in 1991 as a member of a group.), Jón Jósep Snæbjörnsson (as a solo artist in 2004 and as a member of a duo in 2012) and Greta Salóme Stefánsdóttir (as a member of a duo in 2012 and as a solo artist in 2016).

Participation overview

Table key
1 First place
2 Second place
3 Third place
◁ Last place
X Entry selected but did not compete
† Upcoming event
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Conductors

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Heads of delegation

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Commentators and spokespersons

Iceland has broadcast the show since 1970. The first to be broadcast live was the 1983 edition after the plan to broadcast the 1982 contest failed. Since 1985, RÚV has broadcast the contest on the radio using same commentator for TV and radio and the Internet broadcast since early 2000s.

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Other shows

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The 2020 Netflix comedy film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga depicts Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams as a fictional duo from Iceland competing in Eurovision. Hannes Óli Ágústsson, who plays Olaf Yohansson in the film, reprised the role for the voting segment of the 2021 contest final, in which he presented the points on behalf of the Icelandic jury.[11]

Notes

  1. According to the then-Eurovision rules, the top ten non-Big Four countries from the previous year along with the Big Four automatically qualified for the Grand Final without having to compete in semi-finals. For example, if Germany and France placed inside the top ten, the 11th and 12th spots were advanced to next year's Grand Final along with all countries ranked in the top ten.
  2. The 2020 contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  3. All conductors are of Icelandic nationality unless otherwise noted.
  4. Conducted by Þórir Baldursson at the national final.
  5. Conducted by Vilhjálmur Guðjónsson in the national final.
  6. Conducted by Jón Ólafsson in the national final.

References

  1. [1]
    Roxburgh, Gordon (2016). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Vol. Three: The 1980s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84583-118-9.
  2. [2]
    Granger, Anthony (8 April 2018). "Iceland: Netta Barzilai Tops Alla leið Show One". Eurovoix. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  3. [3]
    Granger, Anthony (3 May 2019). "Iceland: "Cannot Take Qualification For Granted" – Felix Bergsson". eurovoix.com. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  4. [4]
    Gunnarsson, Oddur Ævar (4 August 2024). "Gísli Marteinn lýsir ekki Eurovision í ár" [Gísli Marteinn is not commenting Eurovision this year]. Visir.is (in Icelandic). Vísir. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  5. [5]
    Granger, Anthony (10 April 2024). "Iceland: Rúnar Freyr New Head of Delegation for Eurovision". Eurovoix. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  6. [6]
    Granger, Anthony (14 May 2016). "ESC'16: 41 Spokespersons Revealed For Tonight". Eurovoix. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  7. [7]
    Granger, Anthony (4 May 2017). "Iceland: Bo Halldórsson To Announce Jury Votes". Eurovoix. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  8. [8]
    Granger, Anthony (29 April 2018). "Iceland: Edda Sif Pálsdóttir Revealed as Spokesperson". Eurovoix. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  9. [9]
    Granger, Anthony (24 April 2019). "Iceland: Gísli Marteinn Baldursson Returns To Commentary Booth For Tenth Eurovision Song Contest". Eurovoix. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  10. [10]
    Granger, Anthony (17 May 2019). "Iceland: Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson Announced as Spokesperson". Eurovoix. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  11. [11]
    "Iceland: "Play Jaja Ding Dong" Guy Will Reveal The Icelandic Jury Points at Eurovision 2021". Eurovoix. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  12. [12]
    "Árný Fjóla verður stigakynnir Íslands í Eurovision" [Árný Fjóla will be Iceland's scorer in Eurovision]. ruv.is (in Icelandic). RÚV. 4 May 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  13. [13]
    "Dagskrá | RÚV Sjónvarp". ruv.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  14. [14]
    Granger, Anthony (11 April 2023). "Iceland: Gísli Marteinn Baldursson Confirmed as Commentator For Eurovision 2023". Eurovoix. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  15. [15]
    Grace, Emily. "Iceland: Gunna Dís Emilsdóttir Confirmed As New Eurovision Commentator For RÚV". Eurovoix. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  16. [16]
    Wærhaug, Sølvi (24. august 1981). «Nesten krise …». VG. s. 36.
  17. [17]
    Wærhaug, Sølvi (18. august 1981). «Fire verdensdeler følger Momarkedet». VG. s. 37.
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