Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006

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Eurovision Song Contest 2006
Country Iceland
National selection
Selection processSöngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2006
Selection date(s)Semi-finals:
21 January 2006
28 January 2006
4 February 2006
Final:
18 February 2006
Selected entrantSilvía Night
Selected song"Congratulations"
Selected songwriter(s)
Finals performance
Semi-final resultFailed to qualify (13th)
Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2005 • 2006 • 2007►

Ríkisútvarpið (RÚV). The selection consisted of three semi-finals and a final, held on 21 January, 28 January, 4 February and 18 February 2006, respectively. Eight songs competed in each semi-final with the top four as selected by a public televote alongside two jury wildcards advancing to the final. In the final, "Til hamingju Ísland" performed by Silvía Nótt emerged as the winner exclusively through public televoting. The song was later translated from Icelandic to English
for the Eurovision Song Contest and was titled "Congratulations", while her stage name was changed to Silvía Night.

Iceland competed in the semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 18 May 2006. Performing as the closing entry during the show in position 23, "Congratulations" was not announced among the top 10 entries of the semi-final and therefore did not qualify to compete in the final. It was later revealed that Iceland placed thirteenth out of the 23 participating countries in the semi-final with 62 points.

Background

Main article: Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest

Prior to the 2006 Contest, Iceland had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest eighteen times since its first entry in 1986.

1999 with the song "All Out of Luck" performed by Selma. Since the introduction of a semi-final to the format of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2004, Iceland has, to this point, yet to qualify to the final. In 2005
, Iceland failed to qualify to the final with the song "If I Had Your Love" performed by Selma.

The Icelandic national broadcaster,

Ríkisútvarpið (RÚV), broadcasts the event within Iceland and organises the selection process for the nation's entry. RÚV confirmed their intentions to participate at the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest on 12 September 2005.[2]
In 2004 and 2005, Iceland opted to internally select their entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. For 2006, RÚV announced along with their participation confirmation that a national final would be used for the first time since 2003 to select the Icelandic entry.

Before Eurovision

Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2006

Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2006 was the national final format developed by RÚV in order to select Iceland's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2006. The four shows in the competition were hosted by Garðar Thór Cortes and Brynhildur Guðjónsdóttir and all took place at the Fiskislóð 45 venue in Reykjavík. The semi-finals and final were broadcast on RÚV and online at the broadcaster's official website ruv.is.[3]

Format

Twenty-four songs in total competed in Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2006 where the winner was determined after three semi-finals and a final. Eight songs competed in each semi-final on 21 January, 28 January and 4 February 2006. The top four songs from each semi-final qualified to the final which took place on 3 February 2007. The results of the semi-finals and final were determined by 100% public televoting, while two wildcard acts were selected by a jury for the final out of the fifth-placed acts from each of the semi-finals.[4] All songs were required to be performed in Icelandic during all portions of the competition, however, it will be up to the winning composers to decide the language that will be performed at the Eurovision Song Contest in Athens.[5]

Competing entries

On 30 October 2005, RÚV opened the submission period for interested songwriters to submit their entries until the deadline on 18 November 2005. Songwriters were required to be Icelandic or possess Icelandic citizenship.

Gunnar Ólason, who represented Iceland in 2001 as part of Two Tricky, and Birgitta Haukdal, who represented Iceland in 2003.[10][11]

Artist Song Songwriter(s)
Ardís Ólöf "Eldur nýr" Örlygur Smári, Niclas Kings, Daniella Vecchia
Birgitta Haukdal "Mynd af þér" Sveinn Rúnar Sigurðsson, Kristján Hreinsson
Bjartmar Þórðarson "Á ég?" Örlygur Smári, Sigurdur Örn Jonsson
Davíð Olgeirsson "Strengjadans" Davíð Olgeirsson
Dísella Lárusdóttir "Útópía" Sveinn Rúnar Sigurðsson, Kristján Hreinsson
Edgar Smári Atlason and Þóra Gísladóttir "Stundin – staðurinn" Ómar Þ. Ragnarsson
Eyjólfur Kristjánsson and Bergsveinn Arilíusson "Lífið" Eyjólfur Kristjánsson
Fanney Óskarsdóttir "Hamingjusöm" Fanney Óskarsdóttir
Friðrik Ómar "Það sem verður" Hallgrímur Óskarsson, Lára Unnur Ægisdóttir
Geir Ólafsson "Dagurinn í dag" Friðrik Hjörleifsson, Kristján Hreinsson
Guðrún Árný Karlsdóttir "Andvaka" Trausti Bjarnason
Gunnar Ólason
 "María" Roland Hartwell, Birgir S. Klingenberg
"Það var lagið"
Heiða "100% hamingja" Sveinn Rúnar Sigurðsson, Kristján Hreinsson
Íris Kristinsdóttir "Ég sé" Iris Kristinsdottir
Katy Þóra Winter "Meðan hjartað slær" Tómas Hermannsson, Ragnheiður Gröndal
Magni Ásgeirsson "Flottur karl, Sæmi rokk" Sævar Benediktsson
Maríanna Másdóttir "Í faðmi þér" Ingvi Þór Kormáksson, Valgeir Skagfjörð
Matthías Matthíasson "Sést það ekki á mér?" Sigurdur Örn Jonsson
Regína Ósk "Þér við hlið" Trausti Bjarnason, Magnús Þór Sigmundsson
Rúna Stefánsdóttir and Brynjar Már Valdimarsson "100%" Hördur G. Olafsson
Sigurjón Brink "Hjartaþrá" Bryndís Sunna Valdimarsdóttir, Þórir Úlfarsson
Silvía Nótt "Til hamingju Ísland" Þorvaldur Bjarni Þorvaldsson, Ágústa Eva Erlendsdóttir, Gaukur Úlfarsson
Sólveig Samúelsdóttir "Mig langar að hafa þig hér" Hallgrímur Óskarsson

Shows

Semi-finals

The three semi-finals took place on 21 January, 28 January and 4 February 2006. In each semi-final eight acts presented their entries, and the top four entries voted upon solely by public televoting proceeded to the final. "Sést það ekki á mér?" performed by Matthías Matthíasson and "Flottur karl, Sæmi rokk" performed by Magni Ásgeirsson were awarded the jury wildcards and also proceeded to the final.[12] "Til hamingju Ísland" performed by Silvía Nótt directly qualified to compete in the final due to online leaks of the song prior to the competition, but still performed in the third semi-final.[13]

Semi-final 1 – 21 January 2006
Draw Artist Song Result
1 Gunnar Ólason "Maria" Eliminated
2 Matthías Matthíasson "Sést það ekki á mér?" Wildcard
3 Edgar Smári Atlason and Þóra Gísladóttir "Stundin – staðurinn" Advanced
4 Íris Kristinsdóttir "Ég sé" Eliminated
5 Friðrik Ómar "Það sem verður" Advanced
6 Maríanna Másdóttir "Í faðmi þér" Eliminated
7 Regína Ósk "Þér við hlið" Advanced
8 Davíð Olgeirsson "Strengjadans" Advanced
Semi-final 2 – 28 January 2006
Draw Artist Song Result
1 Geir Ólafsson "Dagurinn í dag" Eliminated
2 Fanney Óskarsdóttir "Hamingjusöm" Eliminated
3 Eyjólfur Kristjánsson and Bergsveinn Arilíusson "Lífið" Eliminated
4 Guðrún Árný Karlsdóttir "Andvaka" Advanced
5 Magni Ásgeirsson "Flottur karl, Sæmi rokk" Wildcard
6 Ardís Ólöf "Eldur nýr" Advanced
7 Sigurjón Brink "Hjartaþrá" Advanced
8 Heiða "100% hamingja" Advanced
Semi-final 3 – 4 February 2006
Draw Artist Song Result
1 Rúna Stefánsdóttir and Brynjar Már Valdimarsson "100%" Advanced
2 Dísella Lárusdóttir "Útópía" Advanced
3 Bjartmar Þórðarson "Á ég?" Advanced
4 Silvía Nótt "Til hamingju Ísland" Advanced
5 Katy Þóra Winter "Meðan hjartað slær" Eliminated
6 Sólveig Samúelsdóttir "Mig langar að hafa þig hér" Eliminated
7
Gunnar Ólason
 "Það var lagið" Eliminated
8 Birgitta Haukdal "Mynd af þér" Advanced

Final

The final took place on 18 February 2006 where the fifteen entries that qualified from the preceding three semi-finals competed. The winner, "Til hamingju Ísland" performed

Páll Óskar.[15]

Final – 18 February 2006
Draw Artist Song Televote Place
1 Ardís Ólöf "Eldur nýr" — —
2 Edgar Smári Atlason and Þóra Gísladóttir "Stundin – staðurinn" — —
3 Dísella Lárusdóttir "Útópía" — 5
4 Magni Ásgeirsson "Flottur karl, Sæmi rokk" — —
5 Friðrik Ómar "Það sem verður" 9,942 3
6 Matthías Matthíasson "Sést það ekki á mér?" — —
7 Heiða "100% hamingja" — —
8 Davíð Olgeirsson "Strengjadans" — —
9 Guðrún Árný Karlsdóttir "Andvaka" — 6
10 Sigurjón Brink "Hjartaþrá" — —
11 Silvía Nótt "Til hamingju Ísland" 70,190 1
12 Bjartmar Þórðarson "Á ég?" — —
13 Birgitta Haukdal "Mynd af þér" — 4
14 Rúna Stefánsdóttir and Brynjar Már Valdimarsson "100%" — 7
15 Regína Ósk "Þér við hlið" 30,018 2

At Eurovision

According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country, the "

Big Four" (France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom) and the ten highest placed finishers in the 2005 contest are required to qualify from the semi-final in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from the semi-final progress to the final. On 21 March 2006, a special allocation draw was held which determined the running order for the semi-final, to be held on 18 May 2006, and the final, to be held on 20 May 2006. Iceland was drawn to perform last in position 23, following the entry from Bosnia and Herzegovina.[16] On 30 April 2006, it was announced that "Til hamingju Ísland" would be performed in English at the Eurovision Song Contest and would be titled "Congratulations".[17] At the end of the semi-final, Iceland was not announced among the top 10 entries in the semi-final and therefore failed to qualify to compete in the final. Silvía Night was also booed off the stage following her performance. It was later revealed that the Iceland placed thirteenth in the semi-final, receiving a total of 62 points.[18]

The semi-final and the final were broadcast in Iceland on

RÚV with commentary by Sigmar Guðmundsson.[19] The Icelandic spokesperson, who announced the Icelandic votes during the final, was Ragnhildur Steinunn Jónsdóttir
.

Voting

Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Iceland and awarded by Iceland in the semi-final and grand final of the contest. The nation awarded its 12 points to Finland in the semi-final and the final of the contest.

Points awarded to Iceland

Points awarded to Iceland (Semi-final)[20]
Score Country
12 points
10 points
8 points
7 points
6 points
5 points
4 points
3 points  Portugal
2 points
1 point

Points awarded by Iceland

Controversy

Silvía Night's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest brought with it several moments of controversy, particularly over the lyrics of the English version of the song. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) threatened to disqualify the entry due to the line "the vote is in, I'll fucking win" being used in the song. The contest's Executive supervisor Svante Stockselius formally informed the Icelandic delegation that the lyrics as written were in violation of the rules, however Silvía claimed at her press conferences that she would "fucking say what I fucking want".[22] One set of lyrics published online featured the line "they say I win", prior to the formal objection being lodged.[23][24][25]

Over the course of the rehearsals, Silvía continued to perform the lyrics as originally written.[26] Her second dress rehearsal also featured abuse of the floor manager, whom she called a "fucking retard".[27] Eventually however the swear word was dropped for the live performance during the semi-final, with the line replaced by "the vote is in, I'll freaking win".

Commentary both before and after Silvía's performance stressed the fact that she was a television character, rather than a real person. Her entire appearance, therefore, was in fact something of a joke at the expense of the contest – something Silvía herself picked up on when arguing at a press conference that people intending to enter the contest as a joke should not do so.

References

  1. ^ "Iceland Country Profile". EBU. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  2. ^ "Iceland to organise public selection again". Esctoday. 13 September 2005. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Tonight: Iceland decides for Athens!". Esctoday. 18 February 2006. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Iceland 2006".
  5. ^ Bakker, Sietse (13 December 2005). "24 songs Icelandic selection revealed". Esctoday.
  6. ^ Bakker, Sietse (30 October 2005). "Iceland: submission deadline 18th November". Esctoday.
  7. ^ Bakker, Sietse (29 November 2005). "Icelandic national selection on 18th February". Esctoday. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  8. ^ "Rúmlega 200 lög bárust í forval fyrir Söngvakeppni evrópskra sjónvarpsstöðva". mbl.is (in Icelandic). 26 November 2005. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  9. ^ "24 lög frá 18 höfundum í forvali Söngvakeppninnar". Morgunblaðið. 13 December 2005.
  10. ^ Bakker, Sietse (16 January 2006). "UPD Participants first Icelandic semifinal revealed". Esctoday. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  11. ^ Bakker, Sietse. "Exclusive: Birgitta in third Icelandic semifinal". Esctoday. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  12. ^ "Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2006 • semi-finals".
  13. ^ "Stjórnsýslukæra lögð fram í Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins". mbl.is (in Icelandic). 6 February 2006. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  14. ^ "ICELANDIC NATIONAL FINAL 2006".
  15. ^ Bakker, Sietse (18 February 2006). "Silvía Nótt to represent Iceland in Athens!". Esctoday. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  16. ^ Bakker, Sietse (21 March 2006). "Running order decided!". EscToday.
  17. ^ Bakker, Sietse (30 April 2006). "Athens 2006: Iceland". Esctoday. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  18. ^ "Semi-Final of Athens 2006". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  19. ^ "Morgunblaðið, 20.05.2006". Timarit.is. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  20. ^ a b "Results of the Semi-Final of Athens 2006". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  21. ^ "Results of the Grand Final of Athens 2006". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  22. ^ Orton, James. "Iceland: What will happen today?". ESCToday.com. Archived from the original on 24 June 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2006.
  23. ^ Bakker, Sietse. "EBU Formally Objects to Icelandic Lyrics". ESCToday.com. Archived from the original on 18 May 2006. Retrieved 18 August 2006.
  24. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). www.silvianight.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 May 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  25. ^ Bakker, Sietse. "Athens 2006: Iceland". ESCToday.com. Archived from the original on 18 May 2006. Retrieved 18 August 2006.
  26. ^ Bakker, Sietse. "First Reactions after Dress Rehearsal". ESCToday.com. Archived from the original on 16 November 2006. Retrieved 18 August 2006.
  27. ^ Orton, James. "Silvia Night shines Controversially". ESCToday.com. Archived from the original on 28 June 2006. Retrieved 18 August 2006.
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