Iceland recently confirmed participation for Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in Tel Aviv, Israel and Icelandic broadcaster RUV, has now already received 132 submitted entries for the country’s national selection, Söngvakeppnin 2019.
132 songs for Söngvakeppnin 2019
Despite 4 non-qualifications in a row for Iceland the last couple of years, the interest in the Nordic country is still there with 132 submitted entries for the Icelandic national final, Söngvakeppnin 2019.
The country’s public broadcaster, RUV, has already set up a seven-member committee consisting of singers, musicians and people involved on RUV. This committee will then listen to all the candidate songs and will select 10 of them for the final phase of the process.
However, invitations to participate were also sent to specific composers to submit their proposal. The announcement of the songs and the selected composers will take place in January. Undoubtedly, a high-hopping move is the recruitment of British choreographer Lee Proud as Artistic Director of the show.
No other details have been given out by Icelandic broadcaster, and the exact date Söngvakeppnin 2019 has not yet been decided. But we expect to be given more details in due time.
Iceland in Eurovision
Iceland has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 31 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 two second-place finishes, with Selma in 1999 and Yohanna in 2009.
Iceland has achieved a total of five top ten placements, with the others being Stjórnin finishing fourth (1990), Heart 2 Heart seventh (1992) and Birgitta eighth (2003). Since the introduction of the semi-final round in 2004, Iceland has failed to qualify for the final seven times, including for the last four years (2015–18). As of 2018, Iceland is the only Nordic country that has yet to win the Eurovision Song Contest.
Below this year’s Icelanic entry “Our Choice” by Ari Ólafsson.
Are you excited for Icelandic National final Söngvakeppnin 2019 for Tel Aviv?. Who would you like to represent Iceland in Israel next year?. Let us know your opinions and thoughts below or at social media @ESCXTRA
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