: ESCUnited Team Reviews: Söngvakeppnin Semifinal 2

All opinions expressed in this article are those of the person quoted and do not represent the opinions of the other team members or ESC United as a whole.

It’s time for round two! Söngvakeppnin continues this Saturday, 15 February with the second of two semi-finals. All songs competing in the semi-finals are sung in Icelandic, and if songs qualify to the final, then the songs are performed in the language the artist intends to sing in Basel. Three songs will advance to the final from each semi-final. The final will take place on Saturday, 22 February.

Five ESC United writers have listened to the songs that will be competing this Saturday using a 10-point scale. What songs did we decide should qualify and which would we rather live without? Let’s find out. The writers in this edition are: Sam from the United States, Rebecca from Australia, James from the United States, Boris from Belgium, and David from Denmark.

1. Bjarni Arason – “Aðeins lengur”

David – 1 – Songs like this remind me that it’ll be a looooong time before I belong to a certain older age group. This is really something all the elders would absolutely appreciate, and so can I, just not in the same way. Marvelously composed and not bad vocals, but there’s no energy in this song. I’m just waiting for something better.

James – 8 – Such is the quality (or lack thereof) of this year’s selection that an old git wanting one last poke in the bedroom before his lady friend leaves wins my endorsement. I would admire RTV if they had the gumption to send this horny old goat to Basel, but I doubt they will. The Berlin Wall was still standing when he first tried out for Eurovision. As the oldest person at ESC United I can make old jokes all day, but I would one day like to see an act that my grandmother, a dyed in the wool Daniel O’Donnell fanatic, would enjoy at Eurovision again. Maybe Bjarni’s last sappy entreaty to his departing lass is not it, but something like it as one last swansong for the Greatest Generation.

Rebecca – 5 – Icelandic Graeme Garden has some pipes on him! This is very dated, but in a cute sort of grandpa way rather than an annoying way. Very strong voice and was definitely not expecting that long note at the end! Truth be told this is objectively not that amazing, but I can’t bring myself to hate it. Bjarni has some charm to him!

Boris – 4 – Bjarni took second place in the 1995 SVK, and it sounds as if he hasn’t changed one bit. “Aðeins lengur” is OLD, both in delivery and instrumentation. If this makes it to Eurovision, better put it on first, before its target audience goes to bed and dies from acute narcolepsy.

Sam – 7 – I kind of love this. His vocals are impressive as hell. The song is genuinely nice. I can envision a world in which this qualifies. Wait…is this legitimately the dark horse?

Total points: 25.00 points (Average = 5.00)

2. Dagur Sig – “Flugdrekar” / “Carousel”

James – 4 – Overwrought, and the kids’ vocals coming in feel like an antiseptic blast rather than some sort of poignant touch. I am not sure the crying woman that he’s singing this to would appreciate or be comforted by his bellowing voice in her moment of sadness. It’d be like Gilbert Gottfried doing a eulogy at a funeral.

Rebecca – 6 – Wasn’t expecting to like this one, but actually, it’s pretty good! I think I prefer the English version, mainly because rolling consonants he uses in Icelandic don’t always mesh very well with his gravelly vocals. Speaking of those vocals, I imagine they’ll sound very good live and give a bit more impact. The lyrics are also kind of interesting, and they make good use of metaphors relating to carousels that add some uniqueness in there. And then we get a key change! Wow, solid. I’m thoroughly impressed!

Boris – 2 – A smarmy, directionless Swedish contraption with hokey lyrics. “Ooh. My merro-go-round-and-round. Ooh! Like a Carousel!” are some of the words Dagur sings in this, somehow without a sense of embarrassment.. The lyrics are a clumsy, mangled concoction of theme park attractions and directions, laid over a Christian rock eulogy of a track. “Carousel” is a carnival for those in need for a track to play at the funerary service of a family member nobody particularly liked, because you have to play something to muffle the sounds of the coffin sliding into the incinerator.

Sam – 6 – This is so dated but in a charming way. A children’s choir working together with gruff but soaring male rock vocals? Early 90s adult contemporary is back, baby.

David – 2 – This is too sweet, even for me. Nothing wrong with the song, but I would never willingly listen to this. We have the cheesy music, lyrics and it’s fine that someone is able to bring songs like these to life, but I can’t help wondering why anyone would even do that. He has a fine voice, but there’s no more than that.

Total points: 20.00 points (Average = 4.00)

3. Tinna – “Þrá” / “Words”

Rebecca – 6 – I swear I don’t actually seek out country music on my own, but for some reason when I hear it at Eurovision it clicks with me?? Very hand-clappy and it will get the audience going, which is always a plus for Eurovision I think. I think this one is very solid, but the staging needs to give us something with a bit of energy that compensates for the lack of variations in the music. That, or some vocal ad-libbing with high notes and whatnot in that final chorus. I once again prefer the Icelandic version for this one, because the chorus flows a lot better in Icelandic and that’s the part you want people to connect with.

Boris – 4 – Has tap-clap instrumentation ever produced a winner? Isn’t this just a trap to lure in undiscerning nerdy straight women? (yes I AM looking at you Rebecca and Samantha) And I mean, “Words” does exactly what it says on the tin: She sings about words, using words and it’s all very insipid and nondescriptive. This is a good example of where Icelandic enhances the song and translating into English is a mistake.

Sam – 6 – A pleasant little country bop. It’s nice, but maybe not so memorable. Shades of Iceland 2022.

David – 3 – Iceland sure got that wild wild west feeling sometimes, despite not being exactly known for that exact climate. Anyhow, the melody is quite cool, but lyrics really don’t fit to this style of music. Vocals are also rather on the lower end, and overall, the music is probably what carries the most for me in this composition.

James – 3 – Cod country! Nothing I love more than European takes on pop country. Not really. Most European takes on Americana – especially country, rap, and gospel – are soulless and cringe, and Tinna’s effort is no exception. The lyrics are daft, the production is cliched and lame. How does a country without cows capture the essence of the cowboy? Hint: it doesn’t.

Total points: 22.00 points (Average = 4.40)

4. Bára Katrín – “Rísum upp” / “Rise Above”

Boris – 2.5 – Time to take the knife sharpening kit out of the cupboard. “Rise above” sounds like a TheSims2 construction track, if you were trying to build and redecorate a hospice for your elderly Sims. This very antiquated instrumentation is then blanketed by lyrics more insipid than an Alexandros Voividis live tweet. Rebecca has a creative writing degree. I’ll let her further dissect this nonsense. I am taking a nap because I am fucking TIRED.

Sam – 1.5 – I agree with the song’s sentiment, but…ugh.

David – 2 – Lovely voice and a very confident feeling over this song. I’m happy that we have a singer who can deliver some feeling into the performance. On that note, this is not my kind of song, my interest has faded instantly and there isn’t anything which brings me back. The song being generally this slow will always be a personal hindering for me.

James – 5 – The retro synths and beats add a lot to what is otherwise a stock “rise above” anthem with bland lyrics cribbed from wooden decorative signs you’d buy from HomeGoods. A pity the song really never gets out of second gear. It could do with a more explosive outro or some more drama. As is, it’s a bit sedate.

Rebecca – 4 – Very dated, casino lounge sort of music. It’s… fine, I guess. Kind of boring after a while. Um. Other words that paint a critical and well-worded review.

Total points: 15.00 points (Average = 3.00)

5. Júlí og Dísa – “Eldur” / “Fire”

Sam – 4.5 – The rap break saves this from being the Imagine Dragons entry.

David – 3 – I was looking forward to hearing something interesting in a potential duet. Instead, not so much a duet, but for some reason we have Icelandic rapping? I mean, I love hip-hop music, but there’s none of that in here, so why? Perhaps this should’ve been a solo song instead, since I was alright with everything else.

James – 3 – You know what’s less original than a Northern Lights simile or metaphor? A fire one. From any Eurovision country. Horribly dated dull pop and an awful rap verse compound the issues on top of the canned lyrics.

Rebecca – 7.5 – I prefer the Icelandic version of this one, it has way more impact than the English version. Dísa coming in with a rap verse was a surprise but I’m absolutely here for it! The chorus is very catchy and you can sing along with the “Eldur” parts very quickly. I’m quite enjoying this! My biggest complaint is that I want more harmonies between the two of them. I feel like it would add some much-needed depth into the choruses, especially towards the end of the song.

Boris – 7 – For once, we have bad AND good things to say. The bad things first: “Fire” suffers from the same problems as everyone else – it’s unoriginal and bland. We’ve heard so many Aviici adjacent songs in selections over the years, and “Fire” is barely catchy enough to be memorable by itself. Fortunately, the song has an ace-in-the-hole in Júli’s wife Dísa, whose sudden rap intervention in the second verse resuscitates what would have been a very dead on arrival experience. It’s a silly gimmick, but props to Júli & Dísa for tag-teaming their entry into memorability.

Total points: 25.00 points (Average = 5.00)

So who did ESC United collectively endorse to go through to the Final?

We had a very close race for the top spot, but Bjarni Arason is our favorite based on having a higher top score. Júlí og Dísa and Tinna round out the podium, which means we’d like to say goodbye to Dagur Sig and Bára Katrín. But if Iceland has taught us anything, they’re very unpredictable.

1. Bjarni Arason – “Aðeins lengur” – 25.00 points (Average = 5.00, Highest score: 8)
2. Júlí og Dísa – “Eldur” / “Fire” – 25.00 points (Average = 5.00, Highest score: 7.5)
3. Tinna – “Þrá” / “Words” – 22.00 points (Average = 4.40)
———-
4. Dagur Sig – “Flugdrekar” / “Carousel” – 20.00 points (Average = 4.00)
5. Bára Katrín – “Rísum upp” / “Rise Above” – 15.00 points (Average = 3.00)

Our overall rankings showed that we weren’t a fan of Iceland’s selection. But it’s clear. Our pick to win is BIRGO – “Ég flýg í storminn” / “Stormchaser”! Wait, she was eliminated last week? Okay, then our overall winner is Bjarni Arason – “Aðeins lengur”! (For now). If Justyna’s success this year is any indicator, then maybe this will also be Bjarni’s year.

1. BIRGO – “Ég flýg í storminn” / “Stormchaser” – 30.00 points (Average = 6.00)
2. Bjarni Arason – “Aðeins lengur” – 25.00 points (Average = 5.00, Highest score: 8)
3. Júlí og Dísa – “Eldur” / “Fire” – 25.00 points (Average = 5.00, Highest score: 7.5)
4. Ágúst – “Eins og þú” / “Like You” – 25.00 points (Average = 5.00, Highest score: 7)
5. Stebbi JAK – “Frelsið mitt” / “Set Me Free” – 24.50 points (Average = 4.90)
6. VÆB – “RÓA” – 23.50 points (Average = 4.70)
7. Tinna – “Þrá” / “Words” – 22.00 points (Average = 4.40, Highest scores: 6 and 6)
8. BIA – “Norðurljós / “Northern Lights” – 22.00 points (Average = 4.40, Highest score: 6 and 5)
9. Dagur Sig – “Flugdrekar” / “Carousel” – 20.00 points (Average = 4.00)
10. Bára Katrín – “Rísum upp” / “Rise Above” – 15.00 points (Average = 3.00)

Who do #YOU think will qualify for the Söngvakeppnin final? Do you agree with our thoughts? Who do you think will win it all for Iceland? Let us know on social media @ESCUnited, on our Discord, or on our