The Icelandic broadcaster RUV has announced the list of artists that were chosen to take part in Söngvakeppni 2016, has been revealed.
Performers have to have Icelandic citizenship while songwriters that were non-Iceldanic, had to team up with local songwriters in order to be eligible. 260 entries were received and the list was narrowed down to 12 by a special committee. The remaining acts were revealed during the television program Vikan með Gísla Marteini.
Back in October, RUV opened submissions for artists and composers wanting to compete in the 2016 Icelandic national selection, Söngvakeppnin, with submissions closing last month. Artists wishing to compete in the national selection were required to have Icelandic citizenship, however Icelandic songwriters were eligible to co-write and submit song entries with non-Icelandic composers.
The list:
Sigga Eyrún – Kreisí (Crazy)
Music: Karl Olgeirsson
Lyrics: Karl Olgeirsson Sigríður Eyrún Friðriksdóttir
Helgi Valur Ásgeirsson – Óvær (Uneasy)
Music and lyrics: Karl Olgeirsson
Erna Mist & Magnús Thorlacius – Ótöluðorð (Unspoken words)
Music and lyrics: Erna Mist / Magnús Thorlacius
Erna Hrönn Ólafsdóttir & Hjörtur Traustason – Hugurminner (My mind is)
Music and lyrics: Þórunn Erna Clausen
Þórdís Birna Borgarsdóttir & Guðmundur Snorri Sigurðarson – Spring yfirheiminn (All over the world)
Music: Júlí Heiðar Halldórsson
Lyrics: Júlí Heiðar Halldórsson / Guðmundur Snorri Sigurðarson
Alda Dís Arnardóttir – Augnablik (One Moment)
Music: Alma Guðmundsdóttir / James Wong
Lyrics: Alma Guðmundsdóttir / James Wong / Alda Dís Arnardóttir
Karlotta Sigurðardóttir – Óstöðvandi (Unstoppable)
Music: Kristinn Sigurpáll Sturluson / Ylfa Persson / Linda Persson.
Lyrics: Alma Rut Kristjánsdóttir / Ylfa Persson / Linda Persson.
Ingólfur Þórarinsson – Fátækurnámsmaður (A broke student)
Music and lyrics: Ingólfur Þórarinsson
Elísabet Ormslev – Á ný (Again)
Music and lyrics: Greta Salome Stefánsdóttir
Greta Salome Stefánsdóttir – Raddirnar (The Voices)
Music and lyrics: Greta Salome Stefánsdóttir
Sigríður Eir Zophoniasardóttir & Jóhanna Vala Höskuldsdóttir – Égséþig (I see you)
Music and lyrics: Sigríður Eir Zophoniasardóttir and JóhannaVala Höskuldsdóttir
Pálmi Gunnarsson – Égleiðiþigheim (I lead you home)
Music and lyricsi: Þórir Úlfarsson
There are several familiar names on that list. Greta Salome represented Iceland at Eurovision in 2012 along with Jonsi. They qualified from the Semis with the song “Never Forget”. Erna Hrönn was one of Yohanna’s backup singers in 2009 and took part as a solo artist in the Icelandic National Final before. Pálmi Gunnarsson represented Iceland in 1986 which was also the country’s debut at the contest.
Söngvakeppnin 2016 dates
- 06/02: Semi-final 1 (6 competitors, 3 qualifiers)
- 13/02: Semi-final 2 (6 competitors, 3 qualifiers)
- 20/02: Grand Final (7 finalists; 6 semi-final qualifiers and 1 wildcard act)
Three songs from each Semi will move on to the Finals. In addition, a jury is going to pick a wildcard out of the remaining six entries bringing up the Total numbers of Finalists to 7.
