: ESCUnited Team Reviews: Söngvakeppnin Semifinal 1

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.

Iceland is back to select their entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. Söngvakeppnin kicks off this Saturday, 8 February with the first 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 second semi-final takes place on Saturday, 15 February and 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. BIRGO – “Ég flýg í storminn” / “Stormchaser”

David – 3 – You get the sense of Icelandic pop instantly with this kind of song. That mystic and deep sound in the music, the lyrics that refers to weather. It’s enjoyable, but it’s also not something I haven’t heard before. Then we have a screech as well… which was unneeded. It’s a pop song, have fun, that get this vocally serious.

James – 6 – Standard scandi-pop number punctuated by an oddly timed scream at the end. Birgo is another in a line of sweet, young ingenues that this national selection brings up every year and is promptly never heard from again. And she is paired with a song so forgettable that it helps her disappear. I’d like reassurance from Songvakeppnin that a career in music is possible for most entrants and that in ten years I don’t come back to find out they became a haddock indexer or volcano docent or whatever else people do in Iceland for a living.

Rebecca – 6 – Good stormy instrumentals and decent vocals. I prefer the Icelandic version, because I think the line “Ó ég flýg í storminn” hits way harder than “I’m a stormchaser.” I’m not the hugest fan, but it’s decent overall so I can’t say I hate it. Although, I really hate that whistle note at the end. Just sounds like she screams instead of building up to it, so it hits you out of nowehere and sounds really out of place.

Boris – 7.5 – Sadly, not BIRDO who is a trans icon, nor VIRGO which is a great star sign. Birgo brings the type of fun filler eurotrash that -in a normal selection- would be given a 6 or a 7, as it acts like a palate cleanser between the actually good songs. (or would be a third placer fanwank in MESC). In this SVK however, “Stormchaser” is THE best song, so lol. Reflects worse on Iceland than it does on Birgo, who at least delivers something semi-catchy and Eurovision-friendly. Let her be a palate cleanser between two actually good acts in Basel then.

Sam – 7.5 – Definitely one of the stronger songs in the lineup, if not the strongest – probably because it’s genetically engineered for Eurovision. Her vocals are undeniably impressive and if she can come through in the live performance, this might be the one to beat.

Total points: 30.00 points (Average = 6.00)

2. Ágúst – “Eins og þú” / “Like You”

James – 7 – For a straight bro pop anthem, this is remarkably wholesome, like someone splashed some after-shave on a Dutch Junior Eurovision entry and said, “go get ‘em, lad!” Maybe it’s the imagery (the Land Rover Defender, beer with the boys, dancing around the docks, watching his Mom ironing his shirt) and the half dated music, because too trendy with the music indicates incel or nerd. Anyway, I can’t find too much to quibble about apart from some overseasoning on the vocal modulation. Perfect song with which to receive a handy behind Tommi’s Burger Joint in Selfoss.

Rebecca – 7 – A very generic, radio-friendly sort of song but it’s pretty endearing even so. The beat is quite catchy, and I keep grooving in my chair while it’s on. I think the staging needs a bit of push-and-pull with a dancer to make it stand out and be more charming, however, because as far as catchy songs go, this is a little tame. While I’m personally endeared by it, I know that many other people won’t be (my own colleagues are likely among them. Don’t listen to them, they don’t know how to have fun.) As for the version I prefer, both are actually pretty solid, so based purely on personal preference I’d say the Icelandic version is my favourite.

Boris – 4 – 4th place in a Melfest heat.

Sam – 4 – Wait? Where am I? It seems I’ve been transported back in time to 2017. How do I get home? There’s an extremely mid club anthem playing that I don’t recognize from 2025. Does anyone have a time machine?

David – 3 – Innocent and a polished song. For me, it’s just one of those sweet guy songs, which just fail to leave a mark. I don’t mind the song or the singer, it sounds well produced and all, but it’s just very basic and simple. Perhaps more like, someone who gives his heart, just for a chance to sing, and you’d applaud it, but not care too much either.

Total points: 25.00 points (Average = 5.00)

3. Stebbi JAK – “Frelsið mitt” / “Set Me Free”

Rebecca – 5.5 – This is very sleepy for a metal song. Unfortunately that means I’m left feeling bored by the start of the second verse instead of trying to hold back the urge to headbang. Vocals are good, and the production has little hints of what I usually love about this genre but it just flops before it can get going. Of the two versions I think I prefer the Icelandic vocals because they disguise the painfully generic English lyrics.

Boris – 4 – Set me free from all this pain and misery. Is this song auto-descriptive? It takes effort for schlager metal to be boring, but here we are. Stebbi JAK vomits out the platitudes while his instrumentations meanders along on every metal cliché under the aurora. No wonder that twit Roy likes this. Anything to support a mediocre man over a camp woman. :eyeroll:

Sam – 2 – A massive slog from beginning to end.

David – 6 – This is dope! Would be killer to see Iceland go for an unusual genre once more. Vocally it’s not that good, and lyrics could’ve been better, but the music and atmosphere that is given around this composition just rocks! A few adjustments could be needed, but otherwise this could have some potential.

James – 7 – DIMMA’s Stebbi Jak is back with some fairly stock and trade Nu-Metal. “Set Me Free” is not going to win any awards for originality, but it is a solid entry to appeal to the Sirius XM crowd. Iceland churns out some internationally renowned metal that is quirky and distinctive (such as fantastic prog metallers Solstafir), so it is a surprise RTV plays it safe when it comes to rock and metal. But hopefully Stebbi does as well as DIMMA did (Super Final) where RTV will be tempted to keep plucking from the rock and metal bin.

Total points: 24.50 points (Average = 4.90)

4. VÆB – “RÓA”

Boris – 5 – Fucking sea shanty shenanigans. Lmao that VAEB allegedly took the rhythm of a Eyal Golan song for this – not plagiarism! chord progression isn’t copyright protected – that IS kind of funny. Oh well, Eyal Golan is notoriously a terrible, terrible human being so go make those Zionist karens cope harder, babes <3 Still hope VAEB don't win SVK though. They annoying.

Sam – 5 – It’s goofy, but after slogging my way through some of these other songs it’s, dare I say, almost refreshing. I am not someone who hates fun.

David – 5 – This is your typical club banger here in the Nordics, if you have a beat that just goes hard and crazy, it doesn’t even matter how poorly you sing. I’ll even go with that myself, it is a really catchy tune, but vocally I’m far from convinced. Icelandic does add some charm, but I somehow would’ve preferred it in English.

James – 2 – This song has already gotten in trouble for alleged plagiarization. RTV shouldn’t have allowed it in the building on the basis of it being s%$&. Their entry last year was terrible fake-quirk, which is an insult to an island stuffed to the gills with actual quirky people. “Roa” is aiming for a more “normal” audience this time around, but “Roa” still lacks charm due to terrible rapping, grating folksy fiddle samples and their constant mugging for the crowd. How about they just “row away” instead?
Rebecca – 6.5 – See, this is what I love about Icelandic entries. Sometimes it’s screamo metal heads yelling about hatred prevailing; sometimes it’s a guy singing about how much he loves his wife; sometimes it’s an electronic rap song with a fiddle thrown in there because why not? It’s a fun time and makes me wanna drink another beer at the club, even though I don’t drink beer and I don’t go to clubs.

Total points: 23.50 points (Average = 4.70)

5. BIA – “Norðurljós / “Northern Lights”

Sam – 5 – It’s not bad, but it’s literally just “Power” by Diljá in a slightly different key. “Power” is the vastly superior song, and still didn’t qualify, so I don’t have much faith in this. Not even her voice can save it I think.

David – 2 – A very typical Nordic pop song. The production quality can be heard and is not bad, but it’s also something very recognizable in the Nordics. The song itself doesn’t quite hit me, cause when a song is usually produced this way, it somehow also loses some authenticity. Bia sings lovely, but it feels like something anyone could’ve ended up singing.
James – 6 – Shining like the Northern Lights as imagery for overcoming self-doubt! Not exactly original lyrics from an Icelander. “I want to tickle a cod at the Chuck Norris Bar & Grill” would be more original. Weird, but original, like Icelanders themselves. Using Northern Lights on a stock Scandipop self-empowerment ballad on a formulaic track we’ve heard a million times before will not get Iceland back into the Grand Final.
Rebecca – 4 – This reminds me a lot like Perfect Life (Germany 2017). I did not like Perfect Life. Next song, please.

Boris – 5 – If you wanted more evidence that Iceland is in a creative dry spell, look no further: here you have a Portuguese woman singing about wanting to shine like the Northern Lights. It vibes like MGP-coded filler because that’s what it is. Originality is traded for playing it safe (in a selection heavily starved for something with a kick), and that simply doesn’t suffice in the first semi’s race to the bottom.

Total points: 22.00 points (Average = 4.40)

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

We had one stand-out with BIRGO leading the pack and it was a race to the bottom for the last two spots. But we settled on Ágúst and Stebbi JAK, saying goodbye to VÆB and BIA. Will that be the case after the first semifinal? The second half of songs for Iceland will be reviewed next week.

1. BIRGO – “Ég flýg í storminn” / “Stormchaser” – 30.00 points (Average = 6.00)
2. Ágúst – “Eins og þú” / “Like You” – 25.00 points (Average = 5.00)
3. Stebbi JAK – “Frelsið mitt” / “Set Me Free” – 24.50 points (Average = 4.90)

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4. VÆB – “RÓA” – 23.50 points (Average = 4.70)
5. BIA – “Norðurljós / “Northern Lights” – 22.00 points (Average = 4.40)

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 forum page!