escYOUnited
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Iceland ICELAND 2020 - Daði & Gagnamagnið - Think About Things
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@mauve @BarefootBoogaloo I'm getting the champagne
opinionsigotem
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Ugh the S!sters made it, their song makes my skin itch. Dimma were pretty good though, and all the songs I actually like are on next week so I'm not too mad.
Nah, the other entries were too beige. Don't forget it's the guys who chose HatariNEVER thought they would make it!
True that. Actually Iceland is one of my fave sections this year along with DIMMA, Iva and Hildur Vala. Amazing! Hatari, of course, was one of my most fave artists last year.
Hatari spent most of the season on my 3rd place, managed to sneek in 2nd place just before the final and somehow became my favorite song of the last edition somewhere between June and August. There's nothing better than driving late into the night with Hatrið mun sigra blasting throught the speakers.True that. Actually Iceland is one of my fave sections this year along with DIMMA, Iva and Hildur Vala. Amazing! Hatari, of course, was one of my most fave artists last year.
Aside from Iva and DIMMA I really like Nina and her Ekkó. Totally different genre but it's soothing and fresh.
I just saw the qualifiers and good who i wanted to went through
Already terrified for the next one.
who i wanted to went throughAlready terrified for the next one.
Ísold & Helga qualifying? Meh. They're one of the acts I like the least in this NF. Lesbon sisters ballad are so 2019
Uto
Veteran
Entire semis for Iceland seem a bit superfluous by now. Oculis Videre is the only viable option left I think. I saw Isold & Helga and even though that's a fine performance they're just not going to be very charming. It just stinks of two talented amateurs chancing their way into ESC because they happened to make a nice ballad.
Also, after listening to Oculis a couple more times it's just getting stronger and stronger. The staging is going to be freaking fantastic if they keep it extremely dark and then do the huge church reveal at the 1:30 drop (awesome drop btw, soul-shattering). You could even somehow make those graphics turn into a huge bird that will then somersault and reveal Icelandic landscapes it is flying through. So much potential here.
Also, after listening to Oculis a couple more times it's just getting stronger and stronger. The staging is going to be freaking fantastic if they keep it extremely dark and then do the huge church reveal at the 1:30 drop (awesome drop btw, soul-shattering). You could even somehow make those graphics turn into a huge bird that will then somersault and reveal Icelandic landscapes it is flying through. So much potential here.
RainyWoods
Croak-kay
I'm aware that the timing is not the best since semi 2 hasn't taken place yet, but I felt the need to talk about "Oculis Videre", which imo is the clear standout of an otherwise unusually pleasant selection. I listened to the song a lot these days and, while "Fellibylur" had a slight edge over it in my mind at first, "Oculis Videre" is in hindsight much more interesting due to its fleshed-out arrangements.
While it features some operatic vocals, I don't really consider it to be a purely operatic effort, it's more of a crossover to me. Also, it's unlike anything we've heard before in the contest, it has a very epic fantasy sound without sounding Eurovision-y, precisely because it's not unsubtly dramatic like entries entering the contest tend to be. From the arrangements to the controlled vocals, there is nothing showy to me (no vocal gymnastics, no attention-whorish structure): every element organically works within the framework of the composition. And that will make it stand the test of time for sure.
Like I said before, I'm very attracted by the almost religious atmosphere going on during some parts of the song and I like how it develops very much: the brass are probably the icing on the cake for me.
I guess Iva is likely to sing this composition properly, so I really hope the staging is tasteful. The last thing we need here is tackiness. I'm curious to see the visuals. Also, this should go to Eurovision in Icelandic, English kills the mood for me here (and especially that last sentence), it sounds much more mystical in their native tongue, and since no one cared about Hatari not singing in English last year, they might as well do it again. The song is strong enough to survive the language barrier imo.
If they send Iva, Iceland would be a strong contender for my personal top 5 (and - dare I say - my potential number 1), which would be unprecedented. And I think it would be a very interesting choice for the contest anyway. This is a spellbinding act imo, fingers crossed for a great performance! Go Iva!
While it features some operatic vocals, I don't really consider it to be a purely operatic effort, it's more of a crossover to me. Also, it's unlike anything we've heard before in the contest, it has a very epic fantasy sound without sounding Eurovision-y, precisely because it's not unsubtly dramatic like entries entering the contest tend to be. From the arrangements to the controlled vocals, there is nothing showy to me (no vocal gymnastics, no attention-whorish structure): every element organically works within the framework of the composition. And that will make it stand the test of time for sure.
Like I said before, I'm very attracted by the almost religious atmosphere going on during some parts of the song and I like how it develops very much: the brass are probably the icing on the cake for me.
I guess Iva is likely to sing this composition properly, so I really hope the staging is tasteful. The last thing we need here is tackiness. I'm curious to see the visuals. Also, this should go to Eurovision in Icelandic, English kills the mood for me here (and especially that last sentence), it sounds much more mystical in their native tongue, and since no one cared about Hatari not singing in English last year, they might as well do it again. The song is strong enough to survive the language barrier imo.
If they send Iva, Iceland would be a strong contender for my personal top 5 (and - dare I say - my potential number 1), which would be unprecedented. And I think it would be a very interesting choice for the contest anyway. This is a spellbinding act imo, fingers crossed for a great performance! Go Iva!
Uto
Veteran
She was on the Dutch radio (she's half-Dutch) two weeks ago and she said she didn't know yet but was leaning towards Icelandic. Radio host said it should be in Icelandic because it's more mystical which suits the song, exactly the point I would have made, exactly the point you are making as well. She responded with reserved agreement. I think she'll choose Icelandic.
@tuorem Couldn't agree with you more on Occulis Videre, thankfully there are people out there who can do some basic analysis, which I'm shit at. I think for now I prefer DIMMA, but I would be very happy it represented 
in May. And if it does, they HAVE to keep it in Icelandic ofc, it goes without saying.
Iceland was in my top 5 more than any other country this past decade, so please don't disappoint.
in May. And if it does, they HAVE to keep it in Icelandic ofc, it goes without saying.Iceland was in my top 5 more than any other country this past decade, so please don't disappoint.
LastDreamer
Banned
There is absolutely nothing interesting for me.
njdevils94
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Oh come on it isn't that bad. It will sound better in English too. Not like its going to actually win.
SwedishFailurez
Banned
After listening to all the songs in Söngvakeppnin, I came to think that it's unbelievable that such a small country like Iceland pushes way above its own weight because the bar is so freaking high. Almost all the songs are meaningful in their own way and they do have their unique quirks. This will make this national selection much more dynamic and much more exciting to follow, unlike the samey Christer-managed Melodifestivalen...
And then we have the big one... Occulis Videre... Such of an overrated mess... Nah I'm kidding!
This hands down the obvious Eurovision winner right now! I will follow the hype-stream for this one, but I'm indeed nervous for a potential flop if the performance and the staging don't live up to the epically nordic yet the mystical atmosphere of the song itself.
I think the best part of Occulis Videre is how natural the traditional and the modern instruments integrate with each other without the awkward overlapping. The nordic elements in the composition felt so organic, for its favor the song is not overly dramatic or too subdued which is there so many ballads in Eurovision struggles. I believe it's partly because of the subtlety of the lyrics which makes the atmosphere. The glorious singing by Iva and the choir made Occulis Videre feel like poetry!
All things stated about the song by me and most of us in this thread really make Occulis Videre is so intriguing.
If there is any con, I think the song has some minor pacing issues...
The song is clearly separated into two parts. The buildup in the first half and the huge climax in the second part. Both parts sound amazing, but the structure is too linear which make the song somewhat predictable. The song is far from flat, but I would want the more dynamic twists and turns like the 1974's "Si". But that's for my own liking...
For what they could fit in the 3-minute mark, the song is still great. I really hope the live presentation will be the same on Saturday.
And then we have the big one... Occulis Videre... Such of an overrated mess... Nah I'm kidding!
This hands down the obvious Eurovision winner right now! I will follow the hype-stream for this one, but I'm indeed nervous for a potential flop if the performance and the staging don't live up to the epically nordic yet the mystical atmosphere of the song itself.
I think the best part of Occulis Videre is how natural the traditional and the modern instruments integrate with each other without the awkward overlapping. The nordic elements in the composition felt so organic, for its favor the song is not overly dramatic or too subdued which is there so many ballads in Eurovision struggles. I believe it's partly because of the subtlety of the lyrics which makes the atmosphere. The glorious singing by Iva and the choir made Occulis Videre feel like poetry!
All things stated about the song by me and most of us in this thread really make Occulis Videre is so intriguing.
If there is any con, I think the song has some minor pacing issues...
The song is clearly separated into two parts. The buildup in the first half and the huge climax in the second part. Both parts sound amazing, but the structure is too linear which make the song somewhat predictable. The song is far from flat, but I would want the more dynamic twists and turns like the 1974's "Si". But that's for my own liking...
For what they could fit in the 3-minute mark, the song is still great. I really hope the live presentation will be the same on Saturday.
njdevils94
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Iva is considering keeping her song in Icelandic if she makes the final!