Iceland: First semi-final of Söngvakeppnin 2020
Icelandic broadcaster RÚV held the first semi-final of Söngvakeppnin 2020. DIMMA and Ísold & Helga qualified for the final
Who will follow Hatari?
The Icelandic broadcaster RÚV held the first semi-final of Söngvakeppnin 2020 tonight at Háskólabíó venue in Reykjavik.
The five artists who competed tonight were narrowed down to just two finalists: The Heavy metal band DIMMA and the female duett Ísold & Helga. DIMMA is one of the biggest heavy metal bands in Iceland while Ísold & Helga just started singing together.
All the songs will be performed in Icelandic language in the Semi-finals. In the final it's optional for each singer if he/she will perform the song in Icelandic or in English.
RÚV has the option to award a wildcard to the final.
Söngvakeppnin 2020 – Semi-final 1
- DIMMA – "Almyrkvi" (finalist)
- Ísold & Helga – "Klukkan tifar" (finalist)
Brynja Mary – "Augun þín"Elísabet – "Elta þig"Kid Isak – "Ævintýri"
Söngvakeppnin 2020
This contest has usually been the way Iceland's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest is chosen, since their debut in ESC.
The format of Söngvakeppnin 2020 will be exactly the same as last year, with two Semi-finals and a Final:
Semi-final 1: 8 February 2020- Semi-final 2: 15 February 2020
- Final: 29 February 2020
Five songs are competing in each semi-final. Four songs qualify to the grand final (two from each semi). The last spot is awarded by RÚV, giving the opportunity to a fifth act to perform in the final event.
The outcome will be decided by the combination of an expert judging panel and the public votes. The two semi-finals will take place in Háskólabíó Conference Hall, while the final will take place in Laugardalshöll. Both venues are located in the country's biggest city, Reykjavik.
RÚV will broadcast all three shows.
Iceland in Eurovision Song Contest
Iceland's debut in Eurovision Song Contest was back in 1986, and has been participating 32 times since.
Best result are two second-places with Yohanna in 2009 and Selma in 1999.
Since the introduction of Semi-finals in 2004 Iceland qualified to the Grand Final 9 out of 16 times.
Iceland is the only Northern European country that has yet to win the Eurovision Song Contest.