Söngvakeppnin
| Television series | |
|---|---|
| Original title | Söngvakeppnin |
| Country of production |
 Iceland
|
| original language | Icelandic |
| Production company |
 |
| length | 120 to 150 minutes |
| Broadcasting cycle |
1986–1994, 1996–1997, 2000–2003, 2006– |
| genre | Music (as a preliminary decision for the ESC) |
| production | RÚV |
| First broadcast | 1986 on 
|
Söngvakeppnin (until 2011 Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins ) is an Icelandic music competition that has been held annually since 1986 as a national preliminary decision for the Eurovision Song Contest . It is organized by the Icelandic broadcaster Ríkisútvarpið (RÚV). So far it has always taken place between January and March.
History and format
The competition has been held regularly since 1986. Only a few times it did not take place:
- 1995 to 1997 , 1999 , 2004 and 2005 : In these cases the Icelandic broadcaster RÚV selected its programs internally.
- 1998 and 2002 : Iceland was not allowed to submit an entry due to its poor five-year rating.
The entries in the preliminary round must first be presented in Icelandic in the preliminary rounds (semi-finals) . In the final, however, the contributions will be presented in English if the interpreter so wishes. With the exception of 2013 and 2019, all Icelandic contributions to the Eurovision Song Contest since 1999 have been performed in English, although they were previously sung in Icelandic in the preliminary round.
The competition has always taken place between January and March. The most common venues were the Laugardalshöllin , Háskólabíó or the Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavík .
Successful participation in the Eurovision Song Contest
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Performers who achieved at least fifth place in the Eurovision Song Contest after taking part in the Söngvakeppnin:
| year | Interpreter | Song Music (M) and Text (T) |
space |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Stjórnin |
Eitt lay enn M: Hörður G. Ólafsson; T: Aðalsteinn Ásberg Sigurðsson |
4th |
| 2009 | Yohanna |
Is It True? M / T: Óskar Páll Sveinsson, Chris Neil, Tinatin |
2. |
Commercial success in Iceland
The Eurovision Song Contest has been based on the whole of Iceland for years: every year around 95% of the total Icelandic population watch the competition. The preliminary round of Söngvakeppnin has also been watched and watched by many Icelanders for years, which also represents a large market share for the Icelandic radio RÚV. Even if Iceland failed to qualify for the final at the ESC a few times (2005–2007, 2015–2018), the country already achieved second place twice - in 1999, they were only 18 points short of a victory. Especially in recent years, more and more young singers, i.e. younger Icelandic singers, have applied to take part in the preliminary round.
See also
Web links
- Icelandic preliminary round website (Icelandic)
