Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009
Iceland confirmed its presence at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. It was held in Moscow, Russia. Ríkisútvarpið, the Icelandic broadcaster, has decided to continue with a national final format, with members of the public being called to send in songs to RÚV.
Before Eurovision
Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2009
The final of the Icelandic national selection, Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2009, was be held on 14 February 2009, with four semi-finals being held beforehand, on the 10, 17, 24 and 31 January 2009. Eight songs in total competed in the final.Competing entries
Artists and songwriters were told that they had until 13 October 2008 to submit entries to RÚV. However, due to the financial crisis in Iceland, RÚV extended the deadline by one week, to 20 October 2008. Sixteen songs in total competed in Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2009, selected from the 217 songs submitted to RÚV. The composers of the sixteen songs were revealed on 15 November 2008. Three of the thirteen composers revealed have composed two songs that have been accepted for the contest.| Artist | Song | Composer |
| Arnar, Edgar, Sverrir & Ólafur | "Easy to Fool" | Torfi Ólafsson, Þorkell Olgeirsson |
| Edgar Smári | "The Kiss We Never Kissed" | Heimir Sindrason, Ari Harðarson |
| Elektra | "Got No Love" | Örlygur Smári, Sigurður Örn Jónsson |
| Erna Hrönn Ólafsdóttir | "Glópagull" | Einar Oddsson |
| Halla Vilhjálmsdóttir | "Roses" | Trausti Bjarnason, Halla Vilhjálmsdóttir |
| Heiða Ólafs | "Dagur nýr" | Halldór Guðjónsson, Íris Kristinsdóttir |
| Hreindís Ylva Garðarsdóttir Holm | "Vornótt" | Erla Gígja Þorvaldsdóttir, Hilmir Jóhannesson |
| Ingó | "Undir regnbogann" | Hallgrímur Óskarsson, Eiríkur Hauksson |
| Jógvan Hansen | "I Think The World of You" | Hallgrímur Óskarsson |
| Jóhanna Guðrún Jónsdóttir | "Is It True?" | Óskar Páll Sveinsson |
| Kaja Halldórsdóttir | "Lygin ein" | Albert G. Jónsson |
| Kristín Ósk Wium | "Close to You" | Grétar Sigurbergsson |
| Ólöf Jara Skagfjörð | "Hugur minn fylgir þér" | Valgeir Skagfjörð |
| Páll Rósinkrans | "Fósturjörð" | Einar Scheving |
| Seth Sharp | "Family" | Óskar Páll Sveinsson |
| Unnur Birna Björnsdóttir | "Cobwebs" | Heimir Sindrason, Ari Harðarson |
Semi-final 1
The first semi-final of Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2009 was held on 10 January, featuring four songs in total. Two songs passed to the final, while the remaining two were knocked out of the competition.The first song of the night was "Dagur nýr", performed by Heiða Ólafs, composed by Halldór Guðjónsson and written by Íris Kristinsdóttir. The song is a rock ballad, which Ólafs performs on stage in a black top and trousers. She was backed by a five piece band, featuring two guitarists, a bassist, a drummer and a keyboard player. The second performance of the night was by Ólöf Jara Skagfjörð with the song "Hugur minn fylgir þér", which was composed and written by Valgeir Skagfjörð. The song is a rock/pop ballad, which she performs in a red and black dress, backed by an accordion player. Edgar Smári was next on stage, performing "The Kiss We Never Kissed" which was composed by Heimir Sindrason and written by Ari Harðarson. The song is a pop ballad, which Heimir performs in a black shirt and jeans, sitting on a stool in the centre of the stage, backed by five backing singers, four female and one male, all in black. The final song of the first semi-final was "Is It True", composed by Óskar Páll Sveinsson and performed by Jóhanna Guðrún Jónsdóttir. The song is another ballad, featuring both pop and rock elements, which Guðrún performs on stage in a black dress, and is accompanied on stage by two female backing singers, a cellist and a guitarist, all in black.
Edgar Smári and Jóhanna Guðrún Jónsdóttir were the two artists to qualify to the final, to be held on 14 February.
Semi-final 2
The second semi-final of Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2009 was held on 17 January, featuring four songs in total. Two songs passed to the final, while the remaining two were knocked out of the competition.The show was opened by Páll Rósinkrans, performing "Fósturjörð", composed and written by Einar Scheving. the song is a ballad, which Rósinkrans performed in a black suit and white shirt, and was joined on stage by a pianist, drummer, cellist and violinist, all in black. Second was Ingó, who performed "Undir regnbogann", which was composed by Hallgrímur Óskarsson and written by Eiríkur Hauksson. The song is a cheerful, which Ingó performs on stage with a ukulele, and he was accompanied on stage by three male backing singers in black, as well as female trombonist and drummer, dressed in white. the penultimate performance was by Hreindís Ylva Garðarsdóttir Holm, who performed "Vornótt", which was composed by Erla Gígja Þorvaldsdóttir and written by Hilmir Jóhannesson. The song is a mid-tempo song, which Holm performs in a black and white polka dot dress. She is accompanied on stage by a harpist, guitarist and two female backing singers, all in black. The final performer on stage was Erna Hrönn Ólafsdóttir with "Glópagull", composed and written by Einar Oddsson. The song is more rock in nature to the other songs in this semi-final, with Hrönn performing in a black and red dress, and joined on stage by two male and two female backing singers, all in black.
Ingó and Hreindís Ylva Garðarsdóttir Holm passed to the final, with Páll Rósinkrans and Erna & Lísa failing to pass through to the final.
Semi-final 3
The third semi-final of Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2009 was held on 24 January, featuring four songs in total. Two songs passed to the final, while the remaining two were knocked out of the competition.First on stage was Seth Sharp with "Family", an up-tempo pop song. Sharp is joined on stage by three female backing singers, dressed in black, as well as a male and female backing dancers. Next on stage was Arnar, Edgar, Sverrir & Ólafur with "Easy to Fool", an up-tempo country song. The group were dressed in cowboy outfits, and were joined on stage by two female backing singers in black. The penultimate act was Kristín Ósk Wium with "Close to You", a jazz ballad. Kristín was joined on stage by a jazz band, including a pianist, bassist, trumpeter and guitarist, all in black, while Kristín performed in a black dress. The final song of the show was Kaja Halldórsdóttir's "Lygin ein", a modern disco song. Kaja performed the song in a black leather outfit, and was joined on stage by three male backing singers, dressed in black, as well as two female backing dancers who followed Kaja as she moved about on stage.
Arnar, Edgar, Sverrir & Ólafur and Kaja Halldórsdóttir qualified to the final, while Seth Sharp and Kristín Ósk Wium left the competition.
Semi-final 4
The fourth semi-final of Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2009 was held on 31 January, featuring four songs in total. Two songs passed to the final, while the remaining two were knocked out of the competition.Unnur Birna Björnsdóttir was first on stage with "Cobwebs", composed by Heimir Sindrason and written by Ari Harðarson. Birna performs the mid-tempo ballad surrounded by a string quartet, all in black, with Birna singing from a microphone stand as well as playing the violin, dressed in a black dress. Second was Jógvan Hansen with "I Think The World of You", written by Hallgrímur Óskarsson. The song is another ballad, which Hansen, dressed in a white shirt and black waistcoat, performs on stage with two male backing singers, also dressed in black. Third was Electra's "Got No Love", a rock song composed by Örlygur Smári and written by Sigurður Örn Jónsson. The two women of Electra perform the song and move about the stage, and are joined on stage by two female guitarists, who also provide backing vocals, as well as a female keyboardist and drummer. The final performance was Halla Vilhjálmsdóttir with "Roses", a mild rock song. Halla was joined on stage by two guitarists and a drummer, as well as two female backing singers, all dressed in black, while Halla was dressed in an orange top and black bottoms.
Elektra and Jógvan Hansen passed to the final from this semi-final, and Unnur Birna Björnsdóttir and Halla Vilhjálmsdóttir left the contest.
Final
The final of Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2009 was held on 14 February 2009, and featured two songs that qualified from each semi-final.After each song had performed, the top two entries were revealed, being Ingó with "Undir regnbogann" and Jóhanna Guðrún Jónsdóttir with "Is It True?". The winner of the contest was Jóhanna Guðrún Jónsdóttir, who will represent Iceland at Eurovision in Moscow. RÚV later revealed the results and televotes of the top 4 songs, with "Is It True?" winning by a landslide majority from more than 69,000 votes cast.
Promotion
Yohanna promoted her entry in various countries before competing in Moscow. Yohanna performed at both the UKeurovision Preview Party in London on 17 April and the Eurovision Promo Concert on 18 April in Amsterdam.At Eurovision
Iceland participated in the first semi-final of the contest on 12 May 2009. Yohanna performed 12th in the running order of the semi-final, following Bulgaria and preceding Macedonia. RÚV revealed that Yohanna was to be backed on stage by Friðrik Ómar, one half of last year's entry Euroband, and Hera Björk, runner-up in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2009 and backing singer for Euroband last year. The song qualified for the final, scoring the highest number of points in the first semi-final with 174 points. It eventually finished 2nd with 218, equalling Iceland's best ever Eurovision performance set in 1999.Split results
- In the Final Iceland came 2nd with 218 points: the public awarded Iceland 4th place with 173 points and the jury awarded 2nd place with 260 points.
Semi-final 1
Final
| 12 points | 10 points | 8 points | 7 points | 6 points |
| 5 points | 4 points | 3 points | 2 points | 1 point |