Iceland: Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2010 - 1st. Semifinal

A pesar de haber entrado solo 5 veces en el top 10 y con ninguna victoria a su favor, Islandia siempre ha sido uno de los países favoritos de los Eurofan, y de los mios. Ahora, tras haber conquistado el segundo lugar en Moscu, la RÚV parece estar lista para conseguir el 1er. lugar y llevar el festival a Reykjavík por primera vez luego de 22 intentos.

Despite only have reached the top 10 only 5 times, or won any contest, Iceland has always been one of the fan-favourites, and mine. Now, after reached 2nd place last year in Moscow, the RÚV seems to be ready to conquer 1st place and bring the contest to Reykjavík for the very first time after 22 attempts.

1ra. Semifinal / 1st. Semifinal

1. Íris Hólm / The One

De la misma forma que encontramos el Efecto Rybak en Finlandia, en Islandia encontramos el Efecto Yohanna. La única diferencia, es que Íris Hólm y su compositor han sabido tomar el ejemplo de Is It True? como fuente de inspiración para ofrecer al público islandés una simple y poderosa balada que podría llegar con facilidad a la final del Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins y ganar. El único problema podrían ser las comparaciones con Yohanna y la presión de tener que superar el 2do. lugar.

Just as we found the "Rybak's Effect" in Finland, we can find the "Yohanna's Effect" in Iceland. The only difference between the original and Íris Hólm's entry is the fact that they didn't make a copycat. She and her composer took Is It True? as an inspiration to compose a simple but powerful ballad, able to reach the final and win the Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins. The only problem would be to improve Yohanna's second place and avoid to be compared with Yohanna and her entry.

2. Karen Pálsdóttir / In The Future

Honestamente no creo que el llegar a la final islandesa este en el futuro de Karen. Aunque no haya obras maestras en esta semifinal, In The Future es una de las dos canciones, que a mi parecer, no aportan nada nuevo a la competencia. Simplemente es una canción pop que pudo haber cantado cualquiera.

Honestly, I don't believe that Karen's future is to reach the final with this entry. Although there's any masterpiece in this semifinal, In The Future is, in my opinion, one of the weakest songs in the round. There's nothing new about this song, just a pop song that could have been sang by anyone.

3. Kolbrún Eva Viktorsdóttir / You Are The One

Nuevamente nos encontramos con una balada claramente influenciada por el éxito de Is It True? No hay duda que Kolbrún Eva - que nombre tan extraño - tiene la voz necesaria para defender la canción. Con una puesta en escena sencilla y concreta podría llegar fácilmente a la final. Sin embargo, y aunque muchos la consideren como la mejor canción de esta ronda, siento que le falta algo. Habrá que ver que ocurre este sábado.

The 3rd. song is another ballad influenced by the success of Is It True? last year. There's no doubt that Kolbrún Eva - what a strange name - has the voice to sing this powerful ballad, which could easily qualify with a simple but great performance. Nevertheless, I still think that we're missing something here, even when many eurofans says that You Are The One is the best of the bunch. We'll have to wait until Saturday to find out what happens.

4. Sigurjón Brink / You Knocked On My Door

Definitivamente creo que Islandia apostara nuevamente por una balada este año. Sigurjón con You Knock On My Door presenta la tercera balada del Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2010, mucho mejor que You Are The One, a mi parecer. Con una voz suave, emotiva y un ritmo muy americano, Sigurjón podría ser uno de los clasificados a la gran final si cuenta con un buen directo.

Definitely Iceland will bid for a ballad this year, I think. Sigurjón with You Knock On My Door is the third performer of the night singing a ballad, which is, in my opinion, much better than You Are The One. With a tender and a very emotional voice and a American sound like ballad, Sigurjón could be one of the finalist of the night.

5. Matthias Matthiasson / Out Of Sight

Terrible! La verdad no sé si Matthias trata de ser country, folk o rockero. Out Of Sight parece una canción que hemos escuchado millones de veces. Sin embargo no logra crear su propia identidad como las otras canciones de esta ronda. Creo que Matt podría terminar de último.

Awful! Honestly, I don’t know if Matthias is a country, folk or rock singer. Out Of Sight seems to be that kind of song that we all have heard million times before. He’s also unavailable creating his own sound and identity as the other songs in this round did. I think Matt could be last.

Clasificados a la final / To qualify to the final:

• Íris Hólm / The One
• Kolbrún Eva Viktorsdóttir / You Are The One or Sigurjón Brink / You Knocked On My Door