Iceland - Sigurjons Friends - Aftur Heim

ICELAND

Sigurjosn Friends - Aftur Heim

Iceland will enter the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Dusseldorf with the song “Aftur Heim” by Sigurjons Friends. The group comprise of 6 members competed in the Icelandic selection in tragic circumstances. Original artist Sigurjon Brink was intending on presenting this song in the process but sadly passed away in the run up the event thus family and friends decided to drive the song forward and the band were formed to take the song to the final.

Iceland have performed relatively well at the past three Eurovision’s. After three years of missing the final Euroband score a 14^th place with “This is My Life” which Yohanna followed up with an excellent second placing in 2009 and last year her Bjrok made 19^th which was lower than expected but a 3^rd place in the Semi final confirmed the songs popularity.

Interestingly, this is the first non-English entry from Iceland since 1999 and it works better for that purposes. It’s a very folk based number with a slow building hook and a let-loose sort of fell. It does not follow a traditional song structure, is not over the top or cheesy in anyway and simply stands its own ground being something unique

Given the tragic circumstances this song could have easily been something very different and have a very different feeling. But rather than dwell on a tragic event the family and friends of Brink have stuck to the upbeat, almost celebratory tone of the song and its an all round upbeat feeling. The band deliver it well and it will have some impact on viewers I think.

I think this is a very touch and go song in terms of qualification but I can forsee it sneaking through into the final where it may place around 16^th-17^th. Either way it’s a song which will stand out and entertain with the celebratory tone and smile it is bound to bring to many faces around Europe.