The sweaters, the dancing in socks, the keyboard guitar...
February 19, 2020 10:49 AM Subscribe
As the final of Iceland's qualifying contest for Eurovision 2020 draws near, one song and (especially) video has received some attention - Think about Things. Wiwibloggs: “Last weekend, Daði Freyr and his group Gagnamagnið qualified for the Söngvakeppnin grand final with the Icelandic version of their song, also titled 'Gagnamagnið'. But they’ll be taking the English version, 'Think About Things' to Iceland’s grand final on 29 February.” However, other entries such as Oculus Videre stand in their path to representing Iceland...
Ah, it's the most wonderful time of the year: Eurovision!
posted by jb at 12:09 PM on February 19, 2020
posted by jb at 12:09 PM on February 19, 2020
But about the specific: fun song, doesn't take itself too seriously. the cynic in me thinks it won't get out of the semi-finals, like "Love Power" (Belgium) in 2007.
posted by jb at 12:17 PM on February 19, 2020
posted by jb at 12:17 PM on February 19, 2020
I've been listening to this song on repeat this week - it's definitely a song that really grows on you. Normally that makes it a risky choice for a national selection, because songs that impress on first listen are what you want at Eurovision, but the fact that this song's been spreading around the internet beyond the Eurovision bubble makes me really optimistic.
Not gonna lie, though, I really want those shirts!
posted by LSK at 12:40 PM on February 19, 2020 [2 favorites]
Not gonna lie, though, I really want those shirts!
posted by LSK at 12:40 PM on February 19, 2020 [2 favorites]
Yeah, you think you know what they mean by keyboard guitar and then...
posted by Horkus at 1:08 PM on February 19, 2020
posted by Horkus at 1:08 PM on February 19, 2020
Oh my god that was awesome. Thank you.
posted by ivanthenotsoterrible at 3:48 PM on February 19, 2020
posted by ivanthenotsoterrible at 3:48 PM on February 19, 2020
The song is good; the attire is good; the video is also good; but let's be honest: it's the dance moves that are to die for, isn't it?
Honestly; Yes. It's really those dance moves that we all find so mesmerizing.
posted by mightshould at 3:53 PM on February 19, 2020 [5 favorites]
Honestly; Yes. It's really those dance moves that we all find so mesmerizing.
posted by mightshould at 3:53 PM on February 19, 2020 [5 favorites]
How can that tiny country have so much amazing talent?!
I hope they make it to the international contest, then I might even watch it.
BTW what is that oculus videre song about, it seems very spooky? I always imagine I can understand Icelandic, but in reality it's only if I have the written text in front of me.
posted by mumimor at 3:55 PM on February 19, 2020
I hope they make it to the international contest, then I might even watch it.
BTW what is that oculus videre song about, it seems very spooky? I always imagine I can understand Icelandic, but in reality it's only if I have the written text in front of me.
posted by mumimor at 3:55 PM on February 19, 2020
In need keytar specs STAT. Home brew strap keyboards are extremely my (one man) jam
posted by q*ben at 4:10 PM on February 19, 2020
posted by q*ben at 4:10 PM on February 19, 2020
I love this so very much. Thank you!
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 4:29 PM on February 19, 2020
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 4:29 PM on February 19, 2020
OMFEVG, all they need to do is add sparklers to those amazing saxophone keytar fake hybrid instruments and they will be the toast, the absolute toast of eurovision!
posted by sammyo at 5:41 PM on February 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by sammyo at 5:41 PM on February 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
I love this! My goth heart rocks out to Oculus Videre, but for the Eurovision niche, Gagnamagnið are it.
posted by Pallas Athena at 7:44 PM on February 19, 2020
posted by Pallas Athena at 7:44 PM on February 19, 2020
If you like this, you'll also love his 2017 entry Is This Love? which is what I imagine the courtship song of MeFites everywhere to be.
posted by norabelle at 1:58 AM on February 20, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by norabelle at 1:58 AM on February 20, 2020 [4 favorites]
mumimor: How can that tiny country have so much amazing talent?!
This won’t deflate anyone’s ideas about the size of Iceland, but the guy who does the introduction baptized my younger daughter.
posted by Kattullus at 10:18 AM on February 20, 2020 [6 favorites]
This won’t deflate anyone’s ideas about the size of Iceland, but the guy who does the introduction baptized my younger daughter.
posted by Kattullus at 10:18 AM on February 20, 2020 [6 favorites]
I hope this makes it as the national entry and doesn't go the way of Ho Ho Ho We Say Hey Hey Hey by Merzedes Club, the runner up in Iceland's 2008 Eurovision selection (Söngvakeppnin)
Although at least we got to see more of Merzedes Club's Egill Einarsson performing as DJ Muscleboy with his 2014 Euro-hit Louder
to me Eurovision is at its best when it's doing two things: performing painfully earnest songs about love and social issues, and being completely outrageous (See the use of LED electric fiddle, turntables, and the infamous Sax Man in Sunstroke Project & Olia Tira's Run Away, Moldova's 2010 entry)
Another former Iceland entry worth mentioning was fictional heel character Silvia Night in 2006, with her controversial offstage antics and performance of the song Congratulations, basically a troll song about how she was going to win.
posted by JauntyFedora at 11:30 AM on February 20, 2020 [2 favorites]
Although at least we got to see more of Merzedes Club's Egill Einarsson performing as DJ Muscleboy with his 2014 Euro-hit Louder
to me Eurovision is at its best when it's doing two things: performing painfully earnest songs about love and social issues, and being completely outrageous (See the use of LED electric fiddle, turntables, and the infamous Sax Man in Sunstroke Project & Olia Tira's Run Away, Moldova's 2010 entry)
Another former Iceland entry worth mentioning was fictional heel character Silvia Night in 2006, with her controversial offstage antics and performance of the song Congratulations, basically a troll song about how she was going to win.
posted by JauntyFedora at 11:30 AM on February 20, 2020 [2 favorites]
Iceland consistently has amazing entries at Eurovision. Thank you JauntyFedora for mentioning Silvia Night, which was a hilarious and underrated showcase of real performance art. On the other end of the earnestness spectrum, Yohanna was robbed in 2009 when she put in a showstopping performance of a gorgeous ballad but came in second to a manic off-key violinist.
posted by Pfardentrott at 11:39 AM on February 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Pfardentrott at 11:39 AM on February 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
In both the "well of course" and "still heartbreaking" categories: Eurovision is cancelled. (╯︵╰,)
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 7:21 AM on March 18, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 7:21 AM on March 18, 2020 [1 favorite]
Somehow, even with all the other things that have been cancelled so far, it was Eurovision being called off that really made me feel like that the world has ground to a halt.
posted by Kattullus at 7:51 AM on March 18, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Kattullus at 7:51 AM on March 18, 2020 [1 favorite]
Daði Freyr has tweeted about the cancellation:
Eurovision 2020 has been cancelled.posted by Kattullus at 10:29 AM on March 18, 2020 [1 favorite]
It's disappointing as I was really looking forward to performing in Rotterdam with Gagnamagnið.
The support has been overwhelming and many new opportunities have presented themselves.
I am really excited for the future.
Thank you so much! <3
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posted by dnash at 11:55 AM on February 19, 2020