We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Iceland.
Hera Björk
Hera Björk ĂĂłrhallsdĂłttir, an Icelandic powerhouse vocalist born on March 29, 1972. With a career kickstarting in childhood, Hera was already a familiar face in commercials and had recorded songs before turning twelve. Her musical journey gained momentum when she clinched a victory in a singing competition at sixteen. Heraâs debut in 1999 showcased her versatile talent, which spans across various albums that include traditional Icelandic tunes and international hits. Noteworthy albums from her early years include âLitla HryllingsbĂșðin,â âIlmur af JĂłlum / The Scent of Christmas,â and âDisneylögin.â
Heraâs knack for collaboration and her solo ventures underscored her growing artistic maturity, evident in her prolific period from 2003 to 2009 with albums like âĂ faðmi ĂŸĂnumâ and âVið gefum von.â Her 2010 Eurovision entry, âJe ne sais quoi,â catapulted her to European fame, while her victory at the 2013 Viña del Mar International Song Festival in Chile with âBecause You Canâ solidified her international acclaim. Hera continued to engage her fans with releases such as âIlmur af jĂłlum 2â and made a notable return to Söngvakeppnin in 2019, securing fourth place with âMoving on.â
Beyond her international exploits, Hera Björk remains a stalwart in Icelandâs music scene, admired for her dynamic range and ability to traverse genres effortlessly. In 2024, Hera Björk was chosen to represent Iceland at the Eurovision Song Contest for a second time with the song âScared of Heightsâ.
Söngvakeppnin
Söngvakeppnin is the Icelandic national final ever since Iceland first took part in the Eurovision Song Contest, back in 1986. The past few years, it contains two semifinals with 5 songs each. Two songs from each semifinal, ĂĄnd a wildcard, go through to the final. The favourite to win the contest this year was Palestinian Bashar Murad, who lives in East Jerusalem. Murad and Björk were the two contestants reaching the superfinal. Hera Björk won. However, there was some controversy as the voting app RĂV Stjörnur experienced a glitch during the superfinal. Icelandic broadcaster RĂV recognized this but stated that Björk’s victory was beyond doubt.

Bashar Murad
Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest
In 1986, Iceland debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest, reaching the 16th place with Icy and their “Gledibankinn”. “Scared of Heights” will be the 36th Icelandic entry. Iceland never won the contest yet. However, there was a 2nd place for the island twice: in 1999 with Selma and het “All out of luck”, ten years later with Yohanna’s “Is it true?”.

The Bookmakers
Currently, the bookmakers give a 20th place for Hera Björk. That means, she would reach the final just like she did when she first participated in 2010.
The Song
This is the song:
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