Reykjavík Grapevine - 22.05.2015, Side 22

If you’re in Iceland on May 23, you
simply must partake in Eurovision
festivities. If you don’t already have
plans, be sure to go to a bar that’s
celebrating it, such as Húrra, or invite
some friends over, because to Ice-
landers, Eurovision is one of the best
events of the year.
Keep in mind when deciding how
to dress for the occasion that Euro-
vision is a bit like New Year’s Eve.
Think: sequins, glitter and anything
over-the-top. After all, there are few
things as absurd as Eurovision. Also,
don’t forget flags! Icelandic, Europe-
an, Australian, anything you can get
your hands on. Flags are important.
Eurovision is basically a national
holiday that’s not weighed down by
traditions, so you can let your imagi-
nation run wild and do whatever you
want. If you need some inspiration,
though, we have a drinking game for
you.
The drinking game
First, write the name of each country
competing in the finals on a piece of
paper. Put those pieces of paper in a
hat and have each guest draw one. If
there are more countries than people,
those who want can draw more than
one until all of the countries have
been accounted for, as it’s more fun
that way.
If your friends are fans of betting,
everyone could put 1,000 ISK into
the hat for each country and the one
who ends up with the winning coun-
try takes it all. Suggestion: the nicest
thing to do with the winnings is to buy
everyone some KFC the morning after
(assuming Iceland isn’t still experi-
encing a chicken shortage) because
believe me, if you’re doing this drink-
ing game, you’re going to need it.
The rules:
“Your country” refers to the
country you drew from the
hat. During the show you’ll be
drinking during performances
when...
− You see your country’s flag
− There’s a dramatic key change (We
actually have a word to describe
this: “Eurovisionhækkun”)
− Someone says “Thank you Europe”
− A wind machine is being used
− Something really gimmicky is
used, anything from a violinist
on an ice rink (Russia 2008) to a
backup dancer in a hamster wheel
(Ukraine 2014)
− There’s a cliché expression about
peace and love
− Someone sings intensely with his or
her fists clenched
− There’s an outfit change on stage
− When you feel the need to drink to
forget (some acts are going to be
THAT BAD)
You will also drink during the
scoring when...
− Your country gets 8 points or more
− When Iceland gets ANY points (this
doesn’t usually get you so drunk, but...
this year, who knows? GO MARÍA!!!)
Some
Eurovision
Party
Essentials
Going
For
Gold?
Hi, María. What’s the atmosphere
like over there in Vienna?
It’s great. The group landed yesterday
and everyone is really excited. We’re
about to leave for our first rehearsal.
A lot of Icelanders saw you for
the first time this winter when you
competed to represent Iceland in
the Eurovision Song Contest. Can
you tell me a bit about yourself
and how you got to where you are
today?
Well, I come from Blönduós and currently
live in Mosfellsbær. I’ve been singing
for as long as I can remember and I’ve
done theatre work, both in Þjóðleikhúsið
and Borgarleikhúsið. I met the guys at
StopWaitGo Productions in college
at Verzló and we worked together on
school plays. After that they got me to
sing demos—they wrote the songs and
I sang them in English so they could
market them overseas. Then this winter
they asked me if I wanted to compete in
Eurovision and I just said... yes.
You seem to have a lot of support
in Iceland. I’ve heard nothing but
praise, both for you and the song,
but especially for you as a singer.
Is this something you’re sensing
as well?
Yeah, I’m feeling a lot of support from
people, which I’m very grateful for.
So what’s the song actually
about?
The song is about going from a dark
place and into the light. You know, just
about getting through hard times and
staying strong because you have to
believe in yourself.
It has very strong and
empowering lyrics. Is that why
you translated the song from the
Icelandic (originally: “Lítil skref”)
into English?
Yeah, well, we really just wanted
everyone to understand what we were
singing about and were hoping that the
song could help more than just those
who know Icelandic. We’ve received a
lot of positive responses from people
all over the world—from people who
say that the song has helped them. One
guy even told us that he came out of
the closet after listening to the song
because it gave him the strength to tell
his parents.
Sizing up the competition
Wow, that’s amazing. It’s great
that the song is already getting
attention and helping people.
In the actual competition, your
position in the semifinals is after
Azerbaijan and before Sweden.
Both of these countries are very
strong contenders. Do you think
your position in the lineup is a
good or a bad thing?
I’m not worried about our position in the
lineup or anything like that. I have a lot
of faith in Sweden this year and at first
I was a bit intimidated by being the act
before them but, honestly, I don’t think
it matters where in the lineup I am.
Is the Swedish song your
favourite this year?
My favourite was Sweden until I saw
the Australian entry being performed
when I went to Russia and it became
my new favourite.
Do you feel like Australia is your
biggest competition this year?
I have a feeling that he’s going to win, you
know, because he’s got the best song. It’s
fun and has a great vibe and there’s a lot
of excitement around it because Australia
is competing for the first time.
What’s your opinion on Australia
competing?
I think it’s fun. It’s great that they’re
joining us and that more countries are
being added to the mix.
So do you think this should
maybe become a more global
competition?
Hmm… well, I don’t know. I guess there’s
a certain charm to it being a European
thing, but it’s nice to get new participants.
You said that you think Australia
is going to win. Don’t you think you
might have a chance as well?
I haven’t really thought that far. It hasn’t
even crossed my mind, as Iceland has
never won. I’m just going to do my best. My
first goal is to get through the semifinals
and after that I’ll set a new goal.
The Eurovision elite
You’ve become a part of Iceland’s
Eurovision elite now because,
as you know, Iceland never
forgets those who participate in
Eurovision. You will forever be
famous in Iceland after this. What
are your feelings about that?
It’s naturally really strange to go from
being completely unknown to becoming
well-known overnight. But I feel like... this
is what I want to be doing in the future
so Eurovision is a really good platform for
me. I actually feel quite lucky that this is
happening.
You just released an EP. Are you
planning on writing and releasing
more material?
I want to release an album as soon as
possible but we’re going to finish this
assignment first and then we’ll discuss
what happens next. After this, I’m going
to continue playing the lead role of Ronja
Ræningjadóttir at Þjóðleikhúsið. It starts
showing again first weekend of June.
Ok, so you have PLENTY to do.
But back to Eurovision—is there
someone you look up to from past
competitions?
Both Selma Björnsdóttir [Iceland’s
representative in 1999 and 2005] and
Birgitta Haukdal [Iceland’s representative
in 2003] were my idols, not just in
Eurovision, but as Icelandic singers,
so I look up to them a lot. Loreen’s act
[“Euphoria”], which won the competition
in 2012 [for Sweden], has really stuck
with me as well.
You’ve met some of these past
competitors. Have they given you
any advice or support?
Yeah, a lot. Selma and Hera Björk
[Iceland’s representative in 2010] are
with me here. I’ve also spoken with
Birgitta and Eyþór Ingi [2013]. Everyone’s
been really helpful.
What advice have they given you?
Just to enjoy the moment and not to lose
myself in the stress because this might
never happen again. They’ve told me to
focus on the cameras because this is
first and foremost a TV show. That’s what
matters.
You mentioned Birgitta and Selma
being your idols. Have you always
been a Eurovision fan?
Yeah. The first competition I remember
was the one with Selma in 1999 when I
was six. My mother and I usually watch
it together, or with the whole family
actually. We’re all really excited for it.
But what on Earth
is Eurovision?
Some of our North American
readers have probably never heard
of Eurovision. How would you
describe it to somebody who has
never heard of it?
Oh wow... I guess it’s European nations
coming together and competing for
the best song and performance. The
performers try to be good representatives
of their nations, but it’s really a huge
festival of unification—nations unite
to support their country and the
participating countries also unite in a
friendly way.
Do you have any advice for
people who have never seen the
competition before? How can
people get the most out of the
evening?
To watch it with an open mind—this is
naturally first and foremost a show.
María Ólafsdóttir is representing Iceland at this year’s Eu-
rovision Song Contest with her song “Unbroken.” The
22-year-old from a small town in North Iceland was rela-
tively unknown to the nation when she swept them away
in the preliminary song contest in Iceland earlier this year.
We managed to catch her for a quick chat shortly after she
arrived in Vienna, where she is busy preparing for the big
night.
Words
Hildur María Friðriksdóttir
Photo
Jónatan Gréttarsson
Meet María Ólafsdóttir,
Iceland’s representative at
the Eurovision Song Contest
22 The Reykjavík GrapevineIssue 6— 2015MUSIC
INTER
VIEW