Reykjavík Grapevine - 06.05.2016, Qupperneq 48

Eurovision. I’m new in town, so
I don’t get it. But I’m an intern,
so what I lack in skill and under-
standing, I make up tenfold in en-
thusiasm and desire to appreciate
that which this country holds dear.
To mark the occasion, this year
Bíó Paradís will host Iceland’s first
formal, free screening of the an-
nual European song competition’s
semi-finals and finals on May 10,
12 and 14. This year’s 42 contes-
tants will take to the stage in the
most flamboyant and extravagant
manner possible, presenting their
original songs to a projected 600
million viewers. In my quest to un-
derstand Iceland’s Eurovision fever,
I turned to the only person who
could help this lost cause: Reynir
Þór Eggertsson, a teacher, PhD hold-
er, Icelandic television commenta-
tor and Eurovision expert.
Eurovision is huge
in Iceland. How do I
make you understand?
The European Broadcasting Union
reported 95.5% of television-
watching that Icelanders tuned
in to the 2015 Eurovision finals—
when Iceland wasn’t even a final-
ist. Iceland boasts the only formal
Eurovision fan club with more
women members than gay men.
Are you beginning to understand?
“It’s a family event,” said Reynir.
“One of the reasons it’s so popular
here is that it’s a contest we actually
can win. It’s not the biggest country,
or the best-known country that’s the
automatic winner… As far as I know,
it’s only Malta that’s kind of the
equivalent in general excitement.”
Those small island nations, man.
Reynir’s been to see three of
the Eurovision competitions live.
And when I appear eager at the
prospect of following in his advi-
sor’s footsteps, my sage mentor
enlightens me. “What you have to
realise is that at the end of the day,
it’s a TV show. So you might be bet-
ter off sitting at home watching
it on television than in the hall.”
So no need to track down scalp-
ers and book tickets to Stockholm
(this year’s host)? “Well, I think
it will be brilliant to watch it in a
cinema. It will be like a party, but
with a massive screen and a mas-
sive sound system.”
Camp Value
Sure, as Reynir says, it has a “camp
value.” No one’s claiming it’s the
Brit Awards, but Eurovision gave
us ABBA. And Céline Dion. It’s a
spectacular musical extravaganza,
a year in the making, costing “ba-
sically the national budget of Ice-
land,” as Reynir puts it.
Greta Salóme will represent
Iceland’s hopes and dreams this
year, with her song “Hear Them
Calling,” and Reynir prophesies
we (remember at the beginning
of this article, when I didn’t know
what Eurovision was?) will reach
the final. “I wouldn’t be surprised
if we ended up on the left side of
the scoreboard,” he smiles. That
means finishing in the top thir-
teen. Look who’s learning.
Bíó Paradís will have special
Euro-drinks on sale, and throw an
afterparty, complete with a DJ, fol-
lowing the finals. There’s no need
to get tickets in advance. Seats for
the free events will be first come,
first served. But, well. With Euro-
vision fever gripping Iceland once
again, you better show up early.
SHARE: gpv.is/eurovBy KELLEY REESE
Euro-what?
A newbie’s guide to Eurovision
Movies Well.. it's shown in a movie theater?48
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 5 — 2016
“The Icelandic Museum of Rock 'n' Roll is as
eccentric in its telling as the tale it celebrates.”
David Fricke, Rolling Stone.
The museum is located in Keflavík
only 5 minutes away from
Keflavík International Airport.
Open daily from 11am - 6pm

For more go to rokksafn.is
Visit Iceland's largest music museum and enjoy our history
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spend time in our soundlab, cinema, karaoke booth, gift store,
exhibitions or simply grab a cup of coee at our café (free wifi!).
THE ICELANDIC
MUSEUM OF
ROCK 'N' ROLL
The Icelandic Museum of Rock 'n' Roll Lækjargata 4 | 101 Reykjavík | Sími 55 10 100 | jomfruin.is
Open 11-22 every day