Iceland: Alexander Rybak To Perform in Songvakeppnin Final

Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, Alexander Rybak will be performing at the final of Iceland’s Eurovision 2017 selection process.

Alexander Rybak the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 for Norway will be performing tonight in Reykjavik. The Norwegian singer previously held the record for the highest points finish at the Eurovision Song Contest, before a change in the calculation of the points in 2016.

This is the second time that Alexander Rybak has made an appearance at a Eurovision selection this year. In January Alexander Rybak was the opening act for the United Kingdom’s selection “Eurovision: You Decide”, performing his song “Fairytale” at the Hammersmith Apollo in London. Alongside his live performance in Iceland, the singer will also be making a pre-recorded appearance at the final of Melodifestivalen in Sweden alongside Clara Henry.

A total of eight singers are competing to represent Iceland in the final tonight in Reykjavik. The selection will be held in two rounds. In the first round the public and a jury of seven members will vote to decide the two acts going through to the Super Final. The jury includes Mans Zelmerlow the winner of Eurovision 2015 and Julia Zemiro who commentated for Australia at the contest between 2009 and 2016. In the super final the public will select the winner by televote.

Competing tonight are:

1. Aron Hannes Emilsson - Tonight

2. Arnar Jónsson & Rakel Pálsdóttir - Again

3. Aron Brink - Hypnotised

4. Hildur Kristin Sefánsdóttir - Bammbaramm

5. Rúnar Eff Rúnarsson - Make Your Way Back Home

6. Svala Björgvinsdóttir - Paper

7. Daði Freyr Pétursson - Is This Love?

Iceland at the Eurovision Song Contest:

Iceland debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1986 and has participated annually every year since. The contest is incredibly popular in Iceland, regularly being one of the most watched programmes of the year. Iceland has yet to win the contest to date, but has finished 2nd twice in the contest. In 1999 Selma missed out on victory in Jerusalem by 17 points. In 2009 Yohanna became the most successful Icelandic entrant ever finishing 2nd in the final with the song “Is it True?” she scored 218 points, this however was still 169 points behind the winners Norway.