[RUV] General Discussion about Iceland (Official)

[Rick]

Welcome!

 Ríkisútvarpið (RUV) and Rick are the official managers of the Icelandic country in the Northvision Song Contest

For any information, send a PM to the head of the delegation.

The Icelandic National Television reserves all the rights for any Northvision material aired and made in Iceland, including talk-shows, interviews, special content, news and Söngvakeppni Sjönvarpsins ©

In this topic, you can follow the Icelandic steps in Northvision, and get interesting news! Stay tuned!

[Rick]

We're supporting Unnur Eggerts in Northvision!

As the Icelandic delegation arrived in Liverpool, part of the Icelandic diaspora in the city welcomed their singer in a very warm way.

"I was very surprised, and that's why I love my country, we're always united, we feel like we belong to each other..." said Unnur to us.

The fans were very happy and took signatures, and most important, they're all going to be inside the Echo Arena when Unnur is performing "Við Stingum Af" on the 24th February. The expectations are very high, as Iceland is currently second on the international betting odds.

We from Iceland can just wish good luck to her and to our country!

[Rick]

Unnur feels ready to start!

Right 10 minutes ago, the Jury Dress Rehearsals have come to an end, and the jury members from all over Europe have voted. Iceland has sent a jury delegation made up by Steindinn Okkar, Eyþór Ingi, Steinar, Sigurrós Elin and the Head of Delegation, Rick Saaltson. Here's a sneak peek of how Unnur's performance will be this

evening, the picture was taken today during the Icelandic Dress Rehearsals:

After the rehearsal, we got the chance to talk with Unnur in the soundcheck room about her expectations tonight:

I'm very positive, every rehearsal went well and I enjoyed so much to sing on this stage, hopefully the cameras and the lights will work properly in order to give the best I can also from the point of view of the show and general performance. This feels like a dream come true and it's so hard to believe also for the others, that we will sing in front of so many people, representing our countries and the people whe love.. it's just amazing, and it will be emotionally strong, but I can say, I'm ready for it! [...] I don't want to say anything, but I can't expect good results as there are a lot of countries in this semifinal, so you can imagine how difficult is for such a small country to get into the top ten. I'll give my best, I'll focus on what I have to do, and I hope to bring the best place I can get there, but the competition is very high, [...] it depends a lot on the people's choices. I want to thank you again for all your support, and don't forget to vote "04" tonight!  

Let's hope for the best, and let's hope she can bring our country in the final! Good Luck, Unnur, we're with you!

Remember that you can watch the First Semifinal LIVE tonight at 20:00 Local Time on RUV1 or on streaming on ruv.is and northvision.tv. If you have any problems, please contact your TV provider, or send an e-mail to RUV, where our staff will try to give everyone a reply as soon as possible. Unnur will perform 4th on the Semifinal. You can vote for the song you like the most by giving an SMS (150kr/Message) to 1276 or a call (178kr/Min.) to 0900 090 with the draw number of the country you want to vote for, excepting Iceland if you're living in Iceland, but of course everything will be explained by the commentators live. 

[Rick]

HBH Construction Company and RUV.is present the brand new RoxHall Arena in Kópavogur (Reykjavík)


Immediately after exiting the capital city in Kópavogur, near to the Icelandic Ring Highway 1, the RoxHall Arena was just finished. 
The main function of this new sports hall is its groundfloor which can be used as an Handball, Volleyball, Basketball and Hockey rink, as well as a Tennis, Badminton and Boxing court, and of course, it can be used for events such as concerts or periodical expos. 

The hall will be also be an international elite venue for sports like gymnastics.

Other facilities are four bars, a restaurant and a little shopping centre, with over 30 stalls (which will be related to the current event going on in the venue).

With a capacity of 8.248 people for sports events, and 12.000 for concerts, the RoxHall is the biggest indoor arena ever built in Iceland.

The RoxHall costed 132.040.000€. 

[Rick]

    Sigga Eyrun is on her way to make the official video for "Lífið Kviknar A Ný"



Sigriður Eyrun Friðriksdóttir , who has just won the Icelandic National Selection, Söngvakeppni Sjönvarpsins for NVSC 08, is now planning to do a brand-new video for her winning song, Lífið Kviknar A Ný, that she will sing live in Bosnia Herzegovina in May.

She and her team are calling for people from all over Europe to send their "selfies while dancing" to Lífið Kviknar A Ný, in order to create a video which includes flashmobs and dancing people.

The dance in my view is a body language and can express a lot your feelings. So not only the song will be promoted in several radios through Europe, but also, we have in mind to do a lot of flashmobs also here in Iceland, but also outside during my already planned Scandinavian Tour.

To send your video footage, just visit ruv.is/northvision and follow what you have to do!

[Rick]

Stay tuned for the official video of "Lífið Kviknar A Ný" coming out as soon as possible!
RUV would like to thank everyone who submitted their "Selfie while Dancing" including Icelandic superstars as Hera Björk, Friðrik Óskar and Regina Ósk!

[Rick]

Söngvakeppni Sjönvarpsins - A must for Iceland

The second edition of the Söngvakeppni Sjönvarpsins, the national selection which is meant to select an Icelandic singer for the Northvision Song Contest, hasn't even properly finished, that there are already plans for the next Söngvakeppni Sjönvarpsins edition. 

Rick Mihkelson, the Icelandic head of delegation, just stated - "The Söngvakeppnin festival is already very known in Iceland after just two editions. That's why we plan to give to the Icelandic people what they want, and we're going to make it even bigger. Increasing the TV experience when it comes to music shows is very important, especially when you try to bring it at the standard European level."

Some kind of "Icelandic Northvision" you'd probably say, but still smaller. 

"The Harpa Concert Hall will remain our favourite hall in this "race" I'd say, but it will be enlarged so some platforms will be added in order for its capacity to increase by 500 additional seats. And that's pretty much! Also, we're planning to do four shows, the Semifinals, the Wildcard Night and the Final, so we want also to experience the brand new RoxHall in Kopavogur, near Reykjavik... that would make an exceptional show for both spectators and TV viewers."

[Rick]

Reporting from the "battlefield"

Today, RUV's team has landed in Sarajevo to interview Sigga Eyrun and her team in Bosnia & Herzegovina about the rehearsals and the current experience. 
Sigga was very happy and stated she's been preparing 24/7 in order to give the best she can in the Second Semifinal.



"I know the qualification is not an easy thing to manage, that's why I will give my very very best on stage, I promise!"

Asked about her performance on Saturday, she stated:

"It's not going to be very different from the National Selection performance. We will keep red and orange as main colours with some violet rays. The outfits will be slightly changed, but they will be based on the glowing ones we had back in Reykjavik time ago. I'm sure you remember how lights worked on our outfits. LEDs will make the show. I have my fellow backing vocals with me and three very nice guys, entertainers on stage, who will do the "Lífið Kviknar A Ný" flashmob. But you'll find out everything on saturday, I promise!"


Sigga rehearsing on stage

At the Juan Antonio Samaranch Hall, it was a rehearsal day also today. Artists are preparing for the second semifinal, which will be broadcasted in Iceland on RUV's main network: RUV1 and RAS2. Internet streaming will work as well. Starting with 20:45 Iceland Time, a Talk-Show will be held right before the broadcast, featuring the commentator of this edition speaking about what's going on in the venue and there will be a skype video call with Sygga before the show as well. Everyone is welcomed to watch. We'd like to remember, you can't vote for Iceland if you're in Iceland, but let's hope people will like Lífið Kviknar A Ný!

[Rick]

The thread is now unlocked and northfans can now discuss about Iceland in Northvision. Official announcements will be however made here as until now.

[Phil]

Góðan daginn