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2 March 2020

Eurovision 2020: Why everyone’s already going wild for Iceland’s brilliantly bonkers entry

Could Eurovision be heading to Reykjavík next year? The internet says yes.

By Will Stroude

The Eurovision Song Contest might still be a couple of months away, but Iceland are already causing quite the stir with their entry this year.

‘Think About Things’, by singer Daði Freyr and his band Gagnamagnið (which translates to ‘The Data’), was officially selected at Iceland’s 2020 entry during the Nordic nation’s televised selection competition Söngvakeppnin (‘The Television’s Song Contest’) on Sunday (1 March) following weeks of online buzz.

The funky synth-pop number, which Freyr wrote in tribute to his infant daughter, went viral last month following the release of its strangely hilarious and compelling music video, which features the band dressed in matching sweaters and dancing apathetically in front of stunned relatives and has already racked up the best part of a million views on YouTube.

It’s the kind of off-kilter but undeniably ear-worming track that only Eurovision could provide, and has already won the support of Hollywood A-lister Russell Crowe, who gave the video his seal of approval when he unexpectedly tweeted it last month.

Crowe wasn’t the only one to express his support, with hundreds of other users on Twitter declaring Daði Freyr and Gagnamagnið their early favourite for the crown.

“If Iceland don’t win #Eurovision with this then nothing in this world makes sense anymore”, wrote author Aaron Gillies.

ITV’s Political Editor Robert Peston added: “I have only just seen Iceland’s Eurovision entry. It has restored my faith in humanity.”

Speaking to The Independent, Freyr – who will perform the English language version of ‘Think About Things’ in Rotterdam in May – opened up about his inspiration for the track.

“The song is about my daughter – she’s ten months old now so I’m starting to understand her a little better but in the beginning it’s weird because you love a person so much and have no idea what they think about you,” he said.

“Also I’m just excited to know what she ‘thinks about things’ in general. She will probably have strong opinions about stuff that will challenge the way I have thought about life.”

Based on Daði Freyr and Gagnamagnið’s winning live performance on Söngvakeppnin this weekend it looks like fans of ‘Think About It’ can probably expect the video’s incredible moves to be recreated on stage in May – something which is sure to provide stiff competition for the UK  entry James Newman and his rousing track ‘My Last Breath’.

Meanwhile drag legend and Eurovision expert Jonny Woo recently rounded up the other potential title contenders in Rotterdam – click here to find out more.

The Eurovision Song Contest takes place in Rotterdam from Tuesay 12 May to Saturday 16 May.

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