{"id":2995,"date":"2014-02-20T14:42:52","date_gmt":"2014-02-20T14:42:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/icelandic\/?p=2995"},"modified":"2014-06-16T11:54:31","modified_gmt":"2014-06-16T11:54:31","slug":"puddle-punks-for-eurovision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/icelandic\/2014\/02\/20\/puddle-punks-for-eurovision\/","title":{"rendered":"Puddle punks for Eurovision."},"content":{"rendered":"

\"pp005\"<\/a>Eurovision is drawing near again. I admit I’m a fan so of course I’ve been eagerly following the Icelandic finals, especially since Icelanders are quite unpredictable in what they’ll want to send. Most countries have some kind of a pattern – you know that certain ones will send a girl in a miniskirt\/supposedly sexy guy singing a lovesong, some trust their ethnic appeal, some will have a group of completely unnecessary dancers\/acrobats or any combination of the above. Well, Iceland may send one of those, or they may send a diva with a squeaky voice who dials God onstage (link<\/a>). If anything Iceland is always one of the wild cards of the Eurovision Song Contest.<\/p>\n

This year is therefore a surprise, which is no surprise because a surprise is what’s to be expected: Pollap\u00f6nk<\/em> (= puddle punk)<\/del>\u00a0 (= my bad – I mixed the words polli<\/em> and pollur<\/em>: the correct translation is “Punk for Little Kids”, please see the comments section for an explanation) and their song Enga ford\u00f3ma<\/em> (= no prejudice). They actually have a reputation of being a children’s band: the the reason they decided to start playing together was to make music for both grown-ups and small ones and at least two of the band members are kindergarten teachers. They began in 2006 and have so far given out three albums. Another interesting move by them was to include a MP, \u00d3ttarr Propp\u00e9 from Bj\u00f6rt framt\u00ed\u00f0<\/em> (= bright future*) as one of their backing vocalists, but only time will tell whether or not they can actually send him to represent Iceland in this year’s competition. If the rules allow for it he’ll be the first MP ever to represent their country in the Eurovision.<\/p>\n

The song itself is really happy and cute and there’s a good chance they’ll perform in Icelandic at the main competition, so let’s look at what Pollap\u00f6nk is actually singing. You can listen to the song here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Hey! L\u00edfi\u00f0 er of stutt fyrir skamms\u00fdni \/\u00a0\u00dar vegi skal n\u00fa rutt allri \u00fer\u00f6ngs\u00fdni<\/em>
\n Hlusti\u00f0 undireins \/\u00a0Inn vi\u00f0 bebebebebebe…\u00a0beini\u00f0 erum vi\u00f0 eins<\/em>
\n Og \u00fea\u00f0 bobobobobo-borgar sig a\u00f0 brosa<\/em><\/p>\n

Hey! Life’s too short for short-sightedness \/ Out of the way shall be removed all narrow-mindedness
\nListen immediately \/ In the bobobobobobo… bones we’re all the same
\nAnd it papapapapa-pays to smile<\/p>\n

Burtu me\u00f0 ford\u00f3ma \/ Og annan eins \u00f3s\u00f3ma<\/em>
\n Verum \u00f6ll samtaka \/\u00a0\u00dei\u00f0 ver\u00f0i\u00f0 a\u00f0 me\u00f0taka<\/em>
\n \u00de\u00f3tt \u00e9g hafi talgalla \u00fe\u00e1 \u00e1 ekki a\u00f0 uppnefna<\/em>
\n \u00deetta er engin algebra \/\u00a0\u00d6ll erum vi\u00f0 eins<\/em><\/p>\n

Away with prejudice \/ And other such shame
\nLet’s all agree \/ You’ll have to accept
\nThough I have a speech impediment I shouldn’t be nicknamed
\nIt’s no algebra \/ All of us are the same<\/p>\n

Hey! Hvort sem \u00fe\u00fa ert st\u00f3r\u00a0e\u00f0a sm\u00e1vaxin<\/em>
\n Hvort sem \u00fe\u00fa ert mj\u00f3r\u00a0e\u00f0a feitlaginn<\/em>
\n Hlusti\u00f0 undireins<\/em>
\n Inn vi\u00f0 bebebebebebe…\u00a0beini\u00f0 erum vi\u00f0 eins<\/em>
\n Og \u00fea\u00f0 bobobobobo-borgar sig a\u00f0 brosa<\/em><\/p>\n

Hey! Whether you’re big or short
\nWhether you’re slim or fat
\nListen immediately
\nIn the bobobobobobo… bones we’re all the same
\nAnd it papapapapa… pays to smile<\/p>\n

*Iceland indeed has a political party called Bright Future (link<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\"pp007\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Not everyone is 100% behind this year’s song though: “According to what’s heard in the community and because children vote the most, I’m a bit afraid that Pollap\u00f6nk shall win though I’m not that taken by the song. Then again Pollap\u00f6nk has a beautiful message and are kindergarten teachers which is a low income job in Iceland. They’ve got beautiful outfits so everything’s on their side.”<\/em><\/p>\n

I’m really looking forward to the competition, as always! This time it’ll be held in a country that’s so near us – well, as near as any country can possibly be to a small island in the middle of the Atlantic – that I’m seriously considering visiting during the Eurovision celebration weeks. I still remember how it was like when the competition was held in my previous hometown Helsinki, how the streets were crowded with Eurovision visitors, music and art and an unusual, light, joyful mood. I would not mind feeling that again.<\/p>\n

How about you, any Eurovision fans reading this blog? Any favourites so far? Shall I perhaps meet you in Copenhagen? \ud83d\ude00<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"hulda078\"<\/a>This time Hulda won’t recommend a band as such<\/strong>, rather a Eurovision act that never actually made it to the competition itself. And what a waste that was.<\/p>\n

Eldgos<\/em> (= volcano eruption)(link<\/a>), performed by Matti Matt and Erla Bj\u00f6rg K\u00e1rad\u00f3ttir has everything in it to make it an amazing Eurovision song: faux-metal madness complete by national dress inspired outfits, smoke, light show in the style of Ragnar\u00f6k and a dramatic soprano representing a volcano (I’m not kidding, every time she comes on I roll around in hysterics and I assure you I’ve seen this video so many times I should be used to it by now)… correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t that the perfect recipe for a winning song?<\/p>\n

Well, I admit Sjonni’s Friends and their song Aftur heim<\/em> (= back home) did deserve to win. It’s a beautiful song and the only thing that I was disappointed for was their decision to translate the song to English for the actual competition. Translations rarely do honour to the original, and this one was no exception to that. Therefore dear readers, the original song shall be another piece of Eurovision music that Hulda recommends today! It can be found here<\/a>, and lyrics to it, complete with actual English translation,\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

All photos in this entry belong to me.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

Eurovision is drawing near again. I admit I’m a fan so of course I’ve been eagerly following the Icelandic finals, especially since Icelanders are quite unpredictable in what they’ll want to send. Most countries have some kind of a pattern – you know that certain ones will send a girl in a miniskirt\/supposedly sexy guy…<\/p>\n

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