ESC+Plus has talked to Hildur, semifinalist of this year’s Icelandic national selection for Eurovision. Hildur will perform “Bammbaramm” in the first semi-final of Söngvakeppnin 2017, set to take place today.
ESC+Plus: Hello! First of all, thank you so much for your time and congratulations on having been selected to take part in the Icelandic national selection for Eurovision 2017!
Can you tell us about you, your musical career and important achievements?
Hildur: I’m a happy, food loving, creative, swimming pool fan from Iceland – also a singer, songwriter and lyricist with a deep love for pop music. I started out as a cello player learning to play classical music and I even did a year of opera singing. Then I joined an indie-rock-pop band called Rökkurró and released 3 albums with them and toured around Europe. Last year I started my solo career as Hildur that started out quite well as my first single was a #1 hit on Iceland’s biggest radio station. Since then I’ve released more songs and played a lot of shows in Iceland. Oh, and did I mention I also took part in Söngvakeppnin 2 years ago? That was the first time I wrote a pop song 😀
ESC+Plus: What impelled you to take part in Söngvakeppnin 2017?
Hildur: I just love this competition and the whole atmosphere around it. I first participated 2 years ago with Sunday and the song “Fjaðrir” and that was one of the best life experiences I’ve had. But after that I really started my solo career and the songs I write are pure pop songs, so I figured – now with a pop career, why shouldn’t I be competing in the biggest pop-music competition in the world? So I sent a song in that I thought really had what it takes and here I am 🙂
ESC+Plus: How did you feel when you knew you had qualified for the semi-final? Did you expect it?
Hildur: I was SO happy! I really hoped to go to the semi-final and maybe I expected it a little bit as I’ve only once sent in a song before and that time I also qualified.
ESC+Plus: What would it mean to you to represent Iceland?
Hildur: It would mean so much to me! Icelandic people really love Eurovision and they have a strong sense of pride when it comes to this competition. Last summer our national soccer team did such a great job in the World Cup that the Icelandic people really went nuts, I’ve never seen the whole nation so happy and I remember thinking – “Wow, I want to make Iceland this proud some day!”
ESC+Plus: Can you tell us about your song? What is the story behind the lyrics?
Hildur: The lyrics are a personal story from when I met my boyfriend and how awesome it felt. It was such a great connection and happiness from day one that I wanted to put that into a song – a song that made you happy and warm inside. “Bammbaramm” is supposed to be the sound of your heartbeat when you see the person you love, so the chorus is basically the sound of your heart telling you that “he’s the one“.
ESC+Plus: Why do you think your song has to be selected for Kiev? What are you strengths to reach the top in the competition?
Hildur: I think the happy and positive vibes of the song will really spread out and I know that the chorus gets quite easily stuck on your brain. I couldn’t stop singing it for a whole week after I wrote it. I’ve also noticed a lot of people do start singing it as soon as they’ve heard it for the first time, which I also think is a very important quality of a Eurovision song. I also just think that the stage performance will be very fun to watch and make people really remember the song.
ESC+Plus: Have you thought about your stage performance?
Hildur: Yes, even just from the day I was writing the song I saw quite clearly how I wanted to perform it. To me, music is so much more than just writing and recording a song – it’s so important to have a vision for the song and see clearly what atmosphere you want to have and what message you want to send out to the audience – and in my case with Bammbaramm – that message is having fun, being happy and in love!
ESC+Plus: Do you usually watch Eurovision? What is your favorite song in the history of the competition?
Hildur: Yes, I don’t think I’ve missed one competition since I can remember, it’s my favorite TV event of the whole year. I have many favorite songs but right now it’s Undo with Sanne Nielsen and Monster Like Me by Mørland & Debrah Scarlett. I seem to have quite many favorites from Sweden and Norway 😉
ESC+Plus: If you could choose a Eurovision former participant to sing along with, who would it be?
Hildur: Duet with Guy Sebastian from Australia, he has incredible voice and seems like a fun guy to hang out with!
ESC+Plus: Finally, can you send a message for our readers and Eurovision fans?
Hildur: Happy Eurovision season! I can’t wait to hear what the other nations select as their entry and oh – if you are in Iceland, make sure to listen to the Bammbaramm in your heart and give me your vote.