100 Days. 100 Songs. Countdown to Eurovision 2019 - "Minn hinsti dans"
The 7th of February marked exactly 100 hundred days until Eurovision, it seems fitting to celebrate this by counting down 100 days with 100 songs. The last sixty three years has brought us nearly eighteen hundred fantastic, and unique Eurovision entries that some will love, whist others might not like so much. Each day we will bring you a song, and give you details on how it performed at the contest, but also information on the artist, and find out what happened next? Join us on this journey as we countdown from day 100 to 1 where we will have another 43 songs to add to this list.
Day 86 - Paul Oscar - "Minn hinsti dans" For Iceland 1997
It was the 3rd May 1997, and the Eurovision Song Contest would be in it's 42nd year. The contest would once again be hosted by Ireland who had won for a record seventh time the year earlier. It was held in the Point theatre Dublin, and was hosted by Carrie Crowley, and Boyzone's Ronan Keating. It was a smaller show that the year before, but it made up for in quality, and quantity of fantastic songs. The stage featured many television screens,which featured messages from past Eurovision entrants including the world famous Celine Dion. It was an exciting contest for both Ireland, and the United Kingdom whom both fought to win the show. It was however, to be the United Kingdom's year. Katrina and the Waves with the song, "Love Shine A Light" won the contest with 227 points, with Ireland coming second trailing by 70 points. This year would be significant for both countries, as the golden age of ruling the contest had come to an end for both Ireland who would host it for the last time, and the United Kingdom who have never won it since. 1997 saw 25 countries participate with this contest marking the first time that televoting was used. Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden and the United Kingdom would use this for the very first time. Now, the public could have a direct say on whom they wanted to win.
It would be a contest that would change forever. Iceland decided to be daring and sent an entry that was quite raunchy for the time. The song would be "Minn hinsti dans" and sung by a very charismatic Paul Oscar. Unfortunately the gamble did not pay off, and the song finished in 20th place, scoring only 18 points. Austria and Estonia would award it two points, the United Kingdom would give it 6 points, whilst Sweden gave it their 10 points. What is interesting to note, is that off 5 countries that introduced televoting that year, 3 gave their points to Iceland. If all countries were to have adopted this formula, the song would have scored a lot better. Despite the gamble not paying off, this song, and staging is still highly regarded. It broke the mould, and changed the contest forever. No wonder it was chosen to sing last. 1997 saved the best 'till last Check the entry out below:
Who Is Paul Oscar?
Born Páll Óskar Hjálmtýsson, he comes from Reykjiavik, and born the 16th March 1970. He is 48 years old. He is best known as a pop singer, song writer, and disc jockey. As a child, music was a big part of his life where he would sing in choirs, and for television commercials. At the age of twelve , he would also take the lead in the musical version of "Rubber Tarzan". The talented singer has quite an eclectic repetroire when it comes to music, and is known to sing traditional Icelandic songs, pop, disco and love songs, just to name a few genres. He openly came out as gay when he was 16, and has become an advocate for LGBT rights. Sometimes he is quite forward with his opinions. He also helped to organise gay pride Reykjiavik in 2005. Prior to Eurovision he would sing with Icelandic groups Milljónamæringarnir, and also released his first album, "Stuð" in 1993. He is still heavily involved in music, and appears as a disc jockey in clubs, and on television.
What Happened After Eurovision?
It was Eurovision, that brought this talented singer to the attention of the international world. In 1998 he would take part on the British television show, "a song for Eurotrash", which had a lot to do with his Eurovision song. He released several albums which included, "Deep inside" in 1998. He would release a further 6 albums, 10 singles, and would become a judge on "Idol stjörnuleit" in 2005. In 2002 he appeared as Dr. Love in the teenage movie Gemsar (Made in Iceland). He still appears on many Icelandic television musical shows, and still makes music today. Quite apt he once said about his career, and life in Iceland, "as a working place Iceland will be too small for me. Actually, it already is. But I am an Icelander. I will always keep a home here. My roots are so valuable to me. I wouldn't change them for a sack of gold.".
Iceland's 1997 entry certainly made waves accross the Eurovision pond, and seemed to change the contest forever. Have toy seen the song? What do you think of it? Please tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
