Iceland // WV 185: Laufey - Goddess

[ShoeFlo]

Ísland


No. of Participations – 134
First Participation – WV 01
No. of Wins – 6 (WV 10, 45, 104, 120, 144, 172)
No. of Qualifications – 87 (65%)


Whiteshoes Statistics


No. of Participations – 131
First Participation – WV 39
No. of wins – 6 (WV 45, 103, 120, 139, 154, 172)
Worst Result - 21st out of 22 in SF (WV 156)
No. of Qualifications – 91 (69%)


WV 176 Entry:

Toneron - Life

whiteshoes:

WV 39 || Semifinal: 16th - 047 points | Final: DNQ - DNQ pts || Árstiðir - Á meðan jörðin sefur

WV 40 || Semifinal: 15th - 053 points | Final: DNQ - DNQ pts || Sin fang - Look at the light

WV 41 || Semifinal: 15th - 052 points | Final: DNQ - DNQ pts || I svörtum fötum - Paradís

WV 42 || Semifinal: 03rd - 093 points | Final: 08th - 141 pts || Of Monsters and Men - Dirty Paws

WV 43 || Semifinal: 20th - 042 points | Final: DNQ - DNQ pts || Skálmöld - Kvaðning

WV 44 || Semifinal: 04th - 092 points | Final: 12th - 126 pts || Ólafur Arnalds ft. Haukur Heiðar Hauksson - A hundred reasons

WV 45 || Semifinal: 07th - 073 points | Final: 01st - 191 pts || Kaleo - Vor í Vaglaskógi

WV 46 || Semifinal: PREQUALIFIER| Final: 21st - 095 pts || Agent Fresco - Dark Water

WV 47 || Semifinal: 11th - 064 points | Final: 26th - 082 pts || Dikta - Thank You

WV 48 || Semifinal: 15th - 051 points | Final: 21st - 093 pts || Jónsi - Tornado

WV 49 || Semifinal: 04th - 100 points | Final: 19th - 095 pts || Ásgeir - Dýrð i dauðaþögn

WV 50 || Semifinal: 03th - 109 points | Final: 08th - 144 pts || Thorsteinn Einarsson - Leya

WV 51 || Semifinal: 17th - 047 points | Final: DNQ - DNQ pts || Tilbury - Tenderloin

WV 52 || Semifinal: 11th - 065 points | Final: 06th - 155 pts || Sigur Rós - Hoppipolla

WV 53 || Semifinal: 02nd - 109 points | Final: 08th - 141 pts || Low Roar - Friends Make Garbage

WV 54 || Semifinal: 06th - 068 points | Final: 26th - 076 pts || Rökkurró - Sjónarspil

WV 55 || Semifinal: 15th - 051 points | Final: DNQ - DNQ pts || Ásgeir - Hærra

WV 56 || Semifinal: 15th - 051 points | Final: 05th - 164 pts || Ólafur Arnalds - Fyrsta

WV 57 || Semifinal: 01st - 091 points | Final: 09th - 141 pts || Árstiðir - Himinhvel

Stäwen:

WV 58 || Semifinal: TBA | Final: DNQ - DNQ pts || Svala - The Real Me

WV 59 || Semifinal: TBA | Final: DNQ - DNQ pts || Jón ft. Haffi Haff - Hljómsveitin Jón

WV 60 || Semifinal: TBA | Final: DNQ - DNQ pts || Sniglabandið - Britney

WV 61 || Semifinal: TBA | Final: DNQ - DNQ pts || Thorunn Antonia - Too Late

WV 62 || Semifinal: TBA | Final: DNQ - DNQ pts || Unnur Eggerts - Stólin Augnablik

WV 63 || Semifinal: TBA | Final: DNQ - DNQ pts || GusGus- Over

WV 64 || Semifinal: TBA | Final: DNQ - DNQ pts || JFM ft. Steed Lord - Viva la Brea

WV 65 || Semifinal: TBA | Final: 22nd - ??? pts || Rok & Yohanna - Find a Better Man

whiteshoes:

WV 66 || Semifinal: 08th - 061 pts | Final: 15th - 133 pts || Sólstafir - Miðaftann

WV 67 || Semifinal: 05th - 075 pts | Final: 18th - 119 pts || Rökkurró - Svanur

WV 68 || Semifinal: 10th - 062 pts | Final: DNQ - DNQ pts || John Grant - Global Warming

WV 69 || Semifinal: 14th - 052 pts | Final: 18th - 125 pts || Brunaliðið - Ástarsorg

WV 70 || Semifinal: no idea - no idea | Final: 13th - many pts || Sigur Rós - Starálfur

WV 71 || Semifinal: 07th - 076 pts | Final: 18th - 127 pts || Júníus Meyvant - Color Decay

WV 72 || Semifinal: 02nd - 081 pts | Final: 18th - 117 pts || Mono Town - In The Eye of the Storm

WV 73 || Semifinal: 04th - 082 pts | Final: 2nd - 174 pts || Árstíðir - Ró

WV 74 || Semifinal: 10th - 061 pts | Final: 6th - 162 pts || Sigur Rós - Dauðalogn

WV 75 || Semifinal: 17th - 043 pts | Final: DNQ - DNQ pts || Mammút - Ströndin

WV 76 || Semifinal: 1st - 093 pts | Final: 2nd - 224 pts || Kaleo - Way Down We Go

WV 77 || Semifinal: ??? - ??? | Final: 8th - ??? pts || CeaseTone - Humble History Song

WV 78 || Semifinal: ??? - ??? pts | Final: 3rd - ??? pts || Sin Fang, Sóley & Örver Smárason -
Random Haiku Generator

WV 79 || Semifinal: ??? - ??? pts | Final: ??? - ??? pts || Kontinuum - Í Gljúfradal

 

[ShoeFlo]

WV 132: Diddu & Egill Ólafsson – Það brennur

Lyrics

Þú, þegar augun opnast. Þú, þegar hlátur berst, um opnar dyr, einn nýjan dag og vekur mig. Þú, þegar augun skynja. Þú, þegar horfi ég, um opnar dyr, einn nýjan dag og sé þig þar. Og blátt er blárra en blátt og hátt er hærra en hátt. Hæst ber jökulinn og fjær er haf og strönd hátt ber jökulinn með ókunn víðfeðm lönd.
Og húsið brennur, þó er sungið enn þar eru konur, ungar konur, menn það brennur húsið, þó er sungið enn ó þú, ó þú, þú drauma minna þú ó þú, ó þú, þú drauma minna þú Ahhhhhhhahhhhahhhahha, Ahhhhhhhahhhhahhhahha, Ahhh, ahhhh, ahahhhha Ahhhhhhhahhhhahhhahha, Ahhhhhhhahhhhahhhahha, Ahhh, ahhhh, ahahhhha ahhhh, ahhh, ahhahh, ahhhh, ahhh, ahhahh, Ahhhhh, ahhh, ahhhh, ahhh, ahhhh, ahh, ahh, ahhahaha Ahhhhh, ahhh, ahhhh, ahhh, ahhhh, ahh, ahh, ahhahaha Ahhhhh, ahhh, ahhhh, ahhh, ahhhh, ahhhh, ahhh, ahhhh, Ahhhhh, ahhh, ahhhh, ahhh, ahhhh, ahhhh, ahhh, ahhhh, Ahhhhh, ahhh, ahhhh, ahhh, ahhhh, ahhhh, ahhh, ahhhh, Ahhh, ahhh, ahhhh, ahhh, ahhhh, ahhhh, ahhh, ahhh, Ahhh, ahhh, ahhhh, ahhh, ahhhh, ahhhh, ahhh, ahhh, ahhhhh

I might try to add the English translation in the following days

 

[Stargazer]

Wonderful entry. Bless this cheese fest.

I might try to add the English translation in the following days

I'm really curious what all the aahhhh ahhhhhs mean.

 

[ShoeFlo]

Regarding my next entry I am wavering between two options...

1) a classic and beloved whiteshoes artist with a song that is already a little older but very dear to me. It's post-rock with Folk elements. I created a video with personal holidays footage for this. It would make a great annual closure.

2) An highly infectious and quirky, kraftwerkesque Electronic gem with robot vocals that I got addicted to lately but that would flop terribly

-----
You see, it's a tough decision. My mind and my egotism, in respect of the previously mentioned holidays footage wants to send 1) ...whereas my heart is tending to 2)

Moreover, for the future I am pondering over holding my first "Icelandic Hip NF" including some hip-hop (-influenced) hits from Iceland. But I am not sure if I love those songs enough. We'll see.

 

[ShoeFlo]

WV 133: Sigur Rós - Olsen Olsen

Lyrics

There are vocals but they don't have a meaning therefore there arent any lyrics. It's a made-up gibberish language they use to call Vonlenska ("Hopelandic"). You can say these meaningless vocals serve as another instrument rather than delivering a message. Many Sigur Rós songs are sung in this "language", most prominently the bracket album ( ) which consists entirely of Hopelandic "lyrics"

-----
Olsen Olsen is one of the songs of the famous Ágætis byrjun album which I'd consider the best album ever made. I sent two songs of that album before, namely Starálfur (possibly my favorite song ever) and Viðrar vel til loftárása, the latter one as PQ song.

However, I wouldn't probably come up with the idea of sending this song atm if not for two circumstances:
1) I've spent a week in Iceland in August and
2) I restarted video editing.

After my holidays I created a 15 minutes compilation of the most amazing photos I took on my trip and that video was divided into three parts. The main part, displaying my daily bus trips to the countryside, embraced by two shorter parts including photos from Reykjavik, with the first part being bright and joyful and the other one darker, more yearning and nostalgic. Each of the three parts were accompanied by Icelandic songs that fit the mood. For the main part in the countryside I chose Olsen Olsen. It's quite obvious for me that the Icelandic countryside and Sigur Rós is a perfect match, it goes together like a horse and carriage. Since it was quite sunny all the time with temperatures close to 20 degree (which is unusually high for Iceland) my whole footage was bright and warm so I had to pick a joyful Sigur Rós entry. The most joyful songs of Sigur Rós (there arent that many) are not that amazing but Olsen Olsen is a masterpiece. It's Sigur Rós most folk-inspired song with those playful flute tunes and the choir... infectious and genuine happiness and therefore outstanding in that album that is otherwise dominated by rough, melancholic and ethereal melody patterns.

I love end-of-year reviews and recalling the past... wallowing in memories. So, since this is the last edition of this year, I liked the idea of remembering my most amazing experience of 2020 (which was an awful year in general, for obvious reasons) and sharing it with you. That's why I cut ouf the middle part of my holidays video and uploaded it as my personal music video for Olsen Olsen.

Attentive observers will actually spot my plug avatar, the iconic yeti, in the video ... you can see him relaxing in the blue lagoon for like 4 seconds. I can tell you even though he is still looking grumpy, he enjoyed every single second there.

I spontaneously decided I am too shy to upload my face on YouTube so I replaced it by yeti face

 

[Uto]

I was pretty surprised this didn't score better. Back in the day this would be one of my favorite songs. I think it didn't age particularly well, lot of that has to do with the production on Agaetis in general. Sigur Ros didn't have the massive budget they have now, the mixing was always a bit pedestrian etc, hence 4 points which is a tad bit low. But this is stuff that I've found most people don't really put their ears to. Really wonder how it came to be. Are people maybe just tired of Sigur Ros (I don't know if it has been a staple at WV, stands to reason)?

 

[ShoeFlo]

WV 134: aYia - Water Plant

Lyrics

there is no lyrics in the internet and my listening comprehension is not good enough to understand everything she sings.

 

[Uto]

Do lyrics even matter at this point? Such obvious Uto-bait it's criminal.

 

[Uto]

Apparently people do not understand how this thing works, so maybe this will help.

 

[ShoeFlo]

WV 135: Gyða Valtýsdóttir - Moonchild

Lyrics
Moving through evolution
Leaving your paradise to understand the pain
Finding fresh clay to dress this consciousness in flesh
Reminding us where and how and why we choose this game

Moonchild, your bravery is evident to me
Nothing is or ever was nor neither will it be
Evil to your eyes that see beyond reality
If you ever need to share your tears, I'll pray for rain

Leaning on your mother's breast and feel her heart beat
Alight a life, harmonize with sea-green ancestry
Touch thosе souls that evoke peacе and beauty
If you ever need to share your tears, I'll pray for rain

 

[ShoeFlo]

WV 136: Sólveig Matthildur - The End ​

Lyrics

og allt sem áður var er frá þú með þínar þrár og ég sár	and everything that was is gone you with your lust and I'm hurt
Og þegar kvöldar, þykist hvíla en ég kalla, því ég mun aldrei aftur komast heim	and when the sun sets, pretend to rest but I am shouting cause I will never again, reach back home
Og ég mun aldrei aftur þjást ef ég mun aldrei aftur þrá	and I will never again get hurt if I will never again lust

 

[ShoeFlo]

@WorldVision

would you mind removing it to the main green room?

and make me thread owner

 

[ShoeFlo]

WV 166: Bríet - Djúp Sár Gróa Hægt (Deep wounds heal slowly)

BRÍET is one of the rising stars in Iceland music scene and momentarily one of my favorite artists overall. Her 2020 album Kveðja, Bríet became probably the most succesful debut album in Iceland since the iconic Dýrð í dauðaþögn in 2012. In October 2020 eight songs from the album made it to Spotify's Top 10 list for Iceland. Musically the abum is a mixture between Scandinavian pop, country music and emotional ballads (just like this one).The album mainly deals with break-ups of any kind.
This is the translation of the lyrics:

Remember the first takeoff
Remember the first touch kissing on the roof
The night looked still
Remember the heavy grief
Remember all the ugly words, I meant none of them
I was lost and alone

What hurts more
To hold on to what was or to say goodbye and let go
I ask but there's no answer

Two thousand tears that I chose myself
I walked away
When we needed help
Trying to tell myself that there was nothing we could have done
But the only thing I have left is memories and guilt
And deep wounds that heal slowly

Endless thoughts
What was interrupted, can I take it back
New words a new story

But what would change
If I take the initiative and turn around
I ask but there's no answer

Two thousand tears that I chose myself
I walked away
When we needed help
Trying to tell myself that there was nothing we could have done
But the only thing I have left is memories and guilt
And deep wounds that heal slowly

 

[ShoeFlo]

Just realized my previous Sólveig Matthildur entry is just three posts above

WV 167: Sólveig Matthildur - Venus

Lyrics

I never meant to break your heart.
Love is like a work of art,
now that we are so far apart.

But l’ll always be a star in your sky
Desire me like Venus, let me fly
I wish that I could break away from you.

Life goes fast, but time so slow,
the worst part is we’ll never know
if this was really something to hold on.
Circling on the orbit of the sun.

But l’ll always be a star in your sky
Desire me like Venus, let me fly
I wish that I could break away from you.

Setting the west, just after dusk
or rising in the east, a bit before dawn.

I’m the salt in the water
I’m the salt in your tears.
That’s where you find me.
That’s where you find me.

l’ll always be a star in your sky
Desire me like Venus, let me fly
I wish that I could break away from you.

 

[ShoeFlo]

WV 168: Laufey - Let You Break my Heart Again

Laufey Lín Jónsdóttir was born on April 23, 1999. Her father is Icelandic and her mother is Chinese. Her mother is a classical violinist and her grandfather was a violin educator at the Central Conservatory of Music in China, which Laufey credits as partly inspiring her love of music. Laufey spent her childhood moving between Reykjavík and Washington, D.C.

At age 15, she performed as a cello soloist with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra. Although she was influenced by and played classical music from an early age, she turned to her father's records of female jazz musicians such as Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday to develop her musical style.

Laufey participated in the 2014 season of "Ísland Got Talent" —the Icelandic version of "America's Got Talent"—and ended as a finalist. The following year, she also appeared as a contestant on "The Voice Iceland" and reached the semi-finals. At the time, she was the youngest competitor in the series' history.

Laufey graduated from the Berklee College of Music in 2021. She currently resides in Los Angeles.

Her debut single, "Street by Street" and it charted at #1 on Icelandic Radio in 2020.

Laufey performed in the London Jazz Festival in November 2021. Around the same time, she collaborated with London's Philharmonia Orchestra to release "Let You Break My Heart Again". Also Laufey hosted a weekly music show on BBC Radio 3 called "Happy Harmonies", where she highlighted uplifting music in a wide variety of genres. She made her United States television debut when she appeared as the musical guest on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on January 2022.

In August 2022 she finally released her debut album "Everything I Know About Love"

Lyrics

Feeling kind of sick tonight
All I've had is coffee and leftover pie
It's no wonder why

Ooh, still you take up all my mind
I don't even think that you care like I do
I should stop
Heaven knows I've tried

One day, I will stop falling in love with you
Some day, someone will like me like I like you
Until then, I'll drink my coffee, eat my pie
Pretend that we are more than friends
Then of course I'll let you break my heart again

I'm just tryna understand
What I am to you
More than songs, we've exchanged
Midnight calls
Sunset views

Promise I don't mean to cry
But I get overwhelmed and confused
If only you knew
What I felt like

One day, I will stop falling in love with you
Some day, someone will like me like I like you
Until then, I'll drink my coffee, eat my pie
Pretend that we are more than friends
Then of course I'll let you break my heart again

Some day, one day
I will stop falling in love with you
Until I do, I'll be thinking of you
Let you break my heart again

 

[ShoeFlo]

WV 169: Berndsen - Game of Chance

Lyrics

Yesterdays future
Faded like a withered rose
The ground feels cold
Underneath my toes

There's something about her
Why was I the one she chose?
My fragile heart
It froze

Love is not a game of chance
It hurts me
But we've danced our last dance

I want you to understand
Right now
I can not be your friend

There is nothing you can do or say
No way for you to unbetray

Love is not a game of chance
It hurts me
But we've danced our last dance

It's hard to forgive her
Tomorrow hard to comprehend
I'll always remember how she played her hand

I am stricken by shivers
And sorrow
Because I lost a friend
Confronted her
It has come to an end

Love is not a game of chance
It hurts me
But we've danced our last dance

I want you to understand
Right now
I can not be your friend

There is nothing you can do or say
No way for you to unbetray

Love is not a game of chance
It hurts me
But we've danced our last dance

 

[ShoeFlo]

WV 170: Jelena Ćirić - Rome

 

[ShoeFlo]

WV 172: Sigur Rós - Klettur (rock, or cliff)

My favorite band is finally back. A few weeks ago Sigur Rós released "Átta", their first studio album since 2013... many things have happened since then and for some time it looked like they won't return at all. They were (unjustifiably) charged of tax evasion, lead singer Jonsi split up with his long-time boyfriend Alex Somers with whom he also created ambient music and already in 2018 their drummer Orri Páll left the band after he was accused of sexual assault. Difficult time for the band which was only a duet after the Orri incidence... luckily Sigur Rós secret mastermind, keyboardist Kjartan (which I also sent in the past with his solo project), decided to return so they were ready to create some new music.

Sigur Rós have always adapted to their challenges and made the best of it. When they lost Kjartan they created a very rough and industrial album called Kveikur (2013) and now since they've lost their drummer they created an very orchestral and ambient album following the example of the Valtari album (2012), No surprise they recorded the album with the London orchestra. "Klettur" however feels more like an old school Von or Ágaetis Byrjun song imo.

Anyway... for those who took notice of the cover art. This is obviously not an anti-LGBT statement but quite the opposite. Jonsi commented: “Trans and queer and gay rights have been trampled on so much recently. It’s scary to see. Around the world also, it feels like we’re going backwards.” So the burning rainbow is basically Jonsis observation of current tendencies in society.

I won't post lyrics cause as far as I know the whole lyrics of Klettur is in Sigur Rós' fantasy language Hopelandic which is just gibberish. It is used whenever Jonsis voice should serve as another instrument instead of conveying a message. It is up to the individual listener to fill Sigur Rós songs with an own meaning.

Have fun!

 

[ShoeFlo]

WV 173: Oðinn Valdimarsson - Ég er kominn heim (I've come home)

Ég er kominn heim is a song by Óðinn Valdimarsson and the band K.K. sextettin. It was performed live in 1960 at the Icelandic broadcasting organisation RÚV and recorded right away for a vinyl. The lyrics are very beautiful, they deal with the joy of the awakening of the sun and nature after a long winter, with homesickness and longing for the loved people, the happiness of coming home, the love for the country and country life and the happiness of being together with people you love. Over the years it was covered a couple of times, for example by ESC 1995 participant Björgvin Halldórsson, by Icelands Bruce Springsteen Bubbi Morthens and by the singer and actor Helgi Björnsson.

However I learned about the song thanks to my passion for football. Ég er kominn heim has become something like the Icelandic "You'll never walk alone", an unofficial sports anthem that is regularly played in stadium or sports venues before matches of Icelandic national teams (mostly in football, handball, basketball). Since I've been closely following the Iceland men national team since 2011 (I think) I quickly took notice of it. Finally the song got international attention when Icelands golden generation qualified for the Euro 2016 and the World Cup 2018 and Ég er kominn heim was played in the big venues with hundreds of Icelandic fans singing it along. Up to this day I associate this song to Icelands heroic run to the quarter finals in 2016 and it has stuck into my mind much more than the famous viking thunder claps.

That's what it sounds like when hundreds of Icelandic people are singing it:

Lyrics

Er völlur grær og vetur flýr og vermir sólin grund Kem ég heim og hitti þig verð hjá þér alla stund	When the field grows and winter flees and the sun warms the ground I'll come home and meet you I'll be with you forever
Við byggjum saman bæ í sveit sem brosir móti sól Þar ungu lífi landið mitt mun ljá og veita skjól	We'll build together a farm in the country that smiles towards the sun There my land will to young life grant and provide shelter.
Sól slær silfri á voga sjáðu jökulinn loga Allt er bjart fyrir okkur tveim því ég er kominn heim	The sun turns the bays into silver See how the glacier is shining Everything's bright for the two of us Because I've come home
Að ferðalokum finn ég þig sem ég fagnar höndum tveim Ég er kominn heim já, ég er kominn heim	At the journey's end I find you who welcomes me with two arms I've come home Yes, I've come home

 

[ShoeFlo]

WV 174: Útidúr – Þín Augu Mig Dreymir (I dream of your eyes)

For a change some summer-ish and oriental vibes from Iceland and a self-cut video featuring the Holi festivities in Mathura, India. I thought it works pretty well with the song.

Have fun

 

[ShoeFlo]

WV 175: Skálmöld – Niðavellir

Lyrics & Translation

Niðavellir*, náhvítur máninn skín. Dvergahellir, dulúð þér villir sýn. Sindradætur, synir og börnin öll, vetrarnætur, verma þau klettafjöll.	Niðavellir*, a corpse-white moon shines Dwarf-cave, your magical view deceives The daughters of Sindri, the sons and all the children, (on) winter’s nights, they warm themselves in the stony mountains.
Aðrir byggja hús og hallir, kastala og kofa. Komið inn í hellinn því að hér, hér er gott að sofa. Hér er gott að sofa.	Others build house and halls, castles and cabins Come into the cave, for here, here it’s good to sleep.
Galdrastafir, grafnir í stóran stein, dvergagrafir, dysjar og gömul bein. Heljarstyrkur, hertekur djúpan dal. Niðamyrkur, nær inn í gullinn sal.	Magic staves, buried in a huge stone, dwarf-graves, cairns, and old bones Hell’s power, man’s power, in a deep valley Murky darkness, nourished in a golden hall.
Leggist niður börnin mín, já, stór er okkar stofa. Steingólfið er tandurhreint og hér, hér er gott að sofa. Hér er gott að sofa.	Lie down, my children, yes, grand is our hall. The stone floor is quite clean and here, here it’s good to sleep.
Trónir á mergi tinnugler, tindar úr bergi háir. Sindri og Hergill halla sér, hér sofa dvergar gráir.	Enthroned by flintglass Peaks from high mountains, Sindri and Hergill take a nap; here sleep the gray dwarves.
Heyr, mín kæra hefðarfrú, hér er gott að sofa. (hér er gott að sofa) Á sig taka náðir nú, niðahjón og börnin þrjú.	Hear, my dear woman of fame, Here it’s good to sleep (here it's good to sleep). Now they take their rest, the dark couple and the three children.
Þegar heyrist þrumugnýr, Þór við skulum lofa. Okkur geymir hellir hlýr, hér er gott að sofa. (hér er gott að sofa)	When the thunderclap is heard, We shall praise Thor. In our warm halls, here it’s good to sleep.
Náinn syngur næturljóð, núna sefur dvergaþjóð.	The intimate night-poem is sung, and now the dwarf-folk sleep.

*Niðavellir in nothern mythology is the home of the dwarves and one of the nine worlds in the world tree Yggdrasil.