Power by Diljá.
As we gather each new crop of Eurovision songs each year a set emerge that you’re delighted have made the cut. Equally there’s a group you wish hadn’t. Then there are the songs that are, well, just there. Iceland 2023 is one of those.
There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s a tale of a woman claiming her independence and power, and who isn’t here for that? It’s also a not unpleasant way of whiling away three minutes, and I do enjoy it while it’s playing. But is it the one I’m reaching for? No.
I don’t want to say she’s making up the numbers; that feels uncharitable. This is her moment in the biggest TV show on earth and I’m here to celebrate everybody who gets that moment. It’s even better she’s got it with such an empowering song. But she’s in a crowded field of 12 female soloists, almost one third of the 2023 line up, some with similarly themed songs, conceived and presented more creatively. The women she’s triumphantly claiming her place alongside are ultimately likely to be her greatest competition. And there’s no shame in that.
For me this just isn’t high enough up the field and isn’t really a contender for the final. Mind you I said that about Iceland last year and ended up thrilled when they made it, so the moral of that is probably don’t listen to me!
My marks: 5 points