Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1997

Eurovision Song Contest 1997
Country	Iceland
National selection
Selection process	Internal Selection
Selected entrant	Paul Oscar
Selected song	"Minn hinsti dans"
Finals performance
Final result	20th, 18 points
Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄1996 • 1997 • 1999►

Iceland was represented by Paul Oscar, with the song "Minn hinsti dans", at the 1997 Eurovision Song Contest final, which took place on 3 May in Dublin. For the third consecutive year Icelandic broadcaster RÚV chose their Eurovision entry by internal means and no Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins was held.

Although "Minn hinsti dans" did not do well at Eurovision, the risqué nature of Oscar's stage presentation caused raised eyebrows across Europe and remains one of the contest's most controversial and widely remembered performances.

At Eurovision

On the night of the final Oscar performed last in the running order, following eventual contest winners the United Kingdom. "Minn hinsti dans", a contemporary pulsing and hypnotic techno dance track, was the first song of its type heard at Eurovision. The presentation was the most daring and overtly sexual yet seen at Eurovision, with Oscar sitting on a white leather sofa, openly caressing himself and giving louche looks into the camera, while four depersonalised young women clad in latex fetish outfits danced provocatively and suggestively around him.

It is often said that this particular song and performance were several years ahead of their time for Eurovision, which in 1997 was just on the cusp of moving from the traditional jury era into the modern televoting era. It seemed too much for the national juries, as at the close of voting "Minn hinsti dans" had picked up only 18 points, placing Iceland 20th of the 25 entries. However, in 1997 televoting was trialled for the first time in Eurovision in five of the participating countries, and it was noted that 16 of the 18 points awarded to Iceland came from three of the televoting countries – Austria, Sweden and the United Kingdom – leading to the conclusion that the song could have done much better, had it taken part in a later year when televoting was in full swing.^[1]

Voting

Points awarded to Iceland

Points awarded by Iceland

12 points	Cyprus
10 points	France
8 points	United Kingdom
7 points	Turkey
6 points	Denmark
5 points	Hungary
4 points	Sweden
3 points	Slovenia
2 points	Estonia
1 point	Italy

See also

• Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest
• Eurovision Song Contest 1997

References

Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest
Participation 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Artists 1980s ICY Halla Margrét Beathoven Daníel Ágúst 1990s Stjórnin Stefán & Eyfi Heart 2 Heart Inga Sigga Bo Halldórsson Anna Mjöll Paul Oscar 1998 Selma 2000s August & Telma Two Tricky 2002 Birgitta Jónsi Selma Silvia Night Eiríkur Hauksson Euroband Yohanna 2010s Hera Björk Sigurjón's Friends Greta Salóme & Jónsi Eyþór Ingi Gunnlaugsson Pollapönk María Ólafsdóttir Greta Salóme Stefánsdóttir
Songs 1980s "Gleðibankinn" "Hægt og hljótt" "Þú og þeir (Sókrates)" "Það sem enginn sér" 1990s "Eitt lag enn" "Draumur um Nínu" "Nei eða já" "Þá veistu svarið" "Nætur" "Núna" "Sjúbídú" "Minn hinsti dans" 1998 "All Out of Luck" 2000s "Tell Me!" "Angel" 2002 "Open Your Heart" "Heaven" "If I Had Your Love" "Congratulations" "Valentine Lost" "This Is My Life" "Is It True?" 2010s "Je ne sais quoi" "Coming Home" "Never Forget" "Ég á líf" "No Prejudice" "Unbroken" "Hear Them Calling"
(Note : Entries scored out are when Iceland did not compete)