Iceland was represented by Birgitta Haukdal, with the song "Open Your Heart", at the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 24 May in Riga, Latvia. "Open Your Heart" was chosen as the Icelandic entry at the national final Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins on 15 February. Iceland returned to Eurovision following an enforced one-year absence due to relegation after a last-place finish in 2001.
Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2003 was the national final format developed by RÚV in order to select Iceland's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2003. The competition was hosted by Logi Bergmann Eiðsson and Gísli Marteinn Baldursson and took place at the Háskólabíó in Reykjavík. The show was broadcast on RÚV and via radio on Rás 2.[1]
Competing entries[]
On 17 October 2002, RÚV opened the submission period for interested songwriters to submit their entries until the deadline on 18 November 2002. Songwriters were required to be Icelandic, possess Icelandic citizenship or have permanent residency in Iceland. All submitted songs were required to be performed in Icelandic.[2][3] At the close of the submission deadline, 204 entries were received.[4] A selection committee was formed in order to select the top fifteen entries. The twelve competing artists and songs were revealed by the broadcaster on 17 January 2003, while the songs were presented between 3 and 7 February 2003 during special programmes broadcast on RÚV.[5][6]
The final took place on 15 February 2003 where fifteen entries competed. The winner, "Segðu mér allt" performed by Birgitta Haukdal, was determined solely by televoting.[7]
On the night of the final Birgitta performed first in the running order, preceding Austria. At the close of voting "Open Your Heart" had received 81 points (including maximum 12s from Malta and Norway), placing Iceland joint 8th (with Spain) of the 26 entries.[8] The 12 points from the Icelandic televote were awarded to Norway.
Haukdal's top 10 finish meant that Iceland was given one of the automatic qualifying slots for the 2004 final.[9]
Iceland
