Possibly-demonic, wildy deranged synth-punk S&M art-school automatons Hatari smashed through into Iceland’s Eurovision final at the weekend after dominating their semi-final competition.
They unveiled a show-stealing performance for their mooted Eurovision track “Hatrið man sigra” (“Hate Will Prevail”), featuring pulsing synths, extravagant dance routines, complicated harnesses, dead-eyed dancers, a masked drummer battering the tops of two glass cages with a giant mallet, and a dude on a leash.
World’s smallest violin
Whilst their ambitious performance won the hearts of the voting public—and slightly embarrassed their lukewarm competitors in scope—it has put a cat amongst the pigeons with Iceland’s social conservatives, who are collectively wringing their hands over what this all means for Icelandic culture.
In a Vísir opinion article, God-bothering radio host Ívar Halldórsson contends that Hatari’s entry is too political, and has called for them to be booted from the competition.
“This concerns me and hurts me more than words can say,” Ívar says in part in an open letter to the head of programming at RÚV, Magnús Geir Þórðarson. He did, however, say more words, continuing: “For this reason I want to appeal to your goodwill and your respect towards those of us who want to enjoy good music entertainment without bringing politics into this time of joy. In recent years we have seen nations in a kind of political tug of war under the flag of the Eurovision Song Context, which myself and numerous other Icelanders have found tragic. It casts an uncomfortable shadow on the festivities.”
Cry me a river
Not to be out-sadded, failed white supremacist politician and Christian evangelical nobody Margrét Friðriksdóttir further commented: “I wholeheartedly agree with Ívar. It is a terrible song and will have unavoidable consequences for Iceland if it’s voted forward. Perhaps this band reflects the situation in society in many ways, which is quite depressing to think about. Don’t choose hate and darkness. I am certain we can do better than this.”
She frothed on: “Maybe the best thing would be for me to not get involved, and just let Iceland sink in peace, into the darkness that many obviously enjoy.” Alas, it may already be too late for Iceland to keep Margrét. “To be honest, I’ve given up,” she ultimatumed. “I’m thinking about moving away from all this darkness—before it’s too late.”
Hatari-Skaði 2019
These opinions notwithstanding, Hatari remain Grapevine’s favourite so far—or, maybe, Skaði, a trans woman who’ll compete in the second semi-final on Saturday.
And if Margrét Friðriksdóttir lives up to her threat to emigrate because of Hatari qualifying for Eurovision? Cry us a river.
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