Words by

Gabríel Benjamin and Haukur S. Magnússon

@haukursm

Our panel of experts—along with the whole of the Icelandic nation—picked “París Norðursins” as THE song of 2014. The track is a true radio monster, which resulted in the perennial left-field outsider indie kid (who has rested so comfortably on the margins of Icelandic culture for over a decade) becoming somewhat of a celebrity. We hear he even had to remove his listing from the phone book to thwart an incessant stream of phone calls from drunk housewives who wanted discuss the lyrics.

We went bonkers for it as soon as we heard it, featuring it as our “TRACK OF THE ISSUE” last August. Here’s what we had to say back then:

“You won’t find Prins Póló’s unexpected summer hit ‘París Norðursins’ (‘Paris Of The North’) on the act’s recent LP ‘Sorrí’ (‘Sorry’). Written and recorded specifically for the purpose, the song features in a highly anticipated film of the same name, which hits theatres in early September and should be pretty great if the Prince’s contribution is anything to go by.

The track’s steadily humming, upbeat bass line is accompanied with occasional keys and distorted guitar segments, all wrapped up in a fun and danceable package. Hiding behind that cheerful façade are lyrics that explore a recurring bitter theme in Icelandic literature—Halldór Laxness’s ‘Independent People,’ for example—that of the stubborn male who strives to do honest work while his family life turns to shit, partly because life is complicated, partly of his own doing. Whether this mirrors the plot of ‘París norðursins’ remains to be seen [update: we saw the movie, it doesn’t exactly mirror the lyrics, but there are similarities].

With its infectious melody, steady beat and haunting lyrics, Prins Póló’s new single is surely in the running to be crowned ‘Iceland’s Summer Jam 2014.’”

It ran, it won, it surpassed. “París Norðursins” is our TRACK OF THE YEAR! TRACK OF THE YEAR! TRACK OF THE YEAR!

Download here (right click and “save as”).