In 2020, Daði Freyr and his band “The Data” had one of the favourite songs, “Think About Things”, and a good publicity kick along from the Netflix movie “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga”. Iceland’s chances in the contest that year were hotter than that volcano of theres that no one can pronounce. Unfortunately COVID put an end to Daði and Iceland’s dream.
So Söngvakeppnin was placed on hold for 2021 with RÚV internally selecting Daði og Gagnamagnið to represent Iceland at the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam.
Daði og Gagnamagnið formally released their song “10 Years” on Saturday 13 March 2021, cheekily immediately after the final of Sweden’s Melodifestivalen. There was a live performance on RÚV’s tv show Straumar which was very much on brand with dad dancing and pixel art jumpers.
It’s difficult to strike gold twice and “10 Years” doesn’t quite reach the heights. It’s disco inspired again but not quite a memorable. It reflects on the 10 years of him being together with wife and fellow band member Árný Fjóla Ásmundsdóttir. The song features a choir of fans who Daði Freyr had asked to send in recordings of themselves singing several different vocal parts that he had written.
Daði og Gagnamagnið certainly do have a good thing going and 10 years should do well in Rotterdam.