REACTION: Hera Björk "Scared of Heights" [ICELAND's ENTRY FOR

Hera Björk won the Final of Söngvakeppnin 2024 in Iceland with the song "Scared of Heights". She may not end up at Eurovision this year but American Eurovision blogger Alesia Michelle is reacting!
Reaction Starts: 01:34
Alesia Michelle is a Eurovision blogger, based in the United States and has been covering the Eurovision Song Contest on KZbin since 2015. The 68th Eurovision Song Contest will be hosted in Malmö, Sweden. Semifinals and finals will be held May 7th, 9th and 11th in Malmö Arena.
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[@Ikwileennieuwenaam_]

You saying “o ok” with no emotion and moving on about that comment saying his had winner potencial for Iceland has me wheeeezing 😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@chootanf]

14:36 best moment😂

[@Sonnen_Licht]

No way that commenter was serious right? 😂

[@theorem7965]

Iceland decided to make Croatia's life easier, what a kind gesture. 🥰

[@AlesiaMichelle]

🤣😂

[@АлексейЗаботкин-т1х]

How exactly, considering that kaarija double can't sing and song is mediocre?

[@drunkhomer8307]

​@@АлексейЗаботкин-т1х Kaarija couldn't sing to yet he won televote

[@sandrolucic2281]

@@АлексейЗаботкин-т1х😂Baby Lasagna is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better singer then Kaarija. Like way way better.

[@GospodinNelson]

I am disappointed that fans treat her like this just because Bashar didn't win. Hera is popular in Iceland and people love her there and this time she came with a banger. And she does support Palestine, so I don't get the hate ON THAT ASPECT. And I think she's got ok chance to qualify, Hera welcome back! ❤

[@UsernameUsername0000]

Side note but she was going to go in 2019. I don’t know how much she cares. But that’s beside the point; I think most people just think the song sounds really dated. Like really.

[@TH2714]

Most fans don't care about Bashar. Hera is a Eurovision legend. "Je ne sais quoi" is every year at the Euroclub. However, her song this year is very dated.

[@UsernameUsername0000]

@@TH2714 You’re comparing an up and coming indie artist from a 3rd world country to a Eurovision alumnus. Of course people know Hera better and that’s not relevant.

[@kieranedmunds2936]

UK and Ireland would throw some points at this, middle aged moms would love this here

[@tgm250]

Sexist much? Also ageist?

[@UsernameUsername0000]

On the bright side I hope this means Bashar and all the other competitors this year can come back with more competitive packages next year hopefully.

[@andrewbirch2342]

I think your being very fair with your comments ❤

[@Ikwileennieuwenaam_]

We’re not worry hahaha that was such a “luckly i got purse” moment 😭😭😭😭

[@ronfarkas]

The song, not her, is the issue. There's retro and then there's outdated, this is the latter. Also, the ESC social media updated Serbia's win but hasn't said anything about Iceland so yeah, their participation is not 100% yet

[@Sk88p]

Well.. im not that mad. It was one of the best songs and Hera is a legend (Icelandic version is a bit better though). But i wanted Sigga Ozk to win actually.

[@tom_4546]

Iceland is out :( what a pity …

[@pogodziej]

I mean, all Bashar stuff aside, choosing her is offensive to Sigga. If you're going for a generic pop song with a great vocal, how do you not pick her?

[@AlesiaMichelle]

Yeah… there were more competitive BOPs

[@birtajonsdottir9910]

For some reason, Sigga just doesn’t seem to be a fan favorite here in Iceland. Don't ask me why 🤷‍♀️ I voted for her this year and last year since I prefered her song to Diljá's song. Personally, I think if it wasn't for the televote she would have been a sure win.

[@pogodziej]

​@@birtajonsdottir9910 Well, thank you for your vote ❤ I honestly had Sigga at SUCH a close second behind Diljà. I was like "Duke it out, girls!" 🎉

[@Euroviking86]

@@birtajonsdottir9910 She's really underappreciated in Iceland, totally. She is relatively new on the scene, but still. She was 3rd overall, which is her best result yet. Both her entries so far have been bangers, I believe her time will come.

[@henriklarssoneurovisioncha6515]

My NQ from Semi 1 is : Luxembourg , Moldova , Iceland and Ireland .. so far ..

[@audi0078]

Ireland???? It's so different than everything else. It will stand out

[@heppolo]

​@@audi0078Ireland is giving a Telemoveis kind of NQ, so many loud entries this year

[@alftuvik3820]

@@audi0078 There is hope for Ireland for sure, but a lot of unique entries this year that might be competition for Ireland and those are less divisive.

[@audi0078]

@@alftuvik3820 i just Ireland to Q, first time in years i was sure it will and now im scared

[@alftuvik3820]

@@audi0078Yeah, semi final 1 is a scary one. I hope Ireland qualifies too, but we'll see.

[@trao1938]

I think I count as the older generation. This song sounds like it should be played during the opening credits of a late-80's romantic comedy. Unfortunately, that isn't a compliment.

[@Horsebalz]

I think it is quite rude to tell her she should not even go just because this is not a winner siong. For ESC reviewer you seem to not know what ESC is all about , it is not about winning and money, it is about countries, people, Europe coming together and celebrating our cultures and uniting in a big celebration, having a good time , supporting each other, uniting Europe, that is what Eurovision is all about and always have been, not about who has better chances to go to number 1 , I think you have completely forgotten and do not fully understand the purpose of Eurovision which ias sad .

[@AlesiaMichelle]

"Rude"- The Icelandic PUBLIC voted that they didn't want to participate in Eurovision this year. THE PUBLIC. The broadcaster has said. numerous time that they didn't want to participate if Israel was participating. I said that I PERSONALLY, wouldn't want to go if I was in her shoes. I didn't say she needs to not go-I was speaking PERSONALLY... I understand fully what Eurovision is about, and if you did too, you'd fully understand why many performers are not as HYPE about this particular edition compared to others.

[@AlesiaMichelle]

AND- as someone who works in advocacy full-time I am always going to encourage those who want to participate in peaceful protest and boycott to go on and DO IT.

[@Horsebalz]

what are you even talking about ? Just because some want to boycott the ESC does not mean in any way that she should do it too, also the selection process clearly happened, so that clearly means Iceland wants to participate + that is not even what were you discussing in the video, you pretty much said she should not go, because others have better chances of winning than she does, that is what you said . That is not what ESC is about. I am 100 % certain you would not have this kind of attitude if one of your favorites from Iceland would win like that palestinian guy,. @@AlesiaMichelle

[@BrynjarReynisson]

​@@HorsebalzI completely agree with you. That was a bad take

[@ipswich728]

They went from top 5 potential with Bashar to a very safe NQ here. What a dang shame.

[@jackoli6519]

Yes but why were they top 3 material with Bashar? Not because of his song, that’s for sure.. because of his story.

[@Benji30]

@@jackoli6519 What story? His story is that he is advocating for people who wouldn't accept him for who he is, and trashing on the country that gives him equal rights, funded his academic studies of music, and gave him the best life possible. He's a hypocrite.

[@kevanmcdougallmph]

@@Benji30 please reflect on this comment.

[@Benji30]

@@kevanmcdougallmph wdym, correct me where i'm wrong?

[@liju2505]

Go Tiffany.

[@yogniz]

Alicia, I think you went too far when you said to Iceland "don't go". Hera Bjork stated in an interview a few days before the final - "of course I will go to Malmö". The Icelandic public voted for her exactly because of that (in Landslide when she faced Bashar head to head). This was a statement by the Icelanders that they did not want to label themselves as mixing politics in the Eurovision. Iceland voted in favor of participating in the Eurovision even though they probably knew the song was mediocre. They did'nt vote for only the song. So the will of the silent majority of the Icelandic people silenced by extremists must be respected.

[@AlesiaMichelle]

You should see my responses to other comments in this vain.

[@tomasornrunarsson9682]

It’s so weird after all the hype and stories leading up to Bashar Murad competing in the selection he is not even winning the god damn show

[@AlesiaMichelle]

Well here we are. Looking forward to to the queer quartet serving us qualityZ

[@markosioannidis5473]

it's so much better in islandic! I don't like it in English at all.

[@janecohen1756]

This triggers nostalgia for me...but only because it sounds like the kind of music I'd hear on the speakers in the grocery story 10 years ago. This is an immediate skip for me on the playlist, but I still feel like it's going to shock qualify, because it will appeal to an older demographic that doesn't know how to react to the likes of Finland and Croatia.

[@dizzard5297]

Iceland NF this year has been really disappointing to me overall. A lot of my preferred songs didn't even qualify for the final. Blankiflur would have been great at Eurovision.

[@henriklarssoneurovisioncha6515]

Sorry but this is a NQ for me ..

[@TDCT26]

This is a NQ overall

[@heppolo]

Superfinal format is so evil, people can largely vote against the song rather than for what they love.

[@e.grin.1968]

Go Tiffany was a banger !

[@Euroviking86]

That was by far my favorite, I was so upset we didn't pick that.

[@alohim1573]

She can qualify in my opinion.

[@AlesiaMichelle]

But SHOULD she?!? Yes, I have no notes but are there more competitive entries? Yes. Like this qualifying over Ireland would break my heart. No shade to Hera but…

[@alohim1573]

@@AlesiaMichelle Hera Bjork has a great stage presence and might be more televoting friendly than Ireland which got unlucky draw. Also she has already 18-20 points at least from finland and sweden and last year 33 points were enough for qualification( 🇷🇸.)

[@heppolo]

Remember how Serhat qualified from what was supposed to be a semifinal of death back in 2019. There's some appetite for conventional schlager-ish performances with the normies.

[@Crowleas]

Serhat qualified only because of Turkish diaspora votes

[@heppolo]

@@Crowleas I thought so initially, upon further investigation it turned out to be exaggerated, it was a bit of Turkish diaspora influence (approx. 15-20 pts), but for the most part great running order slot (last in the semifinal), simple upbeat song, vintage disco schlager throwback for the elders and conservative Eastern European normies (12 tele pts from Czechia, Hungary, Estonia where Turkish diaspora is very small), meme status of a "rich singing dentist" mixed with a plucky underdog reputation of San Marino.

[@TV-vs8xu]

In 2019 semi final of death was 2nd. Serhat was in 1st

[@heppolo]

@@TV-vs8xu ah yes, first one was the semifinal of weird (Hatari, KMH, Conan Osiris, Tulia), but tbh Leonora qualified in the second semifinal (Jurijus would have qualified via televote), it was like 7 surefire qualifiers and the rest.

[@TH2714]

Serhat had a fun party song. This one is just dated.

[@samuelgalea7679]

I love this and I’m not sorry

[@AlesiaMichelle]

Nothing wrong with loving it

[@BrynjarReynisson]

Hera is going to Malmö. We are not going to boycott or skip the contest. It doesnt make sense saying that just because it isnt going to win we shouldnt go. Thats just disrespectful of you. Eurovision is about having fun with the other countries sharing their songs with Europe and the world.

[@TH2714]

This is not why she said that Iceland might not go. Your broadcaster threatened not to participate if Israel was not banned from the contest. EBU confirmed Israel will be allowed to join, so your broadcaster might decide not to be in the 2024 edition. If Bashar had been chosen, chances are Iceland would have definitely participated since having a Palestinian singer would have been a way to protest against Israel. Nothing to do with either Hera or Bashar's songs, only with "politics".

[@AlesiaMichelle]

Thank you TH. Again... the BROADCASTER has not confirmed Iceland's ESC participation. That's just facts.

[@BrynjarReynisson]

@@AlesiaMichelle We will participate. There is no doubt about it. Hera has said before that she will go if she would win

[@BrynjarReynisson]

@@AlesiaMichelle RÚV said it was up to the winner and the winner has confirmed she will go so yeah we will go.

[@AlesiaMichelle]

Not according to the official Eurovision site. Iceland is still listed as TBA... eurovision.tv/event/malmo-2024/participants

[@danielely3807]

I watched the final until they announced the super-finalists; I went to bed witbout a care in the world. Imagine my surprise seeing Alesia posting 'reaction...Hera...'. How?! Why Iceland?!

[@liju2505]

I like the song -Sigga Ózk - Um allan alheiminn, thought it is very positive and ''legally blonde'', ''barbie'' vibes - very feninine, girl power, positive energy song and catchy and I'm a man saying this from UK

[@goldcat3512]

Hi from Iceland, Yeah it is a boring song...😂 Fun fact this lady is very tall.

[@GeoffreyStow-nz2kp]

I really love the song and congrats to Hera bjork and it’s a great party hit and it’s a banger and it’s a booper ai really love this and send my big hugs to Hera and I’m quite fascinated of the Iceland and doing a recipe next week and it’s a party song for a disco hit of this song from Geoff

[@robertzielinski2475]

Gustaph was in top 10 in the final last year but this doesn't give me his entry vibe. It gives me more of UK's last places vibe.

[@Saghstar]

I get what you mean but if all the countries sat out of the competition because they thkught they had no chance in qualifying then Eurovision would be drastically smaller and no point of having semi finals

[@tgm250]

Why is everyone hating the song? I mean come on it’s a National final. And please keep politics out of Eurovision. The staging if done well could get through. I honestly think she should walk onto the MainStage. As she is singing. Also it feels better in Icelandic.

[@AlesiaMichelle]

I don't think people are "hating" the song. I think folks are noting that it'll be difficult for this song to ADVANCE, there'a a difference. And I want to be clear that I really don't have "notes" for the performance: the vocal, staging, and styling all are great to me.

[@Hydraas]

Personally I really don't like this, sonically. This was my last place for the final so I am very disappointed and cannot believe this won

[@jordywoody14]

It's obviously still a BOP because people voted for it

[@Hydraas]

@@jordywoody14 idk, people can vote for boring songs if they want to 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@FictionJunction.M.]

Bashar was robbed. This song is *very* dated.

[@jordywoody14]

Bashar failed even with politics involved. Cry more.

[@UsernameUsername0000]

@@jordywoody14Bashar didn’t fail you simpleton. A Palestinian existing pisses you off this hard? Talking about the song is bad as if Hera’s isn’t dated AND atrocious. М0rоn.

[@UsernameUsername0000]

@@jordywoody14Bashar didn’t fail, what a simpleton. Gotta love how a Palestinian existing makes you feel this pissed. Talking about how his song is bad as if Hera’s isn’t dated AND rubbish. Brainrot.

[@UsernameUsername0000]

@@jordywoody14You’re crying at the existence of a Palestinian. Love how just that pisses you off to no end. You think Wild West is bad? Enjoy the dated atrocious entry, because no one else is!

[@slightlyhidden]

You probably only liked him because of his ethnicity. Eurovision is place to showcase you talent. Not your sob story. Cry about it

[@niklas0312]

I think noone expected her to win. However, I'm not mad. Is it my favourite song? No. In fact, it's in my bottom 5, but that's just because this year is so insanely good lololol. So, do I like this song? Yes! And most importantly, she seems to enjoy being on stage and having a great time! I think this will be a nq sadly but I kinda want her to qualify, idk, it'd be iconic lmaooo She has already proven us wrong and surprised us yesterday, why not go for another surprise.

[@applesnow6516]

Her dress is beautiful,this is good, this is not a skip for me, they did the staging beautiful, she can sing we all know that ....mmmhmmmmmmm.......LET'S BE REAL, IT'S NOT GONNA MAKE IT. 😂😂😂

[@turantankisi3431]

Even though Romania and San Marino were deadly weak last year. It was obvious they would not qualify. So the did you recommend them to cancel their participation just beacuse of all that work,rehearsals and budget?

[@Ikwileennieuwenaam_]

They should have went with Sigga. Go Tiffany!

[@Fassonista]

Sorry what is the assumption that this isn't qualifying. It is literally one of only 2 songs this year unto now that has engaged me. A proper melody, great hook and chorus. She is my top 2 this year. The snobbery around being current and young with music really pisses me off. You dont stop listening to and enjoying music and especially the Eurovision Song Contest when you hit 35 you know. All these experimental, ridiculous, OTT, sombre, absurdist acts that are being sent repeatedly really stop engagement with this contest if im honest. As does the weird song structures, the builds that drop into nothing, the lack of a proper chorus. Finally a song is released that is a good solid pop track that's builds and because a subset of the fandom has turned this contest into a political rally they would rather choose a mediocre song/performance with a story than celebrate actual proper music. And as is the usual with this subset of people, if something doesn't go their way they would rather burn everything down around them than submit that they're opinion/taste isn't divine. Im extremely happy Hera won. Love her, love the song and I hope this does really well

[@TH2714]

Good for you that you love it, but the prediction is based on previous songs that qualified and the other competitors in this semi final (the semi final of death). Based on that, it doesn't look good for Iceland.

[@ColmMcCann-uo6ci]

I love the conversation about Poland and Moldova. We thought we could predict based on previous years. I'm glad that we couldn't

[@OfficialSpencer]

THIS WAS THE FUNNIEST MOMENT OF THE WHOLE ENTIRE CONTEST 😭😂

[@leendertjanw7540]

Hera's great but she deserves a better song than this.

[@mauricebracken7113]

This is too generic. Ireland will surprise as it is ambitious, original, and unique.

[@tonyttt31]

This makes things better for Ireland,. It won't come last because Finland and Sweden will give Iceland points.

[@jordywoody14]

If it's so generic then how did it win then?

[@tonyttt31]

@@jordywoody14 Because people like generic too.

[@jordywoody14]

​@@tonyttt31Gustaph did well last year with a generic song too.

[@tonyttt31]

@@jordywoody14 In a much easier semi. But who knows.... Iceland could still qualify. Especially if they close the show.

[@Wamubodo]

Not a winner obviously but within the fandom there are many conservative voters. Without direct competition, I actually can see this qualify. Because it's soooo ESC. But at which point you are going to participate? As a potential winner? Top 10? Is not going to happen. But if Joost can bring some nostalgia, why can't she? Her stage presence is fantastic. It's a choice Iceland has to make and in a way, I'm glad they didn't pick Bashar. I liked his song more but the whole discussion is a bit exhausting. Let us just vote for the best package this year. We did last year and the years before. It is always a personal taste and that's why I like it. Paloma Blanca didn't resonate while I was hooked on that song. And it happens every year. I loved Raiven's performance at DORA and I love the song but do I expect it to win? It's just nice to have some favorites. It's a competition, you'll.

[@rexation8952]

"Some Eurovision observers have speculated that Icelandic voters did not want to face similar issues with political disqualification, or that some may have been turned off by his dedication of the song to the Palestinians rather than to Iceland, the country he was supposed to represent. Murad’s connection to Iceland was born out of the 2019 Eurovision in Tel Aviv, when he met the country’s representative, the band Hatari, and recorded a joint Icelandic-Arabic song with them. Iceland’s national broadcaster was reprimanded and fined after the band members waved a Palestinian flag during the live grand finale." ...according to "The Times of Israel"

[@allmight2795]

Hope she uses the Icelandic version. Something about that version just scratches my brain the English version doesn’t.

[@JanGreeve]

On behalf of the people of The Netherlands, i say thank you Iceland for this pick.

[@liju2505]

NL has 0 chance of winning

[@JanGreeve]

@@liju2505 time will tell

[@drunkhomer8307]

Me too, from Croatia😂

[@karldr4yner]

Bashar 💔

[@KieranLikesCake]

I wish the vocal had more soul.

[@TDCT26]

3:57 - 9:35 😂

[@teddytete.mp3]

Mother MOTHERED

[@davidbenjamin3714]

when will you react to Austria's entry for Eurovision this year The song is a catchy banger

[@muddyfeet69]

Unexpected but good that Iceland didn't pick Bashar.