Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008

Laugardagslögin 2008 was the national final format developed by RÚV in order to select Iceland's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2008. All shows in the competition were hosted by Ragnhildur Steinunn Jónsdóttir and Gísli Einarsson and all took place at the RÚV studios in Reykjavík.[1] Thirty-three songs competed where the winner was determined after eleven heats between 6 October and 15 December 2007, a Second Chance round on 12 January 2008, four semi-finals on 19 January, 26 January, 2 February, and 9 February 2008 and a final on 23 February 2008.

Thirty-three songs in total competed in Laugardagslögin 2008 where the winner was determined after eleven heats, a Second Chance round, four semi-finals and a final. Three songs competed in each heat between 6 October 2007 and 12 January 2008. The winning song from each semi-final, as determined by public televoting qualified directly to the semi-finals.[2] A second round of public televoting took place after each heat between the remaining non-qualifying acts and selected a wildcard act for the Second Chance round.[3] The qualifiers from the Second Chance round was determined over two rounds of voting: the first to select the top three by a jury from the eleven wildcards and the second on 12 January 2008 to determine the three qualifiers for the semi-finals with 100% public televoting. Three songs competed in each semi-final on 19 January, 26 January, 2 February and 9 February 2008.[4] The top two songs from each semi-final, as determined by public televoting qualified to the final which took place on 23 February 2008.[5]

All shows in the competition were hosted by Ragnhildur Steinunn Jónsdóttir and Gísli Einarsson and all took place at the RÚV studios in Reykjavík.

Entries for the Laugardagslögin 2008 were selected through two methods:

• 27 entries were submitted by nine composers invited by RÚV for the competition.
• 6 entries were selected by a selection committee from entries received by RÚV through a submission period.

On 10 July 2007, RÚV opened the submission period for interested songwriters to submit their entries until the deadline on 3 September 2007. Songwriters were required to be Icelandic, possess Icelandic citizenship or have permanent residency in Iceland.[6] At the close of the submission deadline, 146 entries were received. A selection committee was formed and selected the top six entries.

On 2 October 2007, the nine composers invited by RÚV to each create three songs for the competition were revealed. The invited composers were:[7]

Among the competing artists are previous Icelandic Eurovision entrants Pálmi Gunnarsson, who represented Iceland in 1986 as part of ICY, Einar Ágúst Víðisson, who represented Iceland in 2000 as part of August & Telma, and Birgitta Haukdal, who represented Iceland in 2003.

The first heat took place on 6 October 2007 where three competing acts presented their entries. The winning entry voted upon solely by public televoting proceeded directly to the final. "Gef mér von" performed by Páll Rósinkranz & Gospelkór Reykjavíkur was the qualifier. The wildcard was awarded to "Boys and Perfume" performed by Hafdís Huld Þrastardóttir.

The second heat took place on 13 October 2007 where three competing acts presented their entries. The winning entry voted upon solely by public televoting proceeded directly to the final. "Leigubílar" performed by Pálmi Gunnarsson & Hrund Ósk Árnadóttir was the qualifier. The wildcard was awarded to "If I Fall In Love Again" performed by Edgar Smári Atlason.

The third heat took place on 20 October 2007 where three competing acts presented their entries. The winning entry voted upon solely by public televoting proceeded directly to the final. "Lullaby to Peace" performed by Ína Valgerður Pétursdóttir, Seth Sharp & Berglind Ósk Guðgeirsdóttir was the qualifier. The wildcard was awarded to "Á ballið á" performed by Böðvar Rafn Reynisson & Tinna Marína Jónsdóttir.

The fourth heat took place on 27 October 2007 where three competing acts presented their entries. The winning entry voted upon solely by public televoting proceeded directly to the final. "In Your Dreams" performed by Davíð Þorsteinn Olgeirsson was the qualifier. The wildcard was awarded to "Lífsins leið" performed by Áslaug Helga Hálfdánardóttir.

The fourth heat took place on 27 October 2007 where three competing acts presented their entries. The winning entry voted upon solely by public televoting proceeded directly to the final. "Ho, Ho, Ho, We Say Hey, Hey, Hey" performed by Merzedes Club was the qualifier. The wildcard was awarded to "Johnny" performed by Seth Sharp.

The sixth heat took place on 10 November 2007 where three competing acts presented their entries. The winning entry voted upon solely by public televoting proceeded directly to the final. "Hvað var það sem þú sást í honum?" performed by Baggalútur was the qualifier. The wildcard was awarded to "Bigger Shoes" performed by Margrét Kristín Sigurðardóttir.

The seventh heat took place on 17 November 2007 where three competing acts presented their entries. The winning entry voted upon solely by public televoting proceeded directly to the final. "The Girl in the Golden Dress" performed by Bjartur Guðjónsson was the qualifier. The wildcard was awarded to "Straumurinn" performed by Einar Ágúst Víðisson & Sigurjón Brink.

The eighth heat took place on 24 November 2007 where three competing acts presented their entries. The winning entry voted upon solely by public televoting proceeded directly to the final. "Fullkomið líf" performed by Eurobandið was the qualifier. The wildcard was awarded to "I Wanna Manicure" performed by Hara.

The ninth heat took place on 1 December 2007 where three competing acts presented their entries. The winning entry voted upon solely by public televoting proceeded directly to the final. "Núna veit ég" performed by Birgitta Haukdal & Magni Ásgeirsson was the qualifier. The wildcard was awarded to "Hvar ertu nú?" performed by Dr. Spock.

The tenth heat took place on 10 December 2007 where three competing acts presented their entries. The winning entry voted upon solely by public televoting proceeded directly to the final. "Núna veit ég" performed by Birgitta Haukdal & Magni Ásgeirsson was the qualifier. The wildcard was awarded to "Flower of Fire" performed by Andrea Gylfadóttir.

The eleventh heat took place on 15 December 2007 where three competing acts presented their entries. The winning entry voted upon solely by public televoting proceeded directly to the final. "The Wiggle Wiggle Song" performed by Haffi Haff was the qualifier. The wildcard was awarded to "Í rússíbana" performed by Hrund Ósk Árnadóttir.

On 6 January 2008, "Boys and Perfume" performed by Hafdís Huld Þrastardóttir, "Bigger Shoes" performed by Margrét Kristín Sigurðardóttir and "Hvar ertu nú?" performed by Dr. Spock were announced as the jury qualifiers selected from the eleven wildcards acts to proceed to the Second Chance round.[8]

The Second Chance round took place 12 January 2008 where three of the eleven wildcards competed. The winning entry voted upon solely by public televoting proceeded to the final. "Hvar ertu nú?" performed by Dr. Spock was the qualifier.

The first semi-final took place on 19 February 2008 where three of the twelve entries that qualified from the preceding heats and Second Chance round competed. Birgitta Haukdal was unable to perform with Magni Ásgeirsson as Haukdal was on holiday. The top two entries voted upon solely by public televoting proceeded to the final. "Núna veit ég" performed by Magni Ásgeirsson and "Gef mér von" performed by Páll Rósinkranz & Gospelkór Reykjavíkur were the qualifiers.[9]

The second semi-final took place on 26 February 2008 where three of the twelve entries that qualified from the preceding heats and Second Chance round competed. The top two entries voted upon solely by public televoting proceeded to the final. "In Your Dreams" performed by Davíð Þorsteinn Olgeirsson and "Hvað var það sem þú sást í honum?" performed by Baggalútur were the qualifiers.[9]

The third semi-final took place on 2 February 2008 where three of the twelve entries that qualified from the preceding heats and Second Chance round competed. The top two entries voted upon solely by public televoting proceeded to the final. "Fullkomið líf" performed by Eurobandið and "Hvar ertu nú?" performed by Dr. Spock were the qualifiers.[9]

The third semi-final took place on 2 February 2008 where three of the twelve entries that qualified from the preceding heats and Second Chance round competed. The top two entries voted upon solely by public televoting proceeded to the final. "Don't Wake Me Up" performed by Ragnheiður Gröndal and "Ho, Ho, Ho, We Say Hey, Hey, Hey" performed by Merzedes Club were the qualifiers.[9]

The final took place on 23 February 2008 where the eight entries that qualified from the preceding four semi-finals competed. The winner, "Fullkomið líf" performed Eurobandið, was determined solely by public televoting.[10]