Iceland was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 with the song "Open Your Heart", composed by Hallgrímur Óskarsson, with lyrics by Sveinbjörn I. Baldvinsson and Birgitta Haukdal, and performed by Haukdal herself. The Icelandic participating broadcaster, Ríkisútvarpið (RÚV), selected its entry through Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2003. The broadcaster returned to the contest after a one-year absence following their relegation in 2002 as one of the bottom six entrants in 2001. Fifteen songs competed in the national selection which was held on 15 February 2003. "Segðu mér allt" performed by Birgitta Haukdal emerged as the winner exclusively through public televoting. The song was later translated from Icelandic to English for Eurovision and was titled "Open Your Heart".
Iceland competed in the Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 24 May 2003. Performing as the opening entry for the show in position 1, Iceland placed eighth out of the 26 participating countries, scoring 81 points.
Prior to the 2003 Contest, Ríkisútvarpið (RÚV) had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest representing Iceland fifteen times since its first entry in 1986.[1] Its best placing in the contest to this point was second, achieved in 1999 with the song "All Out of Luck" performed by Selma. In 2001, it placed twenty-second (joint last) with the song "Angel" performed by Two Tricky.
As part of its duties as participating broadcaster, RÚV organises the selection of its entry in the Eurovision Song Contest and broadcasts the event in the country. The broadcaster confirmed its intentions to participate at the 2003 contest on 17 October 2002.[2] Since 2000, RÚV has used a national final to select its entry for the contest, a method that continued for its 2003 participation.
On 17 October 2002, RÚV opened the submission period for interested songwriters to submit their entries until the deadline on 18 November 2002. Songwriters were required to be Icelandic, possess Icelandic citizenship or have permanent residency in Iceland, and were required to submit entries in Icelandic with the winning composers being able to later decide the language that will be performed at the Eurovision Song Contest in Riga.[2][4] At the close of the submission deadline, 204 entries were received.[5] A selection committee was formed in order to select the top fifteen entries. The fifteen competing artists and songs were revealed by the broadcaster on 17 January 2003. RÚV presented the songs between 3 and 7 February 2003 during special programmes broadcast on RÚV.[6][7]
The final took place on 15 February 2003 where fifteen entries competed. The winner, "Segðu mér allt" performed by Birgitta Haukdal, was determined solely by televoting.[8]
According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the bottom ten countries in the 2002 contest competed in the final on 24 May 2003.[9] On 29 November 2002, a special allocation draw was held which determined the running order and Iceland was set to open the show and perform in position 1, before the entry from Austria.[10] Iceland finished in eighth place with 81 points.[11]
The show was broadcast in Iceland on RÚV with commentary by Gísli Marteinn Baldursson. RÚV appointed Eva María Jónsdóttir as its spokesperson to announce the Icelandic votes during the show.
Voting
Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Iceland and awarded by Iceland in the contest. The nation awarded its 12 points to Norway in the contest.
