"Open Your Heart" was the Icelandic entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2003, performed in English by Birgitta.
It is a dramatic ballad, set off by guitar chords. Birgitta sings to her lover, asking him to "open his heart, show her the pain" and that this will "show me who you are". She also reminds him that "I'm not gonna run away" when he tells him what he has to. In other words, she will offer him whatever support is required.
The song was performed first on the night (preceding Austria's Alf Poier with Weil der Mensch zählt). At the close of voting, it had received 81 points, placing 8th in a field of 26.
One of Birgitta's backing singers, Regína Ósk, would go on to represent Iceland in the 2008 contest as part of Euroband.
It was succeeded as Icelandic representative at the 2004 contest by Jónsi with Heaven.
A version of the song in Icelandic "Segðu Mér Allt" (English: "Tell Me Everything") was also recorded. This version uses a slightly different production and is 14 seconds longer than the Eurovision version.
The press information pack which was distributed to reporters featured performable lyrics in French, German and Spanish, however these were not recorded by Birgitta mainly because she can not speak them.
Famous quotes containing the words open and/or heart:
“But when with moving accents thou
Shalt constant faith and service vow,
Thy Celia shall receive those charms
With open ears, and with unfolded arms.”
—Thomas Carew (1589–1639)
“Home—that blessed word, which opens to the human heart the most perfect glimpse of Heaven, and helps to carry it thither, as on an angel’s wings.”
—Lydia M. Child (1802–1880)