History
Iceland's best position at the contest is second place, which they have achieved twice: in 1999 when Selma represented Iceland with the song "All Out of Luck", and came second to Sweden's Charlotte Nilsson and in 2009 when Iceland returned to second place, where Jóhanna came second to Norway's Alexander Rybak with the ballad "Is It True?".
In contrast Iceland's worst result is last place, which has been achieved twice to date: In 1989 gave Iceland its first last place, when Daníel Ágúst got nul points for his entry "Það sem enginn sér" and in 2001 when Two Tricky came last for Iceland, receiving just 3 points for their performance of "Angel".
With the introduction of semi-finals in 2004, Iceland automatically qualified for the final that year due to Birgitta's 8th place the previous year. In 2008, Iceland reached the final for the first time since then, when Euroband sang This Is My Life. Up to and including 2012 Iceland has always reached the final since 2008.
Despite these mixed fortunes, Iceland is the second most successful country never to win the contest (behind only Malta).
Sigríður Beinteinsdóttir has participated four times (as a member of a group in 1990 and 1992, as a solo artist in 1994, and as a background vocalist in 2007). Stefán Hilmarsson has participated twice (as a member of a group in 1988 and as a member of a duo 1991), as have Selma Björnsdóttir (1999 and 2005), Eiríkur Hauksson (as a member of a group in 1986 and as a solo artist in 2007) and Jón Jósep Snæbjörnsson (2004 and 2012).
The Icelandic broadcaster for the contest is Ríkisútvarpið (RÚV).
Read more about this topic: Iceland In The Eurovision Song Contest
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“The history of reform is always identical; it is the comparison of the idea with the fact. Our modes of living are not agreeable to our imagination. We suspect they are unworthy. We arraign our daily employments.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“The history of progress is written in the blood of men and women who have dared to espouse an unpopular cause, as, for instance, the black man’s right to his body, or woman’s right to her soul.”
—Emma Goldman (1869–1940)
“The history of the Victorian Age will never be written: we know too much about it.”
—Lytton Strachey (1880–1932)