As expected, the first five entrants to this year’s Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins were announced late Sunday night/Monday morning in preparation for this weekend’s Semifinal.

• Íris Hólm – “Leyndarmál (Secret)“
• Gréta Salóme and Jónsi – “Mundu Eftir Mér (Remember Me)“
• Fatherz’n’sonz – “Rýtingur (Dagger)“
• Heiða Ólafsdóttir – “Við Hjartarót Mína (Deep in my Heart)“
• Blár opal – “Stattu Upp (Get Up)“

As is to be expected of a country with a population about the size of Minneapolis, Minnesota, we have more than a few familiar names in the running: Íris Hólm was a finalist in the 2010 National Selection with “The One“, and her song for this year was co-written by Sveinn Rúnar Sigurðsson (composer of 2007’s “Valentine Lost” and 2004’s “Heaven“) and Þórunn Erna Clausen (lyricist of 2011’s “Coming Home“).  Jónsi (not to be confused with the lead singer of Sigur Rós) performed the aformentioned “Heaven” in Istanbul, and was a finalist in the 2007 National Selection with “Segðu mér” (he lost out to Eiríkur Hauksson that year, who performed…”Valentine Lost”).  Finally, Heiða Ólafsdóttir was a backing singer for Hera Björk in 2010.