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Svala

Icelandic singer Svala has been singing since she was 7 years old. Since then she has become a songwriter, judge on The Voice, fashion icon and toured the world! This year she represents Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest with Paper.

Svala is an award-winning Icelandic singer and songwriter and a big celebrity in her home country. She is the daughter of the legendary pop star Bo Halldorsson. Svala has had a big impact on the Icelandic music scene since she entered it at a young age and has countless number one hits under her belt. 

In 1999 Svala signed one of the biggest record contracts ever made with an Icelandic artist with EMI in the US. Her first single, The Real Me, became a top 30 hit on the Billboard charts in 2001 in the US, launching her career also as a respected songwriter and lyricist. 

Svala formed the Icelandic electronic band Steed Lord in 2006 which has had tremendous success on an international level. Svala and Steed Lord have toured all over the world selling out shows both in Europe and North America and more recently, headlining Gay Pride in San Fransisco and Copenhagen in front of 50,000 people. Her music has been featured in numerous TV shows and films in North America and her iconic music videos, that she created with her husband, have had a big impact on the music and art scene. 

Svala is one of the four main judges on The Voice Iceland and has received praise for her amazing work on one of the most popular TV shows in the world. Svala is not only a world-class singer, songwriter and performer, she is a known fashion icon and in 2007 she designed a clothing line for H&M. 

Svala's new project, Blissful, has already gained global attention after they released their first single, Elevate, last autumn. Her Eurovision entry, Paper, is a very personal song from Svala. The song is about dealing with difficulties in life and overcoming them.

Things you should know about Svala

What are the three most interesting aspects about your entry?

  • This song is very personal to me and I wrote from my own experiences. Everyone goes through difficult times so everyone should be able to relate in one way or another;
  • When we wrote it we didn’t realize how big and anthem like it had become and then thought that Eurovision would be a perfect platform for it;
  • I have a part of an amazing gospel choir performing with me.

What are the three most impressive facts about you?

  • Been singing publicly since I was 7;
  • I’m a judge on The Voice Iceland;
  • Headlined Gay Pride in San Francisco, and multiple other cities, and toured around the world.

Do you have a (lucky) routine before you go on stage?

I bathe myself in unicorn tears and take a shot of snow on fire.

Why is the Eurovision Song Contest important for you?

It is a great platform for singers and songwriters, allows me to perform my song on an out-of-this-world stage and it gets me closer to my beautiful fans around the world.

Music video

Lyrics of Paper

You’re under the water
trying to pull me under
I reach for you
I reach for you

You can throw it all at me
I won’t give you up
I can handle all your pain
take it as it comes

I love you right
but you make me feel like

Paper
you cut right through
I’m stuck like glue to you
Paper
your darkness pulls
I lose control again

Drawing every bit of my truth
color me in with your blue

Paper
you cut right through
a thousand words for you

I know I wasn’t a part of your plan
I know you think that you’re being a man
tell me to leave you alone
tell me I would be so better off
but you don’t understand

I can’t leave you
baby
I can’t leave you

But you make me feel like

Paper
you cut right through
I’m stuck like glue to you
Paper
your darkness pulls
I lose control again

Drawing every bit of my truth
color me in with your blue

Paper
you cut right through
a thousand words for you

Paper
you cut right through
I’m stuck like glue to you
Paper
your darkness pulls
I lose control again

Drawing every bit of my truth
color me in with your blue

Paper
you cut right through
a thousand words for you
Tu es sous l’eau
Tu essayes de me tirer en-dessous
Je te cherche
Je te cherche

Tu peux jeter tout sur moi
Je ne te renounce pas
Je m’occupe de toutes tes douleurs
Je le prends comme ça vient

Je t’adore
Mais tu me fais sentir comme

Du papier
Du découpes
Collée à toi comme de la colle
Du papier
Ton obscurité tire
Je perds encore contrĂ´le

Tu dessines chaque morceau de ma vérité
Tu me peins en bleu

Du papier
Tu découpes
Mille mots pour toi

Je sais que je ne figurais pas dans ton plan
Je sais que tu te crois un vrai homme
Tu dis que je dois te laisser tout seul
Tu dis qu’ainsi ça irait mieux pour moi
Mais tu ne comprends pas

Je ne peux pas te laisser
Cheri
Je ne peux pas te laisser

Mais tu me fais sentir comme

Du papier
Du découpes
Collée à toi comme de la colle
Du papier
L’obscurité tire
Je pends encore contrĂ´le

Tu dessines chaque morceau de ma vérité
Tu me peins en bleu

Du papier
Du découpes
Mille mots pour toi

Du papier
Du découpes
Collée à toi comme de la colle
Du papier
Ton obscurité tire
Je pends encore contrĂ´le

Tu dessines chaque morceau de ma vérité
Tu me peins en bleu

Du papier
Du découpes
Mille mots pour toi