FROM EUROVISION TO EURO GLORY
In 2012, Iceland’s goalkeeper directed the music video for his homeland’s Eurovision Song Contest entry. He’s a bit busier this year…
Hannes Halldorsson has Euro 2016 in his sights, but four years ago it was an altogether different vision of continental supremacy that was occupying his thoughts. In Azerbaijan.
Before his heroics between the posts helped Strakarnir okkar (or ‘Our boys’ for you non-icelandic speakers out there) to what will be their first ever major championship finals appearance this summer, goalkeeper Halldorsson directed Iceland’s entry for the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest, held in Baku.
The 32-year-old’s video for Greta Salome & Jonsi’s Never Forget is well worth a watch, particularly if you’re a fan of violins. And snow.
“The song finished in 20th place,” Hannes tells FFT of the ditty’s meagre 46-point haul. “But I saw some commentary online which said “at least they have the best music video”, so it’s wasn’t all doom and gloom.”
Nor was the earnest-if-annoying effort beating legendary crooner Engelbert Humperdinck’s UK entry (12 points) into a Eurovision pulp. Not bad for a country better known for its unpronounceable volcanoes than its video-director footballers. The ensuing four years, though, have been a fairytale for Hannes, who explains: “My career didn’t develop in the same way as almost every other footballer in the world – for nine years my number one job was being a film-maker – but that’s the charm of the Icelandic team. We have different stories; we’re a mixed gang of people. There’s a saying that there’s no elevator to success – you have to take the stairs. Everyone in the team knows that.”
Whatever happens in France, FFT is willing to wager a good few Krona that none of Hannes’ opponents will own a CV as eclectic as his – and certainly won’t have got up close and personal with Europe’s most poptastic institution.
“I mostly directed commercials, as they were done in a day and it was the only way for me to work as a film-maker alongside playing football,” he says. “I also did a lot of music videos when I was young. That’s how I made my name and how the Eurovision opportunity came along in 2012.”
All of which begs the question: will Hannes be tuning in to watch this month’s song-fest in Sweden?
“You can’t really admit that you’re a big fan of Eurovision, can you?” he says. “It’s not the coolest of things. But I always liked it as a kid. It’s a guilty pleasure. It was on my to-do list, so it was too good a chance to turn down. And we finished way ahead of the United Kingdom.”
All right, Hannes – no need to rub it in.