Sjonni's Friends

Sjonni's Friends (Icelandic: Vinir Sjonna) are an Icelandic tribute band also known at times as Sigurjón's Friends. The band formed in early 2011 when the Icelandic singer Sjonni Brink (real name Sigurjón Brink) died just days before he was to perform his entry "Aftur heim" at Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins, the Icelandic national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011.

Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2011

On 12 February 2011, the group won the Icelandic national selection; Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2011 with the song "Aftur heim". The original artist was meant to be Sigurjón Brink himself, however on 17 January 2011 before he was set to compete in the third semi-final, Sigurjón unexpectedly died, due to natural causes, at his home in Garðabær.^[1] Sigurjón's family decided, on reflection that they would like for the song to remain in the competition, and that it should be performed by a tribute band, formed after his death, consisting of Sigurjón's real life musician friends.^[2]

The group made it past the first semi-final into the final, where the group won the right to represent Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011

Band member Gunnar Ólason had previously represented Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2001 as part of the band Two Tricky.

Eurovision Song Contest 2011

The actual Eurovision competition was held in Düsseldorf, Germany in May 2011 where the formation Sjonni's Friends sang "Coming Home", an English version of "Aftur heim".

The first semi-final took place in Esprit Arena in Düsseldorf on 10 May 2011. Nineteen country entries, including Iceland, took part. Sjonni's Friends performed fourteenth, finishing fourth (6th in the televoting and 3rd with the jury vote). They moved to the finals of the competition that were held on 14 May 2011 with 25 finalists taking part. They were the 21st entry to perform. They came 20th overall with 61 points.

Members

Members of the band were:

• Gunnar Ólason
• Vignir Snær Vigfússon
• Pálmi Sigurhjartarson
• Matthías Matthíasson
• Hreimur Örn Heimisson
• Benedikt Brynleifsson

Some have continued with solo singing careers. Vignir Snær Vigfússon came back in 2014 to take part in Söngvakeppnin 2014, the qualification rounds for selecting Icelandic song for the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Elsku þú", but failed to win.

Discography

Sjonni's Friends

• 2011: "Aftur heim" retitled "Coming Home"

Member releases

• 2014: Vignir Snær Vigfússon - "Elsku þú"

References

Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest
Participation 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Artists 1980s ICY Halla Margrét Beathoven Daníel Ágúst 1990s Stjórnin Stefán & Eyfi Heart 2 Heart Inga Sigga Bo Halldórsson Anna Mjöll Paul Oscar 1998 Selma 2000s August & Telma Two Tricky 2002 Birgitta Jónsi Selma Silvia Night Eiríkur Hauksson Euroband Yohanna 2010s Hera Björk Sigurjón's Friends Greta Salóme & Jónsi Eyþór Ingi Gunnlaugsson Pollapönk María Ólafsdóttir Greta Salóme Stefánsdóttir
Songs 1980s "Gleðibankinn" "Hægt og hljótt" "Þú og þeir (Sókrates)" "Það sem enginn sér" 1990s "Eitt lag enn" "Draumur um Nínu" "Nei eða já" "Þá veistu svarið" "Nætur" "Núna" "Sjúbídú" "Minn hinsti dans" 1998 "All Out of Luck" 2000s "Tell Me!" "Angel" 2002 "Open Your Heart" "Heaven" "If I Had Your Love" "Congratulations" "Valentine Lost" "This Is My Life" "Is It True?" 2010s "Je ne sais quoi" "Coming Home" "Never Forget" "Ég á líf" "No Prejudice" "Unbroken" "Hear Them Calling"
(Note : Entries scored out are when Iceland did not compete)