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Je ne sais quoi
Hera Björk: "I am going all the way with this song!"
Congratulations on winning the national final, thus having the honour of representing Iceland at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo. How are you feeling right now, after having achieved this big goal of yours?
I am feeling great, thank you :) This was a dream coming true and I am really looking forward to Oslo!
How and with whom did you celebrate your victory?
With my family and friends. We had a get together at my parents' house Sunday and my mother baked her world-famous fierce waffles :)
You and Jógvan Hansen were announced as the two acts having received the most televotes. When you and Jógvan were standing on stage, both of you hoping to hear their own name, what was going through your mind?
We are good friends, so we were actually talking about why we couldn’t just go together :) Of course I was thinking about the results from the Danish final last year, but I had a strong feeling about it and it turned out in my favor this time :)
You revealed to us that you are planning on releasing other versions of Je ne sais quoi in case you should win the national final. Now that you have won, can you already tell us more about that? Will there be versions in other languages or remixes? Is the current version of your song already the final version, the one you will sing in Oslo?
We’re pretty satisfied with how the version is right now, but of course there is room for small changes, if we feel like it. Nothing major though. There is already one remix and perhaps there will be more, because Euroclub needs a great dance version :) Regarding other language versions – well, that would be a fun challenge, indeed!
Have you already decided upon your team for Eurovision? Will you have other famous Icelandic singers accompanying you on stage? Perhaps your backing vocals from Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins, Heiða Ólafs (2009 Icelandic pre-selection with Dagur nýr and 2006 with 100% hamingja) and Erna Hrönn (2009 Icelandic pre-selection with Glópagull and 2007 with Örlagadís)?
The group you saw with me on stage in Iceland is the final group…plus one extra good friend of mine, who is also a singer and vocal coach! Those singers are all well known in Iceland and fantastic soloists and on top of that they are among the most fun and lovely people I know :) So I would say I got a great team!
In which ways will you be promoting your entry Je ne sais quoi? Will there be a promo tour?
Well, we have a tight budget so there won’t be any HUGE promo tour! But there will most likely be time for smaller gigs here and there. That’s perfectly fine with me, since I also have many preparations to take care of. So yeah, unfortunately no 30-days journeys to Jerusalem and back, haha :)
Do you already have a concrete vision in mind on how you want your performance to look at the big Eurovision stage, or is it still too early to think about that?
Well, actually yes, I have a very clear picture in my mind! I had “a vision” about this some years ago :) I was driving in my car from a gig in the west of Iceland, had the music very loud and was singing my ass off along with it! Suddenly I had this urge to stop and so I did. As I was sitting there listening and watching the waves brake on the shore, this very clear “vision” came to my mind! I was standing on a big stage in a fabulous dress singing and there were flags all around me! This was a very strong image and I recognized it again when I stood on stage in Belgrade with Euroband! So there you have it :)
Taking into account the fact the Euro-pop has not been doing too well at Eurovision in recent years, how far do you think you can go with your song? What will we be your main priority, as far as the result is concerned? Getting Iceland into the final, or aiming for a result similar to Yohanna’s second place last year?
I am going all the way with this song, baby! The sole purpose of this song is to entertain and give joy to people! I believe that honesty, hard work and joyfulness are good keywords. Where it will take me is yet to be unveiled, but hopefully all the way :)
Do you plan on releasing a new album this year? If so, what will it be like?
Yes, I am planning on releasing an album. I have been working on it for the past months and of course it is gonna be great :)
Finally, do you have a message for those people who have been supporting you and your song and are looking forward to seeing you in Oslo? And also, what would you like to say to your critics?
First of all, a big thank you for all your support and kind words through the past two years! It warms my heart and I’m so grateful to finally be standing on the ESC stage as the performer. I promise you I’ll sing my ass off! And hopefully I’ll see many of you in Oslo! Let’s celebrate Eurovision with style :)
Esctoday.com would like to thank Hera Björk for taking the time to do this interview and wish her the best of luck on her way to Oslo.
Click here to read to read the interview with Hera Björk prior to the Icelandic national final.
Hera's bid for Eurovision, Je ne sais quoi:
Live performance of Je ne sais quoi at Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins:
Hera performing Someday in the 2009 Danish national final, finishing second:
Hera performing Mig Dreymdi in the 2007 Icelandic semi finals:
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Hlaf way through and Hera STILL has the best song of 2010 
Jealous are you guys huh?
since so far about 15 countries have selected total shit. And then there is about 5 good songs
I HOPE there are better songs than Hera's cause I may like it the best, but its average nevertheless..
so boring song...
@Marky
Well at least Norway still does whaling... I just hope they don't meet their quota by May (the only positive I can make of out of whaling)
LMAO. It would have to be a pretty big harpoon to sink her.
@Igor T.
At least some good news this year.
Dima Bilan withdrew from Russian NF
I don't see what I've got to gain by going on discussing with you. When you wake up tomorrow and decide to have an argument with somebody, make sure it´s not me or you´ll be bored! 
you think I'm an idiot Gee, you never told me you´re a clairvoyant, after all I´ve never used the I word so... you´re a clairvoyant!!
You don't like her fashion sense, I don't like yours. We get it now. good gracious it really took you a very long time to understand that my comments have always been about Ms Björk´s dresses! I`m sooo delighted that you finally managed to understand me! BTW, you know nothing about my sense of fashion... but I´ll let you go off the hook by now.
What more is there to say? Only goodnight. Leaving is the only way out, according to Shania. Nice dreams.
It's very brave to comment someone's appearance from the www.micehole
I do like seeing pretty face or shaped body on the ESC stage, but only as an extra spice to tasteful song - seeing, actually hearing f.e. Sakis again with another This is your night kind of song would be horror to me no matter if he's descendant of Apollo himself.
Regarding Hera, I don't like this unoriginal cliche song that can't be saved even with Miss Universe singing it
Best of Luck Iceland 
not as good as last years but by this years standards I suppose this entry is very good 
OMG !! In the picture she looks like Iceland 2007 guy ROFL !!
She does have a good voice, I don't particularly like it, I find it very bland and typical. Like water, it's good and healthy, but boring and bland. She could have done with a better song, but she obv. she likes these never in date songs, which just scream Eurovision steroetypes...
Well at least Norway still does whaling... I just hope they don't meet their quota by May (the only positive I can make of out of whaling)
I hope Iceland gets some high place in the Eurovision final! The song is really good but Yohanna was better and deserved to win! 
I'm sad Yohanna didn't win because it was once in a lifetime opportunity for her. Nowadays, we have big competition in Eurovision. It's not like before when there were only about 20 countries to compete. But, let's wait and see. I will wait for Eurovision odds to show up and then I'll be able to see if this song has some chance to win.
let´s leave it here
Yes I will leave it now. I don't see what I've got to gain by going on discussing with you. I've made my point a million times over, you've had your fun, I'm glad I amuse you, you think I'm an idiot, I care a lot, arguing on the internet is like playing in the Paralympics, I'm getting bored, let's all spend our time on something more meaningful than splitting hairs. You don't like her fashion sense, I don't like yours. We get it now. What more is there to say? Only goodnight.
I can understand that someone doesn't like the song, but claiming that the song has no chance because of the physical appearance is a pure discrimination and shallowness and that's disgusting.
Good luck Hera!
i love the song
This is soooo fuuuunnnnnyyyyy! Much to my amusement you backpedal once again. You´re throwing the towel right after learning that elephants can´t fly, so for your sake let´s leave it here.
Wait a minute, you're quoting Shania Twain? In that case I take back my compliment about your choice of words being elegant. And I'm sure we could have a world of fun finding errors in each other's Englishes, but for your sake let's not go there. Let's just agree that it's your prerogative to criticise Hera's fashion sense - just like it is my prerogative to criticise yours.
Nahh it won't do well don;t get your hopes high.
If elephants could fly I'd be a little more optimistic
But I don't see that happening anytime soon
I don't mean to sound so pessimistic
But I don't think that cow really jumped over the moon (When, written by Twain/Lange)
And you are a person whose knowledge of English and music can best defined a limited. Poor thing.
Are you saying your pun WAS unintended? The expression is "when pigs can fly" - not elephants. Elephants are famously much larger. But all right. Let's give you the benefit of the doubt then, and assume you meant no harm with your otherwise elegantly formulated metaphor. Your point is that you think she has a terrible dress sense. Fair enough, that's your opinion. But you are only one person who may or may not have a clue about fashion. Thankfully people are different and lots of people will enjoy seeing Hera in all her weird and wonderful dresses. How dull life would be if we all liked the same things.
Oh that´s good: i got the answer and it´s option b. You´re a true fool who doesn´t know when to keep silent nor when to admit you´re mistaken. Thanks for that.
That really has nothing to do with bashing her weight or whatever physical traits of hers.
Suuuuure! So your metaphor if elephants could fly was merely an unfortunate coincidence, then? No pun intended? Yep, I believe that!
Anyway I think no one can say it better than Mina: you can't win because you're cute and you can't lose just because you aren't. This is exactly how it is.
If you understood me I said that looks are not so importante since i told you about Serbia 2007, the Girl was just ugly and strange still she manage to won the whole competition...And Portugal 2008 dispite she looked like a Witch, she was able to go through the Final even with an horrible song!
If you understood me I said that looks are not so importante since i told you about Serbia 2007, the Girl was just ugly and strange still she manage to won the whole competition...And Portugal 2009 dispite she looked like a Witch, she was able to go through the Final even with an horrible song!
@ Keith Timmons: It is cristal clear to me that you are not capable of understanding what I wrote and it might be (a) because you woke up in a patronising mood or else (b) you are a true fool. Hera Bjork´s fashion sense is at its best weird and that´s what I meant in my comment. She talks about fab dresses and only delivers the same shabby models performance after performance. I had already mentioned it once (http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/14997) and I have not changed my mind. That really has nothing to do with bashing her weight or whatever physical traits of hers. A piece of advise to you: before you get your feathers all ruffled up just think twice.
I love Mina's and Keith's comments!!
The expression "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" is only partly correct I am afraid.
So is this a reality you are happy with or are you willing to take issue with everyone who asserts this attitude? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but the sad truth is that the beholders' eyes (or brains) can be influenced in such a way that they think they believe the ideas that someone else has actually put into their minds. This is how advertising works, and it makes people believe that certain things are better than others, for instance specific stereotypes about appearance. You are correct when you say that a lot of people have been adversely affected by such brainwashing, but that's why it's so important to speak up every time anyone claims that "unless you look like a model you can't be a singer" or something ridiculous like that. It's not true and we must not give in to it. Voice and looks are two different things and we all have a million different opinions on what makes either more beautiful. Some people - maybe not the majority - but some people will actually really truthfully like the way Hera looks. And I think that's absolutely wonderful! If people would focus more on that, a lot of large people out there might start feeling a whole lot better about themselves.
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