Bashar Murad - Vestrið villt - Söngvakeppnin 2024

Lag: Bashar Murad & Einar Hrafn Stefánsson
Texti: Matthías Tryggvi Haraldsson

[kiboubo]

Y'all overhyped him for no reason and now you're disappointed he didn't fulfill your expectations?

The song isn't wow, it's not the Eurovision winner, but it's still pretty good by itself and stands out from the rest of Söngvakeppnin. Bashar representing Iceland would be well-deserved and I'm wishing him best of luck

[FennFennFenn]

ENGLISH:

I’m on the road again
How did it come to this?
Don’t know where I’m going
But I’m looking for eternal bliss

I’m like a rolling stone
I can’t stay in one place
When you start to get bitter and you wanna get better
You gotta change the taste

I gotta hit the highway
Yeah, here I go again
Got nothing in my pocket
But my in my heart there’s a burning flame

I’m a savage runaway
Since 1993
Got nothing to my name
But that’s about to change…

‘Cause I’m
Going to the wild wild west
Where the only rest is for the wicked
Where even if you do your best
And you pass that test, doesn’t mean you’ll make it

Going to the wild wild west
‘Cause it’s the best place for business
Got a can-do attitude, & nothing to lose
So why the hell wouldn’t I risk it?

I’m on the road again
and I still didn’t get too far
Got my studded chaps on, my cowboy boots,
and I’m playing my spaghetti guitar

I dressed up & I put it on
hoping I’d fit the scene
took 30 damn years to figure out:
I just gotta be me

Going to the wild wild west
Where the only rest is for the wicked
Where even if you do your best
And you pass that test, doesn’t mean you’ll make it

Going to the wild wild west
‘Cause it’s the best place for business
Got a can-do attitude, & nothing to lose
So why the hell wouldn’t I risk it?

Why the hell wouldn’t I risk it?

Welcome to the wild wild west
Welcome to the wild wild west
Welcome to the wild wild west
You get one shot, your 15 minutes
Saddle up now, don’t you miss it

‘Cause I’m
Going to the wild wild west
Where the only rest is for the wicked
Where even if you do your best
And you pass the test, doesn’t mean you’ll make it

Going to the wild wild west
‘Cause it’s the best place for business
Got a can-do attitude, & nothing to lose
So why the hell wouldn’t I risk it?
Oh
Why the hell wouldn’t I risk it?

Welcome to the wild wild west.

[someothername]

It’s a very subtle song, and I like it! I wish him and the rest of the contestants good luck.

[TheManInBlueFlames]

Woah, it's actually good? Iceland do well even not for political reasons?

[linsteps]

Bashar Murad has a lot of much better songs tbh... This one is nice, but I expected more from a such outstanding artist, especially for Eurovision.

[annjul]

I’ve seen some very salty comments around, and I hope that we can all be mature people and not dismiss Bashar’s song simply because of his nationality.

Bashar deserves just as much respect as the other contestants, and I’d like for people to always remember that. Will he gain an advantage or disadvantage? We don’t know, and that shouldn’t be the only thing we focus on until Songvakeppnin takes place.

Good luck!

[frajoladellagato]

Can we take a moment to appreciate how COOL it is to hear him singing fully in Icelandic? I know it will probably change to English for the final but this is such a vibe.

[svava]

Eurovision should not be a political event, only an artistic one. But this year the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has decided to make it the most political Eurovision ever by accepting a country that is committing ethnic cleansing and genocide. So I thank Iceland for gestures like Hatari at Eurovision 2019, or the possibility of Bashar Murad being chosen to represent you. His presence alone would mitigate the moral corruption of this music festival. Moreover, the lyrics have a perfect lyrical undertone for the circumstances, and the song is a hell of a lot better than the Ukrainian one that won Eurovision in 2022. I will give it as many televotes as I am allowed.

[SigMaQuint]

I like the musicality of Icelandic in this song. Keep the language. Please!

[federicopifferi]

He slayed live so Iceland this is the one to be in the final. I'm impressed by his ability to sing fluently your language. 🇮🇹 💙❤️🤍 🇮🇸 Keep this banger in Icelandic, Please 🙏

[Project_Slagharen]

it's not bad, just sounds pretty middle of the road and easily forgettable. might be an NQ here.

Edit: Literally 5 days later i was vibing to this song almost constantly. Now would this have qualified? maybe, but i still don't think it would've had a good result in the final. But i do know it would've done MUCH better then what they actually send this year.

[kevanmcdougallmph]

The amount of racism, xenophobia, and ignorance shown towards Bashar in these comments is appalling.

This is a really funky and unique song that stands out as modern, different, and impactful in an understated way. This would be a well deserved winner for Söngvakeppnin.

[ВероНика-усы]

Ok, it's not bad. This song even has its vibe. The problem is expectations after Klefi, because we know Bashar's abilities and this song not even close to the top of them. However, I won't feel disappointed if he wins NF just because it's the best option. But it's sad that this year songs are so mediocre and sound the same, I just don't believe that things are so bad with music in Iceland. Hope Iceland won't disagree to participate after his victory, it would be strange af.

[easytoremembereasytodelete]

I hate to say that I like this A LOT. But it's because I like this kind of songs. I mean, the hippies that Iceland sent in 2022 where my top 5.

[LadyRevania]

Why are people complaining? The song fits the theme, the vocals are good, it was just clearly written with the English lyrics in mind (listen to the other version), it's a good song and respect to him for singing in Icelandic 💖. I wouldn't be able to do it personally, the language seems difficult to me as a person from another country. I wish him all the best!

[kornette]

Matthías Tryggvi Haraldsson wrote this for him, congrate Bashar for Learn icelandic Good luck

[TibbeLaMaestro]

do NOT vote for this. This is a song contest and not a political contest (yes i’m still mad that Ukraine won 2022)

[Ailuna]

I am really disappointed that Israel is allowed to compete this year so this song would be such a great message!!!! I mean yes ofc the song itself could be more exciting, but i actually like it this way. I can definetly see myself listening to this <3 Much love for 🇮🇸 and 🇵🇸

[artimex]

For anyone wondering what the whole drama is about, here you go.

Bashar is Palestinian, but it's not just about his nationality. He literally sings about Palestine and doesn't even try to hide it. 1993 is when the Oslo agreement was signed and the Wild West metaphor is pretty obvious. I don't give two shits about the war between Israel and Palestine. I live in Poland and have no connection to either of those countries. However, the rules of eurovision are as straightforward as they get - any political messages in entries are forbidden. Belarus got a taste of that in 2021. I just don't see any possibility in which Bashar, even if he was chosen in Iceland, would be allowed to represent the country at eurovision. In a situation like this we have to be smart and seperate the dumbass toxic hate coming from semi-informed people and Israeli supporters, from actual rules of the contest. Please, let us all be civil and not turn eurovision into another thing infected by politics.

[efthymiosn]

The lyrics are nice. Cool song. Was he famous before that?