The official song of this year’s Þjóðhátíð (‘National Festival’), held in the Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar) during Merchants’ Weekend (Verslunarmannahelgi), was made public on the radio show Bítið on Thursday.
Festivities during Þjóðhátíð, which is held the weekend preceding the first Monday in August, include outdoor concerts, fireworks, and the ever-popular Sunday night crowd-singing. Confirmed bands performing this year are, among others, Quarashi, Kaleo and Mammút.
This year’s song ‘Ljúft að vera til,’ which roughly translates to ‘Life is Sweet,’ is both written and performed by musician Jón Jónsson.
Jón’s previous hits include ‘All, You, I’ and ‘When You’re Around.’ In 2011 he won FM957’s People’s Choice Award for best new artist and in 2012 he signed a contract with American record label Epic Records. In addition to his musical career, he plays the position of defender for the Icelandic champion league soccer team FH.
“It’s a good song for singing-along, people will easily be able to learn it and it’s got a good summer feeling to it as well,” said Jón in an interview with Bylgjan.
