“I was alone when I wrote my song and did it with integrity. This is the first time I’ve ever heard the other song,“ says singer Greta Salome, author of the song Remember me, Iceland’s contribution to the Eurovision Song Contest in Azerbaijan. In Iceland accusations have been made that the song is too similar to another Icelandic song called The Elf King, which was released in 1998.
Greta Salome also comments, in the interview with online news medium www.visir.is, that if one would go by likeness that would have ruled all the Icelandic contributions out of the song competition last Saturday.
Heimir Sindrason author of The Elf King is of the same opinion as Greta Salome, saying the only similarities between songs are that they’re both influenced by Icelandic folk songs. Adding to it that he’s very proud that his song is being compared to the Icelandic winner, which Greta Salome performs herself opposite Jonsi (Jon Josep Snaebjornsson).
Judge for your self. You can listen to both Remember Me and The Elf King by clicking here. This will open the Icelandic website nytonlist.is. First is a fragment from Remember Me (i. Mundu eftir mér). Last is a fragment from The Elf King (i. Álfakóngurinn). In the middle you can play Remember me on the same speed as The Elf King.
Note that one member of the Icelandic girl band The Charlies, Klara, can be heard singing the latter song. The band is currently working on an album inUSA.