Welcome back to another ‘Song of the month’, a series where I talk about that one song that got stuck in my head during the month’s duration.

This month: Klámstrákur by Hatari (2019)

How did I hear about this song

I heard about this song right after Hatari won Songvakeppnin 2019. Someone uploaded a full recording via RUV of their performance at Eurosonic Noorderslag. One of the songs they performed was Klámstrákur and since then, it became the fan favourite since Hatrið mun sigra.

You can read the open discussion over on Reddit.

It was the favourite so much, that the moment that the band posted they’re working on the music video, the hype train continued.

Thoughts on Klámstrákur

For this review, Eurosonic Noordersla g will be the “live” version we’re comparing it with as it’s the most common and known one. We will also be refering it as the live version as well.

CLEARLY – there have been some changes on how the song is sung compared to the live versions. During the live version, Klemens was screaming during the verses. It sounded like he was suffering and was slowly descending to accepting “his new fate”. Like he was trying to fight his inner demons. Now, it’s just immediate acceptance. Klemens just immediately accepts his new position.

It’s not that I don’t like it… but rather the case of I got used to the screaming and the slow descent to madness that getting used to the official version may take a while.

Is it just me or is the song a slightly higher pitch compared to the live version. Like Matthias’ screaming is a slightly higher than before.

I don’t think the lyrics have changed. I think they extended the ending a bit by repeating some of the choruses over and over.

Music-wise however, it didn’t disappoint. It was upbeat and energetic. It’s different in comparison to their previous songs as this feels more faster in regards to pacing.

In regards to the translations given by the band via the Closed Captions feature, it does give out a lot of messages on what this song is about. It put the song out in the open for fans to decipher the literal, metaphorical, or symbolical meaning/messages.

BTW – I think this song was accidentally released early by Metro UK since the M/V was set to unlisted.

And for some reason… Apple music was able to give me access to the album art.

Fave Lyrics

Veik sjálfsmynd (A weak self-image,)

Ég er dekruð ókind, (I’m a spoilled little brat)

syndaselur, (swimming in sins)

slyngur eins og minkur, (slinky as a mink)

graður lítill melur (thirsting for kink) Klámstrákur || Hatari || 1st Half of pre-chorus

A lot of these lines are #mood.

To me personally, I feel like it’s sort-off a dark self-reflection on who we are as people. Like we all say we are good or perfect. But in reality, we all have done shady things and it just keeps adding up. And in relation to those lines, I think we do these shady things cuz unknowingly to us, it’s an addiction or we crave it or we know we will benefit from it.

We put up this fake facade of someone who’s innocent and pure but in reality… we’re not clean at all. We all have done toxic things, even if we didn’t mean to. It just takes guts for someone to admit that and work on how they can improve.

Why is it Song of the Month?

The hype of the song was well-executed.

They performed this song during one of their live tours BEFORE they were announced to represent Iceland. Fans love it, and the song is open to interpretation.

Music-wise, it’s upbeat, it’s a huge step up from their previous songs, and it now focuses on Klemens’s talents as a performer.

And this is why Klámstrákur is my song of the month.

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