Hatari: a story of controversy, trolling and a cause from Iceland

Midnight sun in Reykjavik. A whole nation is looking forward to the Eurovision spectacle.

Their entry this year is such a controversial one. Perhaps one of the most loved or hated in the history of the contest. A cause to fight capitalism, while being part of its system. Endless trolling of the status quo. Businesses who jump on its bandwagon, to take part in a BDSM fetish oriented publicity game.

Want more? This is Iceland. The Icelanders, with their “thetta reddast” approach to life, have learned not to take life too seriously. It’s easier and more fun this way.

Here are the basics!

First things first, Eurovision is an annual 3 day-long TV music show, where over 40 European countries compete with their songs for the first place and the opportunity to host next year’s contest on home soil. More than 180 million (!) viewers all over the world watch the contest. So, it is a very big thing in Europe. Both loved -as a way to unite nations with music- and hated – because of its glittery and sometimes trashy entries.

Iceland has not won yet but experiments a lot, to find that sweet spot. Their 2019 entry comes from an Icelandic BDSM fetish, techno band, called HATARI who perform the song “Hate will prevail”. Their song is about love and hate, hence the controversial duo with the demonic dark haired guy and the angelic blonde guy.

Chains, banging, leather suits, apocalyptic eyes and voices, mixed with euphoric melody make up a unique performance, to say the least. Their cause is to fight capitalism, albeit being a part of this system. They make fun of the world as is today and embark on endless trolling of the current status quo.

And Icelanders have embraced all this. It is fun. It is embracing diversity and expressing their agony about Europe’s future.

Endless trolling!

The Hatari band is well known in Iceland for their controversial appearance, cause and marketing. Trolling the system is just one of their ways of promoting their cause. Here are some epic instances:

– signing cooperation with a bank. What? Banks are the epitome of capitalism.

– announcing they would split as their fight against capitalism and the status quo had failed.

– working with a Christian pundit as their publicist.

– creating an Icelandic Music News website, where only they were featured

But the biggest trolling of all is entering the Eurovision Song Contest, aimed at uniting European nations through music, with a song called “Hate will prevail”. Their success and hype did not go unnoticed among businesses in this Northern Atlantic island.

More trolling has been on the way by brands who want to catch on the buzz around Hatari. Check some fun and creative ads:
– “The bucket will prevail” by KFC

– Cheese, milk chocolate and bus services in BDSM outfit and accessories

  

– Even the Police thought of spreading their own message in Hatari-style: the law will prevail!

– And also a female priest in South Iceland wore a spiked strap around her neck and preached about love, using Hatari’s song lyrics.

Human creativity is endless. And taking life not too seriously, as the Icelanders do, can make it more easy-going and fun, right?

Love will prevail!