A few months ago Inspired by Iceland (a marketing initiative created by the Icelandic Tourism Board) released what they dubbed “The Hardest Karaoke Song in the World”, a video which has now ranked up nearly 2 million views on YouTube!
The aim of this highly entertaining little video is to challenge people from all corners of the world to sing along to a karaoke song that features words and phrases from the notoriously difficult Icelandic language.
Performed by popular comedian Steinþór Hróar Steinþórsson (better known as Steindi Jr.), the song is mostly in English but what makes it so challenging is that some words have been swapped out for Icelandic words and phrases, highlighting the 32 letters that make up the Icelandic alphabet (from A to Ö).
So why not take the challenge yourself, and see if you can sing along to this fun song while trying to figure out what each Icelandic word means!
Song lyrics with English translations:
This is the a-ö [a-z] of Iceland, so try to sing along.
This is the a-ö [a-z] of Iceland, what could possibly go wrong?
I start my day with coffee or kaffi [coffee] is what we say
I pour a little mjólk [milk] in and feed my horse some hey [hay]
I look out the window to see if there is sól [sun].
I eat my morgunmatur [breakfast] and sit down in my stól [chair].
This eyja [island] is kind of awesome no matter what you see,
There’s hverir [hot springs], list [art], and jöklar [glaciers]
And vinir [friends] you can meet.
Skál! [cheers!]
So pack your töskur [bags]
Iceland has it all.
From austur [East] to vestur [West]
Just don’t look for elves.
You don’t even exist!
This is the a-ö [a-z] of Iceland, so try to sing along.
This is the a-ö [a-z] of Iceland, what could possibly go wrong?
Our sundlaugar [swimming pools] are cozy.
Afklæðast [undress] all the way.
But don’t forget sundskýla [swimming shorts]
Before you go and play.
You might see a torfbær [turf house]
Or hike in the þjóðgarð [national park]
And you must say hi to Villi
Because that is my dad!
Pabbi! [Dad!]
And you can rent a bílaleigubíll [rental car]
Enjoy the drive on hringvegurinn [the ring road]
Be mindful of malarvegir [gravel roads]
And don’t traðka [tread] on the moss
– It grows back so slow!
Like seventy years!
This is the a-ö [a-z] of Iceland, so try to sing along.
This is the a-ö [a-z] of Iceland, what could possibly go wrong?
Since the upphaf alda [beginning of time]
The sheep has been around.
Vinaleg [friendly] and gracious,
Every man’s best friend.
We cuddle them and klappa [pat them]
And then take all their ull [wool].
We wear them like the kappar [champions]
And they’ve always kept us…
Full!
This is the a-ö [a-z] of Iceland, so try to sing along.
This is the a-ö [a-z] of Iceland, what could possibly go wrong?
This is the a-ö [a-z] of Ísland [Iceland]
So reyndu að syngja með [try to sing along]
This is the a-ö [a-z] of Ísland [Iceland]
Now memorize this lag [song]
You just sang the hardest karaoke song in the world, you speak Icelandic. You can even say Plokkfiskur [traditional Icelandic fish stew]
You’re almost an Icelander, almost, seriously it’s a lot of paperwork.
Just come and visit!
