Minn Hinsti Dans (translation: "My Last Dance") was the Icelandic entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1997 in Dublin performed by Paul Oscar.
The song is sung from the perspective of a man who has lived a hedonistic life - "Crystal champagne, pearls, porcelain/Diamonds for dinner, love for dessert" - and who appears to be either giving this lifestyle up or preparing to die (the lyrics are unclear on this point). He sings, however, that "I never regret a thing, never regret".
Despite Paul Oscar being a former drag queen, he merely added eyeliner to his look. The performance stood out with Oscar wearing tight leather pants, and several scantily clad women making suggestive gestures around a couch.
It was performed last on the night following the United Kingdom. At the close of voting, it finished in 20th place with 18 points, mostly from the televote.
Due to Iceland's placing over the last five years, they were then relegated for the 1998 contest.
Lyrics[]
London, París, Róm urðu orðin tóm
Gekk þann gyllta breiða, blindaður af ást
Falskir kunningjar, snerust um mig einan
Fékk mér kavíar, núna er allt um seinan
Því ég stíg minn hinsta dans
Og ég kveð mitt líf með glans
En ég iðrast aldrei neins
Iðrast aldrei
Kristals kampavín, perlur postulín
Demantar í matinn, ást í eftirrétt
Ef ég elsk’ í dag, blöðin birta á morgun
Fæ mér freyðibað, drekki mínum sorgum
Og ég stíg minn hinsta dans
Og þannig kveð mitt líf með glans
En samt iðrast ég aldrei neins
Iðrast aldrei
Allt sem ég fæ í dag, farið burt á morgun
Svo ég stíg minn hinsta dans
Og þannig kveð mitt líf með glans
En samt iðrast ég aldrei neins
Iðrast aldrei
London, Paris, Rome became empty words
I walked the wide and golden road, blinded by love
False acquaintances, revolved around me alone
I had some caviar, it’s all too late now
For I take my final dance
And bid my life farewell in style
Yet I never regret a thing
Never regret
Crystal champagne, pearls, porcelain
Diamonds for dinner, love for dessert
If I love today, it will be in the papers tomorrow
I take a bubblebath, drown my sorrows
And I take my final dance
And that’s how I bid my life farewell in style
Yet I never regret a thing
Never regret
All that I get today, has gone away tomorrow
So I take my final dance
And that’s how I bid my life farewell in style
Yet I never regret a thing
Never regret
| Eurovision Song Contest 1997 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Participants | |||
 Hara & Andreas Konstantinou •  Şebnem Paker & Grup Ethnic •  Tor Endresen •  Bettina Soriat •  Marc Roberts •  Tanja Ribič •  Barbara Berta •  Mrs. Einstein •  Jalisse •  Marcos Llunas •  Bianca Shomburg •  Anna Maria Jopek •  Maarja-Liis Ilus •  Alma Čardžić •  Célia Lawson •  Blond •  Marianna Zorba •  Debbie Scerri •  V.I.P. •  Alla Pugacheva •  Kølig Kaj •  Fanny •  E.N.I. •  Katrina and The Waves •  Paul Oscar
| |||
| Songs | |||
| Mana mou • Dinle • San Francisco • One Step • Mysterious Woman • Zbudi se • Dentro di me • Niemand heeft nog tijd • Fiumi di Parole • Sin rencor • Zeit • Ale jestem • Keelatud maa • Goodbye • Antes do adeus • Bara hon älskar mig • Horepse • Let Me Fly • Miért kell, hogy elmenj? • Primadonna • Stemmen i mit liv • Sentiments songes • Probudi me • Love Shine a Light • Minn hinsti dans
| |||
Videos[]
Paul Oscar Eurovision 1997
Minn hinsti dans - Iceland 1997 - Eurovision songs with live orchestra