A double win for Norway?

Norway is a wealthy country. They are not afraid of arranging Eurovision two years in a row. Why else would they pick another song that will to VERY well? I was never a fan of Alexander Rybak but at the same time I could understand what other people were raving about. "My heart is yours" sung by young, handsome opera-boy Didrik Solli-Tangen is a much better song with a bombastic ending including a fireworks-wall on stage. Quite impressive!


Norway 2010 - "My heart is yours"

Norway will end up no lower than 5th place in May. I assure you. This is why:

- Most people in Europe have heard "You raise me up" over the years.
- This sound is doing well with all the Josh Groban look-a-likes and Susan Boyle at the moment.
- Don't forget that there's a jury in ESC that reward musicality as from last year.
- Didrik is a hearthrob, girls of all ages will televote.
- He is singing on homeground with the support of the whole audience in Telenor Arena.
- Statistically, Norway always do well when there's a Swede involved - this time Fredrik Kempe as the composer. (Kempe is in ESC for the third year in a row now and could compete against himself if Peter Jöback wins in Sweden... What a track record!)

Get my point?!

On a whole, NRK put together a national final of high standard. Kudos!
Click these links below to watch my other favourites from Norsk Melodi Grand Prix 2010.

Alexander Stenerud - Give it to me
Venke Knutson - Jelous cause I love you
Maria Haukaas Storeng - Make my day

Denmark's moment

The Danes selected a standard eurosong on Saturday in the style of a duet between Chanée and N'evergreen called "In a moment like this". I haven't decided yet what I think of the choice as I've only heard the song once and none of the other entries in Dansk MGP. Perhaps it was the best song on offer? Perhaps it's even better than that dire Ronan-song from last year? Still not sure if it's good enough. I only know one thing - we won't be going to Copenhagen next year.


Denmark 2010 - "In a moment like this"

Oh, I just found a recap of the Danish songs on youtube. Quite bland but they might be better in their full 3 minutes?!

Tricky Tricky

Just finished watching last night's MGP show from NRK where the first semi took place in Kongsvinger. Good show. No beating around the bush or long segments just hello and welcome, songs 1-7, tribute to Kate Gullbrandsen, results. A semi final doesn't need to last longer than 1h 10min. Well done NRK! Mixed bag of songs and performances, not all to my liking but I don't mind since my big favourite won. Yay!


MGP 2009 semi 1 - Velvet - "Tricky"

The style of the song is like something you'd get by blending Kylie, Britney and Girls Aloud together. Not bad at all. I hope Velvet walks it in Spektrum, Oslo in February.

Thomas Bröndbo will go with them to the final while Espen Hana and Surferosa will meet again in Siste sjansen.

Voi voi

NRK has now put sound clips up on all the songs in MGP 2009. It's pretty harsh to give a fair judgement based on 30 seconds but you do get a feel for a song. You can probably tick a "yes", "no" or "maybe" in the like-box. When listening to all entries at once like this there were four songs that stood out from the rest. The others seem ok enough and some will probably improve when you see the whole act together, others will fall flat.

• Velvet - Tricky


• Chicas del Coro - Men, men, men


• Espen Hana - Two of a kind


• Wenche Myhre - Alt har en mening nå
  

They are extremely unlike - pop, schlager, 60s and 40s sound - and I suppose that is why they stand out from the middle-of-the-road-pop-singer/songwriter-material. If I may be so bold I'd say already at this stage that the Norwegians should select "Tricky". I can't wait to hear the whole song and see the girls on stage. I hope to God that they can sing live but based on their CVs that shouldn't be a problem.

Also, I'm thrilled to have good ol' Wenche back in the game. Perhaps the song isn't as strong as I'd hoped for but she's Wenche for Godness sake! That makes up for almost anything in my book... However, 1992 is the year she was totally and utterly robbed of victory. Schlager at its best!


MGP 1992. Wenche Myhre - "Du skal få din dag i morgen"

Queen Birthe

I am so wrapped up in work this week, and that is the main reason for the lack of updates from my side. But miss Posh, what is your excuse?

However, I must make at least one statement per day, or I would feel ill. So I will treat you all to Queen Birthe, one of my overall favourites. I have loved every inch of her ever since she won the 1989 Danish final, the first one I followed via radio. I had heard a few of her songs before, and loved her winning entry from the opening bar.

So, here are three out of Birthe's five MGP entries. To quote Posh: Love them or die. Birthe deserves your love, and lots of it.



Birthe Kjaer - Vil du med? - Denmark NF 1986
2/10



Birthe Kjaer - Hva' er du ude på? - Denmark NF 1987
2/10



Birthe Kjaer - Vi maler byen rød - Denmark
3/22

Be Strong Neighbour

The fingers did the trick! Now we finally have an entry in Eurovision 2008 to be proud of and that we can stand behind completely. Posh will back Norway all the way this year! Miles apart from last year's rubbish. Congratulations our good neighbour!

Third time lucky on this blog for Maria:

Norway 2008

1. Hold On Be Strong
2. Eastern Wind
3. Far Away
4. Am I Supposed To Love Again

Somewhat of a surprise that neither Crash nor Ann-Marie Andersen reached Gullfinalen though. But quality won in the end!

Good luck in Belgrad, Maria!

Gullfinale

The 4 songs through to the "Golden Final" in Norwegian Melodi Grand Prix are:
"Eastern Wind" - Torstein Södal
"Am I Supposed To Love Again" - Veronica Akselsen
"Far Away" - King of Trolls
"Hold On Be Strong" - Maria Haukaas Storeng

Fingers crossed for Maria now! If she wins I will cheer for Norway all the way this year.

Silli-silli-sillicone valley

I'm back in the game after a dose of real life during the week, but I'm here with a nasty ear infection which has caused me temporarily loss of hearing in my right ear. Will that have impact on my review of the remaining songs from Norway?

MGP semi 3
Avalanche - Two Monkeys (On The Roof)
Liked it better in studio version. Had an image of a young poppy band and not an old couple. A likeable song get's lost on stage.
Maria Trøen - Here When I’m Calling
Just doesn't work when cheerful Norway is trying to be dark in a Hanna Pakarinen kind of way.
Ole Ivars - Som I Himmelen
Danceband close to "Tre gringos" (by Swedish Thor-Leifs & Just D). No thanks though.
Lene Alexandra - Sillicone Valley
Much more Kylie crossed with Pay TV than that awful "My boobs are ok". I enjoy this! And do read Schlagerboys interview with Lene. I was surprised. Likeable girl!
Torstein Sødal - Eastern Wind
Pocahontas travels on the Titanic where her heart goes on. Ok but ten years too late.
King Of Trolls - Far Away
Schlagerprofilerna said it best: "Roger Pontare goes to Norway and sleeps with 80s group Slade." Catchy tune but haven't we seen enough of trolls and monsters on stage by now?

Norway voted: Far Away & Eastern Wind directly to the final. Som i himmelen & Sillicone Valley to Siste Sjansen.
My choice: Sillicone Valley & Far Away to final. Two Monkeys & Eastern Wind to Siste Sjansen.

My hope is definitely Maria Haukaas Storeng's "Hold On Be Strong" for victory in the final!

MGP Norway

I've caught a cold so I decided that I might as well spend the morning in front of the computer catching up on what my neighbours in Norway have been up to the past two weekends. They're a funny lot those vikings. Sometimes they get it just right and other times they are as useless as the Swedish televoters when it comes to picking the right choices.

This is my mini review of semi 1 & 2.

Podium - Lystgass

Screechy guitars, not much of a melody. Grew tired of it after 40 seconds.

Ann-Mari Andersen - Ándagassii

Cool song in Sami. I could see this on a ESC-stage.

Nicholas Carlie - Colliding

Piece of nonsense. Typical NF (national final) song that you fast forward.

Michelle - Baby Don't Stop The Music

Modern beat, beautiful girl. Kylie-vibes. Best this year!

Tinkerbells - Hold On

Country-girl-group. Closer to Kikki Danielsson than Jill Johnson. Shame.

Veronika Akselsen - Am I Supposed To Love Again

Still, sophisticated ballad. Perhaps better fitted for the musical stage.

Norway voted: Ándagassii & Am I Supposed directly to the final. Lystgass & Hold On to Siste Sjansen.

My choice: Baby Don't Stop & Ándagassii to final. Am I Supposed & Hold On to Siste Sjansen.

Zuma - Always, Always

Retro somewhere between A-Ha and Lustans Lakejer. Pretty good but there is something irritating about the singer on stage.

Cube - Would You Spend The Night With Me

Weak attempt penned by Glam (Wig Wam). Understand why he gave it away. The Cube-singer's voice is a bit too whiny for my taste.

Anne Hvidsten - A Little More

Countrypop with singer-songwriter feel to it. Quite cute but no winner.

Crash! - Get up

Not all that bad but still something missing. You can definitely hear that Wig Wam-Teeny is the composer.

Sven Garås - I'm In Love

Yawn!

Maria Haukaas Storeng - Hold On Be Strong

Contemporary soul with a touch of the 60s. Very good voice. Could very well be seen in the British charts at the moment.

Norway voted: Get Up & Hold On Be Strong directly to the final. Always, Always & A Little More to Siste Sjansen.

My choice: Hold On Be Strong & Always, Always to final. Get Up & A Little More to Siste Sjansen.

My top 3 so far is Baby Don't Stop, Hold On Be Strong and Ándagassii. However, I had a quick listen to next week's songs and there are a few entries to look forward to. With that said I think the Norwegians will choose either Crash or Ann-Mari Andersen to represent them in Eurovision in the end. Go to NRK to watch the broadcasts!

Photos: NRK

Michelle - "Baby, Don't Stop The Music"


Maria Haukaas Storeng - "Hold On, Be Strong"

Please, Norway! Sing in Sámi!

Norway is well into its pre-selection season, with two out of three semi finals taken care of already. I will review the songs as soon as the eight final songs are all known, but I can already pin-point my favourite song of them all.

Ann-Mari Andersen is just utter brilliance when she does her "Ándagassii", and I crack up from side to side. First things first: this is a very brave entry in Eurovision as it is both deeply ethnic and very modern at the same time. Ann-Mari is stunning and her voice is tremendous: expressive, intense, captivating.

Performing the song in Sámi is also a streak of genius. What a rich, soft, melodic language this is. Tuneful and very appealing. I must admit to being quite uneducated when it comes to Sami-languaged pop, but this one blows me away.

I also believe it would be a good move for Norway to send something genuine and ethnic to Belgrade. As more and more people complain about the Eastern domination instead of improving their own entries, "Ándagassii" could strike a chord with viewers both here and there. They would be unable to understand the words, but they would feel the song communicating with them. Just like "Molitva" did in 2007.

Also, it would be time for NRK to give something back to the Sami population after doing them wrong by sending "Saamid Aednan" to the Hague back in 1980. Payback time, if I could have my way.



Ann-Mari Andersen "Ándagassii" (Norway NF 2008)