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Norway: Tarjei Strøm to be the new music director of MGP

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An era ends for Stig Karlsen at MGP as he resigns from his position. His successor is Tarjei Strøm, known in the Norwegian music industry and a former contestant of MGP.

The NRK announces the new appointment in a press release.

“I am humble and grateful for this incredibly exciting opportunity. This is truly the job of my dreams, and I cannot wait to get started,” said Strøm.

He previously participated in Melodi Grand Prix (MGP) with his band Datarock in 2013.

“I know the world of MGP very well, both from the inside and the outside. Now, I look forward to combining my love for MGP, my network in the Norwegian music scene, and my passion for Norwegian music with the country’s largest music competition,” Strøm stated.

Strøm will take on the task of selecting and developing the music for the country’s biggest music show, in close collaboration with the editorial team and the music community at NRK.

Much of his work will involve outreach in the music industry, evaluating submissions for the competition, and assembling new musical constellations that will shine on Norway’s largest music stage, according to the state broadcaster.

Strøm is known for his own bands, such as Datarock and Ralph Myerz & The Jack Herren Band, and he has performed and played with some of Norway’s biggest artists.

NRK also informs that, given that the process of selecting songs for Melodi Grand Prix is long-term and occurs throughout the year, Stig Karlsen will select the songs that will participate in the 2025 competition.

Mads Tørklep has also taken on a new role and will be the head of the Norwegian delegation for the Eurovision Song Contest. This means he will be responsible for the MGP winner and the team participating in the international competition to be held in Basel in May.

Tørklep already has the role of project manager for Melodi Grand Prix and is also a producer.

“I love this ‘circus.’ Eurovision is the largest music competition in the world, and Melodi Grand Prix is Norway’s most talked-about and endlessly debated TV broadcast. This work is demanding but incredibly rewarding,” Tørklep stated.

This year’s Eurovision was marked by several scandals. It was after these events that Stig Karlsen stepped down from his position. However, he emphasized that this was not the reason for his departure.

“The reason is this new opportunity that was offered to me. I believe that music and culture are bridges, and I am optimistic that the EBU will get the organization back on track.”

Karlsen will now work in communication and media alongside Jannicke Mikkelsen, Norway’s first female astronaut.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates!

Source: VG

Norway: Tom Hugo from KEiiNO, wouldn’t rule out a Eurovision-related role in NRK!

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Tom Hugo, one-third of the band KEiiNO, was a guest in “The Eurotrip Podcast”, and he was asked about the Eurovision Song Contest, as well as the participation of Norway, his country in it.

The Norwegian Delegation, is going through a phase of internal changes, since Stig Karlsen, stepped down from his role as Head of Delegation, after a long and successful time.

So naturally, Tom Hugo, was asked whether he would accept the role of Head of Delegation in Norway:

“Not at the moment, no. I still have a lot of things to do with KEiiNO, and I really like producing music and writing music. However, at one point if a new head of delegation isn’t performing or suddenly withdraws, you never know.” 

However, he continued by saying that he is not sure if he is the most suitable for this role:

“Stig Karlsen has had so many tasks. It’s not just about finding music, it’s a long to-do list. There’s a lot of tasks and obligations for a Head of Delegation in Norway that I would not be the right person for. I could definitely have something to say when it comes to music and direction, but there’s a lot of things that aren’t my field.” 

The case of Hugo taking the position of head of delegation would be a similar case to that of Christer Björkman, who represented Sweden in 1992 and then worked at Melodifestivalen, but also as head of Sweden’s delegation.

Tom Hugo is part of the band KEiiNO, who represented Norway in 2019 with the song “Spirit in the Sky” and ended up in sixth place, winning the televote. They have attempted to return to Eurovision in 2021 and 2024, finishing second in the Melodi Grand Prix both times.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Norwegian participation at the Eurovision Song Contest!

Source: eurotrippodcast.com

Norway: MGP 2025 line-up is in the making!

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A month ago, it was announced that Stig Karlsen will resign from his roles as project manager for MGP and HoD for Noway after ten years, as he will handle Jannicke Mikkelsen’s communications and media during her SpaceX mission. Despite his resignation, he will remain in his position until September 30th and he is working for the upcoming edition of MGP, the Norwegian national selection for Eurovision.

He disclosed via his personal Instagram account that he has listened to every song submitted for this year’s competition. Now, the live castings will start and we then the lineup will be decided.

Gåte were crowned as the winners of MGP 2024 and therefore the representatives of Norway in Malmö. With their song “Ulveham“, the band placed last in the Grand Final with just sixteen points.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Norway: Participation in Eurovision 2025 is confirmed!

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Since the final of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, questions have been aroused as to whether Norway will participate in next year’s major music competition. Now NRK has finally concluded after talks with the EBU and the new report that was published yesterday.

Now the EBU has recognized that they had problems this year and they are working to improve it. And what we’ve been told, in addition to what they’ve come out with publicly, sounds very good. So now we will work constructively and positively to get Norway into Eurovision in 2025. We will participate

says music manager for Melodi Grand Prix, Stig Karlsen.

He emphasizes that they have not received an answer to everything the EBU should do next, but that NRK’s ​​plan is now ready.

The registration deadline for next year’s competition is set for mid-September. There are so far around 16 countries registered for next year’s competition. Both Sweden and Denmark have already confirmed participation.

-We hope that the EBU ensures that the ESC is not used as a political tool, because there was quite a bit of this this year. It is also important that they become better at communicating, crisis management and security around the event.

Against the background of this year’s controversies and protests during the Eurovision Song Contest, the EBU, the organizer of the contest, promised a thorough evaluation and review of the event.

Yesterday, the EBU published a report in which they consider further measures to improve the safety of the artists. At the same time, they announced that they are creating new leadership positions in the Eurovision Song Contest, and that they have been recommended to create a crisis team that can prevent and handle crises.

We must communicate well with the artist and provide an understanding of what we do and how we handle this. It is very important that the artist has a good experience throughout.

Of the countries that are registered for next year we also find Israel. There were several demonstrations both in Norway and several other countries in Europe when they were allowed to participate in this year’s competition.

NRK has been clear that we do not engage in a cultural boycott. What is important to us is that Eurovision is not used as a platform for politics, and the EBU has not been able to follow this up as well. We cannot have countries that use the competition as a platform for propaganda.

source: nrk.no

Norway: NRK refers discussions of the Norwegian jury mebers to the EBU for assessment!

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Norway’s national television broadcaster, NRK, confirmed that it has sent some information, regarding discussions around the Norwegian jury’s voting to the EBU for assessment.

Daniel Owen, who was one of the Norwegian jury members, expressed his regret about Norway’s jury giving 8 points to Israel this year.

In a post on social media, he said:

“In my opinion, Israel should not be allowed to participate in Eurovision at all. Although I was not involved in the awarding of points to Israel, I would like to apologise that this was shown from the Norwegian jury”

Gunilla Süssmann, who was also part of the Norwegian jury, said:

“The fact that the jury did not choose to boycott artists is not the same as us supporting war. This was a purely professional assessment where we had to assess the best song based on our musical expertise. That is what we have done.”

Stig Karlsen, who was the Head of Deligation for Noway this year, said on NR that Daniel Owen’s words might have caused a brench of the rules:

“We want to emphasize that the jury must judge the song, artist and performance without being colored by politics or other non-musical matters. With Daniel Owen’s statement, it may look like we have a rule violation. Information about the case was yesterday sent from NRK to the EBU for assessment”

The EBU has not yet made an official statement about the situation.

Norway participated in Eurovision 2024 with the band Gåte and the song “Ulveham”, finnishing in the 25th place – last – in the Grand Final of the Contest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBbL8ORqNVU&pp=ygUSdWx2ZWhhbSBnYXRlIGZpbmFs

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Source: Eurovoix

Eurovision 2024: Norway’s first rehearsal!

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Next up, and second to last for today, on the stage of Eurovision Song Contest 2024 is Norway! Gåte with their song“Ulveham” are ready for their first rehearsal on the stage of Malmö Arena, in Sweden!

Who are Gåte?

Gåte (Norwegian for ‘riddle’) is a band from Trøndelag, Norway playing Norwegian folk music bred with metal and electronica. Their style has been referred to as progressive folk-rock. The band consists of Gunnhild Sundli, Magnus Børmark, Jon Even Schärer, Mats Paulsen and John Stenersen. The band released their first EP, “Gåte EP” in 2000, and rapidly gained popularity. In 2024 they competed in the Norwegian national final for Eurovision 2024, winning the ticket to Malmö and the country’s representation in this year’s contest.

The Rehearsal

Two more rehearsals to go today, and next up Is Norway! Gåte have been performing together for over twenty years – their sound is a mix of rock and Norwegian folk. Their song, Ulveham is a folk tale about a maiden with an evil stepmother who is banished to the woods, transformed into a wolf and ordered to kill her brother. We are not expecting a dance break.

What we are getting, however, is the whole dark, witchy mood of this song, very similar to Gåte’s performance at Melodi Grand Prix but on an epic Malmö scale. A low, slow-spinning platform with some rocks and trees, like a goth terrarium, backed by spooky swirling graphics, lots of atmospheric lasers and green spotlights.

We’ve seen lead singer Gunnhild in lots of amazing outfits over pre-party season – today she’s wearing dark green wide trousers with a matching top that designed to look like she has leaves woven across one shoulder. In the final chorus one of the guitarists throws his guitar high into the air, then catches it – we can only imagine how many guitars have been sacrificed for this big finish.

This is one of the harder performances to describe today because it’s pure atmosphere – a mix of pounding drums, building tempo and Gåte giving it everything.

Norway’s First Rehearsal Credits: Corinne Cumming /EBU

 

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A post shared by Eurovision Song Contest (@eurovision)

The second rehearsal of Norway will take place on Friday 3/5, when we will have a better picture of what we will see from Gåte on the Eurovision stage, as we will have the official TV snippet.

Below you can watch a small clip from Norway’s first rehearsal from TikTok:

@eurovision Fireflies, guitar throwing, a spinning rock platform… Malmö is living for @GÅTE dark woodscape #Eurovision2024 ♬ original sound – Eurovision

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Norwegian participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, in Malmö!

Source: eurovision.tv

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Norway: Ukraine wins the third show of Adresse Malmø!

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NRK, the public broadcaster of Norway, broadcasts Adresse Malmø, a special show dedicated to the Eurovision Song Contest. Each week approximately eight songs will be reviewed with the judges rating the songs from one to twelve points.

The professional jury for the Adresse Malmø show includes Thomas Numme and Tara Lina Shahin.

The fan jury consists of Adrian Vad Flaaten from Tønsberg, Victoria Haugan Saur from Sunndal and Alex Snyder (41) from Vikersund and the USA, who shared their score.

The winners of the second episode of the Norwegian preview show for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, were alyona alyona & Jerry Heil from Ukraine.

https://youtu.be/k_8cNbF8FLI

The results were as follows:

  1. Ukraine – alyona alyona & Jerry Heil – “Teresa & Maria” – 12+10+12+12+12+7+10+12 – 87 points
  2. France – Slimane – “Mon Amour” – 12+7+10+8+10+12+10+6 – 76 points
  3. Armenia – Ladaniva – “Jako” – 10+10+10+10+12+7+3+10 – 70 points
  4. Denmark – Saba – “Sand” – 8+8+7+5+12+3+8+12 – 63 points
  5. Portugal – Iolanda – “Grito” – 6+4+5+3+7+10+4+10 – 49 points
  6. Ireland – Bambie Thug – “Doomsday Blue” – 4+8+2+8+10+1+2+4 – 39 points
  7. Malta– Sarah Bonnici – “Loop” – 4+5+4+3+5+5+5+4 – 35 points

The next episode of Adresse Malmø will be broadcast next Friday 3/5.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments regarding Eurovision 2024, in Malmö!

Source :  NRK

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Norway: Spain Wins First Episode of Adresse Malmø Show!

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The Norwegian state broadcaster NRK airs a special program dedicated to the Eurovision Song Contest every year. Each week, approximately eight songs are reviewed by judges who rate the songs from one to twelve points.

Nebulossa from Spain won the first episode of the Norwegian preview show for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.

In the celebrity jury for the first Adresse Liverpool show were Ingeborg Heldal, Stian “Staysman” Thorbjørnsen, Jim Ødegård Pedersen, and Marte Stokstad.

Comedian Pernille Sørensen and presenter Peter Bubresko participated in the show for the first episode in the main jury. In the fan jury, Ida Hovland (from Haugesund, Norway), Catharina Amundsen (from Halden, Norway), and Erling Levang (from Nittedal/Haugesund, Norway) gave their ratings.

The results were as follows:

  • Spain – Nebulossa – Zorra – 79 Points (12, 4, 12, 10, 7, 10, 12, 12)
  • Azerbaijan – Fahree ft. Ilkin Dovlatov – Özünlə apar – 69 Points (5, 12, 10, 12, 4, 7, 12, 7)
  • Georgia – Nutsa Buzaladze – Firefighter – 67 Points (12, 12, 12, 12, 3, 8, 2, 6)
  • Netherlands – Joost Klein – Europapa – 65 Points (12, 10, 8, 5, 10, 4, 8, 8)
  • Cyprus – Silia Kapsis – Liar – 63 Points (7, 8, 8, 8, 7, 7, 8, 10)
  • United Kingdom – Olly Alexander – Dizzy – 55 Points (7, 6, 8, 6, 5, 8, 7, 8)
  • Slovenia – Raiven – Veronika – 41 Points (7, 4, 5, 5, 6, 5, 7, 2)

The next program of Adresse Malmø is as follows:

  • Show Two – Friday, April 12th

Einar Tørnquist and Isah participate in the main jury for the second episode. In the fan jury, Hansi Tryggvasson (from Bærum, Iceland), Simen Formo Hay (from Oslo), and Synne Eikenes Sørensen (from Larvik, Norway) will give their ratings. Among the countries to be rated by the juries are Austria, Iceland, and Belgium.

  • Show Three – Friday, April 19th

Thomas Numme and Tara Lina Shahin are part of the main jury for the third episode. The fan jury includes Drian Vad Flaaten (from Tønsberg, Norway), Victoria Haugan Saur (from Sunndal, Norway), and Alex Snyder from Vikersund/USA. Among the countries to be rated are France, Denmark, and Ireland.

  • Show Four – Friday, April 5th

Sandeep Singh and Erik Solbakken, host of Eurovision 2010 and Eurovision Young Dancers 2011, are part of the jury. Eva Nodeland (from Elverum, Norway), Øystein Antonsen (from Arendal, Norway), and Omid Rashidi (from Visby, Norway) are part of the fan jury. Among the countries to be rated are Switzerland, Finland, and Italy.

  • Show Five – Friday, May 3rd

In the final episode of Adresse Malmø, Are Kalvø and Ingebjørg Bratland will participate in the main jury. Marko Stojiljkovic (from Serbia), Jon Arne Ravndal (from Oslo), and Anna Lycke (from Nannestad, Sweden) are part of the fan jury. Among the countries to be rated are Croatia, Greece, and Sweden.

You can watch the show on NRK Player here.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates on Eurovision 2024!

Source: NRK

Norway: NRK Likely to Drop Eurovision Reviews Due to Reviewer Boycott

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NRK’s music critics are unwilling to cover the Eurovision Song Contest as long as Israel participates, leading the channel to likely drop such reviews this year.

“Several of the contractors that NRK normally uses have informed us that they do not wish to take on the assignment of writing reviews for Eurovision,” says editor-in-chief Elisabet Davidsen of NRK to Aftenposten.

The background is the war in Gaza. Israel‘s actions have led to significant opposition to the country’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC), and many criticize the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for allowing the country’s participation.

“It would never have been an option to acknowledge Israel‘s participation. That would have been completely unthinkable,” says reviewer Espen Borge.

NRK usually reviews all entries in the competition, with reviews often having a somewhat humorous tone.

Norway is represented this year by Gåte and the song “Ulveham”, and has been drawn to compete in the second half of the Second Semi-Final.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UipzszlJwRQ

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments regarding Norway’s participation in Eurovision 2024 in Malmö!

Source: Aftenposten

Norway: “Adresse Malmø” returns, on April 5th!

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Just a few days ago, the Norwegian public broadcaster announced the return of “Adresse Malmø” for yet another year as a pre-show for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest! Today, it was revealed that the program will premiere on Friday, April 5th.

“Adresse” is a show on Norwegian public television that presents and evaluates the songs participating in this year’s competition. The show has been airing since 1973, and since 2004, it has featured a panel that evaluates the songs.

A judging panel consisting of Eurovision fans and notable personalities will evaluate all the songs competing in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. Each week, approximately eight songs are presented, with the judges rating them from 1 to 12.

The schedule for “Adresse Malmø” is as follows:

  • Show One – Friday, April 5th
  • Show Two – Friday, April 12th
  • Show Three – Friday, April 19th
  • Show Four – Friday, April 5th
  • Show Five – Friday, May 3rd

Below are the latest winners of “Adresse”:

  • 2023: France – La Zarra – “Evidement” (16th Place)
  • 2022: France – Alvan & Ahez – “Fulenn” (24th Place)
  • 2021: Italy – Måneskin – “Zitti e buoni” (1st Place)
  • 2019: Cyprus – Tamta – “Replay” (13th Place)
  • 2018: Austria – Cesar Sampson – “Nobody But You” (3rd Place)

This year, Norway is represented by Gåte with the song “Ulveham,” and they have been drawn to compete in the second half of the Second Semi-Final. Below, you can watch our Reaction Video.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates regarding Norway’s participation in Eurovision 2024, in Malmö!

Source: NRK