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Norway: NRK announced the broadcast of Adresse Malmø!

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The public broadcaster of Norway, announced that they will broadcast the show Adresse Malmø, a pre-show for Eurovision Song Contest, for yet another year!

Adresse, is a TV show of the Norwegian public broadcaster, where the songs taking part in this year’s contest will be presented and evaluated, and it will be broadcasted this spring. Adresse is a TV show broadcasted from 1973, while from 2004, a panel is present to evaluate the songs.

A jury consisted of Eurovision fans and familiar faces, will evaluate all songs taking part in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. Each week, about eight songs are presented, and are evaluated from 1 to 12. Applications to be part of the public jury are open, and you can check the details here.

Below you can see the previous 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 will be represented by Gåte and the song “Ulveham”, while they are taking part in the second half, of the second semi-final:

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

Source: birda.nrk.no

Norway: Gåte does not agree with the participation of Israel in Eurovision 2024!

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The group Gåte, despite not making much of a sensation at first, after their appearance in the semi-final of Melodi Grand Prix 2024, Norway’s national final, is now the big favorite of fans and betting companies to represent the country at Eurovision 2024!

A while ago, the group, in an interview, mentioned that their participation in Eurovision is not certain, in case they win the MGP, since they do not agree with the participation of Israel. Specifically, the band’s singer, Gunnhild Sundli, states:

“The extreme and unbearable situation in Gaza must end as soon as possible. We all agree in the group that Israel’s participation is somewhat problematic with this whole situation. We’ll need some time to discuss it.”

Gåte also specifically mentioned the possibility of their victory in the Norwegian national final:

“If we win on Saturday, it’s something we’ll have to decide. But we’ll need some time to decide what’s best.”

At the same time, the betting’s second favourites, KEiiNO, spoke about Eurovision and Israel:

“We all agree that what is happening in Gaza is terrible. As things stand now, it will be difficult for Israel to participate in the Competition in May.“

Finally, Gunnhild Sundli added:

“We are a band that believes that music is something that unites. War never led to peace. We have to see what other countries have to say. I think there will be a need for dialogue with people higher up. It is not an easy decision. We must believe in peace and dialogue and understanding for each nation. And the most important war, the war against war.”

Despite what is happening in Norway, both the EBU and NRK, the public broadcaster, have long stated that they are not going to boycott Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2024.

The Grand Final of Norway’s national final is scheduled to take place tomorrow, Saturday, February 3, where the country’s representative for Eurovision will be decided.

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

Source: NRK

Norway: Artists ask for Israel’s exclusion from Eurovision 2024!

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Almost 300 Norwegian artists have signed a petition against Israel’s participation in Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö. “We want NRK to take more responsibility”, says Marthe Valle, one of the singers included in the petition.

Ane Brun, Aurora and the group Karpe are some of those  who have signed. In total there are 293 artists that have signed the petition. Some familiar names that have competed in MGP can be found in the list, like Ulrikke Brandstorp, Maria Haukaas Mittet, Jørn Hoel and Åge Aleksandersen as well.

Aleksandersen took part in MGP 1980, in what is considered the best MGP final in history. He says that it was a matter of course for him to sign this petition:

“It means so much to me. I have made songs that address this issue. And I think what is happening is so ugly, and it hurts me and many others. Therefore, it was right for me to contribute with my voice.”

The petition states that Israel’s violation of intenational law, is now normalized because there are no concequences:

“For now, the EBU says that it will not ban Israel from this year’s final, as it did with Russia after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This is selective morality and politics from a union that claims to be apolitical.”

Singers Marthe Valle and Μarte Wulff are the initiators of this petition, and they say they want NRK to take responsibility and put some pressure to the EBU:

“We wish we didn’t have to do this. We wish NRK took responsibility. But then the point of this appeal is to show that there are many voices who now say that Israel cannot be a participant in Eurovision. All the time we are selective about when we should promote morality and politics, and when we choose to overlook it. We cannot pretend that this should be an arena for dialogue and solidarity, when Israel kills several hundred children a day.”

In this list you can see the names of all the artists that have signed the petition.
NRK MGP Demonstration against Israel

NRK MGP Demonstration against Israel

Despite this whole situation in Norway, NRK, the country’s public broadcaster, has announced that they are not going to boycott Israel’s participation in Eurovision this year.

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

Source: nrk.no

Norway: Protests outside NRK, for a second week in a row, against Israel!

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Activities against Israel continue today in Oslo, for a second week in a row, when a few moments before the second heat of Melodi Grand Prix began tonight, a couple of hundred protesters showed up outside NRK.

Protesters held white bultar, which is supposed to symbolize Palestinian parents and siblings calling for the killing of Palestinian children. They demand that Israel be banned from the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. The petition “Exclude Israel from Eurovision“, created by the Norwegian singer and artist Marthe Valle, has almost 18.900 signatures.

The Broadcasting Council on Thursday dealt with Israel‘s participation in Eurovision. The broadcasting chief has advised against a boycott of Israeli participation in the song contest. She said:

“Calling for a boycott of Israel would weaken NRK’s threat as a news agency, but people have every right to protest and be unequal with NRK’s assessment.”

There have been calls to ban Israel from Eurovision 2024, like last Saturday again outside NRK right before the first semi-final of MGP. In Finland, 1300 artists signed a petition asking for Israel to be removed. The British representative Olly Alexander has also shared in public his opinion against Israel. Also just recently Montaigne signed an open letter to the EBU asking the ban of Israel from the contest and Ben Dolic joined her by doing the same.

Source: NRK
Photo: Alf Simensen / NRK

Stay tuned at Eurovisionfun for all the latest news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest!

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Norway: Demonstration against Israel outside NRK before the first heat of MGP 2024!

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When it became known on 5 January who would participate in Norwegian MGP, a bunch of protesters showed up outside NRK in Oslo. Fredrik Solvang, the host of MGP 2024 commented on the demonstration, stating that he does not support boycotting Israel in Eurovision 2024. He explained that such a decision would place him in a challenging position as a host, highlighting the inherent difficulty for a television station to adopt a stance amid an ongoing conflict, particularly when providing journalistic coverage.

Activities against Israel continue today in Oslo, Norway, when a few moments before the first heat of Melodi Grand Prix begins tonight, the Action Group for Palestine demonstrates outside the audience entrance at Marienlyst. They wrote in a press release:

“Our demand is that Norway and NRK work for the exclusion of Israel from Eurovision 2024. During the commemoration, we will have a total of 116 dead journalists.”

They further write that they want to remind NRK of its responsibility as a public service broadcaster, to stand in solidarity with freedom of the press and the special source journalists have to protect during war.

As of January 10, the government of Gaza reports that 116 journalists have been killed since October 7. There will also be 116 protesters outside NRK tonight. Protesters have laid on the ground, wearing blue vests to symbolize journalists who have been killed in the war. Janne Heltberg, who has turned up at the audience entrance says:

“We hope that NRK and Melodi Grand Prix get the courage to state from MGP that Israel does not have enough in Eurovision to do in 2024.”

Several other petitions have also been launched, which are being judged in Finland and Iceland.

Source: NRK

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Sweden: No Auto-Tune in Melodifestivalen, says producer Karin Gunnarsson!

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The organizers of the Norwegian equivalent to Melodifestivalen, Melodi Grand Prix, have decided to allow Auto-Tune to enhance the singing voices in this year’s competition.

Now SVT is responding to the neighboring country’s decision. Karin Gunnarsson, competition producer of Melodifestivalen spoke to Sveriges Radio Kulturnytt and said that SVT follows the guidelines of Eurovision Song Contest and hence it would be challenging to use Auto-Tune in the Swedish national selection process:

“This means that there would be a version of a song that must be revamped to suit Eurovision. And that’s just a good thing.”

Auto-Tune can be explained as an effect used to correct and manipulate the pitch of a voice. Among, other things, to avoid false notes. It is widely used in both live productions and recordings. And sometimes it is used, says Karin Gunnarsson, as a personal artistic choice:

“Some use it as an artistic and unique selling proposition to make their music or song stand out. But it will be hard to get that expression into Melodifestivalen as it is now. Those artists are not relevant, so to speak. Furthermore, there is no need or pressure from the industry artists that they want Auto-Tune.”

And Mårten Tomassen, who is chairman of the Norwegian Eurovision fan club, spoke to Sveriges Radio and expressed his belief that allowing Auto-Tune would be a step in the wrong direction.

“I don’t like it, one of the dubious aspects of Melodifestivalen is that the artist sings with the voice they are known with. Sometimes it’s an amazing vocal experience, other times not so good.” 

Do you think that Auto-Tune should be introduced at Melodifestivalen or any other Eurovision national selection processes? Let us know in the comments section below!

Source: Sveriges Radio / Kulturnytt / Helena Stinkvist Sörlin & Gustav Ingerhage

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Norway: Spotify Charts for Melodi Grand Prix 2024 songs!

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The artists, that are going to take part in Melodi Grand Prix 2024, the national final of Norway, were announced just yesterday, alongside the release of their songs. One of them is going to be the successor of Alessandra and represent Norway in Eurovision 2024.

The first day of their release, nine songs managed to enter the country’s Spotify Charts and here is the list:

As a reminder, this year’s Melodi Gran Prix will remain in the same format as last year, as there will be no duels or second chance rounds. Three artists will qualify from each semi-final in which only the Norwegian TV audience will vote, while the final will for once again feature an international jury that will determine 40% of the result.

Melodi Grand Prix 2024 will take place at the Spectrum in Trondheim with Marion Ravn and Fredrik Solvang as hosts. The schedule is as follows:

First Semi-Final: January 13
  1. Margaret Berger – “Oblivion”
  2. Myra – “Heart on fire”
  3. Ingrid Jasmin – “Eya”
  4. GOTHMINISTER –  “We Come Alive”
  5. Fredrik Halland – “Stranded”
  6. Mathilde SPZ ft. Chris Archer & Slam Dunk – “Woman Show”
Second Semi-Final: January 20
  1. Gåte – “Ulveham”
  2. Super Rob, Erika Norwich – “My AI”
  3. Mileo – “You’re Mine”
  4. ELI KRISTIN – “Touch of Venus”
  5. Dag Erik Oksvold og Anne Fagermo – “Judge Tenderly of Me”
  6. Farida – “Heartache”
Third Semi-Final: January 27
  1. KEiiNO – “Damdiggida”
  2. MIIA – “Green Lights”
  3. Annprincess – “Save Me”
  4. Thomas Jenssen – “Take Me To Heaven”
  5. MISTRA – “Waltz of Death”
  6. Vidar Villa – “MER”
Grand Final: February 3rd

The previous MGP winner and Norway’s representative at Eurovision 2023 was Alessandra with her song “Queen of Kings” and finished 5th in the Grand Final, continuing the country’s qualification streak for the sixth year.

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

Source: Eurovision Charts

EBU: The union’s take on Auto-Tune! | There is an exception to the rule!

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While the EBU requires Eurovision participants to sing live with their raw vocals at the song contest, NRK has allowed so-called Auto-Tune in the Norwegian Melodi Grand Prix. The Eurovision organizer had always been cautious about commenting on the topic, but now clearly outlines the rules for Auto-Tune to TV 2. EBU‘s communications department outlines:

“Live vocals are very important in our format and in the tradition of the competition. The quality of the main vocals is a large part of the overall assessment of the performance, both for the jury and the audience at home. That performance should happen live, and without manipulation.”

Auto-Tune is a digital music tool that corrects the pitch of the voice, even in real-time, so singers always hit the tone precisely. The technology became particularly famous in 1998 through the song “Believe” by Cher.

This is the exception

Despite the seemingly categorical ban, the EBU acknowledges that there does not exist a total Auto-Tune ban on the Eurovision stage.

“Auto-Tune can be used as a sound effect on parts of a song, but we don’t allow it to correct the tone of the lead singer or backing vocals throughout the song.”

This means that the controversial technology can be used in a registered song, but no more extensive form than as an effect grip. President Morten Thomassen of the Norwegian Eurovision club says about the new information:

“I think it is the first time they clarify these rules so much. It’s good that they’re still against Auto-Tune on paper, but the way I interpret the rules, it can be applied to the vocally difficult parts of the song and that’s probably where it’s needed most I would think.”

“Unfortunately, Auto-Tune is here to stay”

Thomassen is not satisfied with the fact that Auto-Tune is freely allowed in the NRK competition of MGP, which is the stage where Norway‘s Eurovision entry is to be selected from, expressing his clear dissatisfaction when he spoke to TV 2 on Tuesday.

He thought Auto-Tune in a contest like Eurovision is like “putting too much makeup on the bride”, and already last year asked NRK to reverse the choice of the sometimes reviled technology.

Do you agree with the use of Auto-Tune at the Eurovision Song Contest? Let us know in the comments section below!

Stay tuned at EurovisionFun for all the latest news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest!

Source: TV 2

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Norway: NRK will not boycott Israel’s entry in Eurovision 2024!

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During the presentation of artists for MGP 2024, a group of 20 individuals demonstrated outside the central offices of the Norwegian Public Broadcaster NRK. They demanded the boycott of Israel’s participation in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest in May in Malmö. Both the host of MGP 2024 and an NRK representative stated that the Norwegian Public Broadcaster would not seek Israel’s removal from Eurovision 2024. 

Fredrik Solvang, the host of MGP 2024 commented on the demonstration, stating that he does not support boycotting Israel in Eurovision 2024. He explained that such a decision would place him in a challenging position as a host, highlighting the inherent difficulty for a television station to adopt a stance amid an ongoing conflict, particularly when providing journalistic coverage. According to him, only the Norwegian government could make such a decision and call for a boycott of Israel in all international events, similar to what happened with Russia. Nevertheless, such a scenario has not unfolded and appears unlikely in the foreseeable future.

In the same manner, Charlo Halvorsen, the entertainment editor at NRK, conveyed a similar viewpoint:

“NRK cannot seek a cultural boycott. It is not within our mandate as a broadcasting entity. It would be entirely impossible for us. We cover conflicts in the Middle East, and if, as a broadcasting company, we were to take a position in a conflict, it would compromise our integrity.”

On the contrary, Margaret Berger, one of the participants in MGP 2024 and Norway’s representative in Eurovision 2013, where she came in fourth place with “I Feed You My Love” showed her support for the demonstrators and their requests. She expressed particular concern about Israel’s participation in the competition.

MGP 2024 details

This year’s Melodi Gran Prix will remain in the same format as last year, as there will be no duels or second chance rounds. Three artists will qualify from each semi-final in which only the Norwegian TV audience will vote, while the final will for once again feature an international jury that will determine 40% of the result.

The songs will be published each Monday before the semi-final in which they are to compete. Melodi Grand Prix 2024 will take place at the Spectrum in Trondheim with Marion Ravn and Fredrik Solvang as hosts. The schedule is as follows:

  • First Semi-Final: January 13th
  • Second Semi-Final: January 20st
  • Third Semi-Final: January 27th
  • Grand Final: February 3rd

The previous MGP winner and Norway’s representative at Eurovision 2023 was Alessandra with her song “Queen of Kings” and finished 5th in the Grand Final. 

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

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

Source: vg1, vg2

Norway: These are the participants of Melodi Grand Prix 2024!

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A short while ago, Norway’s public television, NRK, announced the artists who are going to participate in this year’s Melodi Grand Prix in order to compete for the country’s representation at Eurovision 2024 in Malmö!

The 18 artists have been selected and have now been divided into three semi-finals as follows:

First Semi-Final

  1. Margaret Berger – Oblivion
  2. Myra – Heart on Fire
  3. Ingrid Jasmin – Eya
  4. Gothminister – We Come Alive
  5. Fredrik Halland – Stranded
  6. Mathilde SPZ ft. Chris Archer & Slam Dunk — Woman Show

Second Semi-Final

  1. Gåte — Ulveham
  2. Erika Norwich & Super Rob — My AI
  3. Mileo — You’re Mine
  4. Eli Kristin — Touch of Venus
  5. Dag Erik & Anne — Judge Tenderly of Me
  6. Farida — Heartache

Third Semi-Final

  1. KEiiNO — Damdiggida
  2. MIIA — Green Lights
  3. Annprincess — Save Me
  4. Thomas Jenssen — Take Me To Heaven
  5. Mistra — Waltz of Death
  6. Vidar Villa — Mer

Among the artists we can see previous participants, like Margaret Berger, who represent Norway in Eurovision 2013 & KEiiNO who represent the country in Eurovision 2019.

As a reminder, this year’s Melodi Gran Prix will remain in the same format as last year, as there will be no duels or second chance rounds. Three artists will qualify from each semi-final in which only the Norwegian TV audience will vote, while the final will for once again feature an international jury that will determine 40% of the result.

The songs will be published each Monday before the semi-final in which they are to compete. Melodi Grand Prix 2024 will take place at the Spectrum in Trondheim with Marion Ravn and Fredrik Solvang as hosts. The schedule is as follows:

  • First Semi-Final: January 13th
  • Second Semi-Final: January 20st
  • Third Semi-Final: January 27th
  • Grand Final: February 3rd

The previous MGP winner and Norway’s representative at Eurovision 2023 was Alessandra with her song “Queen of Kings” and finished 5th in the Grand Final, continuing the country’s qualification streak for the sixth year.

https://youtu.be/PUHSM_vTqTI

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