A. "All I ever wanted was you" (David Eriksen/Per Kristian Ottestad)Performed by Lars A. Fredriksen (left)
Soul-inspired/Motown-ish pop/rock song with a catchy hookline and a very good performer.
Two reviews of the recent Norwegian final, both excellent, and different. Stig Krogstad's illustrated view is here at the top of this page, but don't miss Roger Fry's view further down the page.
A review of the recent Norwegian final by someone was there, Stig Krogstad of Oslo. All the words and pictures are from him.
Over to Stig:
As I mentioned, February 28th was the Norwegian finale to the ESC this year.
And for the first time in 15 years, there was a quality and showmanship over the programme which has often been missed!
Also for the first time in many years there was an opening for singing the songs in English - but they have to be translated into Norwegian if they should win!
Eight songs participated this year, by invited popular composers only.
The songs where:
A. "All I ever wanted was you" (David Eriksen/Per Kristian Ottestad)
Performed by Lars A. Fredriksen (left)
Soul-inspired/Motown-ish pop/rock song with a catchy hookline and a very good performer.
B. "Bare du og jeg" (Only you and me) (Ulf Risnes)
Performed by Christin Hoff and Erik Jacobsen
Sweet pop-ballad, a bit lost by the artists nerves and lack of experience.
C. "Som en engel" (Like an angel) (Ingrid Bjørnov)
Performed by Gjermun Elgenes
tango-inspired pop song, catchy and better by every listening. But no ESC-entry.
D. "Always Will" (Åge Sten Nilsen/Kyrre Fritzner)
Performed by ge'sten (Åge Sten Nilsen)
the most rock oriented song, a bit Bryan Adams-ish. But lacks something.
E. "Winds of the Northern Sea" (Torhild Nigar/Rolf Graf)
Performed by Elisabeth Andreasen (right)
Enya-inspired epic ballad, with a groovy chorus. good song, but lacks the little extra. Probably a great hit for Bettan.
F. "På Do" (At the loo) (Finn Evensen)
Performed by Bjelleklang
parodic showtune without any interest. Fun at student-parties, I guess.
G. "Nam Nam" (Yum Yum) (Geir Olav Bøkestad/Per Kristian Indrehus/Tore Holm)
Performed by Tore Holm
Pop-song, and either a flopped parody or a total mis-understood idea. Very close to being a big joke
H. "En ny mårrån" (A new morning) (Stein Berge Svendsen/Nora Skau/Malin Holberg)
Performed by Malin Holberg (left)
The finale's big surprise. great ballade a lá Sarah Brightman, with a soloist who'd made a great musical impact. lacks the final touch, though, to take it all the way.
The show was well-presented by the two Norwegian comedians Rune Gokstad and Øystein Bache, who did a splendid job in balancing the comics and the neutral presentations. A tight and snappy show rolled out, and was very entertaining, as well as interesting with all the great songs.
As an interval act, the Norwegian drag-group the Great Garlic Girls did a seven minute sort-version of different British winners through the years, from Lulu to Katrina and the Waves. Great fun!
This year the viewers could phone in their votes to five regional jury's, with the additional expert jury in Oslo.
And the points given where:
1. "All I Ever Wanted Was You" sung by Lars A. Fredriksen: 56 points.
2. "Winds of the Northern Sea" sung by Elisabeth Andreassen: 45 points.
3. "Always will" sung by ge'sten: 31 points.
4. "På do" sung by Bjelleklang: 23 points.
5. "En ny mårrån" sung by Malin Holberg: 18 points.
6. "Bare du og jeg" sung by Christin Hoff and Erik Jacobsen: 14 points.
7. "Som en engel" sung by Gjermund Elgenes: 5 points.
8. "Nam Nam" sung by Tore Holm: 4 points.
A very happy Lars A. Fredriksen took the stage again, and after a brief and confusing interview barged into a great rendition of "All I ever wanted was you". The second he finished, Elisabeth Andreassen stormed the stage and congratulated him with the victory, and said: "You had the best song, and I couldn't be more happy for you". And, as a unique rarity, the people and press whole-heartily agreed - Lars had top-score from all five juries. Only the expert jury placed him third.............
Lars, who studies theology, has no plans of dropping his exams which takes place only days after the ESC-finale in Birmingham. But last night he rushed home to pick up his wife, before joining the rest of us at the victory party at a local pub.
Winners, losers and crew all celebrated the best Norwegian selection for years until early morning - and tonight Lars was back on the stage, singing with Oslo Gospel Choir, where he's been a soloist for nearly ten years.
We're waiting for Birmingham with great joy!
Stig Krogstad, Oslo
Roger Fry in Oslo also reviews the contest:
Here's a view of last night's Melodi Grand Prix.
NRK had promised that the songs this year would be of a higher quality, and from Saturday's press previews it seemed as if this was the case. Elisabeth Andreassen claimed it was the best final since 1985. The other big topic in the press before the final was the new rule allowing songs to be performed in a language other than Norwegian, i.e. English. So, it was with great anticipation that I turned on my TV....
The show started with presenters Øystein Bache and Rune Gokstad welcoming everyone in a number of languages, before someone came and told them that this was the Norwegian, not the international final! There was then a bit more chat and joking and we went to Tromsø where NRK's Elin Østraat was with a 'typical' family who told of their Grand Prix experiences, and what they thought of the competion. Then it was on to the songs.
Opening song ALL I EVER WANTED WAS YOU was the first to make use of the new language rule. A good up-tempo Motown-esque pop song, extremely catchy, I was singing along by the end. Lars Fredriksen gave an excellent performance in (mostly) comprehensible English. He sounded a little bit like George Michael. Good use of orchestra with a funky brass section!
Next up BARE DU OG JEG (Only You and Me) was musically an interesting song, but was let down by the lyrics, or lack of them in the chorus. Repeating the title half a dozen times just won't do. Shame, because this was a well performed pop duet, with a good vocal arrangement. The singers worked well together and this was a good sound.
The Ingrid Bjørnov-penned SOM EN ENGEL (Like an Angel) was again an excellent composition, this time with good lyrics (what I could make out of them). It was a sort of tango rock. "No I don't believe in doomsday, I don't believe in eternal damnation" Gjermund sang. Excellently performed, this might be my favourite. But maybe a bit 'difficult' for a competition.
Song number 2 in English ALWAYS WILL reminded me of Curtis Stigers. A catchy up-tempo pop-rock song that would have sat very nicely in the GBSC. Again well performed. Would easily be liked Europe-wide. Another good perfromance by ge'sten and his red guitar.
Then there was a break to visit the family in Tromsø. When asked what they thought of the songs so far the daughter tactfully said "some are better than others", and the son said "the presenters are cool"! Mmm.
And so to Bettan. WINDS OF THE NORTHERN SEA was sung with verses in Norwegian and chorus in English, which was a bit of a mess. Not as strong from Bettan as we might expect, she was trying too hard and hit a couple of very dodgy sounding notes. The song reminded me of Capercaillie, but not as good. Sorry Bettan, but this was possibly the weakest song of the night. Disappointing.
Now the one I'd been waiting for, PÅ DO (On The Loo). As expected very witty lyrics and a song with a fairly catchy hook. The line "Your strictly private zone, a philisophical throne" has to be a classic! Excellent, but not for Europe.
NAM NAM (Yum Yum) also had a lyrics problem on the chorus, in the same way as song 2. The singer also got drowned out by the backing singers in the chorus when he tried to sing something other than nam nam. Also catchy, a bit Euro-style, nice 'South American' style instrumental break. More classic lyrics here too: "You are always warm and naked when I come to you.....you're the best taste in life, yum yum yummy yum yum..." Good, in an irritating sort of way!
Malin Holberg brought a little more class to the proceedings singing EN NY MÅRRÅN (A New Morning), a lovely ballad, performed well, but maybe a little too non-descript for Euro-success. Also competing for the honour of my vote. Malin beat Bettan at her own game - in my eyes (or ears!) anyway.
In the end I was torn between "Bare du og jeg", in spite of the lyrics, "Som en engel" and "En ny mårrån". However the lines were all engaged so I didn't get to vote at all!
Next we had a little backstage chat to some of the composers and performers.
Then we had a report from Birmingham and some chat with people on the street about Eurovison. "Which country do you think of if I say 'no points'?" asked the reporter, "Um.. Sweden?" was the unsure answer from 'woman on the street'. However another lady knew the required answer was Norway "They don't do very well, do they?" she said, "We usually do quite well, don't we?". So modest!
Back to the studio for the entertainment in the form of The Great Garlic Girls, a group of drag artists, with their tribute to UK songs of the past. A highlight of the evening.
So to the voting. Everyone was able to ring in their vote (contrary to previous reports). The country had been split into five regions for the televotes to be collected and turned into 10, 7, 5, 3, 2 and 1 point for the top six. There was also an 'experts' jury who gave double points. First each jury was called and points from 1 to 7 were given - 2 to 14 from the experts. Bettan got all the sevens, and there was general agreement throughout the land. The experts thought differently, having Bettan 3rd, and giving the first points to "Bare du og jeg" and "All I Ever Wanted Was You". Then we went back round to get all the 'ten's. It was unanimous. Each region gave top marks to song A, putting it in the lead. Finally the experts' '20', but this was unable to change anything as the only song which had a mathematical chance to catch the leader was Bettan's and the experts had already given her 10 points. Rather surprisingly the 20 went to "Always Will". But when have 'experts' ever agreed with the general public.
Therefore Lars Fredriksen and "All I Ever Wanted Was You" will go to Birmingham, where I think it will do OK, especially if it comes after a few ballads. Although very instant it doesn't have the quality of some of the others. Then again instant catchy songs tend to do well, and coming near the end who knows....
In fact I might well have voted for it if I hadn't been against it in principle because of the language. Notably the 3 'English' songs came 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Although in the case of "Always Will" that was thanks to the experts, not the general public.
It was nice to see the 'experts' not getting their way, and I have to say I'm surprised, but far from disappointed, that Bettan didn't win. Hard luck Ingrid, you deserved better than 7th.
Also, well done NRK for a well produced show, shame there wasn't a bigger audience though.