TONIGHT: Norway semifinal 2 live

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The show has just started.

1. Venke Knutson - Jealous cause I love you
Venke starts the song sitting on a throne. Glittery dresses for her and 2 backing singers/dancers. Girly, summery, happy or should I say giggle bubble gum pop at its best! I like it! I wouldn't mind this going all the way from Bodø to Oslo!

2. Skanksters - Life is here today
Not bad either but not a genre that I particularly like. 60's look completes the lively act on stage.

3. Tomine Harket - Be good to me
Tomine is just 16 but has been on stage since she was 10. Her father is Morken from a-ha, who also presented Eurovision 1996 in Oslo. Pianist, cellist and violinist on stage with Tomine who does a good job with this simple little ballad. Makes me think of Lisa Andreas (and yes, that's a compliment) The song itself may lack the hook that makes it memorable.

4. Hanne Haugsand - Don't stop
Hanne was already in Eurovision as Chamer when their Heart went boom. Now she is wearing a very challanging eye shadow and 80's look to match. Very Dusty Springfield. Five dancers in silver. The song itself is rather boring in fact....

5. Maria Arredondo - The touch
Rolf Lövland has written this song and after 25 and 15 years of his first and second win in the Eurovision song contest is ready for the third time. And he still has the Touch. Maria sings this ballad beautifully. Old fashioned? Maybe but a good song is a good song. And amongst all stage sgows this can go a long way if it gets to Oslo. Staging is kept simple, just Maria and 3 backing singers and 2 musicians .

6. Heine Totland - The best of me is you
Heine and 3 dancing backing singers delivering this soulful number. Nice voice and nice song but in Eurovision? No.

7. Alexander Stenerud - Give it to me
Alexander enters for the third time (first as Zuma and then solo last year, 3rd). I like all of his entries but they all seem to be missing something that for example Pet Shop Boys (and previously Erasure) managed to get into their songs. Don't know what it is but even this one lacks that something to lift it into the winner category. On stage he's on a special runway while to aerobics ladies dance by the side of it.

Ok, for me it's the friends Venke and Maria to the final, Tomine and Alexander to the last chance round. Let's see how Norwegian I am....

To the last chance goes Venke! And Heine! Oh well.... The first finalist is.... Alexander! And the other finalist is..... Maria! Phew.... well, I'm a bit Norwegian then.

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