Skip to main content

EUROVISION 2023: NORWAY MELODI GRAND PRIX 2023 REVIEW


Norway has had its three semi-finals, created two streaming magnets, lost a couple of fan favorites (mainly for poor live performances despite auto tune allowed) and here we are with the nine finalists.In the final there will be 50/50 international jury/televote, while the semi-finalists were chosen by 100% televote in the semi-finals.

Jone - Ekko inni mig ***
The big local favorite apparently. On a positive side this is in Norwegian. I kinda like this but it's not a big favorite of mine I doubt this will end up on any of my playlists. Should this win.... Well, I have no idea how this would do in Liverpool. Lower parts of the grand final perhaps?
Eline Thorp - Not ment to be ***
I really like the first 45 second, and the past chorus but not such a fan of the chorus itself. She looks a bit suffering in this live performance which troubles me a bit. Not bad though. Maybe a bit forgettable right after the song's over. Could be a song that plays in the closing credits of a movie....
Skrellex - Love again ****
Ok, this incorporates all the stage cliches plus the 2'40 moment is iconic, as are those dancing boys shorts. We haven't had a drag queen at Euroviison for awhile and this brings us straight back to the 1990's. Even if I'm not a big fan of drags somehow this works and all comes together and is rather enjoyable, melodic three minutes. Hmmm... But it's not an Euroviison winner. no.
Ulrikke Brandstorp - Honestly ***
In 2020 I loved her Attention and tipped it as a possible Euroviison winner but this her comeback song isn't as good in my books. Sadly she doesn't sing it in Norwegian, Somehow this one doesn't really get going ever, and remains a musical show stopper that never became such a success the authors and producers thought.... 
Umami Tsunami - Geronimo **
Boyband performance by the books. Shouty and energetic but there's not much in the end. Would I listen to this if not Euroviison wannabe? No. I also doubt this would do wonders in Liverpool if chosen. Very long three minutes.
Atle Pettersen - Masterpiece *****
Oh wow, the first one that kept my attention from the start to finish. Good melody, nicely developing arrangement, simple but effective staging, vocally ok. A bit more emotion and perfection in vocals and this could go very far. One of the best national final song this season so far. I just had to listen the other video of this. Beautiful!
Swing'It - Prohibition **
Ok, it's the swinging twenties, is it? Fun addition to the line up but that's all. MOst everyone's swinging but the lead singer I'm afraid. Lose it up. 
Elsie Bay - Love you in a dream **
Another (last year's) fan favorite is back and delivers another dreamy slow drama song. In theory this should be just what I like but no, not even this one like the other one wasn't. And I don't quite know why not. Sorry. 
Alessandra Mele - Queen of kings **
The streaming magnet, apparently thanks to Miss Ukraine or something. Fan favorite apparently. But for me it doesn't even help she's Italian. I find her vocals pretty weak actually, the arrangement is annoying, the staging seen a zillion times and all this makes me wonder how come this is so popular? This is very amateurish and I doubt this would set the scoreboard on fire in Liverpool with this level of vocal performance and staging. Norway be smart, don't let the fanboys fool you.... This isn't it. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

SONGS OF THE YEAR 2015: #5 KRISTA SIEGFRIDS - ON & OFF

Krista Siegfrids is delivering nice pop tunes one after another and this one is particularly catchy and soon you will be singing along..... Hopefully her Melodifestivalen entry will be equally good!

ESC 2016 WISH LIST: MARGARET FOR POLAND

Małgorzata Jamroży aka Margaret has also been tipped for Eurovision and apparently she did turn it down but she'd be perfect. She's got a look and persona you can't unnotice nor forget, she's got hit songs, she has been voted or nominated for everything from Trendy artist to the Hope of the Year, Fashion Icon and Glamour Woman of the year besides the usual best video, song, album, debut..... Oh she's also a fashion designer! She's very clever with social medias and would surely use it to her advantage if selected for Stockholm 2016. Her debut album is titled Add the blonde , do we need to say more? Except it includes mostly Swedish written pop tunes like Tell me how are ya , Wasted , Start a fire and Heartbeat . And of course her debut single and internationally noticed Thank you very much that you can enjoy below with all its anti-textil feel. I think she's Eurovision perfection, she's cheeky and fun, can we have her?

ESC 2016 BELARUS: NAKED WITH WOLVES?

Today's funniest Eurovision related story comes from Belarus. Some sources claim Ivan wants to perform on stage naked and with live wolf or wolves. It surely would be a first on Eurovision stage! We have seen some forgotten underwear over the years, and some cardbox animals though..... Is it time to take things a bit further?  No, according the rules live animals are not allowed, and Eurovision being a family show nudity won't do either. (It seems to be ok to be half naked if you are a dancer though..... )

GREECE: HELENA PAPARIZOU HITS AGAIN WITH HAIDE

Eurovision song contest 2005 winner Helena Paparizou has been enjoying Top-5 hits every year since 2003 with the exception of 2010 and 2014, this latest one being already her 27th! And Haide is charting also in Bulgaria and Finland, of all places. The catchiness of her hits has changed less over the years than her face....  Here's the English version , below the Greek version. 

FINLAND: CONGRATS HANNA PAKARINEN - BABY IS COMING!

No more leave me alones as Eurovision 2007 veteran Hanna Pakarinen has published in her Youtube channel a video unboxing the Finnish state's maternity box aka layette set thus announcing she's due to have a baby later this spring. Congratulations!

COUNTDOWN TO EUROVISION 2023 - CHOSEN ARTISTS, SONGS AND NATIONAL FINALS

Here's a recap of everything happening in the Eurovision 2023 bubble; all selections, internal selections and the rest. Enjoy! To be updated until all is said and done. ISRAEL  Artist (Internal): Noa Kirel (read more) Song: Unicorn (8.3.2023) Read more here CYPRUS Artist (internal):  Andrew Lambrou (read more) Song: Break a broken heart (2.3.2023) Read more here NETHERLANDS Artists (internal): Mia Nikolai & Dion Cooper (read more) Song: Burning daylight (1.3.2023) Read more here SLOVENIA Artist (internal) : Joker Out   ( read more ) Song: Carpe diem UKRAINE (Vidbir 17.12.2022) Read more here Artist: Tvorchi Song: Heart of steel Read more here ALBANIA (Festivali i Këngës 19-22.12.2022) Artist: Albina and Familja Kelmendi Song: Duje  Read more here Read more here FRANCE  Artist (internal): La Zarra ( read more ) Song: Èvidemment 19.2 BELGIUM (Eurosong 14.1.2023) Artist: Gustaph Song: Because of you Read more here GREECE  (internal, 30.1.2023) Art...

CAROLA'S BOOBS STEAL THE SHOW, SVT APOLOGIES

Update! Another thing got Swedes talking last night: Carola's boobs when she was giving away an award. This is not the first time her boombs cause headlines; her misfortunate adventures in the 80's in Japan wer explained with her boobs being too big for Japanese market. Ok.... Or was it the song ? Anyways, Carola apologies and says she thinks the dress is stylish and elegant (even her friends said so) and she's a mature woman in her 40s, not a 16-year-old girl and looks like one. The Swedish Oscars, Guldbagge awards were given out last night. Carola was there as a guest star to sing Barbra Streisand's The way we were when honoring the movie stars who passed away during 2012. However, the cameras were too much on Carola, not on the stars showed in photos in the background and that upset many viewers as that part of the show was to celebrate them, not Carola. Oh well...  The producer of the show tells in Aftonbladet the part of the show was made the sam...

CONCHITA WURST RELEASES YOU ARE UNSTOPPABLE VIDEO

Just awhile before her debut album simply titled Conchita will be released Conchita Wurst has released a video to her latest single You are unstoppable . And yes, she does Loreen or goes topless. Beautifully shot in black and white the video once again provides some beautiful imaginary and shots. And she's off to Australia for promotion soon..... 

TIM SCHOU AND HIS NAKED GRAVITY

Tim Schou has a pretty good solo career going since he left his friends in London. He's travelling the world and relesing songs and videos. The latest one is a great track and comes with a steamy video that kinda takes away from the song really. But who's complaining. If you got it, flaunt it. Enjoy the video below. This post coming after the other Dane, Rasmus Seebach as wishlist for Eurovision. To think about it, Tim would do nicely, too. Maybe he should give it another go?