Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

  Norway has it's Melodi Grand prix final tonight and the songs are picked out of over 1200 submissions. Among them three previous Eurovision stars, Stella Mwangi, last year's Alexander Walmann this time solo and with his own name instead of credited only as JOWST,  and Alexander Rybak who won the while contest for Norway back in 2009. International jury and Norwegian televotrs will decide on the winner 50-50.  I have three favorites: Talk to the hand follows last year's Grab the moment nicely, and sounds like a song that wasn't written Eurovision in mind which is like a bit of a fresh air these days. Vidar Villa's urging for MILF is just a good feeling bomb I just love to hear it and then Rybak - not the best song in the world but cool idea, well written and constructed with a tongue on cheek and it works. Nicoline, Charla K and Tom Hugo all have decent songs but just missing something extra to make them really stand out. And then we have Tengo otra . Love...

NRK released the names and songs of MGP 2018 on January 15 and among them we have Alexander Rybak (Eurovision 2009 winner), last year's JOWST is back at it, credited as the singer Alexander Walmann this time, Roxette 's Per Gessle has co-written Charla K 's song. Kjetil Mørland (ESC 2015) hs written Rebecca 's song. Stella Mwangi (ESC 2011) is another veteran re-trying. Only one song in Norwegian this time.  This blogger loves Chilean Alejandro Fuente 's Spanish language entry Tengo otra with it's beat - must be the recent Cuban influence and the beat is pure Gente De Zona . Love it! But maybe it's not the way to go, even if Norway has sent some Latin stuff before. Other ones to look out Walmann , Rybak (but I doubt this groovy number would set European wide audiences to voting frenzy.... or would it? Hmm...), Charla K and Vidar Villa .  All in all a good selection of songs a quite many potential winners :-) Alejandro Fuentes - Tengo otra ...

JOWST feat. Alexander Walmann - That feeling Amir - États d'amour Krista Siegfrids - 1995 SVALA - Make it better

The Norwegian final is over, too and the winner is Jowst featuring Alexander Walmann with Grab the moment. The song, as the rest of the Norwegian offering this year, leaves be rather indifferent. After a couple of hearings I don't hate it, it doesn't annoy me, I don't love it.... Let's see whre it lands in the end.... Then I didn't really find any real favorite among them so it's kinda indifferent for me at this point who won. Could have been a lot worse, too, I suppose... Superfinal: 1. Jowst - Grab the moment 72.821 2. Ammunition - Wrecking crew 53.072 3. Elin & The Woods - First step in faith 46.778 4. Ulrikke - Places 39.356