Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest | |
---|---|
Participating broadcaster | Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK) |
Participation summary | |
Appearances | 61 (58 finals) |
First appearance | 1960 |
Highest placement | 1st: 1985, 1995, 2009 |
Host | 1986, 1996, 2010 |
Participation history | |
Related articles | |
Melodi Grand Prix | |
External links | |
NRK page | |
Norway's page at Eurovision.tv | |
For the most recent participation see Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 |
Norway has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 61 times since making its debut in 1960 and has only been absent twice since then. In 1970, the country boycotted the contest over disagreements about the voting structure, and in 2002, they were relegated. The contest is broadcast in Norway by NRK, which also broadcasts Norway's national selection competition, Melodi Grand Prix.
Before 1985, Norway's best result in the contest was Åse Kleveland's third-place in 1966. Norway's three victories in the contest were achieved by Bobbysocks in 1985, Secret Garden in 1995 and Alexander Rybak in 2009. Norway also finished second at the 1996 contest, with former Bobbysocks member Elisabeth Andreassen. Norway has finished last in eleven Eurovision finals, of which four times with "nul points". Norway has a total of 12 top-five results in the contest, the latest being Alessandra's fifth place in 2023.
Norway's first entrant in the contest was Nora Brockstedt in 1960, who finished fourth with the song "Voi Voi"; Brockstedt would return the next year with "Sommer i Palma", this time placing seventh. Åse Kleveland then finished third in 1966 with "Intet er nytt under solen", following which Norway would fail to reach the top ten in fourteen out of their next fifteen attempts, with the exception being Bendik Singers’ seventh place finish in 1973. Before 1985, Norway had only received a top-ten score in six out of twenty-four attempts, and had finished last the same number of times.
Bobbysocks gave the country its first victory in 1985, with the song "La det swinge". Norway went on to achieve two more top five results over the next ten years, with Karoline Krüger in 1988 and Silje Vige in 1993, who both finished fifth.
Norway's second victory came in 1995 with Secret Garden's mainly instrumental Celtic-influenced ethno-piece "Nocturne". In 1996, Elisabeth Andreassen, who had won the contest as one half of Bobbysocks, returned to the contest as a solo artist, finishing in second place. In 2003, Jostein Hasselgård came fourth.
Norway won for the third time in 2009, with Alexander Rybak and his song "Fairytale". The song's score of 387 points was the highest ever winning total under the 1975-2015 voting system, and also achieved the biggest ever margin of victory: 492 points in total were distributed between the competing countries in 2009, meaning "Fairytale" received 78.7% of the points that could be rewarded. Rybak later returned to the contest in 2018, performing "That's How You Write a Song"; he received the highest number of votes of the second semi-final, but ultimately placed fifteenth. He remains the only Norwegian entrant to have won a semi-final, as well as the only two-time semi-final winner in the history of the contest.
In 2012, Norway finished last in the final for the eleventh time. Norway has the dubious distinction of finishing last in the Eurovision final more than any other country, and along with Austria, has received "nul points" (zero points) in the contest on four occasions; in 1963, 1978, 1981 and 1997.
Since the introduction of the semi-final round in 2004, Norway has finished in the top ten eight times. Wig Wam finished ninth in 2005, Maria Haukaas Storeng was fifth in 2008, Alexander Rybak won in 2009, Margaret Berger was fourth in 2013, Carl Espen finished eighth in 2014, Mørland and Debrah Scarlett finished eighth in 2015, Jowst finished tenth in 2017, Keiino won the public vote and finished sixth overall in 2019, Subwoolfer finished tenth in 2022, and Alessandra finished fifth in 2023. In total, Norway has 12 top-five and 27 top-ten finishes in the contest.
1 | First place |
2 | Second place |
3 | Third place |
◁ | Last place |
X | Entry selected but did not compete |
† | Upcoming event |
Year | Location | Venue | Presenters |
---|---|---|---|
1986 | Bergen | Grieghallen | Åse Kleveland |
1996 | Oslo | Oslo Spektrum | Ingvild Bryn and Morten Harket |
2010 | Telenor Arena | Nadia Hasnaoui, Haddy N'jie and Erik Solbakken |
Year | Location | Venue | Presenters |
---|---|---|---|
1981 | Mysen | Momarken | Rolf Kirkvaag and Titten Tei |
Year | Category | Song | Composer(s) lyrics (l) / music (m) | Performer | Final | Points | Host city | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | Press Award | "Fairytale" | Alexander Rybak (m & l) | Alexander Rybak | 1 | 387 | Moscow | |
2015 | Composer Award | "A Monster Like Me" | Kjetil Mørland (m & l) | Mørland & Debrah Scarlett | 8 | 102 | Vienna |
Year | Song | Performer | Place | Points | Host city | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | "Fairytale" | Alexander Rybak | 1 | 387 | Moscow |
Year | Conductor [lower-alpha 4] | Musical director | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1960 | Øivind Bergh | N/A | [5] | |
1961 | ||||
1962 | ||||
1963 | ||||
1964 | Karsten Andersen | |||
1965 | Øivind Bergh | |||
1966 | ||||
1967 | ||||
1968 | ||||
1969 | ||||
1971 | Arne Bendiksen | [lower-alpha 5] | [6] | |
1972 | Carsten Klouman | |||
1973 | ||||
1974 | Frode Thingnæs | |||
1975 | Carsten Klouman | |||
1976 | Frode Thingnæs | [lower-alpha 6] | ||
1977 | Carsten Klouman | |||
1978 | ||||
1979 | Sigurd Jansen | [lower-alpha 7] | ||
1980 | [7] | |||
1981 | ||||
1982 | ||||
1983 | ||||
1984 | ||||
1985 | Terje Fjærn | |||
1986 | Egil Monn-Iversen | [lower-alpha 8] | ||
1987 | Terje Fjærn | N/A | ||
1988 | Arild Stav | [lower-alpha 9] | ||
1989 | Pete Knutsen | |||
1990 | ||||
1991 | ||||
1992 | Rolf Løvland | |||
1993 | ||||
1994 | Pete Knutsen | |||
1995 | Geir Langslet | |||
1996 | Frode Thingnæs | [lower-alpha 10] | ||
1997 | Geir Langslet | N/A | ||
1998 |
Additionally, there was an orchestra present at the 1999 national final, conducted by Geir Langslet (the winning song, however, was presented without orchestral accompaniment) and at the 2015 national final, conducted by Anders Eljas.
Year | Head of delegation | Ref. |
---|---|---|
1998–2005 | Jon Ola Sand | |
2006–2009, 2012–2015 | Stian Malme | |
2010–2011 | Skjalg Solstad | |
2016–present | Stig Karlsen |
List of supervisors of Melodi Grand Prix, better known as MGP-general or GP-general in Norway:
Year | Head of delegation | Ref. |
---|---|---|
c. 2007–2012 | Per Sundnes | |
2013–2015 | Vivi Stenberg | |
2016–2017 | Jan Fredrik Karlsen | |
2018–present | Stig Karlsen |
This section needs additional citations for verification .(March 2012) |
Year | Commentator | Spokesperson | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
1960 | Erik Diesen | Kari Borg Mannsåker | |
1961 | Leif Rustad | Mette Janson | |
1962 | Odd Grythe | Kari Borg Mannsåker | |
1963 | Øivind Johnsen | Roald Øyen | |
1964 | Odd Grythe | Sverre Christophersen | |
1965 | Erik Diesen | ||
1966 | Sverre Christophersen | Erik Diesen | |
1967 | Erik Diesen | Sverre Christophersen | |
1968 | Roald Øyen | ||
1969 | Sverre Christophersen | Janka Polanyi | |
1970 | No commentator | Did not participate | |
1971 | Sverre Christophersen | No spokesperson | |
1972 | Roald Øyen | ||
1973 | John Andreassen | ||
1974 | Sverre Christophersen | ||
1975 | |||
1976 | Jo Vestly | ||
1977 | John Andreassen | ||
1978 | Bjørn Scheele | Egil Teige | |
1979 | Egil Teige | Sverre Christophersen | |
1980 | Knut Aunbu | Roald Øyen | |
1981 | Sverre Christophersen | ||
1982 | Bjørn Scheele | Erik Diesen | |
1983 | Ivar Dyrhaug | ||
1984 | Roald Øyen | Egil Teige | |
1985 | Veslemøy Kjendsli | Erik Diesen | |
1986 | Knut Bjørnsen | Nina Matheson | |
1987 | John Andreassen and Tor Paulsen | Sverre Christophersen | |
1988 | John Andreassen | Andreas Diesen | |
1989 | Sverre Christophersen | ||
1990 | Leif Erik Forberg | ||
1991 | John Andreassen and Jahn Teigen | ||
1992 | John Andreassen | ||
1993 | Leif Erik Forberg | ||
1994 | Jostein Pedersen | ||
1995 | Annette Groth | ||
1996 | Jostein Pedersen | Ragnhild Sælthun Fjørtoft | |
1997 | |||
1998 | |||
1999 | |||
2000 | Marit Åslein | ||
2001 | Roald Øyen | ||
2002 | Did not participate | ||
2003 | Roald Øyen | ||
2004 | Ingvild Helljesen | ||
2005 | |||
2006 | |||
2007 | Per Sundnes | Synnøve Svabø | |
2008 | Hanne Hoftun | Stian Barsnes-Simonsen | |
2009 | Synnøve Svabø | ||
2010 | Olav Viksmo-Slettan | Anne Rimmen | |
2011 | Nadia Hasnaoui | ||
2012 | |||
2013 | Tooji | ||
2014 | Margrethe Røed | ||
2015 | |||
2016 | Elisabeth Andreassen | ||
2017 | Marcus & Martinus | ||
2018 | Aleksander Walmann and Jowst | ||
2019 | Alexander Rybak | ||
Not announced before cancellation | |||
2021 | Marte Stokstad | Silje Skjemstad Cruz | |
2022 | Tix | ||
2023 | Ben Adams |
Iceland has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 35 times since its debut in 1986, missing only two contests since then, in 1998 and 2002, when prevented from competing due to finishing outside qualification places the preceding years. The country's best result is second place, which it achieved with Selma in 1999 and Yohanna in 2009. The Icelandic broadcaster for the contest is Ríkisútvarpið (RÚV), which also broadcasts Iceland's national selection competition, Söngvakeppnin.
Norway participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 with the song "In My Dreams" written by Trond "Teeny" Holter. The song was performed by the band Wig Wam. The Norwegian broadcaster Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK) organised the national final Melodi Grand Prix 2005 in order to select the Norwegian entry for the 2005 contest in Kyiv, Ukraine. Eight entries competed in a show that took place on 5 March 2005 and the winner was determined over two rounds of public televoting. The top four entries in the first round of voting advanced to the competition's second round—the Gold Final. In the second round of public televoting, "In My Dreams" performed by Wig Wam was selected as the winner with 75,667 votes.
Norway participated in and won the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 with the song "Fairytale" written and performed by Alexander Rybak. The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) organised the national final Melodi Grand Prix 2009 in order to select the Norwegian entry for the 2009 contest in Moscow, Russia. 21 entries competed in the national final that consisted of three semi-finals, a Last Chance round and a final. Eight entries ultimately qualified to compete in the final on 21 February 2009 where the winner was determined over two rounds of voting. In the first round of voting, a public televote exclusively selected the top four entries to advance to the competition's second round—the Gold Final. In the second round of voting, "Fairytale" performed by Alexander Rybak was selected as the winner following the combination of votes from four regional jury groups and a public televote.
Norway was represented by Elisabeth Andreassen, with the song '"I evighet", at the 1996 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 18 May at the Oslo Spektrum, following Secret Garden's victory for Norway in Dublin the previous year. "I evighet" was chosen as the Norwegian entry at the Melodi Grand Prix on 30 March. This was the last of four Eurovision appearances as a main performer by Andreassen, a record shared with Lys Assia, Fud Leclerc, Valentina Monetta and Peter, Sue and Marc.
Norway was represented by the Bendik Singers, with the song "It's Just a Game", at the 1973 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 7 April in Luxembourg City. "It's Just a Game" was chosen as the Norwegian entry at the Melodi Grand Prix on 17 February.
Norway participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 with the song "Stay" written by Tooji, Peter Boström and Figge Boström. The song was performed by Tooji. The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) organised the national final Melodi Grand Prix 2012 in order to select the Norwegian entry for the 2012 contest in Baku, Azerbaijan. 24 entries competed in the national final that consisted of three semi-finals and a final. Ten entries ultimately qualified to compete in the final on 11 February 2012 where the winner was determined over two rounds of voting. In the first round of voting, a public televote exclusively selected the top four entries to advance to the competition's second round—the Gold Final. In the second round of voting, "Stay" performed by Tooji was selected as the winner following the combination of votes from three regional jury groups and a public vote.
Kjetil Mørland, better known as simply Mørland, is a Norwegian singer and songwriter. He represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 along with Debrah Scarlett with his song "A Monster Like Me".
Norway participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 with the song "Icebreaker" written by Agnete Johnsen, Gabriel Alares and Ian Curnow. The song was performed by Agnete. The Norwegian broadcaster Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK) organised the national final Melodi Grand Prix 2016 in order to select the Norwegian entry for the 2016 contest in Stockholm, Sweden. Ten entries competed in a show that took place on 27 February 2016 and the winner was determined over two rounds of public televoting. The top four entries in the first round of voting advanced to the competition's second round—the Gold Final. In the second round of public televoting, "Icebreaker" performed by Agnete was selected as the winner with 166,728 votes.
Norway participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 with the song "Grab the Moment" written by Joakim With Steen and Jonas McDonnell. The song was performed by Jowst, which is the artistic name of music producer Joakim With Steen, with unaccredited vocals from Aleksander Walmann. The Norwegian broadcaster Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK) organised the national final Melodi Grand Prix 2017 in order to select the Norwegian entry for the 2017 contest in Kyiv, Ukraine. Ten entries competed in a show that took place on 11 March 2017 and the winner was determined over two rounds of voting. In the first round of voting, the combination of votes from ten international jury groups and a public televote selected the top four entries to advance to the competition's second round—the Gold Final. In the second round of voting, a public televote exclusively selected "Grab the Moment" performed by Jowst as the winner with 46,064 votes.
Aleksander Walmann Åsgården is a Norwegian singer and songwriter. He represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 alongside Jowst with the song "Grab the Moment", finishing in 10th place.
Norway participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 with the song "That's How You Write a Song" written and performed by Alexander Rybak, who had previously represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2009 and won with the song "Fairytale". The Norwegian broadcaster Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK) organised the national final Melodi Grand Prix 2018 in order to select the Norwegian entry for the 2018 contest in Lisbon, Portugal. Ten entries competed in a show that took place on 10 March 2018 and the winner was determined over three rounds of voting. In the first round of voting, the combination of votes from ten international jury groups and a public televote selected the top four entries to advance to the competition's second round—the Gold Final. In the second round of voting, a public televote exclusively selected the top two entries to advance to the competition's third round—the Gold Duel. In the third round of voting, a public televote again selected "That's How You Write a Song" performed by Alexander Rybak as the winner with 306,393 votes.
Melodi Grand Prix 2018 was the 56th edition of Melodi Grand Prix, Norway's national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. The competition was held on Saturday, 10 March 2018 in the Oslo Spektrum; which has hosted all the Norwegian finals since 2001. The hosts were Kåre Magnus Bergh and Silya Nymoen, who also hosted the finals in 2015 and 2016, and the former also in 2017. Ten songs participated in the final, and like 2017, the winner was chosen by the viewers together with ten international jury groups. Alexander Rybak won the competition with his self-composed song "That's How You Write a Song". Rybak also won both the Norwegian and international finals in 2009. Rybak represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Portugal in May 2018. There, the song finished as number 15 in the final.
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Norway participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The Norwegian broadcaster, Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK), used the national selection Melodi Grand Prix 2021 to decide their representative.
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