Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 1973

Last updated

Eurovision Song Contest 1973
CountryFlag of Norway.svg  Norway
National selection
Selection processMelodi Grand Prix 1973
Selection date(s)17 February 1973
Selected entrant Bendik Singers
Selected song"It's Just a Game"
Selected songwriter(s)
Finals performance
Final result7th, 89 points
Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄197219731974►

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.

Contents

Before Eurovision

Melodi Grand Prix 1973

The Melodi Grand Prix 1973 was organised by broadcaster NRK at the Château Neuf in Oslo, hosted by Vidar Lønn-Arnesen. Five songs were presented in the final with each song sung twice by different singers, once with a small combo and once with a full orchestra. The winning song was chosen by voting from a 14-member public jury who each awarded between 1 and 5 points per song. "It's Just a Game" was performed in Norwegian at MGP, but with the introduction of the free-language rule in 1973 Norway was one of three countries (along with Finland and Sweden) who took the opportunity to translate their entry into English before the Eurovision final. The Bendik Singers included past and future Norwegian representatives Arne Bendiksen (1964), Anne-Karine Strøm (1974 & 1976) and Ellen Nikolaysen (1975). [1]

MGP - 17 February 1973
DrawComboOrchestraSongPointsPlace
1 Gro Anita Schønn Stein Ingebrigtsen "Rett deg opp"295
2 Anne-Karine Strøm Benny Borg "Det var jo sant"402=
3 Ellen Nikolaysen Anne Lise Gjøstøl"Om du kunne"402=
4Ola Neegaard, Gro Anita Schønn,
Stein Ingebrigtsen & Inger Lise Rypdal
Bendik Singers "Å for et spill"431
5Lillian HarrietInger Lise Rypdal"Alternativ"364

At Eurovision

On the night of the final the Bendik Singers performed 5th in the running order, following Germany and preceding Monaco. "It's Just a Game" was an unusually structured song for Eurovision, featuring jazz-influenced freestyle vocal interplay, and proved distinctive enough to earn Norway its first top 10 placing since 1966, finishing the evening in 7th place with 89 points. This proved to be Norway's only top 10 ranking of the 1970s, and would not be bettered until the victory of Bobbysocks! in 1985. [2] [3]

Voting

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anne-Karine Strøm</span> Norwegian singer (born 1951)

Anne-Karine Strøm is a Norwegian singer, best known for having taken part in the Norwegian Eurovision Song Contest selection, Melodi Grand Prix, in six consecutive years between 1971 and 1976, winning on three occasions and representing Norway in the Eurovision Song Contests of 1973, 1974 and 1976.

The Bendik Singers were a four-member Norwegian vocal group, brought together by singer and composer Arne Bendiksen to participate in the Norwegian Eurovision Song Contest selection, Melodi Grand Prix, in 1973.

Norway was represented by Åse Kleveland, with the song "Intet er nytt under solen", at the 1966 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 5 March in Luxembourg City. "Intet er nytt under solen" was chosen as the Norwegian entry at the Melodi Grand Prix on 5 February.

Norway was represented by Jahn Teigen, with the song "Mil etter mil", at the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 22 April in Paris. "Mil etter mil" was chosen as the Norwegian entry at the Melodi Grand Prix on 18 March.

Norway was represented by Finn Kalvik, with the song "Aldri i livet", at the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 4 April in Dublin. "Aldri i livet" was chosen as the Norwegian entry at the Melodi Grand Prix on 7 March.

Norway was represented by Jahn Teigen and Anita Skorgan, with the song "Adieu", at the 1982 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 24 April in Harrogate, England. "Adieu" was chosen as the Norwegian entry at the Melodi Grand Prix on 20 March. This was a second Eurovision appearance for Teigen and a third for Skorgan.

Norway was represented by Kirsti Sparboe, with the song "Dukkemann", at the Eurovision Song Contest 1967, which took place on 8 April in Vienna. "Dukkemann" was chosen as the Norwegian entry at the Melodi Grand Prix on 25 February. This was the second of Sparboe's three Eurovision appearances for Norway.

Norway was represented by Odd Børre, with the song "Stress", at the 1968 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 6 April in London.

Norway was represented by Anita Thallaug, with the song "Solhverv", at the 1963 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 23 March in London. The song was chosen as the Norwegian entry at the Melodi Grand Prix on 10 February.

Norway was represented by Anne-Karine Strøm, with the song "Mata Hari", at the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 3 April in The Hague. "Mata Hari" was chosen as the Norwegian entry at the Melodi Grand Prix on 7 February. This was a third Eurovision appearance in four contests for Strøm.

Norway was represented by Jahn Teigen, with the song "Do Re Mi", at the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 23 April in Munich. "Do Re Mi" was chosen as the Norwegian entry at the Melodi Grand Prix on 25 February. This was the third and final Eurovision appearance by Teigen. Although uncredited on this occasion, one of his backing singers was Anita Skorgan, making her fourth appearance in seven years.

Norway was represented by Kirsti Sparboe, with the song "Oj, oj, oj, så glad jeg skal bli", at the 1969 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 29 March in Madrid. "Oj, oj, oj, så glad jeg skal bli" was chosen as the Norwegian entry at the Melodi Grand Prix on 1 March. This was the last of three Eurovision appearances in five years for Sparboe.

Norway was represented by Kirsti Sparboe, with the song "Karusell", at the 1965 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 20 March in Naples, Italy. "Karusell" was chosen as the Norwegian entry at the Melodi Grand Prix on 13 February. This was the first of Sparboe's three Eurovision appearances for Norway.

Norway was represented by 15-year-old Hanne Krogh, with the song "Lykken er", at the 1971 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 3 April in Dublin. "Lykken er" was chosen as the Norwegian entry at the Melodi Grand Prix on 20 February.

Norway was represented by duo Dollie de Luxe, with the song "Lenge leve livet" at the 1984 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 5 May in Luxembourg City. "Lenge leve livet" was chosen as the Norwegian entry at the Melodi Grand Prix on 7 April.

Norway was represented by Arne Bendiksen, with the song "Spiral", at the 1964 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 21 March in Copenhagen. "Spiral" was chosen as the Norwegian entry at the Melodi Grand Prix (MGP) on 15 February.

Norway was represented by Ellen Nikolaysen, with the song "Touch My Life ", at the 1975 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 22 March in Stockholm. "Touch My Life " was chosen as the Norwegian entry at the Melodi Grand Prix on 25 January. Nikolaysen had previously sung for Norway as a member of the Bendik Singers in 1973 and had also provided backing vocals for Anne-Karine Strøm in 1974.

Norway was represented by Anne-Karine Strøm, with the song "The First Day of Love", at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 6 April in Brighton, England. "The First Day of Love" was chosen as the Norwegian entry at the Melodi Grand Prix on 16 February. Strøm had sung for Norway the previous year as a member of the Bendik Singers, whose other three members provided backing vocals in Brighton.

Norway was represented by Sverre Kjelsberg and Mattis Hætta, with the song "Sámiid ædnan", at the 1980 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 19 April in The Hague. "Sámiid ædnan" was chosen as the Norwegian entry at the Melodi Grand Prix on 22 March and remains one of the best-remembered Norwegian entries, particularly in Norway itself.

Norway was represented by Grethe Kausland and Benny Borg, with the song "Småting", at the 1972 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 25 March in Edinburgh. "Småting" was chosen as the Norwegian entry at the Melodi Grand Prix on 19 February.

References

  1. ESC National Finals database 1973
  2. "Final of Luxembourg 1973". Eurovision Song Contest. Archived from the original on 9 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  3. ESC History - Norway 1973
  4. 1 2 "Results of the Final of Luxembourg 1973". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 9 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.