Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 1996

Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 1996
Eurovision Song Contest 1996
Participating broadcaster	Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK)
Country	Norway
Selection process	Melodi Grand Prix 1996
Selection date	30 March 1996
Competing entry
Song	" I evighet "
Artist	Elisabeth Andreassen
Songwriter	Torhild Nigar
Placement
Final result	2nd, 114 points
Participation chronology
◄1995 • 1996 • 1997►

Norway was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1996 with the song " I evighet ", written by Torhild Nigar, and performed by Elisabeth Andreassen. The Norwegian participating broadcaster, Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK), selected its entry through the Melodi Grand Prix 1996. In addition, NRK was also the host broadcaster and staged the event at the Oslo Spektrum in Oslo, after winning the previous edition with the song " Nocturne " by Secret Garden. 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.^{[ citation needed ]}

Before Eurovision

Melodi Grand Prix 1996

Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK) held the Melodi Grand Prix 1996 at its studios in Oslo, hosted by Tande-P. Eight songs took part with the winner being chosen by voting from regional juries. Other participants included three-time Norwegian representative and MGP regular Jahn Teigen (as one of the duo To Tenorer) and Geir Rønning, who would later represent Finland in the 2005 contest.

Final – 30 March 1996

Draw	Artist	Song	Songwriter(s)	Points	Place
1	Scandinavia	"Når hjertet står i brann"	Tom Sennerud, Bjørn Terje Bråthen	12	8
2	Arnold B. Family	"Din smittende glede"	Thomas Børud, Arnold Børud	29	6
3	Elisabeth Andreassen	"I evighet"	Torhild Nigar	88	1
4	Stephen Ackles	"Jennina"	Geir Rønning	32	5
5	Mia Gundersen	"Tenn lys"	Inge Enoksen, Leiv Grøtte	28	7
6	Helga Hatløy Hagen and Marie Hatløy Osdal	"Frieri"	Helga Hatløy Hagen, Marie Hatløy Osdal	56	2
7	Geir Rønning	"Uten de'"	Geir Rønning	56	2
8	To Tenorer	"Ariel"	Sverre Wiik, Øystein Wiik	39	4

Detailed Regional Jury Votes

Draw	Song	Rogaland	Østfold	Finnmark	Sør-Trøndelag	Troms	Oppland	Østlandet	Hordaland	Sørlandet	Telemark	Total
1	"Når hjertet står i brann"	1			1		2	6		2		12
2	"Den smittende glede"	3	1	1	6	4		3	1	6	4	29
3	"I evighet"	4	10	6	10	10	10	10	10	8	10	88
4	"Jennina"		4	2	2	2	6	2	4	4	6	32
5	"Tenn lys"	8	3	3		1	1		6	3	3	28
6	"Frieri"	6	8	4	3	8	8	8	2	1	8	56
7	"Uten de'"	10	2	10	4	6	3	1	8	10	2	56
8	"Ariel"	2	6	8	8	3	4	4	3		1	39

At Eurovision

The European Broadcasting Union granted Norway, as the host nation, exemption from an audio-only qualifying round which took place on 20 March with all 29 other participants competing to avoid the bottom seven placings which would mean early elimination from the 1996 contest and non-representation in Oslo. ^{[1] [2]}

On the night of the final Andreassen performed 12th in the running order, following Estonia and preceding France. At the close of voting "I evighet" had received 114 points, placing Norway second of the 23 entries. ^[3] The highest marks received were three 10s from the Netherlands, Slovenia and Sweden ^[4] – during the 1975-2015 period at the contest, "I evighet" was the best placed song without any 12 points.^{[ citation needed ]} The Norwegian jury awarded its 12 points to Portugal. ^[4]

Andreassen is one of five artists – along with Lys Assia, Gigliola Cinquetti, Linda Martin and Dima Bilan – to have finished both first and second at Eurovision.^{[ citation needed ]}

Voting

Qualifying round

As the host nation, Norway automatically qualified for the final. ^[1]

Points awarded by Norway (qualifying round) ^[5]

Score	Country
12 points	Iceland
10 points	Estonia
8 points	United Kingdom
7 points	Sweden
6 points	Switzerland
5 points	Austria
4 points	Malta
3 points	Portugal
2 points	Belgium
1 point	Denmark

Final

Points awarded to Norway (final) [4] Score Country 12 points 10 points   Netherlands   Slovenia   Sweden 8 points   Austria   Belgium   Iceland   United Kingdom 7 points   Finland   France   Ireland    Switzerland 6 points 5 points   Croatia   Estonia 4 points   Poland 3 points   Bosnia and Herzegovina   Cyprus 2 points   Portugal   Turkey 1 point

Points awarded by Norway (final) [4] Score Country 12 points   Portugal 10 points   Ireland 8 points   Estonia 7 points   Croatia 6 points   Sweden 5 points   Iceland 4 points   France 3 points   Greece 2 points   Finland 1 point   Malta

References

1. "Oslo 1996 - Eurovision Song Contest". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
2. Roxburgh, Gordon (2020). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Volume Four: The 1990s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. pp. 255–261. ISBN   978-1-84583-163-9.
3. "Final of Oslo 1996". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
4. "Results of the Final of Oslo 1996". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
5. Roxburgh, Gordon (2020). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Volume Four: The 1990s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. p. 259. ISBN   978-1-84583-163-9.

External links

• Melodi Grand Prix 1996 - norsk finale on NRK TV  [ no ]