Stockholm 2016

"You should expect disco and female fire." – Tonje Gjevjon [Interview]

They’ve been the talk of the town in the Eurovision world ever since their entry was released in full. The streets of Moscow, with my girlfriend – the line has already become iconic for The Hungry Hearts and their entryย Laika. Tonight they’ll be hoping to convince Norway together with Lisa Dillan. We’ve spoken to the leader of The Hungry Hearts: Tonje Gjevjon. Check it out below!
escXtra.com:ย Hey Tonje! First of all, congrats on being in MGP! How does it feel?
Tonje Gjevjon:ย If feels fantastic, bombastic, iconoclastic, surrealisticย  โ€“ it is crazy and it is true!!!
X:ย What can we expect from your performance? You must be planning quite something?
T:ย Our plan is to access peopleโ€™s minds and hearts with our performance. How we will do this is a secret until the show starts, but you should expect disco and female fire.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBpWM-tBx0N/?taken-by=thehungryheartsperformance
X:ย Youโ€™ve teamed up with Lisa Dillan. Why Lisa?
T:ย We invited Lisa DiIlan to be featuring artist because of her voice. The song has some emotional sequences and Lisaโ€™s voice is made for singing about love, longing and emotions. Her voice comes from outer space!
X:ย Laika. What can you tell us about the background of that song?
T:ย Laika was the first cosmonaut dog to orbit the earth in 1957 so the song is based on an historical event. Laika was a street dog in Moscow and in my mind she had an exciting and happy life before she was taken by the Sputnik II team and left alone in space. Out in the atmosphere there is no disco, no girlfriend – so the song is about Laikaโ€™s longing for her life in the streets of Moscow.
X:ย Whatโ€™s your ideal night out?
T:ย Dinner on Indian or Japanese restaurant, then dancing to hits from the Eighties with friends. Then nachspiel with more dancing before falling into sleep dreaming about something nice.
X:ย How do you spend your day off?
T:ย I am a restless person, but Japanese massage would have been nice โ€“ and I would love a stay in a room at the top floor in hotel with many floors.
X:ย If youโ€™d become Prime Minister in Norway, whatโ€™s the first thing youโ€™d change?
T: I would have done like Robin Hood.
X:ย Whatโ€™s your favourite book?
T:ย โ€œThe wind up bird chronicleโ€ by the Japanese author Haruki Murukami.
X:ย Youโ€™ve got a little issue. In Eurovision, only six people are allowed on stage, but youโ€™re with more than six. How will you solve that?
T:ย If we should be so lucky win the Norwegian ESC and represent Norway in ESCย  we just let two of the members stay at home. We are aware of this and are prepared.
X:ย Your song has made quite an impression in the fandom. Especially the line The streets of Moscow, with my girlfriend has received quite a reaction. Did you ever expect such reactions?
T:ย The song is a about feelings we all have โ€“ love, longing and anger when somebody harm us.
ESC has a history of being open minded, and this is also what makes ESC interesting. What would ESC be without diversity? Without Conchita Wรผrst, Dana International, Verka Serduchka – “Dancing Lasha Tumbai”, Zdob ลŸi Zdubย – “So Lucky”, Buranovskiye Babushki – “Party For Everybody”. Who wants the world of ESC to be straight and boring? And yes, we expected reactions because itโ€™s a really good line, if I might say so myself ๐Ÿ™‚
I make songs I can sing with my heartโ€“ and for me it would be totally weird to sing โ€œThe streets of Moscow with my boyfriendโ€. I don’t have a boyfriend โ€“ I have a wife.
Love does not do any harm. Love is beautiful, and it is also a reason for living. I hope for everyone to experience love.
We’d like to thank Tonje for her time to answer our questions and we’d like to wish her, The Hungry Hearts and Lisa Dillan the best of luck in tonight’s Melodi Grand Prix. Check out the official video for ‘Laika’ below!

Nick van Lith

I'm one of the founding members of ESCXTRA.com. Eleven years after the start, I'm proud to say that I am now the Editor-in-Chief of this wonderful website. When I'm not doing Eurovision stuff, you should be able to find me teaching German to kids... And cheering on everything and everyone Greek, pretty much. Pame Ellada!

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