Time to free up your Saturdays: the 2021 national final season is about to ramp up! NRK, the Norwegian broadcaster, have revealed the artists for the first semi-final of Melodi Grand Prix 2021. The show will be broadcast live on Saturday 16 January. That’s not all: the six pre-qualified artists have also been revealed.
Semi-final 1
| Stina Talling – Elevate |
| Jorn – Fate Bloody Faith |
| Blåsemafian – Let Loose |
| Beady Belle – Playing With Fire |
The pre-qualifiers
| TIX – Ut Av Mørket |
| Atle Pettersen – World On Fire |
| Stavangerkameratene – Barndomsgater |
| Kaja Rode – Feel Again |
| Rein Alexander – Eyes Wide Open |
| KEiiNO – Monument |
Moreover, you can now listen to the songs competing in this Saturday’s show, by following the Spotify playlist below:
The Melodi Grand Prix format
26 songs will participate – the highest number in the history of the competition. Twelve songs will qualify for the grand final on 20 February. The first six will be pre-qualifiers selected by a professional jury. Five semi-finals, one every Saturday, will see the artists duelling for a place in the grand final.
NRK have introduced a wildcard round this year. The public will choose another finalist from the artists eliminated in the semi-finals.
All the semi-finals as well as the grand final will be broadcast from the H3 Arena at Fornebu, outside of Oslo. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic unfortunately there will be no audience. Ingrid Gjessing Linhave, Ronny Brede Aase and Kåre Magnus Bergh will return to host the shows.
- 16 January: Semi-final 1
- 23 January: Semi-final 2
- 30 January: Semi-final 3
- 06 February: Semi-final 4
- 13 February: Semi-final 5
- 14 February: Wild card selection
- 20 February: Grand Final
Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest
The Scandinavian nation debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1960 with Nora Brockstedt and her song ‘Voi Voi’, placing fourth. Since their debut, Norway has managed to win three times (1985, 1995 & 2009).
In 2020, Ulrikke won Melodi Grand Prix with her song ‘Attention’. Norway was set to perform in the First Semi-Final of this year’s contest before it was cancelled. Ulrikke was offered direct qualification for the 2021 MGP final, but declined.
What do you think of the line-up so far? Let us know! Be sure to stay updated by following @ESCXTRA on Twitter, @escxtra on Instagram and liking our Facebook page for the latest updates! Also, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to see our reactions to the news in the upcoming months.
