Norway’s Head of Delegation ‘Stig Karlsen’ has spoken with Norwegian Eurovision website ‘ESCNorge’ and has confirmed that Melodi Grand Prix 2020 will begin on January 11, 2020, with Norway selecting their act for The Netherlands on February 15, 2020.
Clarity on the format of Melodi Grand Prix 2020
We have previously reported that changes are being made to the Melodi Grand Prix format, to coincide with its 60th Anniversary. We have initially reported that 40 songs were due to compete in next year’s Melodi Grand Prix. However, it has now been confirmed that this has been reduced to 20.
Part of the changes includes the return of the Semi-Finals, which we last saw in 2014. The Semi-Finals (which will take place in Oslo) will focus on the five regions of Norway:
- Northern Norway – 4 Songs to Compete
- Central Norway – 4 Songs to Compete
- Western Norway – 4 Songs to Compete
- Eastern Norway – 4 Songs to Compete
- Southern Norway – 4 Songs to Compete
During the Semi-Finals phase of the competition, the four competing acts will face each other in duels, until a winner has been determined.
For the Grand Final, ten songs will compete for the chance to represent Noway at the Eurovision Song Contest. Five of the competing entries would be from the region format as explained above, whilst the other five have been pre-selected and will be revealed as the Semi-Finals take place.
Focus on Quality over Quantity
During his talk with ESCNorge, Stig Karlsen has said how pleased he is with the contributions that have been submitted and how the changes. In addition to the changes, he has also confirmed that there has been between 500-600 contributions for Melodi Grand Prix 2020.
“We would now focus more on quality rather than quantity. So we’ve had some new rules. Each song must have had a Norwegian songwriter on the team, each songwriter can only submit three songs and we have had an earlier submission deadline than before. So it was clearly part of our plan that we should get fewer songs, but more good songs.”
Stig Karlsen on the format changes (Transalted from ESCNorge)
During his interview, he has also mentioned that ‘some of the songs submitted that are insanely good!’.
Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest 2019
Norway selected KEiiNO through their national selection ‘Melodi Grand Prix’ to represent them in Tel Aviv with their song ‘Spirit in the Sky’
In Tel Aviv, KEiiNO managed to bring Norway to the Grand Final for a third consecutive year. The group managed to win the popular vote and placed sixth overall in the competition with 331 points.
Are you excited about the new format for Melodi Grand Prix? Which artists would you like to see in the competition in 2020? Let us know in the comments below or at social media. Be sure to stay updated by following @ESCXTRA on Twitter, @escxtra on Instagram and liking our Facebook page for the latest updates!
