Melodi Grand Prix 2012: First Ten Acts Revealed

Norway went into mourning after 2011 Melodi Grand Prix winner Stella Mwangi crashed out during the first semi-final of Eurovision last May. But Norwegian broadcaster NRK has dusted itself off and slowly drip-fed the names of the ten acts who will take their chances at MGP in 2012. Here are the names we know so far.

Irresistible: Saima Irén Mian, Lise Viktoria Hagen, Ingri Rønning and Hanne Rindal formed the girl group Irresistible five years ago. Thus far their greatest success has been placing ninth on Norway’s edition of the X-Factor in 2010.

Malin Reitan: Sixteen-year old Malin placed third at Junior Eurovision in 2005—Norway’s best-ever finish.

Isabel Ødegård: Isabel begged her neighbor, a songwriter, to write her a song and he finally caved in. As such, she doesn’t have much of a YouTube presence and we don’t have a video. But here’s a pic:

Nora Foss Al-Jabri: Nora—only 15—performed on the Oprah Winfrey Show when she was 13. Before that she placed third on the talent show “Norske Talenter.” Here she is competing on that show with a soulful rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” She was only TWELVE when this was filmed. Her MGP song is called “Somewhere beautiful.”

Plumbo: The Norwegian rock-folk band had their greatest success with “Møkkamann,” which reached #8 on the Norwegian charts earlier this year. Here’s the official video.

Minnie Oh: Born Monica Johansen, Minnie Oh is one of Oslo’s indie darlings. She’ll be singing a song called, “You and I.” Wiwi cannot find a video of this lady!

Marthe Valle: Marthe placed seventh on Norwegian X-Factor, and won the Norwegian Grammy for Best Newcomer in 2005. She’ll be singing “Si,” and will do so in her dialect from northern Norway.

Kim André Rysstad: Kim, a folk singer, will be singing a psalm at MGP.

Rudi Myntevik: Rudi is a Christian singer.

Reidun Sæther: Reidun is singing a song written by Romania’s 2010 Eurovision contestant Ovi Jacobson.