It’s the Nordic nation that entered the decade a winner and has yo-yoed ever since between sweet success and bitter failure. And after returning to the grand final last year, Norway‘s Eurovision broadcaster NRK is on the hunt for a new hopeful to fly the flag in Lisbon and hopefully replicate Alexander Rybak’s runaway success in winning the competition in 2009.

And if size is any measure, the Norwegians may be on to a good thing, as they’ve received almost 1200 submissions for Melodi Grand Prix 2018, the one night, ten-act extravaganza that will pick Norway’s candidate for the Eurovision Song Contest 2018.

Speaking about this year’s crop of candidate songs, MGP chief Stig Karlsen sounded upbeat:

“There are very many talented people engaged in next year’s MGP. It’s going to hurt to pick only ten songs and ten artists to fight to represent Norway in Lisbon!”

Though NRK are picking the acts now, the lineup is normally only revealed during the spring, so Eurofans will have a while to wait until they know who’ll step out onto the stage at Spektrum Arena.

Emboldened by success in Kyiv, the objective now is winning Eurovision 2018. Earlier this year Karlsen outlined his long-term plan for Melodi Grand Prix 2018:

“The best folks are on board to write songs that will take Norway to victory in the world’s biggest music competition. Eurovision is the closest we get to the Olympics in pop music, and now we’re going for the gold medal.”

Norway at Eurovision since 2010

Norway has known highs and bitter, bitter lows at Eurovision in 2010 but there are signs things are on the up for the Nordic nation.

Not so impressively, Didrik Solli-Tangen got a 20th-place finish on home soil in 2010, Stella Mwangi failed to qualify in 2011 and Tooji placed last in 2012. But in the years since, Norway has done much better. They have placed in the top ten in all but 2016, when Agnete went out at her semi-final.

Having soared as high as the top five, as recently as 2013, Norway will no doubt be one to watch in Libson next May. And among those 1200 entries could be the one to give Norway its fourth victory.

READ MORE NORWAY EUROVISION NEWS HERE

26 Comments
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avinash
6 years ago

Well, this is my first visit to your blog! Your blog provided us valuable information.

roll the ball
6 years ago

Well, this is my first visit to your blog! Your blog provided us valuable information .You have done a marvelous job

surveillancekart
6 years ago

Måns did the opposite to Conchita and won, Jamala did opposite to Måns and won. Those who do the opposite to what Salvador did will end up very high and win.

pestveda
6 years ago

few years, after Conchita, 2015 was full of ballads but in the end the winning songs was different. In 2016, Ukraine had a song which wasn’t similar

Heiki
Heiki
6 years ago

Of does 1200 songs, one of them are produced by no other than the legendary guitar player james burton that played 1128 shows with elvis presley from 1969- 1977. If its good enough for the contest, its hard to say, but it was good enough for the kings men to put their name on it, and that is a quality sign anyway you put it ! Its produced by the best musicians in the world, rock n roll hall of fame

Harpsichord
Harpsichord
6 years ago

Eurovision2017’s Aleksander from NORWAY sang ITALIAN OPERA ” Il barbiere di Siviglia” on NRK tv show was PERFECT .https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udXVYK6QYiE

json formatter
6 years ago

There are very many talented people engaged in next year’s MGP!

Music Is the Key
Music Is the Key
6 years ago

With so many songs…..why on earth have they dropped the semis?? They should come back!

Anyway – I hope MGP will be good! In many ways, I prefer MGP to MF. More REAL musical diversity. more brave / Daring songs. At least at their best. And focus on MUSIC….MF is FAR too much about glamour, kitsch and gimncks…more like a caberat. MGP is more “serious”, more music focused (as ESC shuld be), more credible…just BETTER! Sometimes also musically better….At least way better than the Icenalidc / Dnaish finals which usually just consist of generic pop

Music Is the Key
Music Is the Key
6 years ago

actually think Finland has the best finals / songs of the ordic countries lots of rock, more alternative / different / orginal sounding and daring songs. So I hope most for them 🙂 Norway maybe 2nd.

I wasn’t fond of old Norwegian entries and NFs….they have become better! Before they seemd to lack self confidence, and the music was too “Eurovisionary”

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

1200 songs? That’s a lot! I can’t imagine folks in Norway deciding on which 10 song will go the grand final! On the other hand, among so many songs, there must be sth good! Nowray is a country with an interesting path in the contest. Years they fail to qualify, years where they qualify but they do really bad, years where they do really well. Not to mention 2009 where not only did they win, but with a great amount of points which was a record at the time. (I think it still is if we take into account to… Read more »

Gorilla716
Gorilla716
6 years ago

I really hope there won’t be any dated ballads similar to Amar pelos dois at Melodi Grand Prix

Jake
Jake
6 years ago
Reply to  Gorilla716

still loving that no matter the article topic — there’s always someone that needs to take a dig at Amar Pelos Dois/Salvador/Portugal in general.

when will the bitterness end?

Gorilla716
Gorilla716
6 years ago
Reply to  Jake

I’m assuming that you’re either Portuguese or at least a fan of Salvador. Anyways, I’m not a fan of Amar pelos dois but I’m not bitter about its victory either because it did win fair and square. What I worry about is that Salvador’s victory will mean that Eurovision next year will be full of old-fashioned songs and that radio-friendly songs will be on the decline.

thespb01
thespb01
6 years ago
Reply to  Gorilla716

Gorilla716 – I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about. I don’t think there was anything similar to Jamala this year.

Gorilla716
Gorilla716
6 years ago
Reply to  thespb01

Origo from Hungary was kinda similar.

Music Is the Key
Music Is the Key
6 years ago
Reply to  thespb01

or something similar to Rise Like a Phonix…THAT was a boring ballad! Unlike the wonderful Amar pelos dois

Denis
Denis
6 years ago
Reply to  Gorilla716

Yes, there is always those countries who will try to copy what worked last year. Like Sergey. But those who end up succesfull are those who do the opposite. Måns did the opposite to Conchita and won, Jamala did opposite to Måns and won. Those who do the opposite to what Salvador did will end up very high and win. Providing the act is good of course.

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago
Reply to  Gorilla716

That concerns me too!
According to who won the year before, many countries try to copy that, because they think it will be successful. It’s doesn’t work like that. A song must be distinguished from the others win.
Especially the last few years, after Conchita, 2015 was full of ballads but in the end the winning songs was different. In 2016, Ukraine had a song which wasn’t similar to any other song. In 2017, Portugal had a completely unique song compared to the others.
I really hope I won’t fall asleep in Eurovision 2018!

Aria
Aria
6 years ago
Reply to  Gorilla716

This criticism would continue till the first songs of 2018 are selected!! If they are dull and dated people would continue to blame last year’s winner and if they are modern and refreshing they will forget about last year’s ESC and focus on the new year.

I’ve not met one person though unhappy that Portugal won. Criticism of Jamala ended (mostly) after the NF season started as people were then criticising the abundance of Ballads this year.

Polska
Polska
6 years ago
Reply to  Gorilla716

Well there may few dated ballads in the 10 but Norway will not send such dated ballad.They are very serious about ESC but more about music quality.

ninasublatti
ninasublatti
6 years ago

Let’s hope for something less bland and mediocre than Grab the moment

Montell
Montell
6 years ago
Reply to  ninasublatti

Are you kidding me? Grab the Moment is not bland nor mediocre. The 10th place is well deserved.

thespb01
thespb01
6 years ago
Reply to  Montell

Montell – Hear hear.

Nicky
Nicky
6 years ago
Reply to  ninasublatti

@ ninasublatti:

I absolutely agree on this. “Grab the moment” is such a weak and bland song that it almost hurts. A very undeserved qualifier in my book and one of the most overrated entries in the history of Eurovision. A big fat 0/10

Mark
Mark
6 years ago

It’s not quantity that’s important, it’s quality

beccaboo1212
6 years ago

And do I dare hope that JOWST will finally film a new music video for “Grab the Moment”? 😮