Today the Wiwi Jury – our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — continued our tour of the land of fjords by visiting Bergen. After serving fish in the Bergen Aquarium, we settled down to review the ten acts competing in Norway’s national final, Melodi Grand Prix 2018. Next up, we look at Ida Maria and her song “Scandilove”. Do we want to listen to this song all night long (like a Scandinavian)? Read on to find out!

Ida Maria – “Scandilove”

“Scandilove” reviews

Antranig: “Can you make love like a Scandinavian?” Ida Maria is asking all the important questions in life. I can’t decide if the song is trying to be a joke entry or not, but either way, this is lyrically one of my favourite songs of the 2018 national final season. This has the potential to be the runaway winner of MGP 2018 or to finish dead last. I can’t wait to see how Norway will treat it.

Score: 8.5/10

Bogdan: “Scandilove” could have been a hit in the ’90s. In 2018, it reads like a joke entry and while both the song and Ida have their redeeming qualities — and I’m sure the live performance will be epic — I can’t possibly take it seriously in the running for representing Norway at Eurovision. There are definitely better entries in Melodi Grand Prix.

Score: 5.5/10

Jonathan: Initially this was a guilty pleasure. Now it’s just a pleasure. “Scandilove” is just so quirky and catchy that it’s hard not to fall in love and jam out every time it comes on. The lyrics are some of the best of this year’s national final season (though there would of course need to be a few alterations if it were to go to Eurovision). It will be interesting to see how this is staged. But if they can create something as epic as “Swedish Smorgasbord” with only six people, then this could be a great choice for Norway.

Score: 9/10

Robyn: This is going to be a Marmite song (or should that be lutefisk?) — people will either love it or hate it. I’m firmly on the “love it” side. It’s fun, funny and has genuinely hilarious (and relatable) lyrics. And Ida Maria just seems like she’d be a really cool person to hang out with. When other national finals seem packed full of super serious songs about how messed up the world is, it is just so refreshing to find a singer who can gleefully be fun and entertaining.

Score: 10/10

Sebastian: “Scandilove” is my love. Ida Maria brings an ‘I don’t care what you think’ attitude which makes her song all that more endearing. Dripping in innuendos for three minutes, Scandilove could surely be an anthem for a generation of Scandinavians perceived as straight-laced, beige and prim to the outside world. It’s a headline-grabbing, toe-tapping entry that is so deserved for the win (if it can be sung live, of course).

Score: 8/10

Our jury for 2018 consists of 15 jurors, but we only have room for 5 reviews. The remaining 10 scores are listed below.

Antony: 4/10

Bernardo: 5/10

Chris: 8.5/10

Cinan: 6.5/10

Deban: 4/10

Josh: 8/10

Kristin: 9/10

Lukas: 6/10

Rezo: 4/10

Steinunn: 9/10

 

 

 

 

 

The highest and lowest scores are dropped prior to calculating the average score. This is to remove outliers and reduce potential bias. We have removed a low of 4 and a high of 10.

WIWI JURY SCORE: 7/10

READ THE FULL MELODI GRAND PRIX 2018 RANKINGS

READ MORE NORWAY EUROVISION NEWS

35 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

Interesting voice. However, I have some trouble with the lyrics. Nice beat, not a fan of the chorus.
5/10

iosa
iosa
6 years ago

Ridiculously catchy…. and just cant get it outta my head ??????

poison
poison
6 years ago

This song’s lyrics song like they were written by an 11 year old boy trying to sound grown up, with the predictable result. Very juvenile.

Danny McEvoy
Danny McEvoy
6 years ago

Just covered this one on YT…and the lyric out there says You could be the fireman and I could be a cat Stalking a tree”….surely she means “Stuck up a Tree”!!!

Danny

Safiya
Safiya
6 years ago

It’s catchy and all but… I can see people everywhere saying “OMG this song is hilarious” and I don’t get why? Okay, so she’s talking about sex and? What’s so funny? It’s not even that clever :/ Just unfunny jokes about making love? How old are we?

Amor
Amor
6 years ago
Reply to  Safiya

I don’t think that’s why people find this funny. I think what is so funny is her brazenness and kooky metaphors. Her all-around IDGAF attitude is funny.

Kris
Kris
6 years ago

I love this song. It is fun and quirky without being a joke entry. My no. 2 in Norway and quite far away from no. 3
A 8/10.

Amor
Amor
6 years ago

I really shouldn’t like this song but I REALLY REALLY like this song. I just think she needs to drop the sexual moaning in the background, get rid of the BIATCHES line and tweak the song here and there. If she has good staging this would be a nice entry to send to Eurovision but I think it would be shocking to some parents. Ida also wrote “Mama’s Boy” last year for the same contest and William ended up giving his 12 points to it. She also has some other good songs in the same vein: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkVy2FeqIyc

Mattias Sollerman
Mattias Sollerman
6 years ago

Please send this Norway.
1 vote = 1 respect for women.

Sabrina
Sabrina
6 years ago

“Who We Are” is the best song and “Talk to My Hand” is a solid pop effort, but I wouldn’t mind at all if Norway decides to go with this one. Unlike many here I love the fact that Eurovision has been growing up recently (you can’t be a teenager forever y’all) but I still think that there’s space for acts that embrace fun without feeling remotely guilty about it. As long as you do that with personality. If you want something really fun to dance like nobody’s watching in Lisbon this is the one, not some generic songs built… Read more »

esc freak
esc freak
6 years ago

I can see why this would appeal to many people but it’s pretty annoying to me.

viola valentino
viola valentino
6 years ago

Snorefeast

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

So nice to see a relatively high score considering the bookies are sleeping on this. This is a rare case of comedy done right. I’d rather have this than any other MGP song, honestly–if your “serious” songs suck, go for comedy!

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

This is… very clever trash. 🙂
The ryhthmic fit to the word “Scandinavian” is so rediculously catchy, it might deserve an award all by itself. But put together with the “all night long” hook and the comedy lyrics to do with air temperatures and other stereotypes… this belongs in a hit musical. I hope I’m not alone in wanting this to WIN Norway’s selection this year. Time we had some fun! 200/10. 😛

Colin
Colin
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

I agree, it’s hilarious and I wouldn’t mind seeing it as a winner. For me, four songs are the best in MGP: Talk to the Hand, Scandilove, Moren din and Who We Are. Out of them, three of them have a degree of humor. However, 2018 isn’t really fond of humor, as seen by all NF thus far. So, I fully expect Rebecca to win, even if other 3 would stick out way more on this particullar ESC.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Colin

Rebecca’s official video is stunning, so yes I do expect this to win. Or possibly Alexander Rybak, because of the fame factor, and because he’s actually still a very good musician live. Funny how some people overlook that.

Colin
Colin
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Sure, Rebecca’s video is great and so is the song. In MPG, she sticks out as the only fully serious entry. However, I am always wondering how countries that pick their entry late never take in factor what already has been picked. I mean, if the year is already filled with ballads, uptempo should have advantage and vice versa. In this case, we don’t have many ballads, but most songs have deeper meaning and heavy lyrics, which should put joke entries in some kind of advantage. My 2 cents, anyway. About Rybak, I agree; He can sing and dance great!… Read more »

Kris
Kris
6 years ago
Reply to  Colin

I see you have been inspired a lot by ladi’s manner of speaking.

Ethan1994
Ethan1994
6 years ago

This song, along with Who We Are and Talk To The Hand are the ones I’d be happy to see win.

Ana
Ana
6 years ago

I loooove this song so much! I sang this again and again after I heard it in January. OK, it’s not ambitious, but it mixes pure fun, catchy melody and references to Scandinavia. My favourite MGP song together with “You got me” 🙂

Miguel
Miguel
6 years ago

I’m rooting for Ida Maria. I would prefer her to do something more her style / rock.
This song turned out a bit cliché, but the lyrics are funny, smart and well done. I hope she wins. I also know she will do well live.

chanson
chanson
6 years ago

I love the song and frankly I don’t see it as a joke entry or a guilty pleasure at all. It’s a fun song, and a funny song, but a joke entry? Nah.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
6 years ago

This is really fun and I always think that if your national final does not have a serious song done really well, it is better to go with fun done really well. I would much rather this won than a song like Rebecca’s. It is not a complete joke, either. Musically, there are some good things here.

Ari
Ari
6 years ago

It’s annoying as hell, which is unfortunate because I can really get behind the message of “Scandilove”.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Ari

The message? 😮
Ari, can you make love like a Scandinavian? That message?! 😀

Ari
Ari
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Yes, I think it is an awesome message. Who wouldn’t want to be loved by a Scandinavian? They’re gorgeous up there. 😉

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Ari

Having not personally experienced love making with a Scandinavian, I’ll have to take your word for it. 😀

Jelly
Jelly
6 years ago

Ida is my queen. I’m so rooting for her! Come on Norway, you can do it!

ssss
ssss
6 years ago

7? Oh wiwi

Pablo
Pablo
6 years ago

My trash queen :/

This drips of wacky, fun-loving Icona Pop influence, and will definetly be either your pleasure or your guilty pleasure, no other way. While I can’t see it winning (and sadly, can’t see it being performed well), I’m so glad this slice of fun is served right. And boy does it need edits if they going to send this to Eurovision

7/10

Erasmus
Erasmus
6 years ago

I like it. But live I think this will fail.

Matthew ESC
Matthew ESC
6 years ago

10/10 This is a lyrical masterpiece

ts
ts
6 years ago
Reply to  Matthew ESC

Completely agree with every single word written there! ;P

thespb01
thespb01
6 years ago

This is horrible. I love it.

Colin
Colin
6 years ago

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha 🙂

8/10