The songs are out, and when it comes to Semi-Final 1 of Melodi Grand Prix 2022, these four artists are in: Mira Craig, Frode Vassel, Trollfest and Eline Noelia.
Semi-Final 1 of Norway’s Eurovision 2022 selection takes place this Saturday, 15 January. Ahead of that, we really need to know: Who is your favourite?
Mira Craig – “We Still Here”
Lyrics and music: Mira Craig and Bård Berg
Mira Craig (39) is an established artist and songwriter from Oslo. Among other things, she has written the Norwegian winning song from the Melodi Grand Prix in 2008, “Hold On Be Strong”, which was sung by Maria Haukaas Mittet. It was the very first song Mira wrote as a 15-year-old, and it got a strong 5th place in Eurovision. Mira herself debuted as an artist with the single “Boogeyman” in 2005 and has since had several hits on VG-lista in Norway. Snoop Dogg was interested in the Norwegian musician at Quartfestivalen in 2005 and has used her “Dinner in Bed” on the album “Welcome to tha Chuuch: The Album”. Mira has been nominated for several Spellemann Awards in Norway, the Alarm Award, and the MTV Europe Music Awards. Throughout her career, she has worked with major international artists and producers, and has played for over 100,000 people at home and abroad. “We Still Here” is the first single on her upcoming album number seven.
Frode Vassel: «Black Flowers»
Lyrics and music: Frode Vassel, Benjamin Larsen, Niklas Rosström and Celine Alette Pedersen Breivoll
Frode Vassel (40) was born and raised outside Bergen on the west coast of Norway but has lived in Oslo half of his life. He has travelled around Europe and been on the Eurovision stage with JOWST in Kiev (2017), Rybak in Lisbon (2018) and helped KEIINO to victory among the audience votes in Tel Aviv 2019. Now it’s Frode’s turn to be in the spotlight. Frode Vassel is a very experienced artist who has performed with many well-known Norwegian artists such as Ylvis, Maria Mena and Åge Sten Nilsen, and has solid solo experience and musical background. In the spring of 2021, he was participating in The Voice. As a father of three in a time of climate crisis, Frode will now put all his energy into the song “Black Flowers”.
Trollfest: «Dance Like a Pink Flamingo»
Lyrics and music: Eirik Renton and Jostein Austvik
TrollfesT came to the world in 2003 when a group of men got tired of available party music. They really wanted to do something about it themselves, and the rest is history. With a love of metal and music from the Balkans, they use instruments such as saxophone, accordion and synth that are mixed with an extreme expression. The last crucial ingredient is a great dose of madness and humor, and the result is something they call “True Norwegian Balkan Metal”. With this formula, TrollfesT has toured over large parts of the world since 2007 and released eight albums. The band delivers terrific concerts with lots of audience interaction, where everything is allowed if it’s fun. Now the folk metal octet is ready for the Melodi Grand Prix with a new concept, where the flamingos are about to take over the world.
Eline Noelia: «Ecstasy»
Lyrics and music: Eline Noelia Myreng, Audun Agnar Guldbrandsen and Tea Megaard
Eline Noelia Myreng is a 22-year-old artist and songwriter from Tønsberg. She comes from a very musical family, which naturally has left its mark on her own dreams. It started with Christian pop and children’s albums, but she eventually moved into regular pop. As an artist, Eline is inspired by the catchy pop from the 2010s, but also legends from the 90s. Eline has worked with music full time for several years, including as a singer in the event industry. She has also spent considerable time in the studio. When the Tønsberg girl studied pop music at Limpi, her career as a singer really begun and she became acquainted with the producer Audun Agnar Gulbrandsen. “Ecstasy” is the result of their first studio session together and was the start of a major project.
I think Ecstasy is phenomenal in studio, but man, those vocals are gonna be challenging to say the least, and she will need a lot of stamina. Constant G5-s in the refrain, and at the end, she even reaches C6 with mixed voice.
And if she wins her battle, she will have to repeat it. I’m rooting for her vocal chords.
Trollfest is just so absurd, but as a metal fan, i think it would be cool to see a traditional metal song at eurovision. the screaming is mainly why i love it
This is a great semi-final! But, I have a doubt, do MGP semi-finals generally have only four songs? Because it seemed a bit less to me. Can anyone tell me the itinerary of the show?
And, can international viewers vote too?
It used to be 2 pairs of competing songs with only one overall winner going to the final + the performance of one of the pre-qualified finalists. So overall it adds up to seven performances per semi-final (two of them are “repeats”). Maybe they’re gonna shake up the format a little, idk
I’m sorry to say this but this is a bad semi-final..
Oh, it’s okay, you’re just wrong!
I wonder if we international fans will be able to vote through the website on Saturday and in the whole show in general like last year.
For those who like TrollfesT: If you want a good metal band, click this link: https://youtu.be/KHCIO7a3jSI
i was expecting a rick roll
I agree that this semi isn’t the most impactful one in comparison with others. I guess that Black Flowers would be the best song here, even if I’d give Pink Flamingos the edge of being the most memorable one. I don’t have a strong opinion on the other two. They aren’t bad by any means, but in a context of MGP 2022 I wouldn’t put them high in my ranking.
Not one song i dont like here. All great in their own way. I don’t think that has ever happend before in a Norwegian semi. It will all come down to the live performances who I want to win this, but for now it should be either Eline or TrollfesT most likely.
Okay, you know what, I feel like I start to warm up to this year’s entries. In this particular semi I love three (!) songs, Mira being somewhat an outsider for me. Ecstasy is simply phenomenal (that chorus and those horns, woof!), Trollfest are epic and funny, Black Flowers is stylish even if a tad outdated. Looking forward to Saturday now, the party’s getting started!
It’s not the strongest semi so I’m going with Trollfest because at least it stands out from the other 3.
Definitely Trollfest. What a song!
Trollfest got my vote. It has the most immediate impact and I really enjoy the chorus, it is very catchy and memorable. I also enjoy Black Flowers and the other two are not bad, although did not have the same initial impact.
Sorry cant vote. Some songs are geoblocked in my country
Trollfest is my favourite song from this semi. It is the most original, innovative and interesting musically song. It has to be a finalist!
Trollfest. While they do a good job at mixing heavy metal with Balkan folk music, the lyrics to “Dance like a pink flamingo” is hilarious. If Norway sends this instead of a pop singer, Eurovision will be back to its natural weirdness.
Definitely a finalist for me in this year’s MGP.
This is the only semifinal I don’t like a single song. May the most entertaining win.
It’s not the strongest collection of songs but, if she can get anywhere near the studio version vocally, I find Eline Noelia’s song the most promising.
No strong preference but I voted Trollfest. Its more my kind of music generally, but the other 3 acts aren’t bad either.
I have the feeling last years MGP was much better 🙁
It seems that Black Flowers would dominate this semifinal. It does stand out
Yeah, that’s what I thought too! I hope it qualifies!!!!
I voted Black Flowers, but it doesn’t matter who wins this semi, because it is the weakest anyways.
Me too! I do admit that this semifinal is kinda weak… Hope that Black Flowers will qualify