Melodi Grand Prix 2023 returned for semi-final 2 on Saturday evening.
Following a shake-up of the national selection, we no longer have duels or automatic qualifiers. Instead, each semi-final is a free-for-all battle between seven competing acts.
Three qualifier spots to the grand final were up for grabs.
Melodi Grand Prix 2023 semi-final 2
Results: The three qualifiers
For the heats of Melodi Grand Prix 2023, the outcome will just be down to the public. Viewers can choose three acts to qualify for the grand final on 4 February.
The qualifiers were revealed in random order.
- Swing’it – “Prohibition”
- JONE – “Ekko Inni Meg”
- Elsie Bay – “Love You in a Dream”
Non-qualifiers
- Sandra Lyng – “Drøm d bort”
- Alejandro Fuentes – “Fuego”
- ELLA – “Waist”
- Bjørn Olav Edvardsen – “Turn Off My Heart”
?? Love Elsie Bay in a dream, love her on the #mgp2023 stage! #eurovision #nrkmgp pic.twitter.com/p6StjIaCIr
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) January 21, 2023
Running order
- JONE – “Ekko Inni Meg”
- Sandra Lyng – “Drøm d bort”
- Alejandro Fuentes – “Fuego”
- Swing’it – “Prohibition”
- Elsie Bay – “Love You in a Dream”
- ELLA – “Waist”
- Bjørn Olav Edvardsen – “Turn Off My Heart”
Are your surprised by the results? Who are your favourites from semi-final 2? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Jone’s song is plagiarism:
Sagi Abitbul – Macha
https://youtu.be/nAkMyzEODaA
I think Ulrikke has it in the pocket!
Songs from Heat 3 are out! Thoughts?
A lot of cliches in this heat. I don’t love it, except maybe “Freya”
I think I like “Masterpiece” too, maybe “Not Meant to Be”
I feel like the heat 3 early frontrunners are solid yet safe. Freya has the Scandinavian feel I expected but yet it didn’t resonate with me as much as I wanted it to on first listen. Masterpiece, Break it and Not Meant to Be are all nice ballads but too safe once again. The other three songs are not to my liking. All in all my winner of this year’s MVP is still Ulrikke
Anything for Liverpool but Ulrikke (cliched and dated) and Elsie Bay (predictable and Billie Ellish-impersonation) – both hyped up by NRK! Love Prohibition and Freya! Great stuff in very different ways!
JONE needs to win MGP!
Jone’s song isn’t eligible for Eurovision.
You aren’t eligible for Eurovision.
… crickets
Ella A didn’t perform Waist well enough to qualify. If you’re gonna do an up-tempo Brazilian funk song, then do it right. I was expecting twerking & fierce choreography, but Ella left the stage during the chorus and let the dancers do the dancing instead, I was SO disappointed!
This semi wasn’t good at all. Jone’s song isn’t eligible for ESC (its also annoying) and Elsie Bay’s song is boring.
I can see a hype around the jazz act of Swing it! That song could actually do very well in Eurovision if it won the Norsk MGP. It has a message, the show element, nice vocals, lots of things to see on stage. And it’s a happy, fresh song. Dark horse? Another dark horse for me is Jone (that sami joik makes it awesome!). Well done, Norway, this year!
The part the girl sings is actually not Sami joik but a way of singing in Norwegian folk mucic called «kvede».
Don’t really care too much about MGP, but Jone’s track has grown on me and I think it would make for a quite decent entry, certainly preferable to Norway’s last two gimmicks.
Agree! It’s on my repeat playlist already! Love the trance vibe and that sami joik by the girl!
The part the girl sings is actually not Sami joik but a way of singing in Norwegian folk mucic called «kvede».
And Jone’s entry is way more current than any other entry in this year’s MGP
in other news maria’s freya got leaked online
I already know Freya, it´s quite good.
Even if there’s still one heat to go I still think that the Golden duel will be Ulrikke vs Swing it or Ulrikke vs Alessandra.
But everybody deserves to win and I will be happy for Norway whatever happens.
With having 3 similar female ballad/vocalists (Ulrikke, Elsie, and Maria) trying to win votes from one another I’m thinking Jone might step out and surprise us all and win.
Triumph and Queen of Kings will most likely be stealing votes from each other as well.
Can’t see Umami Tsunami winning but who know! Have to wait until the next semi to see if this sticks.
Remains still the swing song….
I know it’s gonna sound basic af but Elsie Bay once again has my favorite song of the entire NF season just like last year, and I don’t think any other future NF can top it. Love You In A Dream is such a masterfully composed song, and truly shows how one should do a ballad in Eurovision. I truly hope to see her win
THIS
The song is just so beautifully written, masterpiece lyrics.
GUYSSS : “Freya” is out…. MASTERPIECE !!!! <3 Better than Ulrikke for me !
Already everything is better than Ulrikke.
Yes absolutely !!
Can someone please tell me when Tiril’s song “Break It” is released? I have to add it to the playlist!
Tonight (12 pm)
I hope Alessandra will win (I love Ulrikke too but attention was better.)
Jone : very good !
Elsie Bay : very good and the staging is better than 2022. Voice not perfect but for the final, I think its the case
Swing’it : very fun, different & original, not boring or old. I’m happy !
For the final, I think its either Ulrikke, Alessandra Mele and maybe Maria Celin with “Freya” !
For me personally it´s almost everything except Ulrikke…..
Ulrikke is a potential top 10 at Eurovision for sure!
Then I don’t understand, because on Eurovision News and on predictions, she is one of the favorites of Eurofans so I don’t really understand those who don’t like her song…
I’m waiting for the full version of Maria Celin and Akuvi to decide but Maria Celin I think she can win!
sandra staging is hmn not what I expected, idk why they think bringing slanderman is a good idea. They should keep her alone on the stage and with some lighting it would be just fine.
the “slendermen” (is that what they’re going for?” look like something out of Doctor Who. In fact, they actually remind me of the Silence https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/40WD7vqVPfRPcbZF029sZhB/the-silence.
You read the lyrics of Sandra’s song?
Who used autotune
Will Silke sing live at some point? I’m not sure the performance without her could compete at ESC like that according to the rules
That is if Jone wins. Wait two weeks and we will see.
Sandra was robbed. I’m lost for words.
Akuvi will save this competition next week
I’m looking forward to the full version of Freya
just one day and we will finally get it
Rewatched some of the performances and the end of “Love You in a Dream” is rough. Hoping it sounds better in the final because it’s definitely my favorite as a song.
Well shame about Drøm d Bort 🙁 but not complaining about the three qualifiers either!
I say this without having seen the actual show, don’t know how good they sound live
Jone. Just Jone. That’s all I have to say. Thanks
Elsie sounding that bad even with the autotune is a clear indication as to why they use it in this show 😛
ever thought that its impossible for your voice to crack when using autotune? she didnt use autotune
I liked Sandra Lyng more than Swing’it. Swing’it reminded me a bit to Citi Zeni (and we know now how it worked…)
Ella was interesting too, but it felt like something was missing in that performance
Dear Norway, please select Jone. Thank you. Greetings from Serbia
Elsie bay was probably the least interesting of the qualifiers. It sounds like the type of song you expect to find in a final.
Swing`it on the other hand was such a joy to watch and listen to! Breath of fresh air! I do not think they could win it all but I would love it..
I was almost certain that with this RO that Jone wouldn’t have made it through, but so happy he did. I’m also happy with Swing’It qualifying. Their performance and song set them apart from the rest. Elsie wasn’t surprising, but I feel she could have written a more original song instead of nearly copying The Death Of Us with different lyrics. All-in-all, I’m happy with the qualifiers. On to next week.
What’s all the crying over Ella about?
Weak song and weak performance, was lacking A LOT to make any comparison to Chanel and Slo Mo.
Since when Slomo was a strong song?
the only thing we compared with slomo is the type of song
and many ppl including mr really adored it whats ur problem? ur gonna eat us?
It’s harsh, but true (re Ella)!
Absolutely !
Ella was so good. Such a sexy and energetic performance.
Elsey had terrible vocals tonight. Very bad. That wouldn’t qualify in the Eurovision.
I believe the four slenderman scared the bejeezus out of the Norwegian people and that kept Sandra in the semi. How did that go from “oh look it’s like Demi on the box” to “WTF am I watching?!?” in less than 3 minutes.
Don’t think the intro section did Ella any favours – she didn’t come across well. Personally I’m not bothered, but agree that NRK was unkind to her in the replay.
Congrats to the qualifiers. My thoughts on the non-qualifiers:
– I am glad we don’t have to hear those rude lyrics to “Waist” ever again.
– Sandra did really well, and I hope she can release the song later.
– Alejandro could have gone to Benidorm Fest.
– Bjørn’s song was so wonderfully simple. Nice to hear key of C major. Then, there was a key change. 🙂
What rude words?
Shut up (rude) and watch my waist (no).
Are you five lol what is this comment
These are my opinions. What is your comment intended as?
thats call seducing pal and its part of romance
so everyone accoridng to this genius romance is rude
Indeed. 🙂
Didn’t watch all performances yet, but Norway, how could you do this?? No Ella in the final? Her performance was so good, she would be a great act in the Eurovision, the song is so different from all Norway has ever sent!
There´s still Alessandra with a much better performance.
Sometimes, you need a surprise qualifier to shake things up. Otherwise, it will get boring.
Managed to guess all the finalists correctly! Voted for Jone because I’m obsessed with his song since I heard it for the first time. I even learned all the lyrics in less than a day though I didn’t know any word in Norwegian before. But his live (if I can call it live) performance left me a bit disappointed. In order to have chances to go to Liverpool he definitely has to change the staging, particularly during chorus – I thought for a moment that he is unsure of how should he act and move. And to my mind, Silke’s… Read more »
I would switch Swing’it with Ella and then im happy.
We need diverse final and not 9 pop songs
Elsie is not a pop song?
I said an example 😉 lol
A cliché generic ballad, a Melfest reject and a weak song with questionable lyrics and a dull performance. Big pass for me personally.
I’m curious as to what Iceland will bring.
Exactly which song are you referring to?
Again I rewatched Ella’s perf and really no WAIST is a big WASTE for me. 🙁
What happened to the auto-tune? Was it just me or could we actually hear their real voices tonight including lots of dodgy notes. Typically the music and backing tracks drown MGP singers but all the voices came through very clear tonight.
I guess the singers made the decision not to use autotune onto to prove that they are singing live, even if it’s at the cost of perfect notes.
Will def vote Prohibition in the Grand Final in Trondheim. Neither Bay nor Ulrikke do it for me. One puts me to sleep and the other one feels terribly cliched!
But thats your problem – seems like other love it
Not really a problem … that taste differs? Is it?
Both maybe
I feel Elsie just rewrote her song from last year and sent it off to MGP. As for Ulrikke, I don’t hear much difference between Honestly and Never Enough from The Greatest Showman (the one sung by Alexandra Rotan when she preformed it on Stjernekamp last year).
Well observed!!!
Swing It is the big surprise! We can’t deny that their performance stood out and was good and polished but it remains a surprise for me, but anyway congrats to them, deserved, they did a good job. When Maruv meets Chanel you got Ella who was my absolute winner tonight….Norway I don’t understand you on this, she brought something so fresh so sexy, and that beat! It still in my head. Jone and Elsie were very good too congrats to them, deserved too, but I keep Ella in my head pretty sure she would have done something explosive in Eurovision… Read more »
u are literally inside my head rn
Norway surprise us and create an exceptionnal wildcard and they bring Ella in final, it would be cool 😉
Ella dancing skills were very weak, just as the music. Nothing comparable to Chanel and Slo Mo
WAIST is even more sexy and explosive than SLOMO, and WAIST has a memorable beat.
Your queen had her time, she did well but she is not unbeatable.
Fuego out and swing it in, leave it to the Norwegians to make the wrong choice.
Rooted for Jone and Elsie anyway, didn’t care for third qualifier tbh
thoughts Jone: mixed-positive feelings good vocals expected a bit more staging ( didnt liek that woman) but overall good ( i think this year this staging has ruined edm songs like qok and this one) Sandra: despite the meaning, nothing that great Alejandro: not going to talk Swing it: im not mad they qualified they seem really fun Elsie: served despite cracking a little much better staging than 2022 (im gonna writ for ella after bjorn i got lots to say) Bjorn: sweet but boring Ella: well im an ella stan all the way but i think its really rough… Read more »
Good news is that Ulrikke and Bay-girl going through may split the vote in the final – and then give way to a third entry!!! Exciting!!!
Don’t forget, there will be a jury vote in the final so they could attract jury points.
True! With likes of Wiwibloggs (bias, bias, bias – with the exception of Deban) on the panel they definitely will!
Jone had the best performance of the night.
I wish I agreed! His song was my favorite going into tonight, but the performance let me down a bit. His awkwardness during the female vocal bits threw me.
Apparently he broke his ribs, he had choreography but he didn’t want to risk hurting himself so he just relaxed a bit during those parts, hopefully he comes back with a bang in February.
Ouch, that’s going to hurt. Hopefully he’ll be healed enough to do more choreography on February or do more readjustment to make it more active while still take care of his ribs.
Elsie’s performance was beautiful, she really crushed it with the staging this time. I only wish her vocals were a little more secure, her voice “broke” a few times and I found it a little distracting. Especially when the camera cuts away during the pre-recorded “big” note so you only see the dancers, that felt like a trick. Hoping she drinks a bit more tea with honey for the finale. It would be amazing if we could somehow combine Elsie’s songwriting and creativity with Ulrikkes stellar vocals. Elsies song is beautiful but her performing is a bit shaky, meanwhile Ulrikke… Read more »
Literally this!
It’s exactly how I feel. Ulrikke’s song is a ballad by the books, but she’s a terrific live performer. Elsie has a song with much more character, but still feels like an unexperienced singer. It doesn’t help either that their previous efforts are so alive on our minds yet.