Agnete was bringing ice princess realness to the first rehearsal of her song “Icebreaker”. The staging was based on the performance that took her to victory at Norway’s Melodi Grand Prix, but with a few changes for the Globe.

Having previously cut down on her pre-Eurovision workload to focus on her mental health, Agnete looked like the rest had done her good, delivering strong rehearsal performances.

Agnete wore the same two-piece white ice princess outfit from the national final, with a long white skirt and a midriff-exposing white top in cut-out fabric, accented with long icy-white fingernails.

The staging at Norway’s national final involved Agnete standing on top of a box, while a dancer delivered an interpretive performance inside it. The box hasn’t made it to Stockholm, and has instead been replaced with two short raised platforms, one for Agnete, one for her dancer.

Agnete soon steps off her platform and moves around the stage, while the dancer remains on her own platform, delivering an interpretive dance performance. The first run-through revealed a wedgie issue for the dancer, but that’s what rehearsals are there to fix.

The performance includes plenty of swooping shots of the stage, creating an epic sense of drama, just like the Arctic landscape evoked by the lyrics.

By the third run-through, the “Icebreaker” performance was looking slick and professional, with Norway looking like one of the countries who were able to deliver finals-quality staging at their first rehearsal.

Norway: First rehearsal at Eurovision 2016

Agnete’s “Icebreaker”: Reviews and Reactions

Read all of our Eurovision rehearsal reviews

Photo: Eurovision.tv (EBU)

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DeepNight
DeepNight
7 years ago

I think Agnete deserves a lot of respect for being open about depression. many people suffer from that. Why make it a taboo? It’s common. I can relate to some of her problems. She is a good role model. And the song is very good also I think.

Sunny
Sunny
7 years ago

For me this is the biggest grower! I really love the song. It’s in my top 10!

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
7 years ago

I miss the ice cube!

David Who
David Who
7 years ago

I like Agnete as an artist, but I’m sorry I don’t like the song at all. To me it feels the opposite musically to what it is supposed to be lyrically; and it just jarrs my nerves badly every time I hear it. If you’re being an Icebreaker then surely the music should speed up in the chorus, not slow down?! Unless the song is referring to an icebreaking ship? Perhaps what it needs is a lighthouse! (Croatia joke :D). From MGP, “Afterglow” was my personal favourite, and I don’t understand why it came 4th. I’m still not over that.… Read more »

Leaf
Leaf
7 years ago

I want her to qualify because I am afraid she is gonna do something to herself if she doesn’t.
And health is the most important thing in the world and she should take care of herself.

I kinda feel that the bipolar thing is the hidden message of her song.

Meaning, the not very subtle key change can be taken as a metaphor for a mood swing.
I see the bigger picture now and it kinda makes me appriciate the song a bit more.

SLY
SLY
7 years ago

This song is groving in me!!!!

Leo
Leo
7 years ago

She is vocally flawless ! And she’s so strong ,I mean I admire her decision to compete despite the concerns about her mental health

Layla
Layla
7 years ago

@HELLAS FOR NORGE
I read a few minutes, that a year ago she underwent severe depression and now what was happening to her is simply complications of depression. She must be really strong to come to the competition. I really admire her.
People who laugh at their problems have to be heartless

Marc
Marc
7 years ago

It would be so hard for her if she won’t qualify which is very possible.
I think she thought when she won MGP that she would be one of the favourites to win, but eurovision fans and bets didn’t respond that well to her song, and then in Norway, Icebreaker was a big flop in sales.. so was maybe too much for her and she became ill.

Denis
Denis
7 years ago

From my reading and understanding she isn’t diagnosed yet but is getting there. She battled depression for a long time and had suicidal thoughts. She has bipolar disorder, meaning her mood swings and all that.
It was strong of her to compete despite all the difficulties. And with a performance like that he should have no problem reaching the top 10, maybe even a dark horse top 5

Marc
Marc
7 years ago

I can’t understand if Agnete has the serious problems that someone from Norwegian delegation and people around Agnete let her to compete, knowing how much pression and how hard is comete in Eurovision.

Marc
Marc
7 years ago

“Afterglow” would have been better yes, but it will happen the same than Silent storm and A monster like me: flop with public saved by juries.
Norway had “Feel da rush” that has been a huge success in Norway and it would break the public voting so easy, so different from the always boring calculated eurovision songs.

HELLAS FOR NORGE
HELLAS FOR NORGE
7 years ago

@layla.from what i read she is diagnosed with bipolar disease.. From an early age she faced mental proplems such as suicide thoughts.. She said that she always sees the negative aspect of a thing and she is really pessimistic..

Vladimir
Vladimir
7 years ago

This is my second favorite and I hope she does well. I don’t understand the whole “mental health” issue. Does NRK have a PR person there? Are they aware that they made it sound like Agnete was one tiny step from nervous breakdown?

Layla
Layla
7 years ago

Apparently she is sick, but it’s nothing, because she’s still perfect.

By the way… Could someone explain to me what’s going on with her ??mental health?

Ron
Ron
7 years ago

Glad to see her doing well. Fingers crossed for her.

Daniel E.
Daniel E.
7 years ago

I love this, top 5 for me!

Darren
Darren
7 years ago

Norway Norway Norway….when I heard Agnete first the song was confusing, I loved the build up, I was expecting a new Euphoria moment for the contest, then the mid-tempo chorus came in….after a few listens, it grew on me BUT this is the worst Norwegian entry since Stooji. They had an amazing run from 2013-2015 but this year they let me down. I don’t think Norway should qualify, but I have a strong feeling, they will blast into the final placing between 6-10. But for me, Norway is borderline.

NN
NN
7 years ago

Tom

I agree Afterglow wili be better choice for Norway this year. They made mistake also in 2014 my favorite from MGP was High Hopes. I predict winner of MGP 2013 and 2015 becase I feed you my love and Monster like me was my favorite after preview audio tracks of all songs from MGP.

Tom
Tom
7 years ago

@Marc, Afterglow would have been a much better choice to represent Norway. Would have stood out among the fast-paced tracks this year.

ESCArgy
ESCArgy
7 years ago

Amazing song and performer, Norway has to qualify.

Marc
Marc
7 years ago

If she has this issue why is she participating? Health is first, always.
I’m glad they took off the horrible non-sense box. But for me Norway should not qualify, Icebreaker is too weak and bad, Norway deserved much better than this.

Österrike
Österrike
7 years ago

The only place on the internet that uses the fake word “realness” is here

Denis
Denis
7 years ago

Norway might have money to transport, but maybe Agnete didn’t want the box? The artist and the HOD chooses the staging and it look like they didn’t thought it would fit.
She till will qualify, it’s a strong song. Not the stronges of Norway’s entries but strong enough.

Please take note that Agnete has “mental health issues”, as she described it. Or severe depression if you will. She wants to focus on her and the performances, nothing else.

oooops
oooops
7 years ago

Nicky91, Agnete is at the moment in a depression, even if this song isn’t among my finalists, I wish her good luck and that she has a good time in Stockholm

james
james
7 years ago

wiwi “journalists” – please come up with other words to use to describe things. you’ve used “realness” in the titles of four rehearsal reviews this week alone:

“ARMENIA: IVETA MUKUCHYAN NAILS HER FIRST REHEARSAL — WITH HOLOGRAMS AND BURLESQUE REALNESS”

“FINLAND: SANDHJA SERVES DISCOTHEQUE REALNESS DURING FIRST REHEARSAL”

“POLAND: MICHAL SZPAK SERVES ANDROGYNOUS REALNESS IN FIRST REHEARSAL”

“NORWAY: AGNETE DELIVERS ICE PRINCESS REALNESS AT FIRST REHEARSAL”

http://wiwibloggs.com/?s=realness

it’s lazy writing.

you

Nicky91
Nicky91
7 years ago

Agnete also no interviews, no press conferences, no promotions, i wouldn’t be surprised if she doesn’t do the red carpet as well 🙁

Andreas Alexander
7 years ago

I miss the box too .. :/ The stageing now, looks kind of boring. Of course, I hope I’m wrong. Not sure if Norway will qualify for the final

TomTomTom
TomTomTom
7 years ago

To have a box, or not to have a box….that isn’t the question.

The point is the song itself. I am sure Agnete will do well in the semi. The honestly, the creative tempo shifts, the atmosphere, the overall feel of the song. Wonderful. And the lyrics are just amazing. So touching.

Silverade
Silverade
7 years ago

What to say about this…

It’s a so themed song (ice, cold, etc.) that you just pay attention to this and get lost finding the message of the song (if it has one)

It’s still a qualifier because it looks cool (not cold, HEH) but really this one should not go higher than 15th.

Nancy.
Nancy.
7 years ago

@nn OMG you say they “ruin” the performance by removing this huge , useless box? Okay you might like it but , we can’t talk abput “ruining” a song only because there isnt the box!

Hi
Hi
7 years ago

No no no.

nn
nn
7 years ago

Norway in last two year ruin their performance at Eurovision. First last year and again this year. For me better staging and camera work Debra i Morland had at MGP , same with Agnete better is staging with box.
I can believe that NRK and rich Norway, don t have money to transport box from Norway to Sweden.

Nick
Nick
7 years ago

NOOOOOOOOOO I want the MPG staging!! I want the box BACK!!! ;( ;(