The Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — has travelled to Norway to review the songs competing in Melodi Grand Prix 2019. Ten years on from their last win, we are looking for the next Norwegian “Fairytale”. Our final stop in our Norwegian tour is the group KEiiNO with the song “Spirit in the Sky”. Are KEiiNO soaring to unparalleled heights? Read on to find out.
KEiiNO — “Spirit in the Sky”
“Spirit in the Sky” reviews
Antranig: “Spirit in the Sky” is better than life itself. This is by far one of the best entries across the entire national final season. It is modern and builds up with a catchy hook, before breaking out into traditional joik. This transcends musical genres and showcases traditional music in a manner that screams worldwide hit. Norway’s wait for a Eurovision victory might be half as long as Israel’s. If the live performance encapsulates that same magic, Eurovision 2019 may have just found its winner.
Score: 10/10
Antony:Â There is a unique quality to this song. That’s evident from the alteration of the different vocals throughout the song, but also that Sami, one of the official languages of Norway, is being featured in the song. All of this is strung together by an electro-dance beat with the result being a delightful song. This song should not be forgotten by jury and televoters during the national selection, as it could do remarkably well at Eurovision.
Score: 10/10
Robyn: This is very Scandi, in all ways, The verses have a cool modern electronic sound, before erupting into the 100% pure schlager chorus that has vague hints of ABBA. But then things get next level with the joik break (and this isn’t the only joik song aimed at Eurovision this year). The best thing is that it all works, an expertly crafted song that just builds and builds and feels Nordic. Norway would not go wrong sending this to Tel Aviv.
Score: 7.5/10
Oliver: This is one of, if not the best song that I have heard all national final season. I have been craving for one of the Scandinavian countries to send a modern song infused with Sami elements for ages now and finally my prayers have been answered. “Spirit in the Sky” is a modern pop song with an ethnic soul accompanied by pure, pristine vocals. I can not only see this winning Norway’s national final but also climbing the scoreboard in Tel Aviv this May.
Score: 10/10
Sebastian:Â “Spirit In The Sky” does so much right. Diverse voices, diverse languages and a beating instrumental really elevates the track. And while I can definitely see people jumping on this hype train, I’m not sure I’m boarding. It’s a little clunky and messy at points, most probably because of a heavy electronic sound which overpowers it. The live performance will dictate this song’s strength.
Score: 7.5/10
Deban:Â Less is more. However, if one is committed to cooking more, then cook it right! KEiiNO are master chefs of their craft. They’ve created the perfect musical dish that is bursting with flavour. The infectious chorus here ticks every box. It is lightly esoteric and majorly uplifting.
Score: 8.5/10
In our Melodi Grand Prix 2019 Wiwi Jury, we have 14 jurors but only room for 6 reviews. The rest of our scores can be found below:
| Florian:Â 5/10
Pablo: 10/10 Luis:Â 7/10 Renske:Â 6.5/10 |
Steinunn: 9/10
Bernardo: 8/10 Izhar: 8.5/10 Julian: 9/10 |
Before calculating the average score, the highest and lowest scores are dropped. This is to remove outliers and reduce potential bias. We have removed a low of 5 and a high of 10.
This song is just amazing. An absolute banger. And this year lacks bangers so far. Cyprus is not going to be the banger we are hoping for unfortunately based on the demo clip we heard. This is not a very contemporary song, but so wasn’t Euphoria. This is though as modern as schlager can get it and it’s done extremely well. And the inclusion of sami and Joik is just amazing. Anyone hating on the sami part should be ashamed of themselves – it’s literally like shaming a hole culture different than your own. I think this has a great… Read more »
This is just what Eurovision 2019 needs now. We have just too many ballads, we need some tacky upbeat Eurovision-ready music for a change.
This is like the right kind of tacky. Not my MGp favourite, but really enjoyable.
It reminds me quite a bit of Rednex and Roger Pontare which makes “Spirit in the sky” feel oddly dated to me.
But: The modulations of the melody in the end keep me freaking out everytime. I just HAVE to sing along. There is no escape.
anyway this is my fav song but god, i hate the part with the norwegian language.
There is no part in Norwegian here. The non-English parts are in Sami. It’s a minority language in Nordic countries.
i like the studio version, but how can you say it should win if you havent seen the live performance? i will wait
I like it, it’s fun. Not a winner tho, it’s kinda trashy.
I guess it will be this year’s “Yodel It”. I predict something like 7th in the final.
I think the wiki jury are showing their young age as it’s sounds like many musical theatre number that have been around a while and a repeate of Iceland’s and Sweden’s attempts to be authentic with a a kick of Eurovision by numbers. Don’t forget your furs to give it that 2004 feel! I don’t dislike it – just heard it before … 5/10
winner of eurovision 2019? Maybe 2013 but its kinda dated. Enjoyable and fun, but a winner??
this is soooo emmelie de forest ugh
this is so Emmelie de Forest ugh
I listened to the song replayed it and all I could hear was Monsters with a joik. Not sure if it’s the tune or whether the female singer sounds similar to Sara Alto (or both).
There’s some good parts in the song, but rest seems a bit trashy oldfashioned europop, sorry.
I prefer Morland.
I’m with you on that… I so hope for a surprise victory of him…
Kind of like it, but for some reason it keeps making me think of Cotton Eye Joe, which I’m not sure is a good thing.
I’m honestly perplexed by the high wiwi jury scores. To me this is a guilty pleasure, but I absolutely don’t get any ESC winner vibes. I predict a similar outcome as Denmark last year, with a high televoting score but low jury score.
This would score a top 5 in the televote with a good live performance. Catchy, different, accessible, all at the same time.
I like it. More than I probably should. It’ll be about the staging of course. Some lyrics are cringeworthy. But it could be very anthemic in an arena. It’s funny because everyone thought League of Lights and Noorsken would be the winners and we would have 3 very scandi-ethno at ESC. Now this remains the only true option to hold that torch which can work in its favor. If Denmark can win with Only Teardrops, this can easily win too. Especially with few front runners.
I don’t really get it. This song is tacky as f***…
It’s like Iceland2012
Honey, Iceland 2012 is a masterpiece, this is not as good as that. Don’t see a similarity between them, tho.
i dont want this to win!! Please noooooooooooooo
I like this song a lot and wouldn’t mind it winning, but callling it a Eurovision winner? Please…
But it’s just a copycat of Saara Alto+ some oik , this is so overhyped
If Electric Fields and Maruv were to represent Australia and Ukraine, would they be above 8.4? I think songwise, these two are better than this.
This is the obvious favourite – therefore based on this year’s national finals – has no chance to winning! Norway will probably end up withdrawing at the last minute or go to war with Luxembourg
they can win, yoan ola send can smile this year.
Unfortunately, if Norway sends this I can see it being the flop of the year. It would be a shame, if that would happen, but, in case if, this the Norwegian act and Iceland sends Hatari, then at somepoint these two would clash, even tho they are in different semis, so only final is left.
I’m curious to see how KEiiNO and Morland will do next Saturday. Their songs couldn’t be more different, but I think both could be great choices for Norway. Musically, I’m much more into “En livredd mann”, but I see “Spirit in the Sky” as a charming crazy mix. I believe who puts the best stage show will win. I hope we don’t get a bad surprise in MGP.
OSLO 2020
Well I must I disagree with the wiwijury on that one. This is old-fashioned, dated and poor mainstream music with some pseudo-folkloristic elements. I cannot spot anything intrinsically nordic and what musically it’s concerned it’s not modern at all. Hope this doesn’t go through.
Your words, my words.
issa good song but c’mon…..not eurovision winner material even in a weak year. will be a deserved top 10
Overrated. You know, the song itself is good and uplifting and I can’t get it appeal a lot of fans, but don’t you think a 8.46 is too much? Call it the Eurovision 2019 winner may be a bit delusional. And yeah, some parts of the melody are quite similir to Saara’s “Monsters”.
Obviously, it’s a contender but it’s not amongst my favourites in Norway yet. It is more of a collection of individually good ideas that does not come together completely for me. I still think it has a great chance of winning but honestly, the Norwegian selection is SO strong that there are songs that I would rather get the ticket.
Just remember wiwi jury score of Monsters last year. It had like a 9
True, but wiwis are fanwanks of saara so that was expected
really? oh dear, enough said.
A must win song. Would be my Eurovision 2019 winner song.
This one is super catchy but it’s also trashy, reminds me of Aqua, and yes it’s fun, but also a meme.
I have no expectations about Norway this year because I don’t wanna be disappointed about them in the end
Mmm, I don’t feel winner vibes. A nordic uptempo like all the previous in the ESC history. Certain qualification, maybe top 10.
Looking at it, MGP 2019 has a bit in common with UMK 2017: – Ambitious ethno-pop which is a huge ESC/Wiwi favorite and depends on the performance a lot (Circle of Light/Spirit in the Sky) – Touching and atmospheric ballad delivered by a dependent and powerful vocal (Blackbird/En livredd mann) – Simple, but cute and easygoing pop song with striking title by a young performer (Arrows/The Bubble) – Stylish, but odd electro-pop number which is both a bit provocative and endearing (Helppo elama/Mr. Unicorn) – Totally don’t give a **** energetic rebel-like throwback (Caveman/Fake It) – Female empowerment song (Perfect… Read more »
I love that people say they hate the song, and that it can’t win Eurovision, that’s what they said about Netta, that’s what they said about Jamala, and every polarizing somg has good chances to win, we’ve proven that. There’s a reason it’s the clear favorite to win! Go Norway!
They aren’t the same people. I don’t think this will win Eurovision although the way things are going on terms of song selection they might not even win MGP
“A bit” overrated… but would be nice to have some Norwegian/Sami ethnic vibes in Tel Aviv.
Typical overproduced Eurovision crap.
Really hope Morland get the TA ticket…
I genuinely hope I liked the song, but I just don’t. And no, this will not win Eurovision.
You who know it all. 1. Who will win the national final from Norway? 2. Who is the winner of ESC 2019t? 3. and what facts are you basing your statment on that this will not win? Answer this or look like a fool.
First of all calm down, we have only 17 fully released songs, yet, so it’s too early to tell. Ofc, we have some frontrunners, this could be one of them, but not the winner. This will do good, but it seems to be meant for a specific demographic, were as all the previous lyrically were accesible to everyone. If we are talking musically then to me it seems like a cheap song tried to be made expensive, SORRY. Also, please, remind me of the last Scandipop song that did well.
Triggered people in comments by the title of the article, lol
Good song tho, it screams Eurovision :p, but can’t say nothing without live performance
So much pesimism in the comments, haha. Personally I really love this song and, in the current pool of entries, if Keiino nails their love performance, I could totally see them winning.
I bet many people here would appreciate seeing Keiino nailing their lOve performance. 😉
Omg LOL how did I write that and not see it? Remind me never to write posts on wiwibloggs at 6:30 am >_<
(Meant to write "live" – in case it wasn't evident hahah)
Jealousy is a disease
The fandom is extremely toxic this year, if Loreen took part in Mello with Euphoria this year instead of 2012 people would still either say that it’s overrated, not a winner or even non-qualifier etc.
There was a lot of people who said such stuff in 2012
winner vibes for sure
it’s something never heard before in eurovision, fun and upbeat 10/10
Never heard before? Finland 2018
Never heard? This is dated af, but hey, who am I to judge, just look Fuego from last year 😛
sorry, while this is a listenable track for me, i don’t think it screams eurovision winner. i’d say, based from what we’ve heard so far, italy and cyprus have more of a chance.
Tbh in such an average year, this might have a chance to win because it could stand out from other songs
Honestly if this song was in Melodifestivalen you guys would have rated it under 7 average. In the same genre Jon Henrik’s entries are far better and less cheap :/
tf lol
What a twat
It’s good and probably will represent Norway but a ESC winner? Its true that no song screams winner this year but this is far from standing a chance to win
I cant even see it reaching it top 10.
“Eurovision 2019 may have just found its winner”
A bit presumptious… So far, no National Selection has chosen a song with any chance of winning.
Lmao 8.46? What a joke, possibly the worst song in the selection. Dated and generic, the song sounds like a mess. Even Jon Henriks song this year is better… Hopefully Norway will make the right choice..
If you say this song is generic, you clearly need to stuff an English dictionary in your bile filled mouth. This song is a masterpiece and will probably not win because the world is filled with musical idiots like you. How dare you call this generic? Call it bad if you don’t like it and I’d have half a pint of respect for you but generic is the last phrase you can use. God damn idiot.
Antranig, would you love to delete this reply above me?
Triggered much? How ironic, a reply from a Saara Aalto fan, she probably had the most generic song of last years Eurovision. I can see why you dont like that word 🙂
The word “generic” is generic 😉