Ten acts battled it out in tonight’s Melodi Grand Prix 2019, all vying to represent Norway at Eurovision 2019. Following two rounds of voting, the winner was determined. Once the dust settled, KEiiNO was crowned the winner with “Spirit in the Sky”.

The first round of voting featured both ten international juries and the Norwegian televote. These were combined with equal weighting to determine the four songs that would progress to the superfinal, or gold final. They decided that Adrian Jørgensen, Anna-Lisa Kumoji, KEiiNO and D’Sound were the four best acts deserving of a place in the superfinal. Somewhat surprisingly, this left popular acts such as Chris Medina and Mørland behind at the first round of voting.

These four acts were subjected to another round of voting, which left Adrian Jørgensen and KEiiNO standing for the last round of voting. After the gold duel concluded, Norway decided that “Spirit in the Sky” would be their entry for Eurovision 2019.

Melodi Grand Prix 2019 superfinalists

Adrian Jørgensen — “The Bubble”

In a simple yet intimate performance, Adrian captured the magic of “The Bubble”. The appearance of the female vocalist in the last minute of the song adds a layer of magic that didn’t come across until watching it live. He received top marks from three of the ten juries to book his place in the superfinal. Then, he beat out Anna-Lisa Kumoji to make it to the gold duel against KEiiNO.

Anna-Lisa Kumoji — “Holla”

Anna-Lisa Kumoji managed to deliver all the sass of “Holla” on stage, as we expected her to. The performance was loud and in your face, with an infectious rhythm. She received top marks from the Italian jury and squeezed through to the superfinal.

KEiiNO

Heavy favourites KEiiNO looked to be in a precarious position. They didn’t receive any top marks from the juries until the last vote came in from Israel. However, this was enough to secure them a place in the superfinal, with the televote also being taken into consideration. They then edged past the jury favourite D’Sound to battle with Adrian in the gold duel. Their performance features interpretive dancers and a marching band — they threw everything together and it all worked.

D’Sound

D’Sound brought innovative staging that looked ready for Eurovision. The package was eye-catching and earned top marks from four of the ten juries. The group elevated their package on stage and it paid off, putting them firmly in the conversation. Unfortunately, they couldn’t match it with eventual winners KEiiNO in the second round of voting.

Melodi Grand Prix 2019 running order

  1. Chris Medina — “We Try”
  2. D’Sound — “Mr. Unicorn”
  3. Mørland — “En livredd mann”
  4. Anna-Lisa Kumoji — “Holla”
  5. Erlend Bratland — “Sing for You”
  6. Ingrid Berg Mehus — “Feel”
  7. Hank von Hell — “Fake It”
  8. Carina Dahl — “Hold Me Down”
  9. Adrian Jørgensen — “The Bubble”
  10. KEiiNO — “Spirit in the Sky”

Viewers were also treated to performances from two Eurovision winners. Norway’s golden boy Alexander Rybak opened the show with “Fairytale” while Netta was on the scene to perform “Toy”.

Do you agree the result? How will KEiiNO fare at Eurovision? Are Norway in the running to win Eurovision 2019? Let us know in the comments below.

Read more Norway Eurovision news

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Emily
Emily
5 years ago

if nothing better comes up this honestly could win

Jake
Jake
5 years ago

Every wedding has that drunk uncle who gets up and sings something you can barely understand and everyone claps and has fun and it’s a good time had vtball

DDD
DDD
5 years ago

This is going to qualify for sure. Like ESC United said…This song bring something special to ESC with the sound of pop and sami/joik. Their voices are great and the message in the song is important.

Confused
Confused
5 years ago

Can anyone explain to me how the results worked or give me the detailed results? Four songs survived the first round while I see three songs tied on third place. Also, semifinals and duels before the golden duel have been mentioned, however I don’t see who was paired with whom. Why is it a problem (for wiwibloggs and for everyone else on the Internet) to explain how they made these decisions and what exactly happened?

zelenovi
zelenovi
5 years ago

I really want to like it, but I’m afraid this will struggle, it might even be a shock non-qualifier. Don’t get me wrong, not a bad song and I LOVE that there’s some Sàmi representation at Eurovision. But on my second listen, I’ve started seeing some weaknesses – I’m sure Tom Hugo is a wonderful guy but I think he adds nothing to this song and his lines sound very under-powered for some reason (the female singer is fantastic though). There is a LOT going on as well, and while I personally love the joik, many people won’t and I… Read more »

DDD
DDD
5 years ago

the song also contains a Sami stanza: “?ajet dan ?uovgga”. It is translated into “Show me the light”.

Charli Cheer Up
Charli Cheer Up
5 years ago

Congrats to KEiiNO especially to Tom Hugo after all those attempts he’s finally going to ESC. The brains behind many of my Kpop idols came from him!
Very happy that The Bubble did really well in the superfinal too. That song’s been stuck in my head before MGP even began. It’s really easy on the ears and radio friendly. Glad the rest of Norway liked it.

DDD
DDD
5 years ago

1. Some people say this is dated, well electropop is not dated. Look at how well Kygo, Alan Walker and Ina Wroldsen is doing. To say this sound is dated is just stupid. 2. Some say this is a copy of Monsters by Saara Aalto, well take a look at the chords, than you will take that back or you will look real stupid or just ignorant. Look at the links below and you can see proof that it is not copy. 3. Some say they can’t sing, does’nt have good voices. Look at the link for an live/Acoustic version… Read more »

Gav
Gav
5 years ago

It get a bit hillarious with the solo singers bit. Just seems a bit low standard all round. I really liked Morlands entry, artistic and authentic. Spirit in the Sky is one of those songs that give Eurovision a bad name

Robe76
Robe76
5 years ago

The woman singer first sentence in the chorus has exatly the same tune as Saara Aalto’s song has (the Finnish entry last year). The solo part of the bald male singer is also very similar to the chorus of the Hungarian entry as I mentined earlier. (Thank You for the lot of dislike). And Thank You Norway this unique plagiarism. Dear Norwegien friends, please send another song instead of this shame!

Franky
Franky
5 years ago
Reply to  Robe76

You need to understand what music plagiarism is first, buddy.

Tom Ripley
Tom Ripley
5 years ago

Hype over boring, olddated, generic song… In their case PR is ok?!
Still, at at bottom of my list.

Graph
Graph
5 years ago

I think this will make the Top 10

Nikki
Nikki
5 years ago

Direct to my Top 3 (with Italy and Hungary)

Whisker
Whisker
5 years ago

I love the song and the artists and wish it will do very, VERY well in Tel Aviv. I am very impressed with the inclusion of Saami culture – artist, language, music, design – those spirit animals are magnificent – and the message of the song. We need equality and inclusion. Well done and good luck!!

AngieP
AngieP
5 years ago

Not my favourite song but it stands out. The last couple of years I’m not excited with Norway’s choices.

AndTheRestIsHerstory
AndTheRestIsHerstory
5 years ago

A catchy song will only get you so far… a 16th place one again…

Safiya
Safiya
5 years ago

It’s not my favourite but I have to admit it’s really catchy and I listened to it several times. I can see why people like it. There are parts of the song that I like and that I don’t like. Sometimes it may seem a bit cringy and dated, I would prefer it to be less disco and a bit more mysterious and serious, but it’s still okay. I like their vocals, I like the melody and I absolutely love the joik part. This is what keeps coming me back for more. I love these ethnic elements.

Philip
Philip
5 years ago

so boring and dated songs this year..

Brexited ingwish
Brexited ingwish
5 years ago
Reply to  Philip

So go choose Malou PRYTZ!!!

Anita
Anita
5 years ago

– because of the picture of this guest it needs to be banned! Please monitor! (you can see half of a Hakenkreuz)

Anita
Anita
5 years ago

I don’t like the winner song. It is not my cup of tea. “all the lights are facing” – this part sounds exactly like “hold onto this monsters anymore”
The wonderful thing about Mørland would have been: this is pure Norwegian sound, all over!
There will be a time when the songs from all countries will sound alike.

Like
Like
5 years ago

Attention. Croatia without wings and not english version. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6pkEgrX3C4 I like it. 🙂

Philip
Philip
5 years ago
Reply to  Like

still horrible

xmynameis
xmynameis
5 years ago

Maybe on Mars, not even there.

Ed Jones
Ed Jones
5 years ago

Okay so it’s cheesy but it’s – and I’d like to make this very clear – such a bop

Henry
Henry
5 years ago

Sort of “Pirates of the sea” meets “Vampires are alive” , very cheesy and dated, and that Kermit the frog man is out of tune all the time.. oh and Emelie de Forest called, she wants her men with drums back….

Voix
Voix
5 years ago

This is the fan favorite-flop of the year, just wait and see

Rantik
Rantik
5 years ago

Good choice Norway, but it seems to me what they will have a result similar to that of Saara Aalto, top for fans and bottom in the final

antares
antares
5 years ago

My current Top, after yesterday night: (from Italy)
1. POR
2. ICE
3. ITA
4. NOR
5. SLO

Yoyo
Yoyo
5 years ago
Reply to  antares

Lol ” ICE” – “ISL”.

Antares
Antares
5 years ago
Reply to  Yoyo

I don’t want to use French abbreviations in an English eurovision site

MaxFowler
MaxFowler
5 years ago

Not my cup of tea but I am happy for all of those who supported, it was the big fan favourite so well done!
Good luck in Tel Aviv!

Roy Moreno
Roy Moreno
5 years ago

Wow Mørland was underrated
Anyway, love KEiiNO too 🙂
I have a feeling they will flop like Saara but I really hope I’m mistaken

Idksmth
Idksmth
5 years ago
Reply to  Roy Moreno

Yeah, same feeling. But hopefully (for Norway) not in the semi.

noone
noone
5 years ago

This was one of the strongest NFs this year, all of the songs could have won and do well at ESC. I would have preferred D’Sound to Keiino or Anna Lisa to live things up at Tel Aviv. Noticed that this saturday all of the fan favourites won: NO, FI, IS, PT. Curse is broken.

noone
noone
5 years ago

This was one of the strongest NFs this year, all of the songs could have won and do well at ESC. I would have preferred D’Sound to Keiino or Anna Lisa to live things up at Tel Aviv. Noticed that this saturday all of the fan favourites won: Norway, Finland, Iceland and Portugal. Curse is broken.

esc stan
esc stan
5 years ago

Not a fan but hey, this could stand out

Nikoreindeer
Nikoreindeer
5 years ago

I wanted KEiiNO to win.

Tim
Tim
5 years ago

Isnt this Finland song ladtyear, Monstet whit Sara Aalto.

James
James
5 years ago
Reply to  Tim

To me it, part of the sounded a bit like “The Fox” and “Good Time” by Owl City feat. Carly Rae Jepsen.

But this is an enjoyable song despite the similarities.

Tim
Tim
5 years ago
Reply to  Tim

Im sorry. But a’m almost blind, sometine its be wrong.

Kuhkatz
Kuhkatz
5 years ago

Lifts up the quality of this years ESC bunch, but as for me, I’m not really that pumped for it.

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
5 years ago

Yay, I’m so happy Keiino won! I have been listening to their song for weeks on end since they dropped the track. I did get worried about its chances because of previous fan favorites failing to win their national finals, but I am glad it prevailed. I do have one concern though–I don’t like their NF staging. It’s too much black and green disco, and I had imagined something more of a fairy tale theme, with light and pastel colors. I was imagining Tom In a princely outfit, Alexandra in a white flowly princess dress with a rose crown, and… Read more »

oscillate
oscillate
5 years ago

Is this a good song? YES

However, it is also very polarizing. It may do very very well or this may be the biggest flop of esc2019. Let’s see.

James
James
5 years ago

I haven’t gotten around in watching all of the performances from Norwegian MGP yet but as a long-time fan of D’Sound, I was happy they got as far as they did.

Sadly, they didn’t leave a tattoo on Norway’s mind. *Cue “Tattooed on My Mind”*

Lolek
Lolek
5 years ago

Love it!!! So happy a song I love is going to be in eurovision!

Darren
Darren
5 years ago

It’s similar to Saara Aalto but it’s good, I like it. I love the Norwegian phrases in the chorus. It’s nice to see Norway actually recognise that “hey, we are actually Norway, not somewhere else, let’s add something Norwegian in our songs!” From Iranian culture and Kenyan culture, and I’m pretty sure Spanish in one of their national finals too, it’s great to see them look closer to home and realize that Norway has something to offer too. The other Scandinavian countries can learn a lot from this. I’ll get a lot of downvotes here for saying that, but that’s… Read more »

Ethan1994
Ethan1994
5 years ago
Reply to  Darren

Those lyrics during the chorus are in Sami, not Norwegian.

Darren
Darren
5 years ago
Reply to  Ethan1994

Sami is still an integral part of Norwegian identity.

Steinar
Steinar
5 years ago
Reply to  Darren

No one is arguing that the song is carrying a lot of Norwegian identity, but there’s no «Norwegian phrases» in the song. Sami is a whole other language from a whole other language family, representing the for a long time oppressed Sami population in Norway.

Isti
Isti
5 years ago

Masterpiece! <3 This is the best song so far. Thank you, Norway!

Jeekeh
Jeekeh
5 years ago

People are saying this is similar to the chorus of Saara’s Monsters from last year…

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
5 years ago
Reply to  Jeekeh

It’s a similar chord progression in a different key. The melody also rises an octave at a very similar point in the progression in each song. It’s a musical coincidence. 😀

Robe76
Robe76
5 years ago

This entry is a nasty plagiarism, not unique at all. The solo part of the bald man between 2 and 2:35 minutes in the Youtube live version has completely the same tune as the chorus of the Hungarian entry Joci Papai’s song has (the nananana part). Furthermore not just the melody exactly the same but the rhythm (drumbeat in the background) and emotional expressions of the singer (breast tapping) are also very similar. The Hungarian song has released earlier. This song should be disqualified.

Anisa
Anisa
5 years ago
Reply to  Robe76

I don’t see any similiarity at all.

Miki Bihon
Miki Bihon
5 years ago
Reply to  Robe76

This is a nasty false accusation

Marios
Marios
5 years ago
Reply to  Robe76

you must be trolling

Miguel
Miguel
5 years ago

Come on, this is so oudated and 2000’s

D’sound was a thousand times better

Bad choice from Norway

Pancake
Pancake
5 years ago
Reply to  Miguel

D’Sound was a poor attempt of a Monstercat single, practically an insult to the record label.

Alex
Alex
5 years ago
Reply to  Miguel

Morland was the best, I honestly expected him to come second in case he doesn’t win, but I guess Norway has different ideas. Not that this song is bad, but I have a strong feeling it will crash out in the semi, but even if it were to qualify it wouldn’t finish in the top 15. Sorry Norway, you may have chosen the fan favorite, but it’ll probably be nothing more than a typical fanwank in the end.

Holding the Fan
Holding the Fan
5 years ago

Poor man’s attempt at a Nordic dance anthem, like someone tried to revive Greta Salome’s DOA Hear Them Calling with a broken defibrillator.

Sabrina
Sabrina
5 years ago

I was rooting for Morland, his song paired with the staging became a wonderful piece of art. But since the international jury and the televote weren’t feeling it (their loss!), KEiiNO it’s a great choice for Norway. Their voices blend super well, the Sami joik makes it instantly stand out and the whole thing is quite accessible and entertaining. I don’t think the staging was bad tonight, but there’s a lot of unexplored potential. Use the animal spirits (perhaps with visual graphics like Rybak’s instruments?), fill the room with the northern lights and this one will find its audience.

Thomas Aubock
Thomas Aubock
5 years ago

I ain’t gonna hold on to these monsters anymore
When I heard Spirits In the Sky Saara Alto popped right into my head. Maybe it will qualify and reach 24th

Sonam
Sonam
5 years ago

I ‘m very happy for Norwegians. It’s a clever song. Rathen classic, than dated

Jake
Jake
5 years ago

I am shocked that one song in Norweigian in the national final and a masterpiece it is sung by a total star and babe and the Norweigians rather send 4 English songs to final. Crazy. I understand Keiino’s appeal but I wonder if the tastes of Europeans have moved on from generic Scandinavian pop. After the originality and emotion of 1944, Amar Pelos os Dois and Toy, I can’t imagine Europe would go back to this kind of early 2000s sound. Just feels like it’s not moving music forward

Luk
Luk
5 years ago

Hatari Iceland and Tulia Poland fresh eurovision 2019 the Best is Slovenia Portugal and Italy