Four acts graced the Melodi Grand Prix 2020 stage in Fornebu during the first semi-final of Norway’s Eurovision selection. And in the end it was Raylee who — like a gorgeous tigress in the Norwegian bush — managed to stalk her way to the final in Trondheim with “Wild”.
Her upbeat performance came with fierce choreography and stunning LEDs. In the opening shot she stood before a red backdrop with a bright yellow sun and seemed to be emerging from the African savannah. She soon prowled her way to centre stage, whipping her Slavko-esque pony tail before dipping it low. Nodding to Eleni and Tamta and Bella Santiago before her, she unleashed major heat while making our bodies move. This is a hit and we can still feel the vibrations.
Norway’s Melodi Grand Prix 2020 Results
Tonight’s semi-final was the first out of five. It focused on artists whose origins lie in Southern Norway.
It saw Lisa Børud, Raylee, Geirmund and Kim Rysstad battle for a final spot, while automatic qualifier Sondrey showcased “Take My Time” for the first time.
In each semi-final, only one act can qualify for the MGP 2020 final. In the coming weeks, twenty artists will sing for five tickets to the grand final, where they will meet five automatic qualifiers.
To earn that ticket for the final, each of the semi-finalists has to battle another semi-finalist first. The two winners of the battles proceed to the “Gullduel” (“Golden duel”), and the winner wins the right perform in Trondheim during the Melodi Grand Prix final. Unlike previous years, the winner is determined by online voting through the Norwegian broadcaster’s website.
During the show, NRK revealed that some people were saying they were experiencing problems with logging in to the NRK portal in order to vote. However, editorial boss Eirik Ingstad emphasized that the result would still be fair and square.
MGP 2020 Semi-final one duels
First duel: Geirmund vs Lisa Børud
The first duel of the night was Geirmund against Lisa Børud. Lisa Børud emerged on top.
Geirmund with “Come Alive” at Melodi Grand Prix 2020
Lisa Børud with “Talking About Us” at Melodi Grand Prix 2020
Second duel: Kim Rysstad vs Raylee
In the evening’s second duel, we saw Kim Rysstad battle it out with Raylee. Raylee went on to the next round.
Kim Rysstad with “Rainbow” at Melodi Grand Prix 2020
Raylee with “Wild” at Melodi Grand Prix 2020
Gullduel: Lisa Børud vs Raylee
Having both won their respective duels earlier that night, Lisa Børud and Raylee proceeded to the Gullduel. There could only be one winner, and tonight that was Raylee. We’ll see her again at the grand final.
Sondrey “Take My Time” at Melodi Grand Prix 2020
The first of five pre-qualified acts also performed — Sondrey with “Take My Time”.
Melodi Grand Prix 2020 semi-final one scoreboard
1. Raylee with “Wild” – advanced to the final
2. Lisa Børud with “Wild” – eliminated
3/4. Geirmund with “Come Alive” – eliminated
3/4. Kim Rysstad with “Rainbow” – eliminated
Are you happy that with tonight’s result? Should someone else have made the final instead? Let us know in the comments.
Follow all of our Norway Eurovision 2020 news.
Picture credit: NRK
Raylee’s song is a copy of this Finnish song! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Afl_s-92Bbk
Can someone tell me why some acts are prequalified? It doesn’t make any sense to me. Also there are 5 qualifiers from 4 semi-finals (one qualifier from each semi) and where the fifth comes from? those rules are wild indeed 😀
There are five semi-finals. Each produces one winner + each has one pre-qualified act presenting their song. Together, they are ten finalists. I agree that it’s somewhat needlessly prolonged with so little songs, but it’s still fun because MGP has really good production values and atmosphere.
thank you so much for the explanation, now I understand!
I wish there was an andra chansen round for MGP. It seems like such a shame to say bye to acts like Geirmund or Lisa so soon, imo.
i agree. One wild card should there be
Congratulations Raylee!
It was just bleeeeeeee … norway has for sure a better option
Good Luck in rotterdam Raylee
It’s like an amateur version of Fuego based on dance routine and vocals. Don’t know if this will qualify if it represents Norway.
Fuego isnt even a good song. Why do you guys ALWAYS compare with that? Luca Hänni is 2000% better then Fuego
Just curious to know, when can we expect the 4 songs from the 2nd semi final 2 b released and also if NRK will release the number of votes per duel?
Song release on Mondays , and they might not release the results atleast till the 15th of February
The one thing I took from this was how much better Sondre’s song was than any of the four competing tonight. Makes me feel optimistic about the other pre-qualifiers. If his is the standard we are to expect, it is going to be great!
It was way worse than Raylee or Giermund’s entries.
The winning song is sooo Fuego+She got me+ Running with lions and Margaret’s song …but it was nice
Well if Norway keep sending same type of song you guys complain then they likely sent another that they haven’t sent yet still complain. So only Eleni can sing that type song???? That stupid because before “Fuego” there’s a lot songs sounds like that, so calm down.
Eleni Foureira #queen
When Slavko sings Fuego/Replay, then you have Raylee’s ‘Wild’
Wild was fantastic. As expected the usual suspects are down below who don’t like anything upbeat or uptempo, for fear it will set off their pacemakers. Much better to go with a safe boring ballad.
the most shocking thing is not that it’s a Feugo rip-off (it shares a writer–so that doesn’t bother me), but how much canned vocals there were…at some point of MGP tonight there were lead vocals but no lips moving…it was beyond shocking…and you really notice with Lisa’s song because there was parts of heavy background vocals layered on top of her live vocals which were weaker when that’s all you heard…Rylee had all back vocals and you barely heard her voice on her own
Yikes Negativity is in the house. When albania had their selection it was: Wow best ever , best songs ever haha. Were they that good? No. Was the show exciting and short to watch? NO. The 5 Nordic countries have a lot of viewers in each country. Our sound is current and modern. The fans 100% believe that our sound is balkan nudity outrageous pop and eastern saxophone dancing half naked girls funk . Sorry it not us. Get over it!
Erratum: “it’s not us”
haha i know that to. Im not born english speaking like you. Try to learn swedish 🙂
You really love defending Scandinavia while ignoring all of its problems with music in Eurovision, don’t you.
no but you think our sound is nudity and funk obviously, right? You only have the word generic in your brain and that bothers me. We like pop, is that a problem? NO.
I really never said anything about nudity or funk, just that you attack other countries because you don’t like their music and then refuse to acknowledge that Scandinavia in Eurovision is 90% cheap pop with 10% outstanding tracks (Euphoria, I Feed You My Love, Alvedansen, När Jag Blunder, et cetera).
Just because a country’s music like yours is now “current” and “modern” doesn’t mean they are entirely that substantial.
Sorry we dont have more nudity and more outrageous stuff that you like. Try watching any balkan video then.
I think it’s because Albania does rather poorly in ESC so they’re pleasantly surprised and had low expectations before FiK. But Sweden&Norway usually show good results in ESC so people have huge hopes for their NFs.
I don’t really mind Wild, like it isn’t mind blowing but it isn’t crap. But omg did nobody think it’s performance was so… tacky? Like the lion picture at the final minute with the fire ?
Im honestly sick of Eurofans stanning basic female singers with basic uptempo pop songs. Explore other music genres thanks.
who cares??? everyones taste in subjective. go listen to a boring ballad and shut up
You has absolutely right !
I wish tou the best Raylee…. But the performance added nothing to the soong. (Only references toi Slafko, Montenegro 2017 and Choncita in the text).
Enough negativity! All the songs I feel like we’re good in this semi, they were all so different but none were awful! Let’s appreciate that no matter who wins each semi there will be a group of people super happy that their genre moved forward! That’s why music is so amazing, everyone’s tastes are different! I would have been happy with any of the 4.
Where is the diversity? Norway be like: Who is she idk her. But honestly half of the songs performed in this semi being despafuego genre but not necessarily style and them being the most successful just proves my point. And saying that an artist deserved a better song is unusual for Norway but it is how it is. Imma just give my opinion here. 1. Sondrey. Honestly out of all the pop bangers this was the most underwhelming. His vocals were great for the genre of the song and the staging will probably change for the final but I just… Read more »
For the 10000th time.. It’s not Fuego 2.0 it’s a GENRE! Im tired of boring balads, but I can’t get enough of this! Yass queen gimme more
Do tell. What genre is it??
Something like ‘ethno dance-pop’?
Right, it´s npt a copy, “Fuego” ist so much better and even not my prefered musical style….
Too all of the people saying it sounds like Fuego/Replay/Chameleon/Any other dance song of the last few years, so what? All of those songs are really good, and they are all fan favourites. The singers are seeing what does well at Eurovision, and are using that to their advantage.
This is truly horrible song.
Geirmund was my favourite of the night. I can’t believe he lost to Lisa. His vocals were strong and the staging was good. Lisa’s vocals are really shaky, especially towards the end.
I agree, Geirmund should have gone through. 🙁
yeah Geirmund really brought it!
I couldn’t quite follow the selection better so far
Can somebody explain to me why there are five automatic qualifiers and based on what they were chosen?
There doesnt have to be a reason. The broadcaster just decided it so, probably to make sure as to have a mix of genres, mix of known names and unknown names, and mix of songwriters in the final.
Thanks 🙂
i’ve just listened to one of the so-called pre-qualified. it probably got lucky.
Damn, I loved KEiiNO. I really hope there’s something better in other semis
that’s the spirit. don’t give up hope, buddy!
So yeah, everybody going crazy because of a Fuego rip off. My god, so basic. As an artist I would be ashamed tbh.
I kind of like Geirmund, sad to see him go so early.
Is every upbeat song going to start being Fuego 2.0 for the rest of time? That’s not fair to the artist who you are critising.
Tea spill!
So true!
Well, “Fuego” was the first upbeat song ever created, so naturally every new dance song is a copy of it.
An untempo song can have a lot of faces, so obviuosly not every untempo song is going to be Fuego 2.0. But if you take this song and analyze its elements you are going to find that the similarities are more than mere influences. I find it lazy and basic. I do enjoy untempo songs like “Fuego” (though I didn’t like it until I saw the live performance) or any other, but some fans just like every single untempo song, even more if it bears some similarities to “Fuego”. Gets annoying. Even more when it is more than obvious than… Read more »
Sorry, I wasn’t excited by any of tonight’s performances tbh.
With Wild, I can’t stop myself ticking off all the things already done in ESC to death.
Slick dancing – She Got Me – check
Unusual drop – Chameleon- check
Woman talking about being hot – Eleni – check
Animal references – Lithuania 2019 – check
Dodgy hairdo – Slavko – check
Sorry but who cares, it’s a good song and it’s presented well. No-one ever comments on other countries doing loads of the same ballads and yet every upbeat song is called out all the time. Just enjoy the music for what it is.
You sure about that? I mean, Albanian ballads get criticized all the time…
Albanian ballads are critiqued for sure but in general I think up tempo songs are ridiculed for being up tempo. Like Switzerland last year were criticised for sending an uptempo song, not based on, “they’re a country who send up tempo songs” but rather just because they sent an uptempo song and people always criticise that particular genre. Albania are usually criticised for sending ballads because the majority of the time they send ballads. I hope you can understand what I was trying to say :).
Presented well? I think we have watched different shows. This was very amateurish.
The concept I meant, a lot of ESC songs in these selections do not have adequate staging but the idea of it was good. I think all the songs apart from rainbow had a good stage concept. Imo it’s about the potential, it can always get better.
If ESC was a radio contest Fuego would have come really low. Fuego is great live. On radio no. People who say Fuego is the best song ever in ESC. I dont think so.
that’s right, i never thought much of it until i saw the performance. the song itself aged like milk but eleni’s performance will always be an evergreen
In 2020 we agree again ;). 2nd time now. Where is it going to end ;). I like listening to other opinions in here except when its bashing Sweden and Björkman season. Then i cant control my temper ;). But i try really hard.
Norway has been one of my favorite countries in Eurovision, so I sincerely hope the best is yet to come. The performers did their best, the producers did their best, but the songs were all so-so to me.
Replay & Fuego mixed yas hahaha
it is plagiarism.
It is cultural appropraition.
Not mentioning the disposable song with meaningless lyrics.
I mean who chooses the horrendous songs, please go see a doctor. They need to check your ears, eyes, and finally your personality to see if any ethical values left.
never thought i’d read the words ‘cultural appropriation’ used unironically on wiwibloggs lmfao that concept is bs
How is cultural appropriation as a concept bs? NickC has it wrong because Raylee was not doing that, but cultural appropriation is a huge thing in other media, and lots of people find it incredibly upsetting.
idk we just call it cultural appreciation over here, guess we ain’t #woke enough
Cultural appropriation…?
Yeah Raylee deserved the win tonight, still dont think wild is a great song but at least she’s entertaining and holds ur attention for 3 minutes. The pre qualified song was very slick and polished but I switched off half way through, jury bate rather than telephone magnet me thinks.
I had high expectations from Norway (my favorite eurovision country!!) and I have to say WOW, what a show that was! Everyone brought their A game, and I honestly thought they all deserved to make the finals. I think Geirmund’s vocals were probably the best, I literally didn’t believe he was singing live at first. Lisa surprised with her vocals as well considering that she is a dancer primarily but I thought she did well! Kim sang and performed as well as he could, but imo “Rainbow” is a bit dated and wouldn’t have likely fared that well at Eurovision.… Read more »
she has amazing stage presence but the song is still abhorrent
Wild really is a song which gets alive on stage. I do believe that Raylee was the most entertaining one on stage tonight, so I can totally buy her qualifying. Geirmund still has my favorite song, but Wild is becoming sort of a guilty pleasure. The other two had fine performances, but I really don’t think that Norway would have qualified with those songs. In any case, a good show.
A bit of Fuego+ A bit of Replay+ A bit of Chameleon= Wild
=we don’t need it ?