One week down five more to go! The second semi-final in Norway’s expanded Melodi Grand Prix 2020 is set for Saturday 18 January.
Once more, four acts will compete for one highly coveted spot in the grand final. But which of the four entries is your favourite? Who should represent eastern Norway in the next stage of MGP 2020?
You can listen to all four entries below and then vote for your favourite. You can pick as many acts as you like, but you can only vote once. So choose wisely!
Melodi Grand Prix 2020 — Semi-Final Two Songs
Tore Petterson – “The Start of Something New”
Born in Drammen, Tore, 40, is known from the NRK series Sofa and Farmen. He’s also a judge on TV 2’s Shall We Dance and part of the comedy duo Adam and Tore. “The message behind the song is that it’s never too late with a new beginning,” he says. “Never stop dreaming or working for your dreams.”
Songwriters: Tore Petterson og Knut Bjørnar Asphol
Rein Alexander – “One Last Time”
Rein, 48, has lived in the United States, Iceland, the UK, Italy and Sweden — both as a student and professional. In 2003 he won the Norwegian programme Kjempesjansen. (Another famous winner of the show? Alexander Rybak who topped the 2006 edition). Rein’s song seems to be about perseverance. He says: “Everything is tough and heavy, but it is also worth it, and you find joy in it. Challenges are a good thing. It is important to get up when you have fallen.”
Songwriters: Erik Småland, Kristoffer Tømmerbakke og Rein Alexander
Kim Wigaard and Maria Mohn – “Fool for Love”
Kim, 31, and Maria, 36, come from Fredrikstad where they are both vocal coaches. He’s worked at home and abroad across musicals, operas and cabaret and has even sung with the Norwegian Opera and Ballet. You may recognise him as a semi-finalist on Norwegian Idol, a member of the Top 40 on The Voice and a judge on the Norwegian edition of All Together Now.
She’s a “singer, songwriter, pianist, humorist and actor” and has sung in the esteemed vocal group PUST, the Norwegian Soloist Choir and with various big bands and orchestras. She’s participated in shows like Idol, Popstokk, Sommeråpent and Beat for Beat. Since 2012 she’s been one-half of a musical humour duo alongside Henning Stranden.
Anna Jæger – “How About Mars”
Twenty-six-year-old Anna grew up in Canada and the United States, where she’s played in rock bands. She’s performed at small clubs and bars in Virginia and Washington D.C. She describes her music as “electro-pop rock”. Speaking of her competing entry, she told NRK: “I’m a kind of alien who wants to take you to my planet Mars.”
Songwriters: Roel Rats, Synne Vorkinn, Chris Wortley and Sindre T. Jenssen
Poll: Who should win semi-final two of Norway’s Melodi Grand Prix 2020?
[crowdsignal poll=10490320]What is your favourite song? Is there a winner in the mix? Let us know in the comments.
Really dissapointed in my country so far.
I’m just very diseappointed by my country’s songs and artists up till now. I thought the first semi final was rather weak, but this 2nd semi take it down to a new level. Had high hopes for Sondrey, as I think he has a good voice and a lot of charisma, but the song was just ok. Right now, I’m crossing my fingers that Tone Damli has a good song and off to Rotterdam she goes:-D
Also, in regards to my idea: I initially had ideas for a way bigger jury encompassing all the current competing countries and possibly non-competing ones, plus a jury of non-Eurovision country representatives to give a unique perspective from countries outside the bubble. However, this was when I was thinking of my ideal selection for San Marino, which is significantly smaller.
Just saying, I really dig this way of splitting the semis up by regions of Norway, and it got me thinking about other countries that could do NFs like this. This would mostly depend on how big/diverse the country is, so it might be a tough sell for, say, Latvia, but your average Big 5 country could probably do cool things with it. Heck, Germany already kind of did something like that when they had the Bundesvision Song Contest those years. The one I’m mostly thinking about this in reference to is the United Kingdom. I’ve already given thoughts on… Read more »
This Norwegian selection contains many exotic choices. Most of them come from the trash; or, should I say, eurotrash.
Without any doubt JAEGER and her “spacey” song. Very unusal for an entry from Scandinavia.
Deplorable tunes
An analysis: – While none of the songs are mind-blowing, only one is bad – I’m sorry, Start of Something New, but you are the weakest link! Whoever gets picked to duel that is likely having a gold duel handed to them. I can see it being kinda fun on stage, but the song is an absolute structureless mess. The other three are not bad, but I can see pros and cons for all of them. It’s a ”pick your medicine” situation. If you like modern electro-bops, How About Mars will probably draw you the most, if you are nostalgic… Read more »
Raylee is also 1000 times better than KeiiNo, she’s even better than alexander rybak, Norway has next eurovision winner in Raylee
No, Raylee is the next Saara Aalto…..
Raylee may be the next Pumbaa, who knows
haha!
All the songs from the first semi were better than these 4 in my opinion… 🙁
yes but no point in mentioning them anymore since it are regional semi’s
and the only dud in semi 2 is that joke act of Tore, how he got selected i don’t know
Si let me say that this regional way (and the duels) are uninteresting… ?
(I meant « So ») And I put a smiley at the end of my message, not a question mark…
Raylee is only 22????????? She looks like a lady in her late 30’s though….
I’d guess late 20s, not late 30s. Doesn’t *look* older as much as she has that aura. A certain sophistication more often found in women approaching 30 than earlier. But obviously, there are exceptions. For example, Eva Green had that in Casino Royale and doesn’t look any older 13 years later. Like Green, Raylee will probably appear not to be ageing for at least a decade or so. Ultimately, that’s a good thing.
In this weak cup, hands down my choice is Rein Alexander – “One last time”. I know, opera isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but to be honest, I love all kinds of musical genres and Rein’s voice surprisingly goes well with the modern EDM sounds of Western Europe and beyond. JAEGER – “How about Mars?” is good, anti-mainstream pop, but the chorus is flatter than pancakes and repeats a bit often. Kim Wigaard and Maria Mohn – “Fool for love” is just another ballad, and everyone can get bored by listening to it many times. Tore Petterson – “The start… Read more »
This is a bad semifinal… The jazzy big band funky song is just horrible. And the dated symphonic ballad that goes nowhere is not much better either. I do enjoy the verses and the build up to the chorus in “How About Mars” as its very original and promise a banging chorus, but the chorus is flatter than a French crepes and disappoint immensely. The song need a complete revamp to get that oomph going. The “One More Time” song is just sooooo kitch. It’s 100% stereotype of a Eurovision song. It actually kinda got me thinking of Cezars “Its… Read more »
I suspect MGP has divide the SF’s as a way to assure a bit of musical diversity in the grand final.
Personally I like Rein Alexander’s song best but I can see the greater appeal of Anna Jaeger’s song. It’s going to be either of those two songs that go to the finals. I sort of wish Geirmund was in this SF, he would have made a worthy finalist.
did u timetravel back to 2016 in order to post this comment or
Am I the only one who loves all of these? ?
I’m actually quite impressed with the variety in MGP so far!!
anna eilish jeager… there’s like no competition tbh, she’s coming to end grandmavision
Mmmh… none of these songs seem to be a good contestant for Rotterdam but I honestly prefer “How about Mars” which is more original than “Wild”.
Hope better songs are to come!
I guess from these four – How About Mars should advance to the final. Although tbh I don’t think the winner of this nf will come from this semi-final.
So from all the songs sent in from Eastern Norway these are the 4 best songs… I have to be honest and say that I am a little disappointed. How about Mars and One Last Time are quite enjoyable to listen too, but I don’t see either of the songs reach a higher place in the grand final than Wild… The other 2 songs are a bit of a mess for me… I am really hoping the semi-finals still to come will be qualitatively higher!!
My taste is pop,schlager, ballads, etno, alternative so i like a lot of styles. My fave here is: Rein Alexander :).
It manages to combine them well into a fun number. If he won MGP he probably would struggle with the juries (although they might acknowledge the vocal performance) but the public would lap it up.
Maybe a darkhorse:) We will see 🙂
Maybe REIN ALEXANDER – “ONE LAST TIME” is the only mediocre song that is okay for the Grand Final …….but I say to the 2nd Semi Final: thank you – next !
I’d rather say: thank you – nevermore!
I liked semi 1 better ! One last time or how about Mars will win ! The hot girl and guy duet is so lame , doesn’t do justice to their hotness
worst Melodi Grand Prix ever..
You can’t say this so early, there are still 3 semi finals to go…so just wait 🙂
I heard that Rein Alexander’s reindeer is going to be announced as the last pre-qualifier with a unique song full of interjections, so yea, don’t lose hope, you nihilistic Nietzschean pessimist!
How about mars is bad, I‘m sorry 🙁 and it’s even the best song in this semi. I excepted a lot more from Norway
well no one can compete against the perfect Raylee, with her perfect flawless song, that caused expectations to be higher for the other semi’s
JAEGER is lightyears away from Raylee´s song – something fresh in electronic style. We already heard songs like “Wild” thousand times at ESC, the lyrics are ridicolous.
I heard that for the final she is going to grow a perfect flawless mane.