Having introduced artists from Southern, Eastern and Central Norway — it’s finally time for the Melodi Grand Prix 2020 circus to unveil its artists from the West! Earlier than initially planned, NRK has revealed the acts for the fourth semi-final of the Norwegian Eurovision 2020 preselection.
They are: Hege Bjerk, Magnus Bokn, Nordic Tenors, and Oda Loves You.
Melodi Grand Prix 2020 – Semi-Final Four Acts (Western Norway)
Hege Bjerk – “Pang”
Hege Bjerk (29) comes from Sandness. After studying music in both Oslo and Copenhagen, she released her debut album “Alt me drømme om”. She sings her music in the Jærsk language, which is a dialect spoken in the traditional district of Jæren in the Rogaland county. Her entry “Pang” is about how an eating disorder can control one’s life.
Lyrics and music: Martin Bjerkreim, Trygve Stakkeland and Hege Bjerkreim
Magnus Bokn – “Over the Sea”
Magnus Bokn (25) hails from Stavanger and has been involved in music since he was fourteen years old. In the past, he took part in both Idol and The Voice as well as singing in several bands. Combining his studies in popular music with his singing career, he decided to take part in this year’s Melodi Grand Prix. His song “Over the Sea” is co-written by two recent MGP winners — JOWST and Alexander Rybak.
Lyrics and music: Alexander Rybak, Joakim With Steen and Magnus Bokn
Nordic Tenors – “In This Special Place”
Nordic Tenors are an opera trio, who formed in Bergen, Norway’s second city, in 2003. The goal of creating the Nordic Tenors was to create a classical group that combines “classical and opera music with popular music expressions and humor”. The group has a well-established career in Norway and has performed over 900 concerts and recorded eight albums. Their entry “In This Special Place” is indeed a combination of opera and pop and reminds us slightly of Didrik Solli-Tangen’s “My Heart is Yours” that won MGP in 2010.
Lyrics and music: Einar Kristiansen Five and Jan-Tore Saltnes
Oda Loves You – “Love Who We Love”
Oda Evjen Gjøvåg (31) grew up in Bergen, but moved to the world’s creative capital Los Angeles at nineteen. After seven years, she returned to Norway with a “bag full of new experiences” and better songwriting capabilities. With her partially self-penned song “Love Who We Love”, Oda hopes to spread love through music.
Lyrics and music: Magnus Bertelsen and Oda Evjen Gjøvåg
MGP 2020: The five pre-qualified artists
Five artists have been pre-selected for the final in Trondheim on February 15. They are Tone Damli, Ulrikke Brandstorp, Akuvi, Didrik & Emil and Sondrey.
The five acts were selected by an internal jury — the usual method for MGP. Each of the pre-qualified acts will perform their competing song at one of the five semi-finals, to ensure that Norwegian viewers are exposed to all the competing songs prior to the grand final on 15 February.
Ulrikke Brandstorp will showcase “Attention” during the fourth semi.
Are you excited by these artists? Did you know any of them before? Let us know in the comments box down below.
Thinking about Eurovision night…I’d say Love Who We Love. I can imagine people in the arena singing along to it. It will be more memorable for viewers at home among the four above. Pang is kinda interesting, but I won’t be able to sing along to it and might not remember it on the night to vote. Also, I don’t know if I would listen to it more than once….
I like Pang and Love Who We Love, they are decent. The other two songs are not memorable. Wild is still my favorite.
So many people complaining!!! I am laughing hard at them though ? At least we do have a national final here in Norway! Eventhough there are some clear weak songs, most of them are actually OK or even good. The only awful ones have been the 2 songs “Start of something new” and now “Special Place like this”… The others all work either on radio or stage wise. Lithuania has had way more horrible songs and performances so far in their national selection, songs that also haven’t gotten through their semis….the Norwegian national final is going to be overall really… Read more »
Not that bad, with exception for Tenors I like everyone
Don’t like any of the song. Easy-listening songs don’t mean they will do well in Eurovison, I’m afraid
Don’t get the hype of Over The Sea. Another typical feel-good country vibe radio song.
I don’t think Norway 2019 selection was better but they at least had one song that was so different and Eurovisiony with its own identity.
Pang is the only good one in this bunch. One of the best so far in all of MGP I’d say.
I normally give praise. However, I am struggling with this Semi’s selection.
The nicest song seems to be “Over the Sea”, so that would be my pick. (None of my favourites in Norway have won so far though.)
I am really starting to see the skepticism. It’s almost like each new semi is getting safer and safer. I still have to praise Norway for their production values and diversity, but it’s like each song is the safe and watered-down version of what the genre can be. “We Love Who We Love” would be the perfect example of this utter genericness. It’s for a pop song what “Stay” is for a ballad, but not many people see it because they can dance to it, I suppose. Cliche upon cliche upon cliche. Even the drop and repetition come on the… Read more »
Pang or Over The Sea.
I found my winner i think: Over the sea! Great song which i think would do very well in esc!
Oda has by far the best entry here, I think this will be great live! I get the feeling of Fuego, nobody noticed it before they saw it live. I Can’t wait for next Saturday!
I really don’t understand why so many people are disappointed by Norways selection so far. Yes, Norway are celebrating the 60th anniversary of MGP, but that doesn’t automatically mean that the submissions in average would be better than any other year. In most editions of MGP, there are (in my opinion) 2 or 3 songs that I really like, and it’s the same so far this year; Raylee, Rein Alexander and Kristin Husøy. The only difference from this year to earlier years, is that NRK has chosen more songs for the live stage, but as I said earlier, that doesn’t… Read more »
This is actually a very good point. I would say that MGP 2019 seemed very strong in particular so it is a let down in the short term, even if in the long term it should be viewed as being in line with the usual quality of MGP.
It’s on par with last year’s Montenegrin selection..
And even Montevizija had Andrea Demirovi?. This doesn’t.
The lyrics for “Pang” are banging! I hope it qualifies from this semi, im not into any of the other songs
Sadly, nothing in this semi seems to work for me. But I’m curious to find out how the lyrics (and maybe the staging) of “Pang” deal with the eating disorder subject.
Me too, especially since the Google translate from Norwegian gives Pang as… Pang. That’s it. No translation. Still curious.
I don’t like any of them . I’m sad for Lisa borud and jaegar now
no complaining for Lisa and Jaeger they are irrelevant here since they are not part of this region
Pang is probably now my fav of the whole nf, I just know that it won’t win sadly
My top 4:
1, Pang
2, Love Who We Love (It’s very close to being my first place though!)
3, Over The Sea
4, In This Special Place
Pang the only song I like but god knows how that will look and sound on the stage. Hopefully they saving the best songs till last a lot of these songs In Norway feel like filler but hey they only need one good song.
With each semifinal this selection became underwhelming considering Norway’s past selections. Fingers crossed for the last two pre-qualifiers to be very good.
For the 60th anniversary of Norway in Eurovision I really thought that the organisers of MGP would have tried harder to get better songs. The only ones I can tolerate so far are Wild, Pray For Me, and Pang. Lithuania’s national final, well known for its usual weakness, has done a rebranding and is now one of the strongest this year, in contrast to Norway, who really served amazing quality last year. The only selection worse than Norway this year so far, in my opinion, is Latvia. Kinda bummed tbh since I love Norway in Eurovision. I really truly hope… Read more »
I totally agree! I know they want to celebrate the anniversary but considering the poor quality of the majority of the songs, this selection is a waste of time. And a also agree about what you said about Lithuania. Their final along with the Czech one are the best so far.
Omg I love the Czech songs. Didn’t expect to stan a group called We All Poop but since hearing their song I have decided to haha
If Samantha Tina wins. I think Latvia is excused.
Yeah I agree. She’s the only possible choice for Latvia that will send them to the final.
Sometimes it depends on the submissions itself, thought more “bigger” artists would take part or at least show interest after their great result last year
Same, actually. I was really hoping Mørland would make a comeback (En Livredd Mann was my winner last year), but here we are.
Mørland is back, as a songwriter for next pre-qualified song (Ulrikke)
Hope Oda Loves You!
I dont like it, but i can see “over the sea” winning this easily . I think it is a big threat to win the whole thing, and doing well in the eurovision like “silent storm” or “higher ground” , if they get staging right.
It makes sense. By the way, I imagine the French entry will be something on this lane.
No Sabrina this song is from Scandinavian playbook, I expect French one to be a bit more original. LETS HOPE…
Well, I also hope the French entry to be much better than this one. But when it’s announced that they will pair a cozy folk singer with a song that broadcasters’ executives think “will touch people ‘s hearts”, that’s what comes up to my mind.
Pang is the winner here, no doubt!
I need Tone Damli’s song!
we’ll get that next week, this week we get Ulrikke’s song composed by Morland, A1’s Christian Ingebrigtsen
Magnus’ Over the Sea has the most potential – it feel like it could soar but it doesn’t quite lift out when it should.
We Love who we love is not bad.
Pang is a worthy and underwritten topic but the tune isn’t doing it for me.
And the less said about the Disney sickliness of the other one the better.
I’m probably the only sucker for Disney sickliness.
It can be appealing when done well.
in this special place is beautiful, the real fan of vintage Disney music should love this
I’m still not feeling any of the Norwegian releases, so hopefully, the best is saved for last. I’d pick ‘Pang’ here.
We stan pang
Magnus is the best, in my opinion 😉
Pang reminds me of Margaret Berger
If only it were at this level. One of the best Eurovision songs ever.
I’m still waiting for the song that could rival or come close to Wild
All songs so far could rival the wild trash
I like “Love who we love” but my favourite is “Pang” it’s so generic and fun. And because i’m Norwegian!
Magnus is the only good of this SF
“Pang” is so far the best song in this preselection. Could be great on stage