She’s the mighty-lunged diva who was due to represent Norway at Eurovision 2020. But the contest’s cancellation meant that Ulrikke never got to perform in Rotterdam.
Now, in a recent interview with our William, the “Attention” singer explains that Eurovision’s cancellation was actually easier to handle than NRK opting not to internally select her in 2021.
Ulrikke on Eurovision 2020’s cancellation
While Ulrikke cried and felt “super sad” when Eurovision 2020 was cancelled, she gets why the contest couldn’t go ahead. And while it was a long-held dream to perform on the famed stage, she understands that people’s health had to be prioritised.
For her, the national broadcaster’s decision not to send her in 2021 was worse. “That was more difficult to handle than Eurovision being cancelled. Because then I had a hope that maybe I could go next year. That was sad”.
NRK did offer Ulrikke the opportunity to compete in the country’s Melodi Grand Prix selection as a pre-qualified finalist, just like she did in 2020. But she turned the broadcaster down because “for several reasons it just feels wrong to be part of it next year”.
One reason is that, as the reigning MGP champion, she will already be returning in 2021 to perform “Attention” and a new single. To then compete with a third song would be “a bit too much of me… maybe”.
She also points out that people were already accusing NRK of rigging the competition in her favour after the voting difficulties in the 2020 final — “and if I win next year they will probably be angrier”.
Crucially, though, she doesn’t have a song. “I don’t have a song that I love as much as I love “Attention”. I need that song!”.
And finally, “this year has been a lot”.
But Ulrikke assures us that once her body, mind and soul have had a little break, she will return to Melodi Grand Prix ready for victory once more — “just not next year”.
Ulrikke — Eurovision 2020 Interview
In the 31:00 minute interview, Ulrikke also discusses lighter topics — from her love for Beyoncé and Tom Leeb, to what flavour ice cream she might be. All the main talking points are listed below along with their respective timestamps.
Timestamps
00:00 – Intro
00:30 – The Wiwi Jam At Home performance
00:55 – Christmas album
02:10 – “Attention” remix
03:15 – “Places” and Melodi Grand Prix 2017
03:35 – Touching people with “Attention”
04:15 – Melodi Grand Prix 2020 voting drama
05:35 – YouTube documentary
06:00 – Quarantine The Muisical
07:00 – Romania trip
07:50 – International performance plans
08:15 – Tom Leeb
09:00 – Not competing at Meldi Grand Prix 2021
10:55 – Her energy
11:25 – Dream Eurovision collaborator
12:00 – Dream dinner-party guests
13:00 – Eurovision’s cancellation (including NRK’s decision not to send her in 2021)
14:15 – Her manager
16:25 – Singing in English
17:00 – Is “Attention” about one specific person?
18:35 – Her dog
18:55 – Changing as an artist between 2017 and 2020
19:55 – Job if she wasn’t a singer
20:25 – Her outgoing personality
21:10 – Fame
21:45 – Vocal warm-ups
23:00 – NikkieTutorial’s Tom Leeb surprise
23:40 – Eurovision staging plans
24:05 – Eurovision dress
24:40 – What flavour ice cream would she be?
26:00 – Her parents
26:50 – “Attention” songwriting process
28:20 – The future
29:00 – Main competition at Eurovision 2020
Do you hope to see Ulrikke back at MGP in the near future? Should NRK have sent her 2021? Let us know in the comments below.
So I guess Raylee, Magnus Bokn, or Kristen Husoy to represent Norway at Eurovision 2021.
If any of them end-up participating in MGP 2021, that is.
If none of them are participating in MGP 2021, no finals for Norway next year or send Akuvi or Hege Bjerk.
Because Norway hans’ got any other artists than these;)
Can’t this pathetic little drama queen go away already? Yikes.
KEiiNO need to do a collaboration with Ulrikke
I actually really need this to happen
i feel like if she applied she’d win again, but i can see why she doesn’t feel like it. my mom told me she would’ve voted for her when she saw shine a light, she was very impressed!
Thanks for asking Ulrikke my question!!!! 🙂
Something about the scandinavian countries so cold hearted. Norway, Sweden, Denmark all confirming new singers.
Iceland and Finland, the Nordic neighbours, also haven’t confirmed plans either way
Finland have confirmed UMK again and if Aksel wants to compete he has to apply and send a song in like everyone else
Norway will be doing a national final along with semifinals like in 2020, Ulrikke was given a spot as a direct finalist but she didn’t want to Sweden will be doing Melodifestivalen in 2021 and it’s not known if The Mamas will compete Finland will also do their national final, Aksel can compete with a new song, but if there’s better songs he won’t be one of the 6 acts hoping to win UMK in 2021 Denmarks national final will ccome again next year, also Ben & Tan have confirmed that they want a new winner for 2021 so they… Read more »
Nordics are very rational in pretty much everything and it is part of their mindsets. However, they should look beyond rationality time to time.
I’m tired of these soulless Nordic broadcasters
I still believe that she will represent Norway in the future. Same with Dadi for Iceland. But it sucks that Ulrikke may not get to see Tom anymore. They should’ve met in Hamburg like the few of the 2020 artists there. Maybe they can be invited in pre-parties next year.
Ulrikke won’t be competing in MGP 2021, so I hope she competes in MGP 2022 and wins! She deserves to represent Norway more than anyone, she wanted this so bad and NRK just take it away from her.
Missing you already Ulrikke. You were my favourite!
Same, she was my favourite as well, I’m devastated she won’t come back next year! Hopefully she competes in MGP 2022 and wins.
You clearly have no taste.
Norway just missed a Winner
So true
It’s so great to hear that she will be trying to represent Norway again in the future! <3 🙂 During the Eurovision Shine a Light broadcast my heart broke when I saw her performing her part of Love shine a light knowing she wouldn’t be back next year :’(
Tom Leeb tried to invite her in his Insta Live some weeks ago but she wasn’t connected at the moment. Maybe one day the stars will be aligned!
As much as I loved the song and more importantly her as an artist, I can sort of understand the thinking of Norway. Like Sweden and to a lesser degree Denmark their selection shows are huge and were never going to be scrapped. At least she has been given some exposure to the public although nowhere near what she should have had. I do rate her very highly because she has the voice and the great personality to go with it. I agree with those who say give it a year then come back. She is too talented to slip… Read more »
At its peak, Melfest was an even bigger event in Sweden than Eurovision itself, so no way in hell would they sacrifice that
Solid reasoning. I’m just glad she hasn’t given up on competing entirely. She’s just waiting it out until 2022.
Yeah, maybe we won’t have her in 2021, but hold out for a future date.