On Saturday, Norway selected the first qualifier for the grand final of Melodi Grand Prix 2021. Now broadcaster NRK has revealed the next four acts who will face the vote in the second semi-final of MGP 2021. The names include 2020 fan favourite Raylee, two-time Eurovision veteran Ketil Stokkan, and MGP debutantes Maria Solheim and Daniel Owen.
Melodi Grand Prix 2021: Semi-Final 2 artists
Raylee – “Hero”
Songwriters: Andreas Stone Johansson, Anderz Wrethov, Laurell Barker, Thomas Stengaard and Frazer Mac
Raylee made the MGP grand final last year with fan favourite song “Wild”. She returns this year with “Hero”, whose songwriters include iconic Eurovision and national final songwriters. Describing 2021 song “Hero”, Raylee says “This year we are back to the ’80s. I have a real power song.”
Maria Solheim – “Nordlyset”
Songwriters: Andreas Gjone, Camilla North, Elsbeth Rehder, Torgeir Ryssevik and Maria Solheim
Maria Solheim is an established artist and is currently working on her seventh solo album. Her songle “Nordlyset” translates as “The Northern Lights” and Maria describes it as: “My song is a song I have been allowed to translate into northern Norwegian. It’s about finding a home.”
Daniel Owen – “Psycho”
Songwriters: Daniel Elmrhari, Paria Ahmadzade, Marius Hongve, Henrik Høven, Patrick Brizard, Jørgen Troøyen, Leif Inge Fosen and Marcus Nilsen Ulstad
Daniel Owen is a talented singer and dancer and first came to fame back in 2011 from winning Norway’s Got Talent back in at the age of 11. He is now focusing on his music career, exploring R&B.
Ketil Stokkan: “My Life is OK”
Songwriter: Ketil Stokkan
Ketil Stokkan is a two-time Eurovision veteran, having previously represented Norway in 1986 with “Romeo” and the infamous last-place finish in 1990 with “Brandenburger Tor”. It’s been 31 years since he last competed at MGP – a record! This year he’ll be singing the self-written “My Life is OK”. Of his decision to return to MGP, Ketil says, “I did not intend to join again. But right now there is nowhere else to show off. It is humble to be selected from 1000 submitted songs.”
The winner from the second semi-final will join the winners of the other semi-finals and the pre-qualified finalists in the grand final on 20 February:
- Atle Pettersen – “World on Fire”
- Blåsemafian feat. Hazel – “Let Loose”
- Kaja Rode – “Feel Again”
- Keiino – “Monument”
- Rein Alexander – “Eyes Wide Open”
- Stavangerkameratene – “Barndomsgater”
- Tix – “Ut av mørket”
As well, the non-qualifying semi-finalists will have one more chance to make the final with the second chance round on 14 February.
What do you think? Which of the four semi-final 2 songs do you like? Should any of these songs be Norway’s pick for Eurovision 2021? Sound off below!
Yeeees so do I. My fav out these 4.
Here are my thoughts:
Raylee – I felt sure I wasn’t going to like it. Like last year with Wild, I found myself ticking off all the tricks to make a song sound hip, but I’ve got to admit she won me over by the end and this is an enjoyable slice of 80s dance pop.
Maria Solheim a like a warm cup of cocoa by a raging fire, the most comforting of teddy bear hugs
Daniel Owen – reminded me of Vincent Bueno – not my thing
Ketil Stokkan – twee at first, eventually a bit irritating
Raylee is pleasant but sounds like a song by ‘THE WEEKEND’
But I love it
I love Maria Solheim’s Nordlyset. With respect to Keiino’s Monument I find both its harmonies and its lyrics more authentic and more representative of Northern Norway, and therefore more emotional.
The chorus: “Look at the sky / Rest in the bed of stars / Follow the northern light that shows the way / Until you come home to me.”
Yikes! So Norway is keeping with tradition for last place at Eurovision again?
If you want people to open up to Kazakhstan, maybe you shouldn’t be so close-minded about other countries?
So far the songs speak for themselves. Aside from Tix which is a decent song but I don’t think would far well at esc.
Kazakhstan and Norway are two complete different music cultures though 🙂
also Kazakhs can fill the gap what Hungary left, also with a bit of variety in genres, some heavy metal groups over there are also very great
I would like to see Raylee at Eurovision, but with better song.
Hero sounds like “Brand new chick” from So Undercover.
Nothing excites me here. I agree that Raylee is the favorite to win the semi. Not just for last year, but also because she has the most entertaining track of the bunch. I’ve never liked “Wild”, this one I actually enjoy. I just feel it needed a stronger chorus and that they mixed up doing 80’s influenced pop with trying to recreate an 80’s song from the scratch. But if they unapologetically embrace the 80’s aesthetics, it can be fun. Personally, I like “Nordlyset” a tad more. It’s cute, warm and the Norwegian is a plus. Though it’s basically a… Read more »
I agree Sabrina, non of these entries get me excited. And I didn’t like Wild last year and think her actual entry is better.
So far I think only Monument has the potential to become an ESC winner, but who knows how the norwegian voters think.
I agree that “Monument” so far is playing on a different league. But TIX is popular there and he’s song is nice, so we can’t count him off. Both raised the bar and these semifinalists failed to accompany them. Though if the head of delegation wasn’t kidding with our feelings, there are still two competitive entries to be presented. I bet one of them is Rein Alexander powered by Morland.
I was team Rein Alexander last year so I am very curious what he has chosen to give us this year.
Anything Morland composes is definitely worth being treated with high expectations.
Against the trend, my favourite of this four songs is Maria Solheim – “Nordlyset”.
I guess the reasons are: 1. I have always had a soft spot for the Norwegian language. 2.Somehow my soul was reminded of the late 90ies when I had the album Sissel Kyrkjebø – Innerst i sjelen. 3.And the calming (and to me not boring) effect of the song and singing does me some good at the moment.
I actually really like Hero, it is much better than I expected. It is a great song to listen to outside of the Eurovision world. I don’t understand all the hate around it but I personally think it is the bets of the 4 and would be surprised if it didn’t win this heat
Well, the winner is clearly not in this semi. KEiiNO is by far the best of the 10 first acts.
A song really needs 8 songwriters? Too many cooks spoil the broth I’d say…
“Hero” has some nice 80’s vibes. But Estonia’s Gram-of-Fun has better ones.
At this point I think it’s a walk in the park for KEiiNO
Dont be so sure:) I think it will not be that easy. There will be more winner candidates i think:)
I think this semi is not that exiting. I am 100% sure Raylee will win it. The others are not a threat to her song i believe:)
I don’t really get the point with this songs: Raylee – Hero: It is Ok, I can hear it, but I don’t really like it. For me, it is worst than Wild, but the best of the heat. Daniel Owen – Psycho: Repetitive, I don’t really like his voice but I can stand it. Overall, I can hear it, but leave it like that. Maria Solheim – Nordlyset: Today I’m on a sleepy mood, and this song doesn’t help me at all. The voice is the best thing. Give this girl a different song, please. Ketil Stokkan – My life… Read more »
While I’ve added 3 songs from the other heat to my top, none of this semi.
Psycho is the only good one – catchy with a decent if repetitive hook. My Life is OK is fine but I really don’t like the lyrics and it’s so so dated and repetitive (but when the thing being repeated isn’t even good it has the opposite effect of Psycho’s repetition). Nordlyset is appreciated for Norwegian language, but I can’t remember a single thing about it after listening. And Raylee………..what a downgrade from Wild. Hero is such a slog to get through, it feels like 10 minutes. Of the 80s inspired songs this year so far, Lost in a Dance… Read more »
The only song I like from this 4 is:
Maria Solheim – “Nordlyset” I hope she will make it to the final
I think I’m general this is a weaker semi and none of the songs are outstanding. I’m sure Raylee will bring the staging to save a rather weak homage of a Dua Lipa track. When you only have 4 songs in a semi—the margin for error is small.
Who are the prequalified acts this week then?
Stavangerkameratene with Barndomsgater, as far as I know
There’s only one act per week from now on. And yes, it will be Stavangerkameratene
I feel like this semi is a major downgrade. Every single one of these is a dated mess. I suspect Raylee will win based on momentum and the fact that he’s was the only song I could make myself listen all the way through, but it’s not her best work I dont think.
Nrk basically saw that raylee didn’t have a good enough song to be prequalified but they still wanted her to be in the final so they put random songs in her semi.
It’s better than last week though.
So Raylee had to go through the semifinals once again, even after having experienced the biggest “commercial” hit of last years MGP season – i am sure this has to so with the writing team being non-natives to Norway and they do prefer to reserve the automatic finalist spots to Norwegian songwriters and composers.
I am though surprised to see Maria Solheim not as an automatic qualifier as she is great. Instead of Kaja Rode that is… Based on this i am sure Kaja Rode must have one hell of a song and is this years definite underdog.
Raylee’s song reminds me of blinding lights by The Weekend for some reason….
Rayle: I don’t need a hero
CHARLOTTE Perreli – schocked
Tina Turner: That’s my girl
Overall I think I preferred last week’s songs a bit more than this week’s but I appreciate that there is quite a diversity of genres and styles in the contest, so I don’t mind. This is my ranking based on my own personal taste. 1- Raylee (Not quite as an earworm as Wilde but still catchy. 80’s vibes galore) 2- Daniel Owen (I like the refrain reminds me a little of 2000s RnB) 3- Ketil (I admit most people probably put this last, but I like 50’s music lol). 4- Maria Soldheim – Sweet soft sounds, I can relax to… Read more »
OH MY GOD RAYLEE IS BACK
I like them all! It’s turning into a good MGP year for me. (The rest of you must really be suffering then, ahahaha. 🙂 )
My personal favourite is “My Life is Ok” just because I really like that song. But Raylee would be the obvious qualifier here – I love how “Hero” calls back to Bonnie Tyler’s “I need a Hero” but actually disagrees in the lyrics and exclaims “I don’t need a hero!” It’s also especially funny considering she does need the public vote to qualify, aha.
Its between Rayle and DANIEL
My first impressions with a vague list:
I’m certainly prioritizing MGP over PIN this Saturday.
Ahh, my favourite is your 4th place. This year’s going well so far. 😛
Oh wait, you weren’t ranking them yet were you?
This ranking is really vague and might likely change. I have Raylee as my 1st, but the other three are very close, as all have certain different aspects I like. I enjoy in how simple and inoffensive My Life is OK is. I would be shocked if it wins the semi, though. 😉
for me it sounds like ”is she really going out with him” by Joe Jackson, and a bit of george ezra vibe i get as well
i quite like it, also surprising he takes part here, if anyone can challenge Raylee, i could see Ketil do that, i am looking forward to the PQ finalist entry of this semi
Again a weak semi. MGP never disappoints us lol. But seriously, none of these songs really stand out. Raylee’s song is okay but I feel like something is missing. “Hero” would have been a masterpiece thus a potential winner of this year’s edition. There is a thing that everyone must agree on. “Hero” is not better than “Wild”. Maria’s song is also okay though a little bit boring. But I like her cute voice 🙂 Daniel…. no. Not only his song is not as uplifting that it should have been but it also sounds like “Dynamite” from BTS at some… Read more »
Nordlyset sounds a lot like Alle mine tankar, their 1993 entry, it’s my favorite by far
I remember that one! It stood out because at first it looked like the young lady was really nervous and that she needed encouragement from the audience to get through the song. But it was later explained to us that it was all deliberately meant to happen that way, with people told to clap in the chorus. Is that right?
From first listen, bit dissapointed with this semi. Had high hopes for raylee, but it does nothing for me. I think psycho will win, but I would probably rather see another losing song from a different semi going through instead. Maybe one of them will grow on me and I’ll be eating my words by Saturday!
Hero is far better than psycho. What makes you think he will win?
Thats just your opinion Catriona, it isn’t fact.
ok sorry but i’ll be harsh
this semi is simply terrible. every song is bad. except psycho which is mediocre (at most). i would prefer if noone won it. im rlly dissapointed after semi1..
I wonder if a National Final qualifying round has ever been voided. Anyone?
Not a national final per se, but in a FiK edition before it was used for eurovision, the song quality was declared to be so bad that no first places would be awarded, only 2 second places.
Damn that’s ruthless, which FiK edition was it?
Not as of recent, but we did have a case of a scrapped national final in Greece in 2018. Five songs were picked for a final, but two were eliminated due to ”unpaid fees” and two were eliminated for ”not having a characteristically Greek sound”. Even if the rules stated before had ”characteristically Greek sound” as a preference, they just changed the rules in the middle of the process and made them completely ineligible. The winning song was Onirou mou and even though it’s a really good song, I feel like their too self-assured approach might have taken it’s toll.
This is such a weak semi…. even my number 1 (Raylee) isn´t that good for me. For me no one deserves the final compared to last week I liked three songs more then all this 4.
1 Raylee Hero 7
2 Daniel Owen Psycho 6
3 Ketil Stokkan My Life Is Ok 3 (has some parts of Amy Winehouse “Rehab”)
4 Maria Solheim Nordlyset 3
Thumbs up for My life is okay for saying it how it is – people are competing in ecs because there´s no other job! =D It takes some courage to get back to ecs after more than 30 years, especially after being in the last place! The song is so bland, so old-fashioned like he didn´t even try to write a good song – and that´s why I love it! True eurovision spirit <3
Treating Eurovision as a last option to go, as nothing better isn’t in the offering? Rude an pretentious – Ketil is officially cancelled!
omg artist also have to eat…
Yeah, but calling Eurovision a last option to go is rude. Like this: “Hey I’ll date you, heck I even marry you, but I’ll just check 20 other people first since they’re better than you, but you’re a good last option to go with :)”
I just want to wake up and see Kristin Husoy’s mgp song
That would be a dream
So far i really like Raylees song. Its kinda like The Weeknds blinding lights, but not a copy. I think this one will win by a landslide, the only one that can compete is Psycho. In the final, with a good staging, i think she will have a good chance as well.
I am really exited to see how they stage the guitar solo!!
Yes. It’s a very creative song like Wild, which was like Fuego, but not a “copy”.
I have a question for native Norwegians here. Is KEiiNO a big deal in Norway? It sure is in the fan bubble, but what about general public? Which of the announced artists may have an advantage of the popular vote?
Tbh, they are not that big, like in general public, but i think their song has a chance to win. TIX is tho the major artist right now, as well as Stavangerkameratene. They are both typically in our top 50, alltho i dont like their music that much! 🙂
Thanks for your reply.
So their MGP win in 2019 and a relatively good result in ESC (1st according to the televote!) didn’t automatically make them huge in Norway, like the most anticipated song of MGP 2021? Interesting.
No, not among the majority of people. I am actually surprised, and happy, to see their song among our top 50 right now (46). But, of course, we are proud of them, and people are surprised and happy that they are back! 🙂 But the “hype” is definitly on TIX, especially among the youth. Atle Pettersen is also a household name most norwegians know.
Even though tix is amoung the artists, I don’t see him as a garanteed winner. Keiino is kind of popular, a lot of grown up people like them, also young ones and kids. Tix is pretty famous, but there’s fewer teens who watch mgp. So I think he will lose a lot of those votes.. But I still see him as a dangrous participant for the other artists! However, I think keiino will do better in the jury votes on esc. If tix dosen’t win, he will end up on 2nd or 3rd place. As well for keiino.
They are very well appreciated among MGP fans and viewers. Most artists taking part rarely go huge on the commercial charts, but winners do become household names and their fame will live on, and this also goes for KEiiNO. Their music isnt commercial enough to hit the charts, but they will ve in the lime light for years to come. We will probably see them in MGP in 20 years time as well ?
4 nobodies, not interested
Who were you expecting?! Kygo?!
Ngl, Kygo in ESC would be awesome
yes
Can you imagine if Russia sends Zedd, Italy sends Tiesto, France sends David Guetta, The Netherlands sends van Buuren and Sweden sends Axwell/Ingrosso/Alesso? 😀 we can always dream
For everyone who isnt into DJs that would be kinda eh
I know and I agree. I was obviously exaggerating. Although a couple of them wouldn’t hurt 🙂
I think Get Outta My Head by Shane Codd could bring victory back to Ireland. And what about Joel Corry or Nathan Dawe for UK? Shame Darude did not do better.
Or Bicep, Camelphat, Duke Dumont, High Contrast or Prospa!
Is kygo in mgp?!
then. don’t. effing. POST!!!
thought you were my friend :'(
Keep this reply chain going.
Honestly I’m not a fan of all those songs, no winner potential
Raylee’s song is the best from this semifinal but isn’t better than wild, no winner potential.
Psycho is the typical r&b radio friendly song maybe it’s something good for him and it would works like let’s loose.
Nordlyset its not my type in my opinion a boring song (but I need to translate the lyrics, maybe that could change my opinion)
My life is okay sounds so outdated, please return it to its year.
1. Hero
2. Psycho
3. Nordlyset
4. My life is okay
You ranked the songs like that only because it’s aesthetically pleasing.
I was kidding, guys. Why the downvotes? BTW, that list really looks aesthetically pleasing.
Hero is a big massive yes from me – a bit disappointing that this semi final is essentially a coronation for Raylee though.
Well this is a strong semi and not that awful semi last week. 3 songs here that I prefer over any songs in mgp this year.
1. Psycho
2. Nordlyset
3. Hero
4. the forth song
Any song of top 3 can win and I’d be happy. Hope one of them wins MGP actually – Keiino’s song is to messy for me and Tix has ruined his chances with staging.
Shady that Rein got to go direct to the final this time but Raylee has to do the semis (even though she made the final four last year…)
Raylee’s song, at least in my opinion, doesn’t hold up with the current automatic qualifiers’ songs. Maybe it just wasn’t strong enough to be an AQ. Rein’s song is by the songwriters that made “Attention”, so that could be quite something.
Seems like Johansson, Wrethov and Barker noticed that 80s-themed drum patterns were a thing this year and decided they’d like some of that.
Yeah, I dislike it about as much as I thought I would. 😉 Daniel Owen’s song is alright in places but definitely think Jorn would’ve won this heat had he been in it.
I feel this semi-final will be between Raylee and Daniel.
Nordlyset is very beautiful though, love it.
So far I’ve heard “My Life is OK” – sure does sound like “Romeo.” Not a bad thing at all, but I don’t think it’ll win.
Alright, now I’ve heard them all, and I’ll rank ’em as:
Sorry, Ketil – “Romeo” is still my favorite of ’86, but I can’t say your song’s my pick here. Still glad to see you back, at least. Raylee’s doing the ’80s pop throwback thing right, and I do love me a good song in dialect so “Nordlyset” is right up my alley. “Psycho” is good and modern with nice production, but something didn’t really click for me.