Norway’s Melodi Grand Prix is up and running. Two of the five semi-finals are now behind us, and the roster for the finale is slowly taking shape. On January 23, four Norwegian Eurovision hopefuls performed in the Telenor Arena. Following two song duels and a final showdown, Raylee has advanced to the grand final with her song “Hero”.

Norway: Melodi Grand Prix 2021 Semi-Final 2 Results

The concept of the semi-finals is as follows: The four semi-finalists are split into two duels, which is determined by an on-stage draw. The winners of both duels then face off in the final duel, where the winner advances directly to the final. The remainder of the acts go to the wildcard round (siste sjanse, or final chance) on February 15.

Battling it out in the two-round knockout were Raylee with “Hero”, Daniel Owen with “Psycho”, Ketil Stokkan with “My Life Is OK”, and Maria Solheim with “Nordlyset”.

Duel 1: Ketil Stokkan vs Daniel Owen

In the first duel, MGP veteran Ketil Stokkan faced off against newcomer Daniel Owen. Ketil performed in a violet and pink suit amid snazzy ’80s-style staging. Daniel went for something more modern with six dancers working a complex dance routine before a black screen with red accents. Contemporary won the day and Daniel advanced.

Duel 2: Raylee vs Maria Solheim

Raylee and Maria Solheim delivered two polar opposite performances. Raylee came with a sexy performance of her powerful synth-pop bop. She paid homage to Flashdance — replete with a shower hair-whip scene — that gave her the victory over Maria’s heartfelt Norwegian-language folk ballad. Raylee qualified to the final, while Maria advanced to Siste sjanse.

Stavangerkameratene then performed their pre-qualified entry “Barndomsgater” for the first time. They are one of six acts who have already been given a spot in the grand final by producers. They were performing in exhibition — without any vote from the audience — to help introduce their song to the public.

Their performance gave this blogger strong Blue (UK 2011) vibes.

Final duel: Raylee vs Daniel Owen

Raylee won the final duel and advanced to the MGP final on 20 February. Daniel Owen will perform in Siste sjanse.

What do you think of the results? Can Raylee win the final? And how will Stavangerkameratene do?

101 Comments
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Jo.
Jo.
3 years ago

if only they had put the same effort into the song as they did with the visuals.

Lisianthus
Lisianthus
3 years ago

With that outfit, that body, that staging, it was obvious she was going to win this semi. The song itself is meh.

Last edited 3 years ago by Lisianthus
cheska
cheska
3 years ago

If ever this wins, they need to revamp the whole instrumental. This sounds like it’s trying to fit in with the 80s, instead of throwing a modern twist to the 80s sound (e.g. Dua Lipa)

Sabrina
Sabrina
3 years ago
Reply to  cheska

When the song was released I made a similar comment, concerning that they confused doing 80’s influenced pop with recreating an 80’s pop song from the start. A revamp could backfire though, because it’s biggest feature is sounding (very!) retro.

GrantK
GrantK
3 years ago

Laurell Barker on songwriting credits yet again… give it a rest love!

sav001
sav001
3 years ago
Reply to  GrantK

Why should she when most of her songs had great success? Guess you won’t be happy to find out she has also co-written the Cyprus entry this year too.

Lolek
Lolek
3 years ago
Reply to  sav001

Personally I quite Laurell Barker’s work! In the same way that Sacha Jean Baptiste is a eurovision staple, so too is Laurell (in my humble opinion) 🙂

Last edited 3 years ago by Lolek
Jonas
Jonas
3 years ago
Reply to  Lolek

I just don’t understand why it’s not okay for Aly Ryan to even think about representing another country, but it’s okay for Laurell Barker to represent multiple countries, year after year.

Grft
Grft
3 years ago

The staging is great but that song …. it’s really bland. And as some of you wrote, I feel that this is really unauthentic.

That doggie in the window
That doggie in the window
3 years ago

Yes! Brilliant Ray-Lee. <3

Jimmy Smit
Jimmy Smit
3 years ago

Raylee doesn’t work for me here. The lyrics don’t feel lived, and the style feels imitative and derivative rather than being authentic. It’s as though next week she will be in 60s styling and the following week she could be in punk. I saw some comments comparing this to Dua Lipa, but while there’s a similar 80s inspiration and aesthetics here, this doesn’t come close to the quality or authenticity of any Dua Lipa song. It makes me think of Bonnie Tyler’s Holding Out For A Hero, you can feel the story of the song, hear the urgency of her… Read more »

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
3 years ago
Reply to  Jimmy Smit

dua lipa would never touch a song like this… leave her outta this lmao she’s doing early 00s inspired music not 80s

Irishfan
Irishfan
3 years ago

Raylee 2001 = eurovision 1994

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
3 years ago

Similar to last week, the quality of the pre-qualified finalists was so much higher than what else was presented on the show. Stavangerkameratene were great! I really just want to get back to Norway’s national final being a one week affair with very few weak entries.

Kalla
Kalla
3 years ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

I completely disagree, stavangerkameratene were outdated and very cliche, there performance was nothing compared to raylee. I have been on the fence about raylee all week, but she was clearly head and shoulders above the rest tonight, great performance. However, the water scene would have been a lot more enticing if she didn’t yank a toilet chain before hand haha!

Last edited 3 years ago by Kalla
willchrisiam
willchrisiam
3 years ago

I actually really like Raylee’s song this time around. Her previous effort felt super cheap to me so my expectations were pretty low. The only thing that’s bothering me is that I can’t understand half of what she’s singing in the verses. You can’t afford to mumble with such a nasal voice. The styling is ok but could be greatly elevated.

Kalla
Kalla
3 years ago
Reply to  willchrisiam

I think it would of been slightly more scratchy vocals if the backing track wasn’t so prominent.

Skiwalko
Skiwalko
3 years ago

I’d just like to point out that I really like how the widely talked-about nod to “Flashdance” actually makes sense in the context of Raylee’s song, as “Hero”‘s lyrics reflect the movie’s moral of being your own hero and working hard to achieve your goal. Just like in “Flashdance”, the protagonist doesn’t need another man’s help (in the film that’s Alex’s boyfriend, who gets her an audition even though, as we later find out, she succeeds based on her merit alone). The first lines might also be a reference to the film, being a fitting description of the training the… Read more »

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
3 years ago
Reply to  Skiwalko

Ooo, deception. But how? And why?

Skiwalko
Skiwalko
3 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Well that’s the magic of movie escapism. You don’t expect Alex to fail the same way you don’t expect the main character of a movie to die or disappear in the middle of it (not to say it hasn’t happened, e.g. in “Psycho” or ‘L’Avventura”). Most films are meant to tell interesting stories that serve to elicit some sort of emotional reaction from the viewer, for example to inspire them to become a better version of themselves. It’d be unreasonable to expect these plots to be realistic, that’s not what an underdog story is about. And to “Flashdance”‘s credit it… Read more »

Amor A.
Amor A.
3 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

I get where you are coming from where there were so many institutional inequalities that limited people’s success but I do believe things have changed significantly. If you continue to believe you are never going to get anywhere due to perceived inequalities, that mentality will never get you anywhere. You are the master of your destiny with your choices.

sami
sami
3 years ago

Blinding Lights’ ugly sister

Matt Church
Matt Church
3 years ago

What a feeling 😉

NickC
NickC
3 years ago

As the old guy, I feel like I should like that homage to Flashdance, but I don’t. And I know, nothing like this has ever been done before, yet It comes across as very sterile, “Eurovision by numbers” to me. Actually, MGP is very disappointing so far for my out-of-date taste, and at risk of being downvoted, I will say it: Even Keiino. Can we have Ulrikke back unless there is a hidden gem in the last two semi-finals?

Last edited 3 years ago by NickC
Jonas
Jonas
3 years ago
Reply to  NickC

Eric Saade did it with Manboy, Jedward kinda did it with Waterline…

NickC
NickC
3 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

I meant a nod to an 80s classic.That was never done.

Jonas
Jonas
3 years ago
Reply to  NickC

Well, maybe not intentionally.

Sabrina
Sabrina
3 years ago
Reply to  NickC

Morland wrote Rein Alexander’s song, maybe it’s just what you’re waiting for, Nick. I’m already set with KEiiNO (TIX could do the trick also, but he has to FIX that staging), but I trust Morland can still hook me as he did 3 times already.

NickC
NickC
3 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

Yes,Sabrina, I agree: from what is available, Keiino would be my pick too. But they are nowhere close to Ulrikke.

Sabrina
Sabrina
3 years ago
Reply to  NickC

I will miss Ulrikke in Rotterdam. With The Roop qualifying, she and Diodato will be my biggest losses. The good thing is that KEiiNO’s song is so different, that I haven’t felt the urge to compare them.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
3 years ago
Reply to  NickC

Hi NickC. I wonder: Do you feel like the out-of-date songs are cheapening our history and what we lived through? Like with “Flashdance,” for example; it’s a part of our culture that has been and gone; you would think we would be over it after 40 years! 😀 A better example might be in the Finnish selection (Blind Channel – Dark Side); because that brings back my memories of Limp Bizkit (and maybe even Linkin Park) and somehow cheapens them a bit. Am I making sense?

Last edited 3 years ago by Purple Mask
Jimmy Smit
Jimmy Smit
3 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

I’m not sure what you mean, Purple—but I wouldn’t say that Raylee ‘cheapens’ Flashdance in any way, it’s surely the other way around? Raylee’s borrowing of 80s aesthetics in an inauthentic way produces a poor imitation of Flashdance that shows why Flashdance stands the test of time and why Raylee’s song will not.

NickC
NickC
3 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Interesting point Purple. But i loved blind side. I think the execution of the song is much better than hero.

Reverb
Reverb
3 years ago
Reply to  NickC

Ulrikke? So you basically need a boring song and a voice. Cant be hard to find.

ANDREW BROWN
ANDREW BROWN
3 years ago
Reply to  NickC

Yep – what a feeling – check out Irene Carr

ANDREW BROWN
ANDREW BROWN
3 years ago
Reply to  ANDREW BROWN

sorry Cara

NickC
NickC
3 years ago
Reply to  ANDREW BROWN

Err.. I know Irene cara. I actually met her in person

Last edited 3 years ago by NickC
Julin
Julin
3 years ago

As a person who is norwegian and know the norwegian people well, i’m just gonna say and disapoint u that Maria’s song was way to weak for mgp and too boring for the norwegian audience to vote for it. As same for Kjetil. That were just embarrising and disapointing to watch. I’m pretty sure most norwegians who watched today can agree on that. Aswell for Owen’s song, like it’s a shame he got that song to perform. He has the potential (with the right song) but that song was just awful and sounded pretty cheap. He can dance tho! Anyway,… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by Julin
Kosey
Kosey
3 years ago

Was anyone else perturbed that she had to pull a cord to let the water come down? I’m sorry to say that it reminded me of something that she probably wasn’t going for ?
That aside, I thought this was a masterful performance, I really enjoyed the throwback nature of it and it was the rightful winner tonight in my opinion.

Sabrina
Sabrina
3 years ago
Reply to  Kosey

That’s actually a nod to the film “Flashdance”. If you haven’t watched the film, I bet you know the song! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAXX73HEXXs&ab_channel=yovannypetit

Kosey
Kosey
3 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

My bad, not familiar with that film. I can now see what she was going for.

Just a rather odd image if you’re not aware of the context ?

Sabrina
Sabrina
3 years ago
Reply to  Kosey

That’s a good question. In the film, it looks a little silly, but in a charming 80’s silly way. In the 2020’s, I have no idea. The advantage here is if people get the reference, they’ll probably have fun with it. I know I had a laugh with it! But NickC just commented he wasn’t into it, so maybe it can backfire with some.

Kosey
Kosey
3 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

Not knowing the scene, it just felt like a very strange thing to do at the end of the performance. But it was very obviously an 80s inspired performance for an 80s inspired song, so now I know what she was aiming for, it makes sense.

Anita
Anita
3 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

Sabrina, you need to join the wiwibloggs team. You are soooo ripe to do it.
I will read all your posts and especially watch every review video from you;) You could team up with Tibor. The both of you talking about the songs would be my favourite “Eurovision channel”

Sabrina
Sabrina
3 years ago
Reply to  Anita

You’re kind, Anita. 🙂 I’m sure I would appreciate having a press pass to Eurovision! But for the moment I can barely leave the appartment. So I’m glad that I have a space here to talk about the contest, while most people around don’t even know what it is. By the way, I’m curious to check if Tibor got seduced by the 80’s tonight…

Sabrina
Sabrina
3 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

It’s definitely style over substance. And shouldn’t win, we already have better options (I’m still with KEiiNO, with TIX as a backup). But what I liked is that they nailed the style and this is exactly what you need to do when there’s no depth to work it. It was the opposite of last year, when her staging was as disjointed as her song. About her vocals, her second performance was much better. But I guess they uploaded the first to her Youtube channel, because there some evident problems there. I also agree with something willchrisiam pointed, with a nasal… Read more »

Sabrina
Sabrina
3 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

We can and we should have everything that you said (which is my big hope for “Lost in a Dance”, by the way). My point is that, supposing staging came after the song was already recorded, they did the best which was possible to highlight the material they had to work with. Believe me, if you had watched the performance for “Wild”, you would know what I’m saying! 😛

Jonas
Jonas
3 years ago

Everything about Hero is completely 1980s, yes – except the lyrics. They are 2020s.

Anita
Anita
3 years ago

Hey folks have you already watched The Roop performance? I am interested to know your opinion about which performance of this night is your winner: Raylee or The Roop?
Hey folks have you already watched The Roop performance? I am interested to know your opinion about which performance is your winner of the night: Raylee or The Roop? 80ies in the 20ies 😉

Last edited 3 years ago by Anita
Anita
Anita
3 years ago
Reply to  Anita
Last edited 3 years ago by Anita
Anita
Anita
3 years ago
Reply to  Anita

sorry the text is double, how did I do this, can’t edit

ESC8
ESC8
3 years ago
Reply to  Anita

For me it was Raylee by far. At first I was bored, but when this waterfall thing happened, then it became my favourite. As for The Roop they are trying to copy what they did last year but they are also trying to show us that they’re not doing so. I think The Roop will win their national selection (I’m not sure about Raylee) but they are not gonna do that well at ESC, I believe top 5 is the best they can do, but still it is way too early to make a call. I have to add that… Read more »

Sabrina
Sabrina
3 years ago
Reply to  Anita

I think both were perfectly staged and performed, but “Discoteque” is a much better song to my taste. Both songs are taking turns in my brain, by the way.

Anita
Anita
3 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

Haha, nice, the songs are taking turns in your brain.
I love it how without something I can do about it, songs/parts of songs are suddenly in my brain. F.e. “Playing with fire” I didn’t play again, but it played itself in my brain again 😉
That’s how I feel. Performance and staging of both songs were perfect. I prefer Discoteque as a song.

Sabrina
Sabrina
3 years ago
Reply to  Anita

My brain is very fertile for these things. An example, I woke up with a song in my head and I couldn’t remind which one it was. Hours later, I got it: it’s Deslandes’ “Por Um Triz”. And this will keep happening until Eurovision. Sometimes with songs that lost their selections months before!

NickC
NickC
3 years ago
Reply to  Anita

The Roop, by far.

PP77
PP77
3 years ago
Reply to  Anita

For me The Roop, because Hero song needed better singer /dancer. With that Hero will be strong contender for TOP 5 at Eurovision.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
3 years ago

taste found dead

Colin
Colin
3 years ago

Who’d you give a win to, Polegend?

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
3 years ago
Reply to  Colin

nordlyset from this semi ofc. i don’t get what’s with grandmavision fans and their love for tacky clichés

Colin
Colin
3 years ago

I liked Nordyset too. It has such a charming atmosphere. 🙂

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
3 years ago

But… it was once *the* thing! “We had our thing in the 80s and we want it again.” From an adoring grandma fan of Polegend. 😛

Dalth
Dalth
3 years ago

It was kind of obvious Raylee was winning out of that lot easily the best performance of the night. Not sure the song is strong enought to win the whole thing but the water does create a wow moment .That high note towards the end needs pulled or given the Azerbaijan treatment and shes good to go.

Alo
Alo
3 years ago

Best performance till now in mgp for sure, although I am still not crazy about the song itself.

Chris
Chris
3 years ago

if you want the answer to that question, watch both performances of Hero back to back. Her vocals in the second performance are 10x better, and there’s no question she was (at least mostly) live.

Chris
Chris
3 years ago

Hero is just, Jesus Christ, amazing.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
3 years ago
Reply to  Chris

Who? (Tries to keep a straight face.)

Jonas
Jonas
3 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Which was written by a Eurovision composer, of course.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
3 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

Indeed! 😀

Marc
Marc
3 years ago

Daniel is very talented and did himself proud with that performance and there was potential with this track but it was always going to be Raylee and she smashed that performance. I love how she went full on 80s- you always get people saying singles are dated so I like it when an artist embraces it.

Sabrina
Sabrina
3 years ago

“Nordlyset” was so beautiful, I would love to watch it again in the final. Now there’s just one wildcard and I’m already shaken between Jorn and Maria. I’m not crazy about it, but I guess I’m one of the few who prefer “Hero” to “Wild”. Raylee’s performance, the staging, the lyrics, the production, in my opitnion everything is much better and professional. It lacks originality, but they really embraced the 80’s clichés and it was fun to watch. Stavangerkameratene was very pleasant, they’ll add something lovely to the final. Daniel is someone to watch for the future, he can dance… Read more »

Anita
Anita
3 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

We still agree about Nordlyset and I am also torn between Jorn and Maria for the Wild Card.
And I must say Playing with Fire and Beady Belle has grown on me. She would be my third place for the Wild Card so far.

Last edited 3 years ago by Anita
Sabrina
Sabrina
3 years ago
Reply to  Anita

Beady Belle gave a very professional performance, but I confess I haven’t listened to it more than a few times.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
3 years ago

How much did they sing in terms of percentage of the melody’s notes? Isn’t that something a karaoke machine would measure for real? Haha. More seriously I don’t care too much, as long as it doesn’t get in the way of the performance, and I don’t think it did tonight.

Colin
Colin
3 years ago

Everyone was good tonight, but Raylee really deserved that win. She felt like an 80s A-lister on her own concert. What a heat she brought on stage! 🙂 I really liked Daniel’s energy too. Maria’s staging was so sweet. Ketil was as likable and easygoing as I expected. All in all, another good semi for MGP this year. I can’t wait for new songs on Monday!

Sabrina
Sabrina
3 years ago
Reply to  Colin

Since I hasn’t mentioned him in my coment: it put a big smile on my face when Ketil himself appeared in the zoom call to sing that “some say that my music is bad… no way, my music is OK!”.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
3 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

Ahaha, this could become a meme or GIF or something

Sabrina
Sabrina
3 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

I can’t edit anymore, but obviously “I haven’t” and “comment”! This what happens when I post without revising it first.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
3 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

Some say that revision is wrong. I say: Nooo way, revision’s ohhh kay 😀

Mr X
Mr X
3 years ago

I don´t like, it´s very cheap and has poor lyrics.

ESCFan2009
ESCFan2009
3 years ago

Give me chairs and water in the final, yaaas 😀 I loved it!

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
3 years ago
Reply to  ESCFan2009

If only we could wet the audience remotely.

Jimmy Smit
Jimmy Smit
3 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Oh, Purple, you tease.

ESCFan2009
ESCFan2009
3 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Does someone enjoy getting wet in here? ^^ xD

Catriona Colville
Catriona Colville
3 years ago

Raylee the best performance so far, and yes I include Keiino in that.

Jacob S
Jacob S
3 years ago

oh my gosh! raylee served so much, this staging might even be better than wild! WOAH I LOVE HER SO MUCH AHHHHHH!

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
3 years ago

This time my favourite (Ketil) went out right at the start, so you must all be much happier this week, haha. Daniel is very talented and impressed me a lot, but Raylee’s 80’s throwback is a lot of fun – I can see that Norway is voting for fun entries this year.
A word on Maria – she can be very proud of that performance, where she stayed totally true to herself, bravo.
Oh and Stavangerkameratene (shorten that name, seriously) were okay. Didn’t do much for me tonight.

Stian F
Stian F
3 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Why should Stavangerkameratene shorten their name? It translates to The Stavanger Buddies, which is totally fine and make sense in Norwegian, as they all hail from the town of Stavanger.

Sabrina
Sabrina
3 years ago
Reply to  Stian F

I bet Mask was just joking. I must say I only managed to memorize the name when I separated Stavanger from Kameratene.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
3 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

Yeah I was just being silly. They can keep the name, I just gotta get better at typing!

Kris
Kris
3 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

You say no way , they were ok

Edu
Edu
3 years ago

It was predictable.She nailed it.
The high notes parts of Hero reminds me to Living on a prayer by Bon Jovi. Anyway song and perfo are great.

Nicola
Nicola
3 years ago

Not many surprises here. I think we all knew that Raylee was going to the final (although not completely obvious for me, as last week did throw us some surprises). The MGP final is shaping up to very diverse!!

Lolek
Lolek
3 years ago

Raylee embrassed the “kitch” of the 80’s and I love it! A very sensual performance indeed! Happy she went through to the finals.

Hellooooo
Hellooooo
3 years ago

It was quite clear who was going to win. Also, her performance was amazing. Good luck

Hellooooo
Hellooooo
3 years ago
Reply to  Hellooooo

I mean, it was clear with the live and the performance

David
David
3 years ago

That was so sexy and hot. So impressed!

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
3 years ago

To be honest she managed to combine all 80s cliches in one single live performance and i’m here for it.

Nico de Mask
Nico de Mask
3 years ago
Reply to  Frisian esc

2nd performance was way more confident and I loved it!

Vincent
Vincent
3 years ago
Reply to  Frisian esc

This is exactly what I’m thinking right now. Loved it <3

Last edited 3 years ago by Vincent