Melodi Grand Prix 2021 is fast approaching its conclusion. But before things wrap up with the final in two week’s time, there’s the fifth and last semi-final to deal with.
The fifth semi takes place on Saturday 13 February. Following a nearly identical format to last year, four acts will compete for one highly coveted spot in the grand final. But which of the four entries is your favourite? Who should advance to the next stage of MGP 2021? In a new twist, the three eliminated acts will remain in contention for a wildcard slot.
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 2021 — Semi-Final Five Songs
Ane.Fin – “Walking In My Sleep”
Songwriters: Ane Caroline Finstad (Ane.Fin), Niklas Rosström, Espen Andreas Fjeld, Kim Rune Hagen and Vebjørn Jernberg
From a background in a choir and as an event singer, Ane Caroline Finstad eventually started focusing on her own music. She has studied at the acclaimed LIMPI music school in Lillehammer where she gained the confidence to express herself in English. Ane.Fin has released several singles, including the recent release “Hurts”. One of the songwriters on her MGP entry “Walking In My Sleep” is semi-final four winner KIIM. Ane.Fi says “MGP should be fun and you should enjoy the music. I’m going to enjoy myself!”
TuVeia – “Bli med meg på gar’n”
Songwriters: Kristian Galaaen Bredalslien, Roar Galaaen Bredalslien, Bendik Johnsen, Torgeir Ryssevik, Carl-Henrik Wahl, Jonas Holteberg Jensen, Sindre Timberlid Jenssen and Sarah A. V. Johnston
TuVeia is a three-piece rap group made up of Roar Galaaen Bredalslien, Kristian Galaaen Bredalslien, Bendik Johnsen. They formed in 2013. Their song title translates as “Join me at the farm”. It promises to be mix of hip-hop farmers, an EDM producer, autotuned cow sounds, harmonica and a “unique Norwegian dialect”.
IMERIKA – “I Can’t Escape”
Songwriters: Erika Dahlen (IMERIKA), Bjørn Olav Edvardsen, Morten Franck and Ben Adams
Erika Dahlen already has a presence in MGP – she’s one of the songwriters on “Feel Again”, by directly qualified act Kaja Rode. Erika previously studied at Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts and now performs under the name IMERIKA. Her MGP entry “I Can’t Escape” looks at the struggles of moving on after a break-up. She says, “It felt right to participate with this song, and it is an interesting mismatch with me on this MGP stage.”
RIVER – “Coming Home”
Songwrtiers: Thomas Heiland, Lennart Karlsen, Magnus Claussen, Simen Meland Handeland and Tommy La Vardi
RIVER is a pop-country band and is made up of Thomas Heiland and Lennart Karlsen — father-in-law and son-in-law. Each of the men have long careers as singers, musicians and songwriters. Of their collaboration, Thomas says, “It was natural to work together. Lennart is an experienced musician and we clicked right away — we have done that since day one.”
Poll: Who should win semi-final five of Norway’s Melodi Grand Prix 2021?
[crowdsignal poll=10740720]What is your favourite song? Is there a winner in the mix? Let us know in the comments.
My favourite in this semi is River, but I don’t think it’s a contender for the overall MGP win.
won’t we already have too many Billie Eilish wannabes at Eurovision this year?
do we need another one? they are bound to eat into each other’s votes
Cringeworthy for artists to just copy someone else’s style
Because she has colored hair and sings a ballad she is a Billie Eilish? Imagine how tired we are. Her voice is really particular and her songwriting is excellent (and nothing Billie Eilish-like). Please have some respect.
I sort of dig all 4 of these songs for wildly different reasons. I know Imerika is the favourite but I think all the songs bring something unique. Sort of wish they could have put a couple of these in a previous semi.
Does the bassline to Bli med meg på gar’n sound like Wannabe by the Spice Girls to anyone else?
I didn’t think we would find a song strong enough to compete with Keino but IMERIKA (do we have to always do it in capitals?) is just that so this won’t be a foregone conclusion after all provided it’s as good live. I can’t wait to see it this weekend.
My vote goes to river but tuveia is so fresh and fun. Not for the long run though but I love it.
Just imagine, Bulgaria sending VICTORIA, Romania sending ROXEN and then Norway sending IMERIKA? Who needs a personality anymore, when you can look cool by making your artist name all caps and just copying Billie Eilish?
Off-Topic: Efendi’s song titles are out.. She will represent Azerbaijan with one of these songs:
1. Ratata
2. Mata Hari
3. When I am gone
4. Manifesto
5. Owe you pretty
6. Breathing you
While “When I am gone” and “Breathing You” are ballads, the other 4 are uptempo songs.
Furthermore, the composer of one of these songs is also the composer of Cleopatra. I am not sure, but I guess it’s Mata Hari.
It’s cool hearing from Azerbaijan as well. Do you know whether all of these songs will be released and form a mini NF or is this just an internal thing and we’ll only see one final product after it’s picked?
it will be an internal selection of course!
Unfortunately, I think that there won’t be any mini NF, but rather again another internal selection with the respective final product.
However, last year, we had also heard snippets of “Cleopatra” and “Scars”, the song that came 2nd after “Cleopatra”, so maybe, we could at least hear some snippets.
I certainly hope so, cause I would love to listen to all of them.
Ooh very curious to Mata Hari! A frisian icon for Azerbaijan 😀 it sounds like cleopatra part two.
I am very curious of how Join Us On a Farm will be staged. It could be hilarious and thus a much needed guilty pleasure. Still, I Can’t Escape is the obvious choice of a winner here. It’s a really lovely song. Feels quite heartfelt and sincere.
All I can think of is something like En godt stekt pizza.
IMERIKA could win Eurovision. Just saying.
I thought the same when I heard her voice.
When I hear ‘walking in my sleep’ I feel like I’m listening to a 2008 Natasha Bedingfield/ Nelly Furtado album release and I’m loving it.
I voted for Imerika, But overall, I don’t give a damn. I just want this national final to be over.
I don’t know why anyone would want national finals “to be over” unless somebody really wants to know the winner. Just watch the shows or don’t, no one forces you.
I ‘ve heard the 4 songs and I must say that I like IMERIKA – “I CAN’T ESCAPE” most of all. I hope for her golden ticket to the final in Norway.
Imerika is on another level
she deserves to win not only the semi but MGP as well, it’s one of the only songs that manages to be modern, classy, but still authentic at the same time.
I agree. This is my favourite song of MGP with Keiino and Kaja Rode’s. I hope the live version will be good though!
Oh wow, this is a strong one again!