After five semi-finals and one second chance round, the final of Melodi Grand Prix 2021 is almost upon us. On Saturday 20 February Norway will choose its next Eurovision star (or stars).
Twelve acts have made it to the season finale. They include the five semi-final winners — Blåsemafian feat. Hazel, Raylee, Emmy, KiiM and IMERIKA. These are joined by six automatic-qualifiers — KEiiNO, TIX, Stavangerkameratene, Kaja Rode, Atle Pettersen and Rein Alexander. The final line-up was completed on Monday evening when Jorn won the mammoth 15-song Sistesjansen ‘Last Chance’ show.
But who should represent the Nordic nation in May? Which MGP finalist is your favourite? You can listen to all 12 acts below. You can vote for as many songs as you like, but you can only vote one time — so choose wisely! The poll will close on Friday 19 February, the eve of the final. The results will be published soon after.
Melodi Grand Prix 2021 finalists
Atle Pettersen “World on Fire”
Pre-qualifier
Blåsemafian feat. Hazel “Let Loose”
Semi-final one winners
Emmy “Witch Woods”
Semi-final three winner
IMERIKA “I Can’t Escape”
Semi-final five winner
Jorn “Faith Bloody Faith”
Sistesjansen winner
Kaja Rode “Feel Again”
Pre-qualifier
KEiiNO “Monument”
Pre-qualifiers
KiiM “My Lonely Voice”
Semi-final four winner
Raylee “Hero”
Semi-final two winner
Rein Alexander “Eyes Wide Open”
Pre-qualifier
Stavangerkameratene “Barndomsgater” (Who I Am)
Pre-qualifiers
TIX “Ut av mørket” (Out Of The Dark)
Pre-qualifier
Poll: Who should win Norway’s Melodi Grand Prix 2021?
[crowdsignal poll=10746845]Who should win? Who will win? Share your MGP 2021 thoughts and predictions below.
It’s a tie between Jorn and Keiino for me personally. Was very enthusiastic to see Rein’s performance this year but it left me a little cold. Feel Again and World on Fire sound to me like something the Swedes would do, albeit much better. And I really don’t understand all the hype about Tix, he’s just the current incarnation of godawful musician who’s hated by critics but inexplicably popular, mostly because kids adore him; basically the new Staysman, except Staysman knows his place, just wants to have fun and revels in making music as a tribute to bad taste. Tix… Read more »
They are playing live in the semi final performance and will also do that in the national finale tomorrow ^^ I know they will go full at being allowed to play live also in Eurovision if they would represent Norway – but if that will actually happen is another story..
Team TIX
I’M NOT VERY KEINO ON MONUMENTS
MGP and UMK are facing the same problem this weekend, there are that many good songs to choose from that someone’s favourite won’t make it, since neither final is a one horse race. Speaks about the good quality both have this year.
Let’s just all be respectul with our comments here, the winning songs in both countries are going to be great, although it might not be your favourite!
This must be the best pre-selection ever in Eurovision history. Raylee and Atle are my favorites although so many good entries are already eliminated in the semi’s.
Last year’s ‘Pabandom iš naujo!’ was also super strong, I’m torn between these two
Hopefully Keino will NOT win = OVERRATED
TIX, Raylee, Emy, Kiim, Atle, Imerika
Agree! I am team Tix
KEiiNO “Monument” is so overrated !
Absolutely. IMERIKA would be a so much better choice.
Much love for TIX! My #1 . Don’t like Keiino at all – nothing special about the song apart from their video and thats only because of amazing landscape and beautiful Norways nature, not the song.
In a normal year, San Marino would invest in pitching KEiiNO if they didn’t win.
If Keiino’s song wins, it’s going straight to N.1 of my top Eurovision entries this year; sorry Discotheque
If only Norway could distribute the losing songs among less fortunate countries.
lol sad but true ! Norway is so good this year. The difference shocked me too. Don’t know why but if my country sends somthing like TIX with wings i find it sad and ridiculous, but when it’s norway it’s fun and pro even when it’s bad. Biais.
Denmark could really use some help rn
Yes, please!
Denmark hasn’t picked yet but could you lend us Imerika if she should not win? Or in case of her win… anyone else in the top 4 really?
We have nothing to offer this year. Sadly a solid performance of a subpar song is really the best we can hope for.
1) IMERIKA
2) Raylee
3) Atle
4) Emmy
5) KEiiNO
I’d be fine with any of those songs going to Eurovision!
I picked TIX, KEiiNO, and Emmy just off of personal preference, though I do think KEiiNO is being overrated by everyone else just a little bit though.
Among the best in the final? Sure. Should it be more than double the second highest result? That I’m not so sure of…. Is it the “only acceptable option” as some people are arguing? Certainly not! Norway would do great with most of these.
For me it has to be IMERIKA. My second place is Rein, but that staging is not as good as it could be. Raylee could slay at ESC though.
I also like Kaja Rode, TiX, Emmy and Atle’s songs, but I think those would struggle more to qualify.
Btw, I think if KEiiNO wins, it will be the annual fan favourite song which flops just after rehearsals start in Rotterdam. Remember what happened to Tamta, Gianna Terzi, or Equinox.
People said KEiiNO would be the fan flop in 2019 and they ended up winning the televote.
Preach.
They had better song!
MGP once again outdid itself this year, even with the pandemic going on. I can’t lie and must say that I would be devastated if KEiiNO didn’t get the trophy. Don’t forget that they won the televote two years ago with Spirit in the Sky which in my opinion is the weaker song when you compare it to Monument. I could see Monument score well with both the juries and the televote if they improve on visuals and staging a bit more. I couldn’t see a top 10 spot with any other MGP entry, even though this year has been… Read more »
Deserving of trophy – Keiino, Kiim, Imerika. My choice – Imerika.
The ones with the weird capitalization. Except Tix.
Same. Keiino already had their chance. Need some fresh blood.
Norway did not come to play this year.
I will be surprised if Keiino run away with this one, especially considering how popular TIX is, plus take into account the online video campaigns of Jorn and Blåsemafia. However, my personal winner is KeiiNO, so I do hope this poll is right. It’s also great to see so much love for Raylee out there. 🙂
My Top 12 : 1) I can’t escape ( needs better staging though at ESC ) 2) Ut av morket (I don’t dislike the staging , but yes it’ll be a meme at ESC , juries would shun it) 3) Monument (could use better staging ) 4) Witch Woods ( could use more charisma ) 5) Hero ( could use better vocals , staging is on fire ) 6) Let loose ( could use more vocals ) 7) World on Fire 8) Eyes Wide open 9) Faith Bloody Faith ( not a genre I like ) 10) Who I am… Read more »
KEiiNO 1000000%. good luck from Cyprus!!!
The verses to Monument make more sense, if you think about them as references to spirits and a life that exists before and after the physical. The spirits are the monument.
I do also wonder if part of their inspiration for the song might have been all the monoliths that ‘randomly’ appeared across the world last year…
I wondered about that. Were the monoliths a marketing campaign by KEiiNO? Ahaha
If it was, let’s hope it didn’t go to waste!
I could totally see which woods go tik tok viral or become really popular with a nightcore version like rockefeller street btw.
Which woods?
Sherwood Forest. Oops, sorry, wrong legend. (That was a bit left-field, wasn’t it?)
Left field is where I live 😛
Very impressed with MGP this year, Norway is going to be strong whoever wins this weekend…. personally I would like to see either TIX or Jorn win.
Nice, also my Top 2 🙂
Keiino. Full stop. It is the only real contender able to win ESC. Raylee sounds okay but is very 80’s and won’t go down well with the jury I think. TIX’s song is okay as well but his presentation is too ridiculous for words. Keiino for Norway 2021 therefore!
KEiiNO. Unambiguously, emphatically, absolutely.
MGP 2021 is a strong selection though. Whoever wins will have done well to triumph.
This is going to be such a great final. Norway have really done a good job in their national finals and barring Emmy’s Witch Woods (which I don’t believe is appropriate given it’s stereotypical depiction of witches – which do exist btw) every song deserves its place in the final. My order of preference is as follows: 1. KEiiNO – the song is epic, exactly what Eurovision is all about. 2. TIX – a great modern pop song with a catchy hook and striking presentation 3. IMERIKA – an honest and delicate portrayal of mental health problems 4. Raylee –… Read more »
Same Top 3. I do like witch woods too
I am developing a massive internal struggle with Witch Woods. The instrumentation is very catchy and stuck in my head yet I really despise the lyrical content. If I could forget the words, I think I might actually really enjoy it!
It’s the chop-chopping boys lyric I don’t like. I don’t think even resentment of the patriarchy is enough to justify murder. I’m sure that if the genders had been reversed, it would not be allowed.
I mean, overall, I do like the song. It’s not about actual witches. It’s a feminist anthem – referring back to a time when intelligent women were literally burned at the bonfire as witches for not playing wife. Now the witches are fighting back.
Perfect Jonas !
I do think that it’s perhaps a bit early for KEiiNO to return after achieving such a big score both in quality and result-wise. Still, Monument is a song you don’t let go. It’s likely another top ten result from Norway, as the song has both an incredible team behind it and a large fanbase. Another part of me thinks it should be Raylee. She has a catchy and seductive tune. Sure, she could collide with Albina, Natalia and perhaps Efendi, but it is a style that could be accessible enough for many to thrive. She also had one of… Read more »
Agreed. TIX’s song has an enjoyable melody and that part will probably stay unchanged. I also assume that, much like Stavanger’s song, it won’t feature bad lyrics in English. I do believe it will be a fine product in any case. However, having a ”fine product” doesn’t always cut it, unless there is something with an IT factor behind it. Also, I believe that he should change the staging or incorporate some of that imagery in his English lyrics. The Norwegian lyrics are all about a romantic love, yet the staging feels like a completely different story. Edit: Okay, I… Read more »
I mean he is a good singer song writer even in english. Apparently he partly wrote Ava Max’s ‘sweet but psycho’.
Wow, Colin. That is all exactly how I feel about it. Just one thing to add: I was a “wind band kid” when I grew up, so Blåsemafian has a special place in my heart as well; I love “Let Loose” – but it’s not as big a song as “Monument” is; you’re exactly right – you don’t just walk away from “Monument!”
I really like Let Loose as well. It’s perhaps tricky to have a song with a main oomph in solo instrumental, but it’s a really cool song and their performance is staged to a T. I wouldn’t be unhappy with them winning either, TBH. But yeah, Monument is THE choice.
#1995
It’s hard to make a Top 12 here as these are all really good songs. But this would be mine:
1 Jorn
2 TiX
3 Atle Pettersen
4 Emmy
5 Rein Alexander
6 Raylee
7 KiiM
8 Keiino
9 Kaja Rode
10 Blåsemafian feat. Hazel
11 Imerika
12 Stavangerkameratene
The easiest answer for this is that Keiino – “Monument” is my winner of Melodi Grand Prix 2021. I won’t lie – I’m biased to Keiino and their MGP 2021 entry since the first listen. “Monument” is one of the songs you can dance to, but the lyrics are actually sad, like some of my favorite K-pop songs that are like that. As a K-pop fan myself, I can relate to the song – sounds happy but is actually sad. I also get “Running” by Sandro Nicolas vibes by imagining intense dance choreography to this EDM ballad. Fred Buljo’s Northern… Read more »
Same
I think Keiino are the ones to watch. I am not excluding anyone but if they keep the golden duel thing (a final round of voting between 2 songs, like in 2018-2020) then Keiino will be unbeatable should they reach the gold duel, but I think that the only case that they wouldn’t reach the gold duel is if something happens with the televotes. So unless something like that happens, any other act against them I believe that it’s gonna lose. So I think Keiino have it in the bag. TIX could also be the one due to his popularity… Read more »
We thought Nina was going to win Dora, but we all know that didn’t happen. Pre-final buzz isn’t going to win you the national final. It Is the quality of your performance on the night that will. I think Monument is the best song of his final, and that is my pic for Norway’s winner, but you never know what’s gonna happen on Saturday.
Tix, Keiino, Atle, Imerika, any of these I will be more than satisfied with if they end up winning. Even Blasemafian or Raylee are not bad options either for me. Damn, Norway is STRONG this year!
1) Emmy
2) KEiiNO
3) Raylee
4) Kaja
Give me some sassy mystery for Rotterdam please ^^ Also “bear pong is not what it seems” gets my price for the best word play 2021 so far.
I love keiino sm! Still a bit afraid that they might not win though
If I was rooting for Keiino I would be very chilled 😉
Just look at the poll results
1. Imerika
2. Keiino
3. Kaja Rode
Please!
Imerika but I’m 99% sure keiino will win. I do like their song btw :).
I feel awful for not liking KEiiNO, I find the song so bland and outdated.
Raylee or Keiino
I listened to every song, with objective to the vocals but must say..
KEiiNO must win! Wow stunning
My top 4
Keiino
Imerika
Tix
Raylee
Any of those four will give Norway a good finish in the finals
This is a very hard decision.
There are so many good entries, so it’s very sad knowing that there will be only one winner. There are at least four entries that I want to see at the Eurovision stage in Rotterdam.
I’m a little torn when it comes to KEiiNO. I love them, I think their entry is fantastic and I would love to see them on the Eurovision stage again, but at the same time, I would love to see someone else competing for Norway this time.
According to the streams in Spotify Tix song has 1 more million streams than Keiino song and both released the same time. Plus Tix has a very big fan following as he is a big pop star in Norway. Where on the other side Keiino are popular too but gets streams and popularity from abroad that does not going to translate in votes on the night
Actually, it might as voting is open to registered members worldwide. The question has been raised on whether it’s fair, but it is available regardless. So, KEiiNO’s established fanbase within ESC community might have a big part in it, unless NRK decide to change the rules for the finals. That said, I assume that aside hardcore ESC fans, nobody knows that info, so there is a big chance that over 90% of votes will indeed come from Norway.
Do you know how can someone vote if it’s out of Norway?
You use the website here: https://www.nrk.no/stem/mgp/ You need to make an account of course, but that just requires your e-mail address, and it’s pretty easy to navigate through, even if you don’t read Norwegian. Like Colin said, it is open to people worldwide, but most votes will be from Norway. For some perspective, there are viewing figures available. The most viewed show so far was the first semi final, which had a total 784,000 viewers, 31,000 of which watched it through the NRK stream, the other 753,000 watched it on TV. Those 31,000 stream viewers can be from anywhere, including… Read more »
Looking at previous years, having a huge following in Norway doesn’t automatically translate into votes either. In previous years, we’ve had Staysman & Lazz, Freddy Kalas and Vidar Villa, all of whom were easily the most famous people competing, and none of them won. (Although two of them definitely came close)
I’m not trying to say TIX has no chance of winning, but I wouldn’t declare it an easy win for him just because all the kids listen to him on Spotify.
Because they’re all pretty awful. It’s like you said, all the kids listen to them on Spotify but that doesn’t mean the viewers will vote for them. It sort of boggles the mind how a legend like Jorn — probably the biggest musical export Norway has had next to A-ha — had to qualify (and just barely made it in), but a tacky afterski music artist like Tix gets a free pass to the finale because he’s so hot right now, despite never making anything a reviewer hasn’t hated.
I don’t know why many people are hyping up about TiX honestly. Personally it’s not even Top 5 for me and I do have a suspicion it would be a NQ for Norway should it win. KEiiNO and Raylee have some of the best and polished songs. Raylee needs to work a bit on the live vocals but other than that it brings an 80s vibe to the stage. KEiiNO is basically a polished song, (just needs better staging), different sounds and mixture. Much better than Spirit of the Sky. Jorn is one of my absolute favourite and pity it’s… Read more »
Emmy is the best She has the full package and should win.
And I know she will be totally underrated but I love her and the song. My winner
Yeah, I don’t think she’s going to win but I’m really happy she’s there. The song is funny, sexy and cheeky.
TIX
Keiino have such a polished song already, the staging needs work but it’s clearly the best song and should win, but I do have a soft spot for Blåsemafian
This NF is so good, but the ones I’ve been listening to the most are Atle, Jorn, KiiM and TIX, so I would love it if one of those wins! However, I know that the only realistic one of these is TIX, so I’m rooting for him this saturday 🙂
Anyone else lowkey cant stand witch woods but also lowkey loves it and cant stop saying ‘welcome to the witch woods’ with a vocal fry baby voice and then slap yourself in the face afterwards because its also just so horrible but also not!?!?!? (also vote for keiino pls)
I’m the same. I couldn’t stand that Ding Dong song from Sweden also but now I can’t stop singing the chorus.
Yeah I’m not a fan at all, I don’t think it’ll win thankfully but I really don’t like it