Not even interplanetary wolves are immune to coronavirus. On Tuesday Subwoolfer — the heavily hyped anonymous duo from somewhere in the Galaxy — confirmed that they’ve tested positive for Covid. 

As a result, they won’t be able to perform their song “Give That Wolf a Banana” in exhibition during Semi-Final 3 of Melodi Grand Prix 2022 this Saturday.

“On our journey of discovery around the earth, we met a creature called omicron,” they told NRK.

 

Subwoolfer test positive for Covid and won’t perform during Semi-Final 3 of MGP 2022

The pair aren’t the first personalities within the MGP orbit to deal with Covid.

Host Annika Momrak had to sit out of last week’s show, leaving Kåre Magnus Berg and Mikkel Niva to go it alone (though we did appreciate her being rolled out on a TV monitor at one point).

Thankfully, another pre-qualified act will step up to the plate so that Semi-Final 3 has a complete slate of performances. NorthKid will sing their song “Someone”.

The band, fronted by Bilal Saab, also includes members Helge Moen, Håkon Guttormsen, Sebastian Willassen and Vegard Olaussen.

“It came on very abruptly,” Bilal says. “There is quite a lot to be done in relation to the stage show, and not least rehearsal of the song which we now have one week less on. But as they say: ‘The show must go on!'”

MGP 2022 boss Stig Karlsen is keeping his cool.

“We are working hard to keep this year’s production afloat, but the audience should know that nothing will stop Melodi Grand Prix — not even a pandemic!”

Subwoolfer’s song “Give That Wolf a Banana” is perhaps the most talked-about of all MGP 2022 entries. Questions over the duo’s identities along with their visually arresting music video have turned them into big fan favourites.

They still haven’t clarified precisely what the wolf and the banana in their song refer to.

“The lyrics are far too deep and layered to be confined to just one meaning,” they told us. “Zig a zig ahh.”

In one reading, the song turns Little Red Riding Hood into a parable about coronavirus and the importance of getting vaccinated

The Wolf may represent people who refuse to get vaccinated and carry the virus with them as they go to work or school or, in this case, deep into the woods. 

In the opening verses, Red makes it clear that she doesn’t know where the Wolf has burrowed or slept (and, drawn out, whether he’s followed local rules on gatherings and social distance). There are tell-tale signs he’s been killing folks, whether he knows it or not: “See where you’re going, but I don’t know where you’ve been, is that saliva or blood drippin’ off your chin?”

The fruit symbolises vaccines, and with them the Covid-fighting antibodies triggered inside of people who get jabbed. But instead of stamps that read Chiquita or Fyffe’s, these bananas come marked with the names AstraZeneca, Moderna and Pfizer.

Are you excited to see NorthKid perform their song “Someone” in exhibition? Are you joining us in sending love to Subwoolfer? Let us know in the comments box below.

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GojoSatoru
GojoSatoru
2 years ago

Probably because those are the 3 most sold vaccines in the world? Why should the article writer bother to make a list of dozens of vaccines when 3 of them are enough?

Anne Marie
Anne Marie
2 years ago

I wish that they get well soon!
Nonetheless I really dont get the hype about this song.. but still wish all the best to them.

Denis
Denis
2 years ago

Does this mean that SubWolfer is out of the contest definetely? Because shame if it is, I looked forward the most to them

Illi
Illi
2 years ago
Reply to  Denis

Most probably they’d swapped their performances on each others’ semi. So, Subwoolfer most probably will perform in the S4 if they are recovered.

If not, they are an automatic qualifiers for the final, that performance in semis is more to give the finalist songs more air time than only the final.

Erik
Erik
2 years ago
Reply to  Illi

Have you missed that they were already pre-qualified even before the competition started

Erik
Erik
2 years ago
Reply to  Denis

They are already in the finale

Ethan1994
Ethan1994
2 years ago
Reply to  Denis

No, they’re still in the contest. They are already qualified for the final, which is in 3 weeks. They were supposed to preview their song in the upcoming semifinal 3, but since they’ve gotten COVID, NorthKid (who were supposed to preview their song in semi final 4) have been asked to move their preview to semi final 3. So Subwolfer will preview their song either in Semi final 4 or on the Last Chance show.
Unless they get seriously ill, they definitely won’t be pulling out.

Roro31
Roro31
2 years ago

why not have organized a recorded performance? Iceland did it in 2021 and it saved the Competition!!

Erik
Erik
2 years ago
Reply to  Roro31

They are already in the finale

Roro31
Roro31
2 years ago
Reply to  Erik

yes they have time to be tested negative again but it would be necessary that all the countries (given that there are many national selections this year) make recorded performances to be broadcast if ever there are positive artists for Covid like that no worries about whether they are still candidates or eliminated!!

mokape
mokape
2 years ago

Keep covid and vaccines related songs away from ESC. No need to bully nonvaxed and think you are smarter than everyone else. Ylvis clearly didn’t ask any other human if their idea was great. Its a lame song for kids.

(I am not a tinfoil/antivaxer btw, just not interested in these kind of songs)

Sorry if it actually about bananas and wolves, in fact its not confirmed

lisa thompson
lisa thompson
2 years ago
Reply to  mokape

totally agree. Had enough of all this stuff now. Leave ESC alone fgs

Jamie
Jamie
2 years ago
Reply to  mokape

“I am not a tinfoil/antivaxer”
Sure sound like one

Leia
Leia
2 years ago
Reply to  mokape

They are not Ylvis, and their song has nothing to do with Covid or vaccination.

John
John
2 years ago

They do say COVID is in a lot of animal populations now.

Safiya
Safiya
2 years ago

Such a shame! I can’t wait to see them.

I’ve also read that one of the Benidorm contestants tested positive and won’t be able to perform?

Btw, wouldn’t it be wise to record rehearsals in every selection in case someone gets ill? It’s not a new problem…

Jamie
Jamie
2 years ago
Reply to  Safiya

Lithuania does that. LRT is rushing to record as much stuff as possible, semi after semi so that in case someone falls ill, they can still air the show.

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
2 years ago
Reply to  Jamie

That’s probably a smart move, but I hope the rushed filming doesn’t hurt the quality of the performances. Even before Covid, does Lithuania usually pre-record the performances before the air, or is it just a new thing because of Covid?

Speaking of Lithuania, the semi finals have finally been sorted. Basinger Lithuania is placed and what’s around it, do you think you’re OK or are you vulnerable? I personally am getting a little worried that they might not qualify.

Jamie
Jamie
2 years ago
Reply to  BadWoolfGirl

Before covid they pre-recorded one show per week. Now they’re recording two shows in a row. The grand final is gonna be live though. Should be at least. In terms of semi allocation, 1st semi has always been our safe spot. We qualified from it pretty much every time. But we don’t know the songs yet, not even our own representative, so I can’t tell. If we send Monika Liu, honestly I don’t even care if we don’t qualify. It’s a solid entry that Lithuanians will be proud of. Especially since it’s in our native language that we haven’t seen… Read more »

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
2 years ago
Reply to  Jamie

That’s probably the best attitude to have. Whether do you qualify or not, it doesn’t matter as long as you’re proud of the entry you sent. It might help lessen the sting of failing to qualify should it happen, but I hope it doesn’t happen. You know, when I was sorting out the years countries were in semifinal one or two, I didn’t think about how often they qualify from those semis. Yeah you’re right, Lithuania has always qualified from semifinal one whenever they’re sorted there. Of Course, we’re not gonna know How was the one you will do until… Read more »

xelx
xelx
2 years ago
Reply to  Safiya

In Benidorm they are recording the individual rehearsals between yesterday and today. Gonzalo Hermida, the contestants who has tested positive, was going to record his rehearsal today, so they’ll be playing his music video unfortunately. In case of new positives in the coming days (let’s hope not), the rest should have a backup rehearsal at least.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
2 years ago

god punishing furries as he should

Jamie
Jamie
2 years ago

Excuse me what the f–k

Last edited 2 years ago by Jamie
Eurofan
2 years ago

Is this the God that can’t even keep a virus from wiping out thousands of people. That’s some loving and forgiving God.

ete sech
ete sech
2 years ago

Oh, the edge!

Ethan1994
Ethan1994
2 years ago

It’s good that NorthKid are able to step in and perform their song instead.