Last MGP finalists revealed

Finally NRK has given us the last names to compete for a place in the Norwegian national final, Melodi Grand Prix. Here they are all together:

For the Florø semi final:
Pernille & Marius: "I’ll be Yours"
Hanne Sørvaag: "You’re like a Melody"
Isabella: "Sand"
Endre: "Oh, Oh (Puppy Love)"
Marika: "Hungry for You (Gipsydance)"
Mimi Blix: "Allergic"
Babel Fish: "You Can Depend on Me"

For the Skien semi final:
Grethe Svensen: "Like Dreamers Do"
Girl Happy: "SOS"
The BlackSheeps: "Dance Tonight"
Noora Noor: "Gone With the Wind"
Susperia: "Nothing Remains"
Stella Mwangi: "Haba Haba"
The Lucky Bullets: "Fire Below"

For the Ørlandet semi final: 
Carina Dahl: «Guns & Boys»
Use Me: «Daisy»
Sichelle: «Trenger mer»
Sie Gubba: «Alt du vil ha»
Åste & Rikke: «Not That Easy»
Helene Bøksle: «Vardlokk»
Gatas Parlament: «Jobbe litt mindre»

Hmm, ok. What can we say about this? We are certainly really happy about Hanne Sørvaag, who is a doll, and who we like better when she sings her own songs instead of handing them over to teenagers and their likings. And like we told you, we are happy about Gatas Parlament and The BlackSheeps. Moreover Noora Noor is pretty cool, and we're excited about what Endre's puppy love implies.

Towards Helene Bøksle we are indifferent, since we guess we have to deal with her no matter what. But what's up with this Babel Fish, classifying their participation as a mid life crisis, yet saying they have made the best song ever? We only remember them as something annoying from the 90s, but hey, revivals have proven to work before. So guess we are more skeptical towards Mimi Blix, characterized by her local news paper as the Tyra Banks of Norway. Well, sorry, a good pose and an African father doesn't automatically give you that, but whatever. Tyra is not exactly a Eurovision lady anyway.

And why so many unknown names Mr. Sundnes? Kinda makes us wonder if the line-up is custom made for a certain lady... On the other hand, we don't mind getting new names out there, after all Alexander Rybak wasn't all that big either when he first entered the MGP stage.

Anyways, this is a lot to take in. We'll have to give you more comments later.

Retro Sunday: Estonia 1996

It's yet again Sunday, which calls for our weekly Eurovision retro fix. Estonia is one of our favorite countries when it comes to giving us bittersweet melancholy. Which kinda fits our blue mood today.



What an odd couple this is. It's such a beautiful song, but we must admit it feels kinda awkward watching this 16 years old girl singing a love duet with this rather.. erm elderly gentleman. At least the stylist dressed her up to look like she's at least 40. Perhaps Sieneke picked up fashion tips from this YouTube clip before entering the stage in Oslo earlier this year? It sort of hits us when we watch old stuff from the 90s, this is pretty much how we must have all looked like back then. We think we'd rather stay in denial on that one. Thank God no-one yet had thought of digital cameras and Facebook.

Anyways, at least this song is still as lovely as ever. So we'll just close our eyes and listen.

JOA FTW!

Today it was announced that Norwegian Jon Ola Sand will carry on the torch after Svante Stockselius' resignation earlier this year.

We have taken a closer look at this bloke's previous accomplishments and the challenges that lies ahead.

He was executive producer for ESC 2010 in Oslo, here's a snap shot of the fabulous stage area at Telenor Arena.

From now on he will be responsible for pleasing this lot.

And he needs to keep track of what's going on on this scoreboard.

Perhaps he will ask his daddy for some advice? Joa's new EBU colleagues should be prepared for a few prank calls, then.





We wish him the best of luck in his new job, he better start rehearsing the famous one-liner "Good Evening Europe, and thank you Düsseldorf for a wonderful show!"

Belarussian fairytales for Alexander?

As we wait for new names to be released in the lineup for MGP 2011, there's apparently not much hope of seeing Alexander Rybak back on stage. And even though we love him to bits, we think it's a good thing that he's not pulling a "Lena" on us. History has told us that it's a tough act to follow up a victory in Eurovision, just ask Charlotte and Niamh... Alexander is however not closing the window completely for new ESC fairytales in the future. According to vg.no he wishes to compose for other artists from other countries and he suggests Belarus where he has his native roots. Our initial response is that we want to keep him for ourselves, heaven knows we can use some decent songwriters after last year's Eurovision disaster, but we suppose we can share him... After all it's Thanksgiving across the pond today and Christmas is soon approaching, and we do want Santa to think we've been nice this year. Hohoho!

Fun lovin criminal

There's been some gangsta shooting going on in Oslo the last couple of days. They guy known as Norway's most wanted multi criminal dude, AKA Uncle Scrooge the money maker, was shot seven times, and is fighting for his glorious life over at the hospital. Well guess what? GEE allready got several shots of this man at Telenor Arena on the 29th of May:

Scrooge even scored at Eurovision. This lady. And us. And Fabian Stang, we've heard.

Guess that proves once and for all that GEE always are ahead of things. What's maybe a little bit worse, is that we talked a lot to this guy and thought he was such a nice fellow. We are a little afraid that accounts for our slight lack of judgement in matters not concerning the quality of Eurovision songs, i.e. the quality of men.

Well, from another perspective, we do like to believe everyone deserves a chance to take a time out and be happy during Eurovision. After all the contest is inclusive and everyone is welcome. And what do we know if this is a bad man or not? We mean, except for the fact that he has been involved in several serious crimes like the theft of the Munch paintings and some big scale drug cases. And that the police knows him as a member of the largest criminal gang of Oslo. We only know him as a Eurovision fan!

The rich uncle was somehow saved, and is now fighting for his life instead of being perforated in the freezer, even though he didn't wear a bullet proof vest. That's fortunate. We're happy he probably wore a vest under his suit in May, though. Because how else could anyone survive cheering for Didrik this obviously in Telenor Arena?

We hope he gets well. Because no one deserves to die, especially not Eurovision fans.

Fun lovin criminal cheering for Norway with our flag in Telenor Arena. How very inclusive!

First MGP finalists presented

Just now NRK presented all the finalists for the first and some for the second semi final in Melodi Grand Prix, Norway. Here they are:
  
#1 Ørland: 
Carina Dahl: «Guns & Boys»
Use Me: «Daisy»
Sichelle: «Trenger mer»
Sie Gubba: «Alt du vil ha»
Åste & Rikke: «Not That Easy»
Helene Bøksle: «Vardlokk»
Gatas Parlament: «Jobbe litt mindre»

#2 Florø
Mimi Blix: "Allergic"
Babel Fish: "You Can Depend on Me"

There is a lot to be said. Stay tuned for our comments later.

Retro Sunday: Denmark 1981

Denmark has barely given us a dull moment throughout Eurovision history. So what better than to brighten a grey and gloomy November Sunday than this fab disco number dating back to the glitzy 80s when color TV was still the best thing that had happened since sliced bread:



It makes you wonder why this stylish pair of excellent performers only finished 11th in a field of 20, and this week it was revealed by the singer Debbie Cameron that there might have been foul play in action leading to this result. She claims that she was approached by a BBC executive at her hotel before the final who told her that due to political considerations it had been agreed upon a long time ago that UK's Bucks Fizz would win. As a result all the other favorites, among them Denmark, Israel and West Germany, were sabotaged by the technicians during rehearsals. We don't know if this story holds any truth in it, but you can read more about it in the book "Tommy - en biografi", and yes, that's the curly bloke behind the piano.

And regardless of the poor result and how this came about, we love this song and so should you, whether your hair is curly or straight!

More MGP leaks...

According to Norwegian gossip magazine Se&Hør, this will be the line-up for the first MGP pre-selection round at Ørlandet, 15th of January:

1. Helene Bøksle - Oh really, didn't see that one coming! 
2. Hanne Sørvaag - Gal behind this year's "My Heart is Yours" disaster
3. Gatas Parlament - Yup
4. Carina Dahl - Big Brother bimbo
5. Sie Gubba - Holy crap, this can't be happening....
6. Sichelle - RnB chick, last seen in MGP 2009
7. The Blacksheeps  - Yay, the winners of Nordic MGP Junior in 2008!
8. Nora Noor - Soul chick

"Hurray, we're finally old enough to participate in MGP for grown-ups!"



We will of course come back with reviews as soon as it all becomes official and the songs have been released. All though it almost seems pointless as long as someone seemingly has decided that Helene Bøksle will win anyways... We fear that her contribution will be dire and dull, similar to Christine Guldbrandsen's "Alvedansen" which we didn't like at all. But, there's still plenty of opportunities to prove our predictions wrong, and if she wins with a good song, we will support her with great enthusiasm!

Haddy on CNN's African Voices

This week our favorite Eurovision Song Contest presenter is featured on CNN's African Voices:



So, Haddy, how about you entering ESC as an artist next year? That would have been something!

Retro Sunday: Greece 2002

You know those Eurovision entries that are so typical of their year of existence they almost seem parodic? Yup, they are usually really crappy ones. But in GEE we are inclusive and love everybody, of course. And seriously, these guys do make us happy, if not for the right reasons:



Just take a look at those robocop outfits, worth all the 27 points they got alone. Take a look at their sweaty hair and determined eyes. So dedicated to save the world from the horror of the turning millennium. Only the millennium has already turned and no crisis made its appearance. But hey, maybe they knew what would happen to their country 8 years later? Could be, these people are after all future oriented.

There is something about this choreography that makes us think we will hit the next available dance floor lifting our knees and arms synchronically. We sure hope no one will reveal to them that their style is 20 years delayed. Just say the password, S.A.G.A.P.O., and enter this world with a smile instead, will you?

Too bad this music is really crappy, but hey, that could be replaced. We usually just play this video on mute. At least we are so envious of that portable keyboard and those repetitive skills skills skills. And that chest, of course course course.

Where is Wikileaks when you really need them?

Here we go again! The speculations on who's gonna participate in next year's MGP are soon about to turn into a frenzy as the tabloids starts leaking names of artists and songwriters. This is supposed to be super secret until December, but some have obviously a hard time keeping their big mouths shut. And who has bigger mouths than the rap group Gatas Parlament? Even though they do not willingly announce the big news themselves, we recon they're in the running alright. What else to expect from a couple of left wing, anarchist, free speech activists? You just gotta love it! Perhaps Aslak Borgersrud from Gatas Parlament was persuaded by MGP fan favorite Jenny Jenssen since they are now new BFF's after participating in Maestro together? The world has officially gone crazy.

"F**k, we got totally wasted last night, hope I didn't say anything really stupid and bourgeois"



And of course Helene Bøksle is yet again mentioned, but this is yesterday news as GEE reported this back in June. We'll keep you posted on more leaks which are bound to happen as soon as another artist or songwriter gets drunk together with one of VG's journalists.

Retro Sunday: Finland 1964

Oh, Finland. How we love you. There's always something about that country that makes you happy, whether it's one of its most charming men, one of the funny rhythms that they tend to serve you or just the ever so amusing language. That's why today we bring you one of our favorites from the land of the thousand lakes and the ten thousands of hotties:



Fortunately we're not old enough to possibly have been able to experience this live. But God knows we wish we were. Because OMG, mr Mårtenson, whatta man you were back then. Whatta voice, whatta smoking, whatta bow tie, whatta look, whatta brylcreemy hairdo. Don Draper go home and good evening Finland. Just add the fact that this song is some Jim Reevesy classic, and there’s really not more to say.

As the sweet Danish presenter Lotte Wæver, can tell us, this song is about that Sunday morning when the alarm clock doesn't set off. Don't know what else this man says, but don't really care either. If we were to spend a Sunday morning with him, not a hundred alarm clocks would get us out of bed. Enjoy <3