Granthems + Eurovision 2012 = Awesomeness: Norway 2011

Norway - Melodi Grand Prix Semi Final 01

Okay, so here's the deal for those of you who aren't in the know. NRK (The Norwegian State broadcaster) has selected 21 Songs of the 700 songs submitted to compete for the Ticket to Düsseldorf. I'm pretty sure they are gonna follow their 2009 winning formula so that's what i'm going on...even though certain facts have not been confirmed (But we'll get to those later)

Anywho.... So here's the deal. The 21 songs have been divided into 3 Semi Finals, In each Semi Final, a Televote will select the 2 Songs who will advance to the Final in Oslo on 02/12. The Televote will also select 2 Songs who will advance to a Second Chance Semi Final, which will be held on 02/05 in Sarpsborg. In addition to those 6 Songs, 2 "Wild Cards" will be selected (In 2009, they were the highest scoring 5th place song and a song chosen by the readers of VG. In 2010, they were the 2 highest scoring 5th place songs).

So let's get started.

The first Semi Final was held on 01/16 in Brekstad. The songs were :

Number - Title - Translation - Artist - Author(s)

01 - Guns And Boys - Carina Dahl - Carina Dahl (M & L), Nanna Martorell (M & L) and Hanne Sørvaag (M & L)

02 - Daisy - Use Me - Jim André Bergsted (M & L)

03 - Vardlokk - Song Of The Soul - Helen Bøksle - Helene Bøksle (M), Sindre Hotvedt (M), Knut Avenstroup Haughen (M) Cecilie Larsen (L)

04 - Alt Du Vil Ha - Everything You Want - Sie Gubba - Magne Almås (M & L) Petter Ølen (M & L)

05 - Jobbe Litt Mindre Og Tjene Litt Mer - Work A Little Less And Earn A Little More - Gatas Parlament - Jester (M), Aslak Borgersrud (L), Elling Borgersrud (L), Martin Raknerud (L)

06 - Trenger Mer - Need More - Sichelle - Christine Dancke (M & L)

07 - Not That Easy (Ah - Åh - Ah - Åh) - Åste And Rikke - Rikke Normann (M & L)

My Reviews -

01 - Guns And Boys - After a few listens, this song stops sounding like just noise and starts sounding awesome. It just kinda gets into your system...you almost start to crave it....06 Points out of 10

02 - Daisy - I kinda get it...it's like a modernish pop/rock song...not bad. - 04 Points out of 10

03 - Vardlokk - OMG! This song went from "Boring, Despereate and tragically Norwegian" to "OMG! Schlanger Ballad Awesomeness) 06 Points out of 10

04 - Alt Du Vil Ha - Ugh...i'm sorry i just think that this sort of thing is lame. 03 out of 10

05 - Jobbe Litt Mindre Og Tjene Litt Mer - Ugh. This is just terrible. 1 point (For trying to be original) out of 10

06 - Trenger Mer - FINALLY! Awesome! Just so nordic and schanger and awesome! 10 Points.... 09 Points out of 10.

07 - Not That Easy - Erm....i''m getting it...getting it....and GOT it! 07 Points out 10.

My Selection -

To choose my favorites, I listened to the songs on repeat over the course of 2 Days and then awarded them a number of Televotes based well just what felt like the right number of votes. The top 4 Songs advanced to the Second Round, where I listened to them over the course of 2 Days and awarded my final placements.

Round 01 –

Number – Title – Televote – Place – Q

01. Guns And Boys – 68 450 – 2^nd - Q

02. Daisy – 45 945 – 5^th – NQ

03. Vardlokk – 53 714 – 4^th – Q

04. Alt Du Vil Ha – 37 647 – 6^th – NQ

05. Jobbe Litt Mindre Og Tjene Litt Mer – 25 772 – 7^th – NQ

06. Trenger Mer – 73 159 – 1^st – Q

07. Not That Easy – 64 223 – 3^rd – Q

Round 02 –

Number – Title – Televote – Place - Q

01. Guns And Boys – 86 524 – 3^rd – SF 04

02. Vardlokk – 82 917 – 4^th – SF 04

03. Trenger Mer – 113 459 – 1^st – Final

04. Not That Easy – 98 836 – 2^nd – Final

***NOTE****

I’m assuming things are going to run that same as last year (I.E. that the 2 highest scoring 5th place songs will receive a wild card to the Second Chance Round), even though that hasn’t been made “Official”. In such a Case, since “Daisy” received more votes then “Fire Below”, it will advance to the Second Chance Round.

Videos -

Finalists -

Trenger Mer - Sichelle

Not That Easy - Åste And Rikke

Second Chance Songs (Semi Finalists) -

Guns And Boys - Carina Dahl

Vardlokk (Song Of The Soul) - Helen Bøksle

Daisy - Use Me

Other Songs -

6th - Alt Du Vil Ha (Everything You Want) - Sie Gubba

7th - Jobbe Litt Mindre Og Tjenen Litt Mer (Work A Little Less And Earn A Little More) - Gatas Parlament

Actual Results -

1st - Not That Easy

2nd - Vardlokk

3rd - Alt Du Vil Ha

4th - Daisy

Out -

Guns And Boys

Jobbe Litt Mindre Og Tjene Litt Mer

Trenger Mer

Well, it won’t quite be Melodi Grand Prix without a few questionable choices.

Everyone must have taken their bathroom break during Trenger Mer. Cleary.

Norway - Melodi Grand Prix Semi Final 02

The Second Semi Final was held on 01/22 in Florø.

The songs were:

Number – Title – Translation – Artist – Author(s)

01 – I’ll Be Yours – Pernille And Marius – Ovi (M & L), Johanna Dernker (M & L), Björn Djupström (M & L)

02 – You Can Depend On Me – Babel Fish – Halvor Holter (M & L), Tarjei Van Ravens (M & L)

03 – Hungary For You (Gipsydance) – Marika Lejon – Marika Lejon (M & L)

04 – Sand – Isabella – Isabella Leroy (M & L)

05 – Oh, Oh (Puppy Love) – Endre – Samsaya Sharma (M & L)

06 – You’re Like A Melody – Hanne Sørvaag – Hanne Sørvaag (M & L) Martin Hansen (M & L)

07 – Allergic – Mimi Bix – Mertethe La Verdi (M & L) Kjetil Schei (M)

My Reviews –

01 – I’ll Be Yours – OMFG! I LOVE this song. I just ADORE it! It so cute and jazzy it just makes me want to sing and dance and swing. 09 Points out of 10.

02 – You Can Depend On Me – Eh…nice message but the singers voice kinda gets on my nerves after a couple listens. Other than that, it’s pretty non special and boring. 04 Points out of 10

03 – Hungry For You (Gipsydance) – OMG! Haha this song makes me wanna jump up and do ridiculous things. I mean, I’m sure it won’t get out of the SF, but I can name at least 3 Eastern European Countries (Eyes Moldova, Slokavia and Lithuania) where this song would have/could have taken the National Final by Storm. I think it was supposed to be submitted there, but there was some paper work mistake. Just a fun, awesome song. 07 Points Out of 10

04 – Sand – Eh…I can give or take this song. I mean it’s trying really hard, but it’s just missing something to make it special. 04 Points out of 10.

05 – Oh, Oh (Puppy Love) – Aw…I get it. For some reason this song seems very Maltese to me (ESC fans will know what I’m talking about). All in all, it’s a cute pop song that would be like 15 on the Charts for a couple weeks in summer and then be doomed to a Lifetime of being sung badly at Karaoke bars. 07 out of 10.

06 – You’re Like A Melody. Done. Selection Over. Song Found. Brilliant. Amazing. Perfect. Winner. Done. Done. Done. Done. Done. Norway, this is your song. Oslo again in 2012. It just has everything. If it doesn’t win, it’s because it was just way way to good for you. 14 Points out of 10.

07 – Allergic – Of course I love this song. I really enjoy the beat and drama of it. But after a few listens it kinda loses a bit of it’s magic.

My Selection -
To choose my favorites, I listened to the songs on repeat over the course of 2 Days and then awarded them a number of Televotes based well just what felt like the right number of votes. The top 4 Songs advanced to the Second Round, where I listened to them over the course of 2 Days and awarded my final placements.

Round 01 –
Number – Title – Televote – Place - Q
01. I’ll Be Yours 85 734 2^nd - Q
02. You Can Depend On Me 36 617 6^th - NQ
03. Hungry For You 62 129 4^th - Q
04. Sand 35 982 7^th - NQ
05. Oh Oh (Puppy Love) 58 195 5^th – NQ – WC Q SF 04
06. You’re Like A Melody 107 458 1^st - Q
07. Allergic 79 523 3^rd - Q

***NOTE****

I’m assuming things are going to run that same as last year (I.E. that the 2 highest scoring 5th place songs will receive a wild card to the Second Chance Round), even though that hasn’t been made “Official”. In such a case, since “Oh, Oh (Puppy Love)” received more votes than “Daisy” (From the First Semi Final), it will advance to the Second Chance Round.

Round 02 –

Number – Title – Televote – Place – Q

01. I’ll Be Yours – 102 817 – 2^nd – Final

02. Hungry For You – 88 998 – 4^th – SF 04

03. You’re Like A Melody – 134 761 – 1^st – Final

04. Allergic – 91 374 – 3^rd – SF 04

Videos -

Finalists -

I'll Be Yours - Pernille And Marius -

You're Like A Melody - Hanne Sørvaag -

Second Chance Songs (Semi Finalists) -

Hungry For You (Gipsydance) - Marika Lejon -

Allergic - Mimi Blix -

Oh, Oh (Puppy Love) - Endre -

Other Songs -

6th - You Can Depend On Me - Babel Fish -

7th - Sand - Isabella -

Actual Results –
To The Final -
1st – You Can Depend On Me – Babel Fish
2nd – You’re Like A Melody – Hanne Sørrvaag
To Semi Final 04 -
3rd – Oh, Oh (Puppy Love) – Endre
4th – Allergic – Mimi Blix

Out –
I’ll Be Yours – Pernille And Marius
Hungry For You (Gipsydance) – Marika
Sand – Isabella

(Silence) Clearly, Babel Fish made some sort of pact with Satan. But the important thing is that “You’re Like A Melody” went to the Final.

I’m a little surprised that “Ill Be Yours” didn’t at least get a Second Chance.

Norway – Melodi Grand Prix Semi Final 03

The Third Semi Final was held on01/29 in Skien.

The songs were:

Number – Title – Translation – Artist – Author(s)

01 – Nothing Remains – Susperia – Terje Andersen (M), Christian Hagen (M), Kenneth Åkesson (M), Håkon Didriksen (M), Øyvind Mustaparia (M), Pål Mathisen (L)

02 – Gone With The Wind – Noora Nor – Simone Larsen (M & L), Moh Denebi (M & L), Jennifer Brown (M & L), Bjørn Djupström (M & L)

03 – SOS – Girl Happy – Tor Einar Krogtoft-Jensen (M & L), Christoffer Bergersen (M & L)

04 – Like Dreamers Do – Grethe Svensen – Grethe Svensen (M), Tommy Berre (M), Simon Walker (L)

05 – Dance Tonight – The BlackSheeps – Agnete Johnsen (M & L), Emelie Nilsen (M & L)

06 – Haba Haba – Stella Mwangi – Beyond51 (M), Big City (M), Stella Mwangi (L)

07 – Fire Below – The Lucky Bullets – Knud Kleppe (M & L)

My Reviews –

01 – Nothing Remains – Man…you’d think with the plethora of authors who conspired to create this song, they’d come up with something half way decent. Fail. 03 Points out of 10.

02 – Gone With The Wind – YES! Yes! Yes! Go Norway! R And B at it’s best. Awesome. Amazing. Go Norway! – 11 Points out of 10.

03 – SOS – Dude WTF Norway! Way to throw in a bunch of amazing songs at the last minute. Awesome dance songs. I love the like bell tones that regulate this song. Great build. 08 Points out of 10.

04 – Like Dreamers Do – Aw Norway…look at you. Throwing in a cute “Group” ballad as if it had a chance. Aw and it’s about love. So cute! 05 Points out of 10.

05 – Dance Tonight – Erm… is this song in Norwegian? With an English title? Brilliant. Way to go Norway. Way to showcase your basic comprehension of the English language…but give up halfway. But still… AWESOME song. 07 Points out of 10.

06 – Haba Haba – OMG NORWAY! WTF! Again! Way to throw in a bunch of AMAZING songs at the last minute. AWESOME song. FUCKING AMAZING! Just AHHHHHHH So Awesome! 10 Points Out of 10.

07 – Fire Below – Ok…maybe I’m just jaded by the rest of the just AWESOME songs in this SF…but this is just ok. I mean I get it…it’s elvis right? Eh… 05 Points out of 10.

Round 01 –

Number – Title – Televote – Place - Q

01. Nothing Remains – 29 158 – 7^th – NQ

02. Gone With The Wind – 83 493 – 1^st – Q

03. SOS – 76 219 – 3^rd – Q

04. Like Dreamers Do – 39 771 – 6^th – NQ

05. Dance Tonight – 72 482 – 4^th – Q

06. Haba Haba – 77 014 – 2^nd – Q

07. Fire Below – 43 815 – 5^th – NQ

Round 02 –

Number – Title – Televote – Place - Q

01. Gone With The Wind – 102 354 – 1^st - F

02. SOS – 83 517 – 3^rd – SF 04

03. Dance Tonight – 73 259 – 4^th – SF 05

04. Haba Haba – 96 481 – 2^nd – F

Videos -

Finalists -

Gone With The Wind - Noora Noor -

Haba Haba - Stella Mwangi -

Second Chance Songs (Semi Finalists) -

SOS - Girl Happy -

Dance Tonight - The BlackSheeps -

Other Songs -

5th - Fire Below - The Lucky Bullets -

6th - Like Dreamers Do - Grethe Svensen -

7th - Nothing Remains - Susperia -

Actual Results –

To The Final –

1^st – Haba Haba

2^nd – Dance Tonight

To The Second Chance Round –

3^rd – Fire Below

4^th –Nothing Remains

Out –

Gone With The Wind

SOS

Like Dreamers Do

ERM…. What?!?! Okay Norway, High Fives and handshakes all around for recognizing the brillance of Haba Haba and I guess soft smiles for dance tonight….but really? Gone with the wind gets nothing despite being the best song by miles? Ugh. I guess you spent all your awesome R and B votes on Hold On, Be Strong in 2008….ugh. Gross.

Semi Final 04 –

Ok, so this is all assuming the top 2 5^th place songs get a wild card to this round. In which case, I chose the last 2 finalists in 2 rounds. In the first round, the 8 songs were divided into 4 matches. In each Match, I awarded each song Televotes to select the advancing song. In the Second Round, the 4 songs were divided into 2 Matches, where I awarded each song Televotes to select my Finalist from each Match.

Round 01 –

Match 01 –