Melodi Grand Prix 2023 was the 61st edition of Melodi Grand Prix (MGP), the annual Norwegian music competition that serves as the country's preselection for the Eurovision Song Contest. It was organised by Norway's public broadcaster NRK, and consisted of three semi-finals and a final, held throughout January and February 2023.[2][3] The winner of the competition, Alessandra with "Queen of Kings", went on to represent Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool, United Kingdom in May 2023.
| Melodi Grand Prix 2023 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Dates | |
| Semi-final 1 | 14 January 2023 |
| Semi-final 2 | 21 January 2023 |
| Semi-final 3 | 28 January 2023 |
| Final | 4 February 2023 |
| Host | |
| Venue |
|
| Presenter(s) | |
| Host broadcaster | NRK |
| Participants | |
| Number of entries | 21[1] |
| Vote | |
| Winning song | "Queen of Kings" by Alessandra |
Format
editThe contest consisted of three semi-finals at Screen Studios in Nydalen, and a final at Trondheim Spektrum.[4] From 2020 to 2022, a number of artists were formerly pre-qualified for the final, but this was no longer the case in 2023. Moreover, there were no duels nor a "last chance" round, and voting began once all of the artists have performed. A total of 21 entries competed, with seven songs for each semi-final. The three performers who obtain the most votes qualified for the final.[1] In addition, the international jury was re-introduced in the final, consisting of industry professionals from multiple countries. The jury and the public each contributed 50% to the final result.[5]
According to Stig Karlsen, who is in charge of the organization of the event for NRK, the contest would "now [be] going for a competition model that is easier to understand, and where all the artists compete with the same starting point."[6]
In October 2022, it was announced that the contest would be hosted by Arian Engebø and Stian Thorbjørnsen.[7]
Competing entries
editAbout one month after the Eurovision Song Contest 2022, NRK officially opened submissions for songwriters to submit entries for Melodi Grand Prix 2023. The submission window closed on 18 September 2022.[8]
The competition is open to all songwriters, and each songwriter can submit up to three songs. Each song should have at least one Norwegian contributor, in order to "prioritise and promote the Norwegian music scene". In addition to the open submission, NRK also looked for possible entries through targeted search and direct dialogue with the Norwegian music industry, and through songwriting camps held in August 2022.[9]
In October 2022, it was announced that 21 entries were selected to take part in the contest.[10] The competing artists were announced on 4 January, with the respective entries to be released on a weekly basis, starting from 9 January.[11] Among the competing artists are Kate Gulbrandsen, Stig van Eijk, Jowst and Ulrikke Brandstorp, winners of Melodi Grand Prix in 1987, 1999, 2017 and 2020, respectively.[12]
| Artist | Song | Composer(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Akuvi | "Triumph" | Anderz Wrethov, Andreas Stone Johansson, Beatrice Akuvi Hosen Kumordzie, Konstantinos Vlastaras |
| Alejandro Fuentes | "Fuego" | Alejandro Fuentes, Chris Young, Mateo Camargo, Nermin Harambašić |
| Alessandra | "Queen of Kings" | Alessandra Mele, Henning Olerud, Linda Dale, Stanley Ferdinandez |
| Atle Pettersen | "Masterpiece" | Andreas Stone Johansson, Atle Pettersen, Hannah Dorothy Bristow |
| Bjørn Olav Edvardsen | "Turn Off My Heart" | Bjørn Olav Edvardsen, Christian Ingebrigtsen, Henrik Thala |
| Byron Williams Jr. and Jowst | "Freaky for the Weekend" | Byron Williams Jr., Joachim With Steen |
| Eirik Næss | "Wave" | Amalie Olsen, Eirik Næss, Viktor Ljungqvist |
| Eline Thorp | "Not Meant to Be" | Andreas Stone Johansson, Eline Thorp, Elsa Søllesvik, Jonas Holteberg Jensen |
| Ella | "Waist" | Isabell Røren Hannevig, Raphaela Antônia Souza Silva, Timothy John Adam Gosden, Tristan Henry |
| Elsie Bay | "Love You in a Dream" | Andreas Stone Johansson, Elsa Søllesvik, Tom Oehler |
| Jone | "Ekko inni meg" | Audun Guldbrandsen, Christine Ekeberg, Christopher Colin Archer, Jonas Nes Steinset, Morten Franck, Silje Blandkjenn |
| Kate Gulbrandsen | "Tårer i paradis" | Kate Gulbrandsen, Kjetil Mørland |
| Maria Celin | "Freya" | Anna Timgren, Benjamin Alasu, Eirik Fjeld, Gaute Ormåsen, Sindre Timberlid Jenssen |
| Rasmus Thall | "Tresko" | Farida Louise Bolseth Benounis, Rasmus Simon Vedvik Thallaug, Robin Alexander Vedvik Helmersen |
| Sandra Lyng | "Drøm d bort" | Erlend Torheim, Ferdinann West, Kristina Blakli, Sandra Lyng |
| Skrellex | "Love Again" | Jonas Gladnikoff, Kai Thomas Ryen Larsen, Michael James Down, Primož Poglajen, Will Taylor |
| Stig van Eijk | "Someday" | Beate Helen Thunes, Stig van Eijk |
| Swing'it | "Prohibition" | Jonah Charles Hitchens, Martin Jarl Velsin, Sam Peter Norris, Vebjørn Mamen |
| Tiril | "Break It" | Benjamin Pinkus, Emelie Hollow, Emma Steinbakken, Lars Rossnes |
| Ulrikke Brandstorp | "Honestly" | Ben Adams, Christoffer Gunnestad, Helge Moen, Jim Bergsted, Joshua Oliver, Ulrikke Brandstorp |
| Umami Tsunami | "Geronimo" | Bjørn Olav Edvardsen, Carl-Henrik Wahl, Kristian Lund, Lasse Nymann, Sindre Jenssen, Torgeir Ryssevik |
Semi-finals
editSemi-final 1
editThe first semi-final took place on 14 January 2023.[14]
| Draw | Artist | Song | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alessandra | "Queen of Kings" | Advanced |
| 2 | Eirik Næss | "Wave" | Eliminated |
| 3 | Rasmus Thall | "Tresko" | Eliminated |
| 4 | Kate Gulbrandsen | "Tårer i paradis" | Eliminated |
| 5 | Umami Tsunami | "Geronimo" | Advanced |
| 6 | Ulrikke Brandstorp | "Honestly" | Advanced |
| 7 | Byron Williams Jr. & Jowst | "Freaky for the Weekend" | Eliminated |
Semi-final 2
editThe second semi-final took place on 21 January 2023.[16]
| Draw | Artist | Song | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jone | "Ekko inni meg" | Advanced |
| 2 | Sandra Lyng | "Drøm d bort" | Eliminated |
| 3 | Alejandro Fuentes | "Fuego" | Eliminated |
| 4 | Swing'it | "Prohibition" | Advanced |
| 5 | Elsie Bay | "Love You in a Dream" | Advanced |
| 6 | Ella | "Waist" | Eliminated |
| 7 | Bjørn Olav Edvardsen | "Turn Off My Heart" | Eliminated |
Semi-final 3
editThe third semi-final took place on 28 January 2023.[18]
| Draw | Artist | Song | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Akuvi | "Triumph" | Eliminated |
| 2 | Tiril | "Break It" | Eliminated |
| 3 | Skrellex | "Love Again" | Advanced |
| 4 | Eline Thorp | "Not Meant to Be" | Advanced |
| 5 | Stig van Eijk | "Someday" | Eliminated |
| 6 | Maria Celin | "Freya" | Eliminated |
| 7 | Atle Pettersen | "Masterpiece" | Advanced |
Final
editThe final took place on 4 February 2023.[20] The winner was selected by a 50/50 combination of public televoting and ten international juries.[21] In addition to the competing entries, Subwoolfer, who represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022, also performed as an interval act.[22]
| Draw | Artist | Song | Jury | Televote | Total | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jone | "Ekko inni meg" | 40 | 30 | 70 | 5 |
| 2 | Eline Thorp | "Not Meant to Be" | 42 | 18 | 60 | 6 |
| 3 | Skrellex | "Love Again" | 14 | 40 | 54 | 7 |
| 4 | Ulrikke Brandstorp | "Honestly" | 60 | 78 | 138 | 2 |
| 5 | Umami Tsunami | "Geronimo" | 19 | 30 | 49 | 9 |
| 6 | Atle Pettersen | "Masterpiece" | 94 | 28 | 122 | 3 |
| 7 | Swing'it | "Prohibition" | 8 | 43 | 51 | 8 |
| 8 | Elsie Bay | "Love You in a Dream" | 49 | 34 | 83 | 4 |
| 9 | Alessandra | "Queen of Kings" | 104 | 129 | 233 | 1 |
| Draw | Song | 
|
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|
|
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Ekko inni meg" | 8 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | |||
| 2 | "Not Meant to Be" | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 2 | |
| 3 | "Love Again" | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 1 | ||||
| 4 | "Honestly" | 4 | 8 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 6 |
| 5 | "Geronimo" | 10 | 1 | 4 | 4 | ||||||
| 6 | "Masterpiece" | 10 | 4 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 10 |
| 7 | "Prohibition" | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ||||||
| 8 | "Love You in a Dream" | 6 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 9 | "Queen of Kings" | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 2 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
| International Jury Spokespersons[24] | |||||||||||
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| Country | Jury Members |
|---|---|
| Azerbaijan
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| Czech Republic
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| Finland
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| France
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| Iceland
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| Netherlands
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| Spain
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| Sweden
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| Ukraine
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| United Kingdom
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Ratings
edit| Show | Air date | Viewers (millions) |
Share (%) |
Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semi-final 1 | 14 January 2023 | 0.625 | — | [25] |
| Semi-final 2 | 21 January 2023 | 0.638 | [26] | |
| Semi-final 3 | 28 January 2023 | 0.645 | [27] | |
| Final | 4 February 2023 | 0.957 | [28] |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Tang, Isabella (30 November 2022). "Changes coming to Melodi Grand Prix 2023". ESCXTRA.com. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
- ^ Svelstad, Oda Elise (30 November 2022). "Endringar i Melodi Grand Prix 2023: – Vil setje enda fleire kjensler i sving". NRK (in Norwegian Nynorsk). Retrieved 30 November 2022.
- ^ Sand, Camilla (30 November 2022). "Slik blir Melodi Grand Prix 2023". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 30 November 2022.
- ^ Pettersen, Mandy (30 November 2022). "Store forandringer for MGP 2023". ESC Norge (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ Adams, William Lee (30 November 2022). "Norway: Melodi Grand Prix 2023 will have three semi-finals…but no duels or pre-qualified finalists". Wiwibloggs. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
- ^ "Norway: Changes coming to Melodi Grand Prix 2023". Eurovision.tv. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
- ^ Popescu, David (7 October 2022). "Norway: MGP 2023 to be hosted by Arian Engebø & Stian "Staysman" Thorbjørnesen". ESCUnited. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
- ^ "The submission of entries for the Melodi Grand Prix 2023 has started". ESCXTRA.com. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
- ^ "MGP 2023 Camp BERGEN". The Woods Norway. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
- ^ Terry, Connor (26 October 2022). "Norway's Melodi Grand Prix 2023 will feature three semi-finals". ESCUnited. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ Terry, Connor (30 November 2022). "NRK reveals additional changes for Melodi Grand Prix 2023". ESCUnited. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ Granger, Anthony (4 January 2023). "🇳🇴 Norway: Melodi Grand Prix 2023 Participants Revealed". Eurovoix. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ Svelstad, Oda Elise (4 January 2023). "Dette er årets artistar i MGP". nrk.no (in Norwegian). NRK. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ Broen, Sara Marie (11 January 2023). "Slik blir rekkefølgen i første delfinale!". nrk.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). NRK. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- ^ Håkonsen, Rune (14 January 2023). "Melodi Grand Prix 2023 – fremføringene fra første delfinale". nrk.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). NRK. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ Broen, Sara Marie (19 January 2023). "Slik blir rekkefølgen i andre delfinale!". nrk.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). NRK. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ^ Akkan, Ismail Burak; Trulsen, Ola Nymo (21 January 2023). "Melodi Grand Prix 2023 – fremføringene fra andre delfinale". nrk.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). NRK. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ Broen, Sara Marie (25 January 2023). "Slik blir rekkefølgen i siste delfinale!". nrk.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). NRK. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
- ^ Fredriksen-Sylte, Alexander (28 January 2023). "Melodi Grand Prix 2023 – fremføringene fra tredje delfinale". nrk.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). NRK. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ Broen, Sara Marie; Svelstad, Oda Elise (30 January 2023). "Slik blir rekkefølgen i MGP-finalen!". nrk.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). NRK. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
- ^ van Waarden, Franciska (1 February 2023). "🇳🇴 Norway: Ten Countries in Melodi Grand Prix 2023 Jury". eurovoix.com. Eurovoix. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ Vedeler, Linda Marie; Svelstad, Oda Elise (4 February 2023). "Subwoolfer kastet maskene – var ikke forberedt på suksessen". nrk.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). NRK. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- ^ Grace, Emily (4 February 2023). "🇳🇴 Norway: Alessandra To Eurovision 2023". eurovoix.com. Eurovoix. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Medlemmene i den internasjonale juryen". nrk.no (in Norwegian). NRK. 4 February 2023. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- ^ Washak, James (16 January 2023). "🇳🇴 Norway: 625,000 Viewers For Melodi Grand Prix 2023 Semi-Final One". eurovoix.com. Eurovoix. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
- ^ Hofsrud, Øyvind (23 January 2023). "Mesternes Mester samlet 1,2 millioner seere - MGP holder seg stabilt". kampanje.com (in Norwegian Bokmål). Kampanje. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
- ^ Hofsrud, Øyvind (30 January 2023). "Tilnærmet dødt løp mellom NRK og TV 2s lørdagssatsinger". kampanje.com (in Norwegian Bokmål). Kampanje. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
- ^ Talseth, Thomas (6 February 2023). "Flere så Melodi Grand Prix-finalen". vg.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). VG. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
External links
edit- Melodi Grand Prix on NRK TV (in Norwegian)