Norway has started its search for the new queen of kings (or the opposite). The 18 artists competing in Melodi Grand Prix 2024 — Norway’s national selection for Eurovision — were revealed today Friday 5 January.
Among the 18 acts we find well-known names such as former Eurovision contestants KEiiNO and Margaret Berger – the latter hoping to better her 4th place finish at Eurovision the last time the contest was held in Malmö back in 2013. Other MGP returnees are Farida, Vidar Villa and Benedicte Adrian.
Overview contestants
Semi-final 1 (13 January)
- Margaret Berger – “Oblivion”
- Myra – “Heart on Fire”
- Ingrid Jasmin – “Eya”
- GOTHMINISTER – “We Come Alive”
- Fredrik Halland – “Stranded”
- Mathilde SPZ ft. Chris Archer & Slam Dunk – “Woman Show”
Semi-final 2 (20 January)
- Gåte – “Ulveham”
- Super Rob & Erika Norwich – “My AI”
- MILEO – “You´re Mine”
- Eli Kristin – “Touch Of Venus”
- Dag Erik Oksvold og Anne Fagermo – “Judge Tenderly of Me”
- Farida – “Heartache”
Semi-final 3 (27 January)
- KEiiNO – “Damdiggida”
- MIIA – “Green Lights”
- Annprincess – “Save Me”
- Thomas Jenssen – “Take Me To Heaven”
- MISTRA – “Waltz of Death”
- Vidar Villa – “MER”
Read more about each entry and listen to them down below.
Format of Melodi Grand Prix 2024
This year will see three semi-finals held in NRK studios in Oslo with 3 songs qualifying from each semi-final to make a line-up of 9 songs in the final, which will be held in Trondheim Spektrum on 3 February.
The qualifiers from the semi-finals are decided 100% by televote, while the final will have 60% televote and 40% international jury deciding the result.
The hosts of Melodi Grand Prix 2024 are Marion Ravn and Fredrik Solvang.
Semi-final 1 (13 January)
Margaret Berger – “Oblivion”
Composers: Margaret Berger, Anders Kjær, Minoca Engeseth and Sivert Hjeltnes Hagtvedt
Margaret Berger is a well-known name in this competition. She won MGP in 2013 and came 4th in Eurovision with the song “I Feed You My Love”.
She has accomplished a lot since she left the Idol stage in Norway in 2004. Spellemann award and heavy rotation on MTV, Every time we meet in 2016 and Masked Singer in 2021. 11 years after the Eurovision adventure Margaret is now back in MGP with the song “Oblivion”.
Myra – “Heart on Fire”
Composers: David Atarodiyan, Svein Hermansen and Regina Tucker
Myra is an award winning artist and songwriter from Bergen who has established herself in the Norwegian music scene in the past few years.
She performed at Øya Festival, got “song of the week” on NRK P3, was nominated for “newcomer of the year” at P3 Gull and won the Edvard award in 2020 for the lyrics of her song “Hjemløs i egen by” (“Homeless in your own city”).
Through her life Myra experienced escape from war and childhood in foster care homes which could have made her heart go cold. But the MGP entry is an homage to love and the hope to always keep the heart on fire.
Ingrid Jasmin – “Eya”
Composers: Ingrid Jasmin Vogt and Jonas Kroon
The music listener encountered an artist quite unlike anything else in the Norwegian music scene when Ingrid Jasmin released her debut single in 2021. Her electro-acoustic blend of traditions in modern production, performed with a characteristic vocal style, has garnered attention beyond Norway’s borders.
Recently mentioned by Billboard as ‘a completely refreshing blend of Nordic folk music, R&B, and Latin,’ she has captivated audiences with her strong musical energy on stage, performing in several Norwegian cities and on the NRK stage TV program. The trilingual artist, songwriter and producer is now ready to captivate the MGP audience with the song ‘Eya.’
GOTHMINISTER – “We Come Alive”
Composer: Bjørn Alexander Brem
GOTHMINISTER is Bjørn Alexander Brems alter ego. He works as as lawyer during the day but at night the GOTHMINISTER comes out. Bjørn Alexander brings out his creative side through impressive costumes and music.
GOTHMINISTER played recently in front of 30.000 mennesker in Germany and toured in more than 40 countries through the years. They have charted very well in Germany and won no less than 19 international movie awards last year.
The song “We Come Alive” talks about the value in being playful, believing in yourself and stand together against injustice.
Fredrik Halland – “Stranded”
Composers: Fredrik Halland, Jenson Vaughan and Ruthy Raba
The songwriter and guitarist Fredrik Halland has built an unparalleled list of achievements in the music industry. He moved to Los Angeles at the age of 16 to study music at the Musicians Institute, and even before he finished his studies, he was offered a tour with Colbie Caillat.
After writing and producing several songs for well-known artists like Justin Bieber and Michael Jackson and touring the world as a guitarist, he has now returned home to Norway and is ready to release his own music as an artist. His solo debut will be with the ballad “Stranded”, one of the entries for Melodi Grand Prix 2024.
Mathilde SPZ ft. Chris Archer & Slam Dunk – “Woman Show”
Composers: Audun Agnar Guldbrandsen, Silje Montsko Blandkjenn, Emmy Kristine Guttulsrud Kristiansen, Linda Dale, Christopher Colin Archer and Mathilde Espeseth
Mathilde SPZ is a firework of an artist who has written and performed her own songs since the age of 9.
She performed at an impressive list of festivals and stages and entertains ten thousands of spectators with her energetic presence on stage. In MGP it’s not a “one-man-show” but with her “Woman Show” – a party anthem for the introverts!
Chris Archer has more than 50 million streams in the hyperpop and techno genres, and Petter Haga, better known as Slam Dunk, went from civil engineer and entrepreneur to artist with his humourful songs.
Semi-final 2 (20 January)
Gåte – “Ulveham”
Composers: Sveinung Eklo Sundli, Ronny Graff Janssen, Marit Jensen Lillebuen, Gunnhild Sundli, Magnus Børmark and Jon Even Schärer
Gåte had their break through around 2000 where they quickly became a national treasure. Their unusual kombination of traditional Norwegian folk songs and explosive rock anthems elevated them from the rehearsal basement to the big stage in record time.
They made spectacular liveshows, two critically acclaimed studio albums which sold more than 100,000 albums and went to the top of the charts. After a 12 year long hiatus they returned in 2017 to renewed fame and acclamation from the Norwegian music scene.
Super Rob & Erika Norwich – “My AI”
Composers: Lars Horn Lavik, Super Rob, Erika Norwich and Kristian Liljan
Erika Norwich is a talented songwriter and artist from Trondheim. With her unconventional and honest approach to music, life and social media she provokes and touch the hearts of those who see and listen to her.
In her next adventure Erika has found an unexpected work partner and best friend in Super Rob: An almost 3 metre tall robot that equipped with the latest AI technology. He works kind of like the digital assistant Siri being sometimes genious and other times just downright annoying. He is full of clichés and aren’t afraid to use them. Super Rob is here to help humans and just want to make good vibes for the whole world.
Maybe his favourite food is… a banana? We wolf’dnt know…
MILEO – “You´re Mine”
Composer: Miles Curtis Sesselmann
Mileo is a Norwegian-Australian singer and songwriter. He grew up with his Norwegian father and Australian mother and found out at a young age, that he had to learn to write and produce his own songs to get all of his musicality out in the open.
With his vivid imagination, creative spirit, dark humour and unique sound he seduces the listener into his own world. “You’re Mine” is exactly that with a catchy synth-heavy production with horror movie inspiration and an entertaining and thrilling nerve.
Eli Kristin – “Touch Of Venus”
Composers: Ronny Graff Janssen and Eli Kristin Hanssveen
Eli Kristin Hanssveen has always dreamed of participating in MGP but thought that door was closed when she became an opera singer. Now, she has co-written ‘Touch of Venus’ with Ronny Janssen. It’s about how
the feeling of being an outsider can either destroy you or take you to unforeseen heights. Eli Kristin is currently a permanent soloist at the National Opera and one of Norway’s most renowned opera divas.
Dag Erik Oksvold og Anne Fagermo – “Judge Tenderly of Me”
Composers: Dag Erik Oksvold, Alexander Pettersen and Anne Fagermo
They were competitors in the Norwegian version of “The Voice” but has found the musical connection together.
Anne Fagermo has in short time made her mark as a talented singer and songwriter where her distinctive voice and unique musical style took her to several stages in the country and published a couple of singles.
Dag Erik Oksvold got noticed for his silky smooth vocal and charming personality. He has been in the music business for quite some time, and in 2021 he made his debut album “Back Then”, a country-inspired album recorded in both Norway and Nashville.
Farida – “Heartache”
Composers: Farida Louise Bolseth Benounis, Kristian Wiik, Ilja Eriksson and Olav Tokerud
Farida returns to the MGP stage with a song and a show that stand out from everything she has done before with the song “Heartache”. She participated in the competition in 2022 where she reached the final with the ballad “Dangerous”, a song also used in the TV 2 and Netflix series Blodsbrødre.
The girl from Gjøvik, who is also a songwriter, has opened for Dua Lipa, performed at the Øyafestivalen, appeared at by:Larm twice, won the award for ‘Role Model of the Year’ at the same festival, and notably appeared at South by Southwest in Texas. Just before Christmas, she was on a sold-out Christmas tour for the second year in a row.
Semi-final 3 (27 January)
KEiiNO – “Damdiggida”
Composers: Alexandra Rotan, Fred Buljo, Tom Hugo Hermansen, Alexander N. Olsson and Jakob Redtzer
KEiiNO are back in MGP five years after winning in 2019 and three years after coming second to TIX in 2021. This time they enter with an up-tempo song which they describe “as if Aqua, A-Ha and Lady Gaga would make a song for the 2024 edition of Tomorrowland”.
Damdiggida is a new-Sami word describing the abstract thing which brings people together, makes you smile and look on the bright side of life. Exactly what Eurovision-season is for millions of people in Norway and around the globe, and that is the reason they felt it was time to return to MGP for a final attempt to qualify for (and win) the European Championship of pop.
Because if they won’t succeed in fulfilling their big dream, they will at least have entered with a song that definitely will brighten up in a world that may seem darker and be more challenging for many.
MIIA – “Green Lights”
Composers: Benjamin Dan Ravn Fahre, Mia Virik Kristensen, Mugoshi David Nhonzi, Emelie Hollow and Ida Botten
MIIA’s raw and heartrending vocals captured many listeners around the world with the single “Dynasty” back in 2015. The magical tone was praised on Billboard and made its mark on hit lists like New Music Friday globally. As of now, the song has over 161 million streams on Spotify. “Dynasty” became the cornerstone of the artist MIIA had always dreamed of being.
Behind the artist name, we find Mia Virik Kristensen from Kragerø. Now, she is making a leap in the MGP context with “Green Lights” and aims to represent Norway on the grand Eurovision stage.
Annprincess – “Save Me”
Composer: Annprincess Johnson
Annprincess originates from Liberia and escaped to Norway with her mother at the age of 7. Now at 32 she loves to compose songs that make others feel seen and heard and she competed in “The Voice” in Norway in 2022
After releasing her debut single in 2019 she now enters MGP with the song “Save Me” which focuses on the loneliness you can feel when others point out how different you are. But despite that you have accept it, embrace how you are and stand up for yourself.
Thomas Jenssen – “Take Me To Heaven”
Composers: Thomas Jenssen, Ricky Hanley, David Fremberg and Jonas Holteberg Jensen
Thomas Jenssen has studied music at the University of Agder and is at his last year getting a masters degree in songwriting. With several singles out, concerts and a brand new Christmas album in Norwegian in the bag he is now ready to take all of Norway by storm.
He has always dreamt of participating in MGP and the stage is where he feel most at home. He sang as a tenor in the “Oslo Fagottkor” for many years (yes, it translates exactly as you think it does!) before he dared to aim for at solo career as an artist. “Take Me To Heaven” is about being captivated by someone and daring to be vulnerable. To be yourself is an important issue, especially in the queer community, and the message of the song os something Thomas is really passionate about.
MISTRA – “Waltz of Death”
Composers: Benedicte Adrian and Anders Odden
MISTRA is a new duo consisting of to opposites in the Norwegian music industry: Pop queen Benedicte Adrian and metal pioneer Anders Odden going together to perform the song “Waltz of Death”.
Benedicte Adrian is back in MGP exactly 40 years after winning the contest in 1984 as a part of Dollie de Luxe, where they performed “Lenge leve livet” at Eurovision. Since then the duo made several albums and made music for musicals together, before Benedicte went on to a solo career bringing her to both opera, classical and pop music stages.
Anders Odden has had a long career in the black metal genre. He made his debut with the band Cadaver in 1990 with the first Norwegian death metal album “Hallucinating Anxiety”, and since then the band released six albums and achieved cult status all over the world. He has also toured as a musician for other bands in the metal genre, amongst them Satyricon and Celtic Frost.
Vidar Villa – “MER”
Composers: Vidar Mohaugen, Jonas Thomassen, Martin Thomassen and Mathias Nilsen
Much has happened since Vidar Villa stood on the MGP stage in 2018, at the beginning of his career, singing about the guitarist’s mother. Vidar’s contribution to this year’s competition is the vibrant energy bomb “MER”. The song is about embracing all parts of life – both the good and the bad.
Which artists and songs are you most hyped for? Who do you hope to see represent Norway in Malmö? Let us know in the comments below.
