Ulrikke Brandstorp, Elsie Bay and JOWST are among the 21 artists competing in Melodi Grand Prix 2023.
The artists were announced by hosts Arian Engebø and Stian “Staysman” Thorbjørnsen via a special broadcast on NRK1.
The 21 artists and songs are as follows:
Heat 1
- Ulrikke Brandstorp – “Honestly”
- Eirik Næss – “Wave”
- Kate Gulbrandsen – Tårer I Paradis”
- Rasmus Thall – “TRESKO”
- Alessandra Mele – “Queen of Kings”
- JOWST & Bryon – “Freaky for the Weekend
- Umami Tsunami – “Geronimo”
- Sandra Lyng – “Drøm D Bort”
- Jone – “Ekko Inni Meg”
- SWING’IT – “Prohibition”
- Ella – “Waist”
- Alejandro Fuentes – “Fuego”
- Bjørn Olav Edvardsen – “Turn Off My Heart”
- Elsie Bay – “Love You In A Dream”
- Skrellex – “Love Again”
- Tiril Beisland – “Break It”
- AKUVI – “Triumph”
- Atle Pettersen – “Masterpiece”
- Eline Thorp – “Not Meant to Be”
- Maria Celin – “Freya”
- Stig Van Eijk – “Someday”
As mentioned earlier there are some familiar faces in the line up this year, including 4 previous winners in Kate Gulbrandsen (1987), Stig Van Eijk (1999), JOWST (2017) and Ulrikke Brandstorp (2020).
The line up is also full of previous MGP participants. The most notable name among Eurovision fans will likely be Elsie Bay, who competed last year with her song “Death Of Us” and reached the top 4. Other Melodi Grand Prix alumni include Atle Pettersen (2021), AKUVI (2020) and Alejandro Fuentes (2018).
Key information:
This year’s Melodi Grand Prix is slightly different from previous editions of the contest. The number of heats has reduced to 3, and there will be 7 acts in each heat with no one automatically advancing to the final. Some key dates to look out for are:
- 9 January: Heat 1 songs released
- 14 January: Heat 1
- 16 January: Heat 2 songs released
- 21 January: Heat 2
- 23 January: Heat 3 songs released
- 28 January: Heat 3
- 4 February: Grand Final
3 acts from each Heat will advance to the Grand Final, with the winner being decided a 50/50 split between juries and televotes. This is a change from recent years, where Norway’s Eurovision representative was decided only by televotes.
Last year’s Melodi Grand Prix was won Subwoolfer and their song “Give That Wolf a Banana“. The entry managed to reach 10th in Turin.
What do you think of Norway’s line up for Melodi Grand Prix 2023? Who are you excited to see perform? Let us know in the comments below!
Photographs: Julia Marie Naglestad/NRK
