The national selection shows for Eurovision 2018 are on top form this year, all prepared to crown their representative and send them to Portugal. There have been some great contestant announcements to date, with Sweden’s Melodifestivalen always being the one to watch; however, it seems Norway has pulled off all the stops to bring us the best national selection line-up for their Melodi Grand Prix 2018.
You sure did read the title right, we have a Eurovision winner returning, a Grand Final singer returning, a Semi-Final singer returning, and an international one-hit wonder; all amongst some great and undeniable rising talent. Norway’s Melodi Grand Prix 2018 is definitely going to be one-to-watch.
There are ten contestants taking part. Norway last won the Eurovision Song Contest back in 2009 with Alexander Rybak as their representative. He sang “Fairytale” which scored 387 points on the old points system. Now he’s taking part in Melodi Grand Prix 2018, can he win the show again for Norway? He will be competing with the song “That’s How You Write A Song”, but is it good enough?
His competitors in Melodi Grand Prix 2018 includes other artists who have also graced the Eurovision stage, in the past; Aleksander Walmann was the featured vocalist on JOWST’s track “Grab The Moment” in 2017, where they came 10th in the Grand Final; he will be singing “Talk To The Hand”. Then there’s Stella Mwangi, who represented Norway in 2011 with the song “Haba Haba”, coming 17th in the first Semi-Final; she’s competing as part of a duo, alongside Alexandra Rotan, with the song “You Got Me” in the hope of representing Norway again and doing much better than her previous result at Eurovision.
Also competing is international one-hit-wonder, Ida Maria, who has already had an incredible career to date. She’s mostly known for her song “I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked”, which charted at number 13 in the UK and allowed for a couple of her other singles to chart; her accompanying album Fortress Round My Heart also charted in the Top 40 of both the UK and Irish charts. Could her international fame help her at Eurovision? Well, she has to win Melodi Grand Prix 2018 first, and apart from the known stars, there are some incredible rising acts too with brilliant songs. Take a listen to all ten songs below.
Norway Melodi Grand Prix 2018 Competing Entries
Alejandro Fuentes – Tengo otra
Appeared on Norwegian Idol’s third season in 2005, where he came third, he went on to release his debut album the following year. His song is in Spanish and is about love.
Aleksander Walmann – Talk To The Hand
Eurovision 2016 uncredited representative who graced the stage alongside JOWST for the song “Grab The Moment”. Came 10th with 158 points. Now he’s ready to compete as a soloist. “Talk To The Hand” has been written by JOWST, Jonas McDonnell, Magnus Klausen, and Aleksander Walmann; the former two wrote “Grab The Moment”, so surely this has huge potential.
Alexander Rybak – That’s How You Write A Song
Norway’s most-recent winner of the Eurovision Song Contest. Over the years, he has appeared on various national selection shows as a guest, as well as subsequent Eurovision contests. Can he win the show, represent Norway again, and reclaim his crown? “That’s How You Write A Song” was solely written by Alexander Rybak.
Charla K – Stop The Music
Charla K was known for being one-fourth of girl group Shackles who came second in the first series of X Factor (the Norwegian version). They went on to compete in Melodi Grand Prix 2013, as a duo, failing to make it through to the final. Now she’s trying all by herself after she released her debut solo single “Should’a Let Me Go”, and after writing a song for Anastacia that made her “Evolution” album, titled “Stamina”.
Ida Maria – Scandilove
Known for her international hit “I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked”, which charted in Australia, The UK, Ireland, the Eurochart, her home country of Norway; as well as the US Billboard Alternative Songs at number 30. She’s destined for a comeback and has released a total of three albums and various singles. Can she make it onto the most watched music shows in the world?
Nicoline – Light Me Up
Best known for coming joint-third in the third series of The Voice (the Norway version), Nicoline has released three singles prior to this song and has been attempting a musical career for years. This may give her the break she needs. She may even go all the way and represent Norway at Eurovision.
Rebecca – Who We Are
Rebecca Thorsen is a rising musical artist who has won many competitions to date. This is her first official single and will certainly help her to launch, not only within Norway but the world-over – if she wins Melodi Grand Prix 2018.
Stella & Alexandra – You Got Me
Made up of Stella Mwangi and Alexandra Roton, this duo could go all the way. Stella previously represented Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 with her song “Haba Haba”, coming 17th in the first Semi-Final. As for Alexandra, she took part in Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2010 with “Det vi vill” where she made it into the top-four Superfinale; not only that, but she has been a vocalist for Alan Walker. Together, they could bring something magical.
Tom Hugo – I Like I Like I Like
He’s a well-known name in the Melodi Grand Prix, have already competed in 2013 with the song “Det er du” where he didn’t make it through his Semi-Final. He has written successful songs for artists in Japan, Germany, and China. We are hoping that “I Like I Like I Like” becomes successful for himself.
Vidar Villa – Moren din
He has a tonne of streams on Spotify, with “One Night Only” becoming four times platinum on Norway. He is one of the most popular artists in the country and could definitely do well. Maybe it’s time for Vidar Villa to go international? The song he will be singing is about two friends, one of whom confesses that he is crushing on his mother’s friend.
It sure does look like Norway’s Melodi Grand Prix 2018, will be one of the national selection shows we all should be tuning in to. It will be presented by Kåre Magnus Bergh and Silya Nymoen on the 10 March 2018 at the Oslo Spektrum.