Welcome to the first Semifinal of Melodi Grand Prix (MGP)! The show opens with a choreographed dance number to “Fuego” (Cyprus entry, 2018), with our hosts, Fredrik Solvang (presenter of NRK political show Debatten) and Marion Ravn (singer and TV presenter).
Here’s the format for this and the next 2 semifinals: Six contestants will perform live, and at the end of the evening the Norwegian public will vote on their NRK app for their favorite contestant (only one). The top 3 vote-getters will advance to the MGP Final Show. Each contestant has a pre-filmed interview about themselves, followed by their performance, and a post-performance check-in with the hosts.
First up we have Mathilde SPZ, featuring Chris Archer and Slam Dunk, with “Woman Show”. It’s a dance number with rap. It starts with her in a bathtub, and then she (in a miniskirt) and her two rappers (in shiny rap jackets) are bouncing around on stage furniture. It’s a high energy number, and a lot of fun. English with Norwegian chorus.
Second is Fredrik Halland, who performs “Stranded”, a ballad in English, sitting at a piano. It’s a pretty song, but Fredrik is having some challenges with the higher notes, and his pitch is a bit nasal in an irritating way. His voice is good, but not amazing.
Third is Myra with “Heart on Fire”. It’s a pop number in English, with 4 backup dancers in full-on glitter. Unfortunately, her key was off, and the song energy was just OK, with just average choreography.
Fourth is Gothminister, a heavy metal performer who is big in Germany (surprise surprise), with “We Come Alive”. He’s wearing a spooky medieval metal costume. This is the best staging of the night – a girl is playing with a dollhouse on stage until she is “possessed” by the crawling backup dancers and then she becomes a zombie, with some “Thriller” choreography going on.
Fifth is Ingrid Jasmin with “Eya”. It’s a pop Ballad in Norwegian with a middle eastern tune. She has a great voice, and the middle eastern dance choreography and costumes are catchy.
Finally is Margaret Berger, an audience favorite, with “Oblivion”. It’s a futuristic number with four backup dancers in suits, making some pretty impressive moves. The choreography is great, and her voice was good but slightly off. The song itself wasn’t memorable but it had a nice beat.
While we’re waiting for the voting results, the hosts do a retrospective of 1994 Norway Eurovision entry “Duett”, which culminates with the original performers singing the number on stage.
We get a surprise when a woman jumps on stage with a Palestinian flag yelling “Boycott Israel!” The hosts look like deer in headlights and they freeze, but she is quickly escorted off.
Finally, the voting results! As follows in this order:
Ingrid Jasmin – Advances to next stage
Myra – Out of competition
Margaret Berger – Advances
Frederik Halland – Out
Gothminister – Advances
Mathilde SPZ – Out
And that’s a wrap until next week!