Melodi Grand Prix 2023 kicked off on January 14 when the Norwegian song festival held its first semifinal. Arian Engebø and Stian Thorbjørnsen hosted. Those familiar with recent MGPs will note a change in structure to this year’s contest. Gone are the duels of yesteryear. This year’s contest will consist of three semifinals of seven songs apiece. Three songs from each semi will advance to the final.
The semifinal opened with Alessandra Mele singing “Queen of Kings”, an up-tempo number that could best be described as one of a long line of “Viking bops.” Alessandra has a powerful, deep voice and is flanked by four dancers who appear from the shadows, Anna Bergendahl-style.
The second artist of the night was Eirik Næss. His song, “Wave”, called to mind Ed Sheeran’s folksy pop with lovely harmonies in the chorus and comforting golden lighting.
Certainly the most memorable staging of the night came from Rasmus Thall, who staged his song “Tresko” (Norwegian for “clogs”) quite literally when he floated onto the screen on a giant yellow shoe. Sporting shades and a silk headscarf as he converted his oversized footwear into a sound system, Rasmus sang a funky number reminiscent of Meandi’s “Drip” from Pabandom iš naujo 2020.
In an abrupt change of pace, Rasmus was followed by Kate Gulbrandsen, the Norwegian entrant to Eurovision 1987, and her ballad “Tårer i Paradise” (Tears in Paradise). Though returning MGP winners can be hit or miss, Kate’s song was a restrained and timeless ballad and her voice still shone bright.
Fifth on the night was Umami Tsunami, a newly-formed boy band. Their song “Geronimo” had clear KPOP influences and was performed with a mix of youthful energy and the chaos of inexperience. It was a catchy if unpolished number and, judging by the piercing squeals of young girls in the audience, could be a dark horse to win this edition of MGP.
The penultimate song was perhaps the most anticipated of the night. Ulrikke Brandstorp, the winner of MGP 2020 whose Eurovision berth was thwarted by the COVID-19 pandemic, returned with “Honestly”, a soaring ballad whose dramatic yet familiar beats make it seem tailor-made for Eurovision. Staged with a sea of fog, a striking spotlight, and ending with its own confetti shower, it announced itself as the frontrunner to win MGP 2023.
Finally, the last entry of the night was “Freaky for the Weekend”, by Byron Williams Jr. and MGP 2017 winner JOWST. A soul song with a bit of ‘-iz speak’ mixed in to modernize it, the number transitioned from a makeshift office to a simulated nightclub scene, an impressive bit of stagecraft for a song that perhaps lacked a broad appeal otherwise.
After a voting period, the results were announced. In the end, Alessandra Mele, Umami Tsunami, and Ulrikke Brandstorp each advanced to the MGP final on February 4.