Last week's line up featured some big names, two of which managed to snag a spot in the grand final, taking place on the 9th of February. Producer Vivi Stenberg hoped to raise the bar with this year's artists and to renew interest in the contest. Last Saturday's first heat certainly caused controversy and got people talking, with Gromth feat. Emil Solli-Tangen sailing through to the final, a result that delighted some and outraged just as many.
Hosts Jenny Skavland and Erik Solbakken welcomed viewers back to the NRK studios at Marienlyst, Oslo to reveal the next seven who are to battle it out it this coming Satruday for three more places in the final.
Semi final 2:
Song 1 Det Vakje Mi Tid - Martin Blomvik (L & M: Martin Blomvik / Bjørn Johan Muri / Mats Weinholdt)
Song 2 I'm With You - Ann Sofi (L & M: Alexander Rybak)
Song 3 On Hold - Shackles (L & M: Silya Nymoen / KeiOne / John Lundvik)
Song 4 No One - Hank (L & M: Josefin Winther)
Song 5 Ulvetuva- Fjellfolk (L & M: Trym Bjønnes)
Song 6 Shine With Me - Haji (L & M: Haider Saleem / Morad Aziman / Jesper Borgen)
Song 7 Feed You My Love- Margaret Berger (L & M: Karin Park / Robin Lynch / Niklas Olovson)
As was the case with last week's announcement, NRK's attempt to keep the names of the seven artists under wraps until the programme was aired on Wednesaday evening was only partially successful, with a number of names such as Margaret Berger and Ann Sofi already surfacing in various media prior to the official confirmation.Musical genres heard this evening included pop, rock, rap and folk music, so there shoud be something for everyone.
NRK also has a fight on its hands when it comes to winning the viewer ratings war. What normally proves to be an unmittigated viewing success for NRK got off to a rather dissappointing start last weekend with 752,000 viewers - that's 200,000 fewer tuning in to watch the first heat compared to last year. Rival channel TV2 managed to attract 100,000 more viewers for their series, Hver Gang Vi Møtes, aired at the same time.
There are no really big names among this week's line up - Margaret Berger had a few minor hits following her participation in Idol nine years ago, and Hank, otherwise known as Hank von Helvete from the group Turboneger, a hardrock/punk band is known to a certain extent. Bjørn Johan Muri (who came fourth with Yes Man in 2010 and Alexander Rybak, winner of the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest with Fairtyale are back in the capacity as songwriters. Haji may be regognized by some of youu, he was part of the trio to take part last year with Little Bobbi. Stay tuned for more background information on the newest Norwegian hopefuls. All entries presented tonight can be heard on either Spotify or iTunes through the NRK Melodi Grand Prix website.
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