EuroVisionary.com - Everything you need to know about the Eurovision Song Contest - We welcome the 2009 Contest in Moscow

After a successful fifth place in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest NRK will now close the national selection for foreign songwriters. This will in particular affect the many Swedes who have seen the Norwegian Melodi Grand Prix as an easier way to get through to the Eurovision Song Contest.

After participating in the Norwegian final two years in a row with a 3rd place from 2007 as best result the Norwegian rock band Crash! are now pursuing an international career with the USA and Romania as next stops.

The Danish broadcaster, DR, will be selecting its participant for the 2008 Eurovision Dance Contest on 7th of June. The six couples competing for the spot will be presented Friday the 23rd of May, the day before the Eurovision Song Contest final.

While preparing for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest the Norwegian representative Maria Haukaas Storeng has also been in the studio to finish an album, which will be released shortly before her departure for Belgrade.

For those fans not going to Belgrade Stenaline is offering a special cruise that will feature previous Eurovision participants, a special Eurovision quiz and of course the opportunity to watch the final on sea together with other fans.

Tor Endresen came second in the 1992 Norwegian national final with this song Radio Luxembourg.

Ann-Mari Andersen in the first of the three Norwegian pre selection heats. She qualified directly for the final and was seen as one of the favourites to win it, but she didn't manage to end up among the best 4 in the final.

Maria Haukaas Storeng became a clear winner of the 2008 Norwegian final and the song which is called "Hold on, Be Strong" has already become a big hit on the Norwegian single charts.

After 3 semi-finals and a second chance round, Norway was finally ready to choose its song for the 2008 contest. Eighteen songs were reduced to 6 for tonight’s final.