On Saturday evening, nine artists compete to become this year’s winner of Melodi Grand Prix.
The artists Alessandra, Umami Tsunami, Ulrikke Brandstorp, Elsie Bay, Swing’it, JONE, Atle Pettersen, Skrellex and Eline Thorp are this year’s finalists.
The winner of tonight’s final gets to represent Norway in Liverpool in May.
Odds favourites
There are two artists in particular who stand out among this year’s finalists.
Ulrikke Brandstorp (27) and Alessandra Mele (20) are at the top Eurovisionworld’s odds list.
Eurovision world is a website that collects everything about the Eurovision Song Contest. They also collect information from several betting companies to set the odds.
According to Eurovisionworld, there is a 39 percent chance that Brandstorp will walk away with the victory tonight, with Mele close behind with a 34 percent chance.
– It is an extreme sport
Brandstorp and Mele say that they feel the nerves now that they are heading towards the last hours before the final in Trondheim Spektrum.
FINALISTS: The girls compete to represent Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest. Photo: Ola Thingstad / Good evening Norway
– I know from experience that it comes when you get close to sending. When you stand back there and wait, then you absolutely know that you are alive, says Brandstorp.
– Now we have practiced many times, and we will practice even more before broadcasting. Then it’s just a matter of knowing that the body knows what it’s supposed to do, but it’s extreme sports that we’re going to do, she says.
Mele believes that it is important to feel the nerves.
– It’s only good to get nervous, because it means you care about what you’re doing. We live for this, she says.
Here she reveals who she would vote for, see video:
– I am an amateur
The 20-year-old is the last finalist out tonight, with the song “Queens Of Kings”.
Mele says that she has a ritual she must perform before she goes on stage. She admits that it might be a little strange, but that it works well.
– It’s that you do the weirdest thing you can think of. For example, make a face in the mirror, or something else really weird. Then you’ve already done something strange on purpose and get it out of your system, laughs the 20-year-old.
– I have told the other artists that they should do the same.
Her song “Queen Of Kings” has received an enormous response both at home and abroad with over five million plays on Spotify.
The singer says that it gives her butterflies in the stomach to think about all the attention.
Good evening Norway’s reporter did not impress MGP finalist Alessandra Mele with her Italian language skills. See video below.
– There are so many emotions. Of course I am grateful that people show love and support me, she shares.
– I am an amateur. “Queen Of Kings” is my first single, so it’s crazy that it went so well the first time.
Won’t give up
Brandstorp’s song “Honestly” has nearly 900,000 plays on Spotify.
Tonight she can potentially secure her second Melodi Grand Prix victory.
In 2020, Brandstorp won the Norwegian final with the song “Attention”. Several thought that the song was good enough to go all the way to the top of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Unfortunately, the music competition was canceled due to the corona pandemic, and Brandstorp was robbed of the opportunity to represent Norway in the grand final.
– I feel in a way that I have something unsettled. You have won, but never received the prize.
– It is my biggest dream to represent Norway in Eurovision, and I have been so close, she shares.
The artist says frankly that it has been a bit scary to return to the Melodi Grand Prix stage.
– There is only one winner, and it is not certain that it will be me.
The 27-year-old notes that she wishes all the other participants to win the final, because she herself has experienced that feeling before.
– That feeling is completely sick, it cannot be described. It is huge and overwhelming.
Nevertheless, the artist does not hide that she herself is excited about a win tonight.
– I’m very hungry. It’s just like I’ve been able to smell the sickest meal and get my mouth watering, but never tasted it.
– I have said that I will not give up until I experience Eurovision. I can’t do that, she says.
– Must work a little harder
Despite being at the top of the odds list, the girls point out that it is not necessarily one of them who walks away with the victory.
– I try not to look too much at the lists. It is of course an honour, especially to be there with Ulrikke. But at the same time, I’m afraid of putting too much into it. It’s easy to be disappointed, reflects Mele.
Brandstorp points out that the odds have been proven wrong in the past.
– I also think that we, as odds favourites, have to work even a little harder, because we have a little more to convince. People have expectations of us, says the 27-year-old.
Mele agrees with Brandstorp, and adds that the most important thing is that people vote tonight.
– People should vote for the finalist who gives them the strongest feeling, she says.
