Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013


Norway participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö, Sweden. The Norwegian entry was selected through the national selection "Melodi Grand Prix 2013", organised by the Norwegian broadcaster Norsk rikskringkasting. Margaret Berger represented Norway with the song "I Feed You My Love", which qualified from the second semi-final of the competition and placed 4th in the final with 191 points.

Before Eurovision

Melodi Grand Prix 2013

On 13 June 2012, NRK confirmed Norway's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013. Melodi Grand Prix 2013 was the 51th edition of the Norwegian national final Melodi Grand Prix and selected Norway's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2014. The competition consisted of three semi-finals which took place regionally on 19, 26 January and 2 February 2013. The final took place on 9 February 2013 at the Oslo Spektrum in Oslo. All shows were hosted by Jenny Skavlan and Erik Solbakken, replacing long-standing presenter Per Sundnes who stepped down after the 2012 contest. Vivi Stenberg was assigned as the new music producer for the competition.

Competing entries

A submission period was opened by NRK between 1 July 2012 and 1 September 2012. Songwriters of any nationality were allowed to submit entries, while performers of the selected songs had to be at least 16 years old by the first semi-final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2013. At the close of the deadline, 600 submissions were received. Twenty-one songs were selected for the competition by a jury panel consisting of Vivi Stenberg, Kristin Winsents, Gisle Stokland and Christine Dancke. In order to place all competing artists on a level playing field and increase interest in the competition, a new program titled MGP Direkte aired every Wednesday before each semi-final where the competing acts and songs for that week's semi-final would be revealed.

Schedule

Semi-final 1

The artists and songs competing in the first semi-final were revealed on 16 January 2013. Seven songs competed during the first semi-final on 19 January 2013. The top three entries were selected by public televoting to proceed to the final: "Paid My Way" performed by Vidar Busk, "Alone" performed by Gromth feat. Emil Solli-Tangen and "The Underground" performed by Datarock.

Semi-final 2

The artists and songs competing in the second semi-final were revealed on 23 January 2013. Seven songs competed during the second semi-final on 26 January 2013. The top three entries were selected by public televoting to proceed to the final: "I'm With You" performed by, "Ulvetuva" performed by Fjellfolk and "I Feed You My Love" performed by Margaret Berger.

Semi-final 3

The artists and songs competing in the third semi-final were revealed on 30 January 2013. Seven songs competed during the third semi-final on 2 February 2013. The top three entries were selected by public televoting to proceed to the final: "Bombo" performed by Adelén, "Awake" performed by Gaute Ormåsen and "I Love You Te Quiero" performed by Sirkus Eliassen. On 4 February 2013, Lucky Lips was awarded the wildcard to proceed to the final among the non-qualifying entries.

Final

Ten songs consisting of the nine semi-final qualifiers and the wildcard qualifier competed during the final on 9 February 2013. The winner was selected over two rounds of voting. In the first round, the top four entries were selected by public televoting to proceed to the second round, the Gold Final: "Bombo" performed by Adelén, "I'm With You" performed by, "I Feed You My Love" performed by Margaret Berger and "I Love You Te Quiero" performed by Sirkus Eliassen. In the Gold Final, three juries from the hosts of the three semi-final cities awarded 1,000, 2,000, 3,000 and 4,000 points to their top four songs. The results of the public televote were then revealed by Norway's five regions and added to the jury scores. This led to the victory of "I Feed You My Love" performed by Margaret Berger with 90,032 votes.
In addition to the performances of the competing entries, the interval acts featured performances of 2012 Norwegian entrant Tooji and Eurovision Song Contest 2012 winner Loreen.

At Eurovision

To ensure fair ticket distribution in the semifinals, the Eurovision Reference Group decided on 7 November 2012 that Norway would compete in the second semifinal on 16 May. In the second semifinal, the producers of the show decided that Norway would perform 13th, following Hungary and preceding Albania. On stage, Margaret Berger was joined by drummer Axel Tidemann and three backing vocalists: May Kristin Kaspersen, Jorunn Hauge and Nicoline Berg Kaasin.
Norway qualified from the second semi-final, placing 3rd and scoring 120 points. At the second semi-final winners' press conference, Norway was allocated to perform in the second half of the final. In the final, the producers of the show decided that Norway would perform 24th, following Italy and preceding Georgia. Norway placed 4th in the final, scoring 191 points.
In Norway, the semi-finals and final were aired on NRK1, with commentary by Olav Viksmo-Slettan. In addition, NRK3 also aired an alternative broadcast of the final with commentary by the hosts of the P3morgen radio show on NRK P3, Ronny Brede Aase, Silje Therese Reiten Nordnes and Yngve Hustad Reite.
The national jury that provided 50% of the Norwegian vote in the second semi-final and the final consisted of: Suzanne Sumbundu, Henning Solvang, Martine Maribel Furulund, Simone Eriksrud and Harald Sommerstad. The Norwegian spokesperson in the grand final was 2012 entrant Tooji.

Points awarded to Norway

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  • Points awarded by Norway

    Semi-final 2

    Points awarded in second semi-final:
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    Final

    Points awarded in the final:
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    Jury points awarded by Norway

    Final

    Jury points awarded in the final:
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