Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010

After winning the 2009 Contest Norway became the host of the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 which took place in Bærum just outside Oslo. NRK announced that a total of 150 million kroner (€17,4 million) would be spent to host the contest.[2]

NRK announced that the 2010 Contest would be held in the Oslo metropolitan area, arguing that Oslo was the only city with the required capacity, venues, and infrastructure to hold the show.[3] After selecting two candidates for the show, NRK chose the newly constructed Telenor Arena, situated in the neighbouring municipality Bærum.[4] This arena beat the Oslo Spektrum, the host of the 1996 Contest.[5]

NRK announced the rules for the 2010 Melodi Grand Prix on 6 July 2009. As with last year's contest, the contest was only open to Norwegian nationals, with no more than 50% of the total composition team being non-Norwegian. The submission deadline for the contest was set for the 1 September 2009.

The hosts for the contest were revealed by NRK on 13 November: Per Sundnes returned as host for the third time, and was joined by TV and radio host Marte Stokstad.[6][7]

As since 2006, MGP consisted of a total of five live shows. Like 2009, each semi-final had seven songs competing for a place in the final, with another two songs getting a second chance in the Siste Sjansen round.[8]

On 8 September 2009, NRK revealed that they had received over 1000 songs; almost double the number submitted to the 2009 Contest.[9][10]

The first information on the contest was released by NRK on 22 October: the broadcaster confirmed that the first semi-final, held on 8 January, would be held in Ørland, in an aircraft hangar. The second semi-final was held on 16 January in Bodø, and the third semi-final was held in Skien on the 23 January. The Siste Sjansen round was held on 30 January in Sarpsborg, and the final was held in the Oslo Spektrum on 6 February.[8][11][12]

Much speculation arose in October and November, especially by Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang, about who would enter MGP 2010: names discussed included Lene Alexandra, who participated in Melodi Grand Prix 2008 with "Sillycone Valley", whose management stated they had submitted a song entitled "Primadonna".[13] Other celebrity names, for both performing and writing songs, included Tomine, daughter of a-ha lead singer and Eurovision Song Contest 1996 co-host Morten Harket, recently reformed British/Norwegian boyband a1, Norway's Eurovision 2008 entry Maria Haukaas Storeng, and Mira Craig, the writer of Storeng's Eurovision song, "Hold On Be Strong", Rolf Løvland, writer of two Eurovision winners for Norway ("La det swinge" for Bobbysocks! in 1985, and "Nocturne" for Secret Garden in 1995), Maria Arredondo, and Alexander Stenerud, who placed third in Melodi Grand Prix 2009.[14][15]

MGP's project leader Leif-Åge Reme welcomed the speculation, but noted that he could neither confirm nor deny the forthcoming news, stating that NRK was in no hurry to reveal the names of the 21 competing acts until all parties were in agreement over the artists' participation.[15]

On 27 November NRK released the song titles and songwriters of the 21 competing songs.[16][17] The first artist confirmed as competing in the contest was confirmed on 2 December on the music program Lydverket: heavy metal band Keep of Kalessin would perform "The Dragontower" during the first semi-final, as was confirmed by guitarist Arnt Grønbech.[18] The remaining artists in the first semi-final, in Ørland, were released on 4 December, which included returning artists Lene Alexandra and Maria Haukaas Storeng, as well as Gaute Ormåsen, Johnny Hide, Bjørn Johan Muri and Elisabeth Carew, as well as confirmation of Keep of Kalessin's semi-final.[19][20][21]

The second semi-final's artists were announced on 11 November: Alexander Stenerud would return to the contest for the third consecutive year, and would be joined by Venke Knutson, the Skanksters, Tomine Harket, Hanne Haugsand, Maria Arredondo (with a song written by two time winning songwriter of Eurovision Rolf Løvland) and Heine Totland.[22][23][24]

On 17 December NRK announced the artists for the third semi-final: songwriter of "Hold On, Be Strong", the Norwegian entry for the 2008 Contest returns, performing her own entry "I'll Take You High". She would be joined in the semi-final in Skien by Fred Endresen, Belinda Braza, Didrik Solli-Tangen, The Diamond, Karoline Garfjell and recently reformed British-Norwegian boy band a1.[25][26][27]

Four semi-finals took place in Ørland, Bodø, Skien and Sarpsborg.

The first semi-final was held on 8 January 2010 at the Ørland hovedflystasjon in Ørland. NRK announced the competing artists in this semi-final on 4 December 2009.[19][20][21] 30 second clips of the seven songs were released by NRK on 5 January.[28][29]

The first song of the semi-final was "Synk eller svøm" (Sink or swim) by Gaute Ormåsen, the only song in the contest performed in the Norwegian language. The song is a mid-tempo pop song, with Gaute joined on stage by a folk band, including piano, drums, tuba, double bass and washboard. Lene Alexandra followed Ormåsen, returning to the contest after qualifying to the Siste Sjansen round in 2008. "Primadonna", her 2010 contribution, is an electronic pop song, with Lene joined by two female backing singers and two male backing dancers, all in blue and black. Johnny Hide performed next on stage, with the song "Rewind Love", a slow tempo folk pop song. Hide performed the song with an electric guiatar, and was joined on stage by two male backing sigers (one also playing violin), a pianist, drummer and guitarist, with all performers dressed in grey and black. Bjørn Johan Muri was the fourth performer in the first semi-final, and performed "Yes Man", an uptempo electronic pop song. Bjørn was joined on stage by two male backing dancers, dressed in casual red and black clothing and jeans, and two female backing singers in black.[30][31][32]

The fifth song to perform was Elisabeth Carew's "Rocketfuel", a modern pop/dance song. Carew, dressed in purple, is joined by a large cage structure on stage, and is joined by three dancers in black, who climb upon the astructure at times during the performance, and two female backing singers, also in black. Former Melodi Grand Prix winner and Norwegian Eurovision entry in 2008, Maria Haukaas Storeng, returns to the contest as a singer, after hosting the previous year's contest. She returns with the song "Make My Day", a gentle pop ballad, which she performs alone on stage, in grey and gold, with female backing singers situated off-stage. The final act on stage was metal band Keep of Kalessin and the song "The Dragontower". The performance, typical for a metal band, is performed on stage with frequent use of pyrotechnics and flames, with the band dressed in black and leather.[30][31][32]

Maria Haukaas Storeng and Keep of Kalessin qualified to the final of the contest. Gaute Ormåsen and Bjørn Johan Muri qualified to the Siste Sjansen round.[33][34][35] Johnny Hide also qualified to the Siste Sjansen round as one of two wildcard entries, placing fifth in this semi-final.[36][37][38]

After the semi-final songs from the show immediately attracted interest from buyers. On 10 January it was reported that Bjørn Johan Muri's song "Yes Man", which qualified to the Siste Sjansen round, had reached the top of the Norwegian iTunes download chart. Finalists Maria Haukaas Storeng and Keep of Kalessin also placed in the top 20 of the chart, at #8 and #14 respectively.[39] On 13 January Muri placed at #10 in the Norwegian singles chart, VG-lista with "Yes Man". Storeng placed at #17 and keep of Kalessin also placed at #24 in the chart.[40][41] The following week "Yes Man" moved to number 2 on the VG-lista chart, behind Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance", while Maria Haukaas Storeng moved to number 14.[42]

The second semi-final was held on 16 January 2010 at the Bodø Spektrum in Bodø. The artists for this semi-final were announced on 11 December 2009.[22][23][24] 30 second clips of the seven songs were released by NRK on 12 January,[43][44] and the songs were played in full for the first time on Norwegian radio NRK P1 on 14 January.[45]

The first act on stage in Bodø was Venke Knutson with her up-tempo Europop song "Jealous Cause I Love You". Dressed as a queen Knutson begins her performance on a throne and is joined by two backing singers/dancers, a female keyboardist and a male cellist and drummer. The Skanksters performed next with "Life Is Here Today", a classic 1960s showtune, with the band members dressed in classic 1960s outfits, black suits and dresses. The third act on stage was Tomine Harkek with "Be Good To Me", a classic gentle ballad. With the stage in dark blue Harket was dressed in black and joined by a pianist, cellist and a violinist, and delivers an emotional performance. Hanne Haugsand was the fourth act to grace the stage of the Bodø Spektrum. Haugsand had previously represented Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest 2000 as a member of the group Charmed, and had previously taken part as a solo artist at Melodi Grand Prix 2006. Haugsand's 2010 song, "Don't Stop", is a Eurodance number, starting off calmly before gaining power. Haugsand, dressed in a blue suit, was joined by five backing dancers/singers.[46][47]

Maria Arredondo followed on stage with "The Touch", written by two-time winning Eurovision composer for Norway Rolf Løvland. "The Touch" is another classic ballad, and Arredondo gives a strong performance in light blue and surrounded by fog, joined on stage by a pianist, cellist and three backing singers. Heine Totland followed with "The Best of Me Is You", another nostalgic energetic pop song. Totland was joined by three backing singers/dancers. The final performance from Bodø was Alexander Stenerud, who took part in the Melodi Grand Prix 2008 semi-finals as one part of duo Zuma, as well as coming in third as a solo artist in last year's contest. Stenerud performs a catchy electronic pop song in a style similar to his previous appearances, and was joined on stage by two female dancers, as well as backing singers off stage.[46][47]

Alexander Stenerud and Maria Arredondo qualified to the final, while Venke Knutson and Heine Totland qualified to the Siste Sjansen round.[48][49] The Skanksters also qualified to the Siste Sjansen round as one of the two wildcard entries, achieving fifth place in the semi-final.[36][37]

1,154,000 viewers watched the second semi-final on television, a 65% share of viewers, and was the most watched MGP semi-final in its history.[50]

Didrik Solli-Tangen performing "My Heart is Yours" during the third semi-final in Skien.

The third semi-final was held on 23 January 2010 at the Skien Fritidspark in Skien. The artists for this semi-final were announced by NRK on 17 December 2009.[25][26][27] 30 second clips of the seven songs were released by NRK on 18 January,[51][52] with the songs broadcast in full for the first time on NRK P1 on 20 January.[53]

British-Norwegian boyband a1 and Didrik Solli-Tangen qualified directly to the final in the Oslo Spektrum, while Mira Craig and Karoline Garfjell progressed to the Siste Sjansen round.[54][55]

The Siste Sjansen (Last Chance) round was held on 30 January 2010 at Sparta Amfi in Sarpsborg. Eight songs will compete; the six songs that placed third and fourth in each of the three semi-finals, as well as two wildcard entries, selected from the two most voted fifth-placed entries in the three semi-finals.[36][37] The eight entries will compete in duels, until two songs are left that will progress to the final. The line-up of the four duels was announced on 26 January.[56]

After the first round of duels Bjørn Johan Muri defeated the Skanksters to meet Gaute Ormåsen, who beat Heine Totland, in the second round. Mira Craig beat Johnny Hide and Venke Knutson beat Karoline Garfjell to meet as well in the second round.[57] In the second round Bjørn Johan Muri won against Gaute Ormåsen and Venke Knutson beat Mira Craig to qualify to the final.[58][59]

The final was on 6 February 2010 at the Oslo Spektrum. The six direct qualifiers from the semi-finals, plus the two Siste Sjansen qualifiers competed again to win the contest. The draw for the running order was done by Per Sundnes and Marte Stokkstad and was held on 2 February 2010, with the event being broadcast live on NRK2, with A1 starting the final and Keep of Kalessin closing it.[60][61]

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: "Don't Wanna Lose You Again" performed by A1, "Yes Man" performed by Bjørn Johan Muri, "My Heart Is Yours" performed by Didrik Solli-Tangen and "The Dragontower" performed by Keep of Kalessin.[62][63] In the Gold Final, four juries from the hosts of the four semi-final cities awarded 2,000, 4,000, 6,000 and 8,000 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 "My Heart Is Yours" performed by Didrik Solli-Tangen with 466,675 votes.[62][63]

After the final many of the finalist songs charted in the official Norwegian singles chart VG-lista. Super-finalist Bjørn Johan Muri charted at number one with his song "Yes Man", while winner Didrik Solli-Tangen was seen at number 2 in the chart. Further down the chart runner-up A1 charted at number 4 for their MGP song "Don't Wanna Lose You Again", while Venke Knutson was seen at number 5 with "Jealous Cause I Love You". Furthermore, superfinalist Keep of Kalessin charted at number 17 with "The Dragontower", while Alexander Stenerud charted at number 20 with "Give It To Me".[64][65]