Results tagged “Norway” from Boom Bang a Blog

Chanée & N'evergreen. A Bardo for the 21st Century

Tonight's national finals have drawn to a close. In the end, I watched Norway choose its song as there's not much point watching Melodifestivalen until the night of the final, which is still five weeks away. Well, I don't wish to sound boastful, but Didrik Solli Tangen did win in Norway (as predicted) and Hera Bjork brought home the bacon in Iceland, which was another Boom Bang a Blog tip from this morning (see the post below to hear the songs).

The only one not called in spot-on fashion was Denmark. The web favourite Bryan Rice finished in second place, letting the poptastic antics of Chanée and Tomas N'evergreen fly the red-and-white flag in Olso with the song In a Moment Like This. Boom Bang a Blog has to confess to developing a real affection for this from just the first listen, it certainly has the *something* that Hera's Je Ne Sais Quoi is unlikely to ever have. I still think ole Did' will score the highest out of everything chosen tonight, though. What do you think?

Good morning Boom Bang a Bloggers. I've had my porridge with blueberries in and sweated buckets whilst attempting lunges and torso twists on the Wii Fit so here I am, relaxed and refreshed with news of the treats coming your way this evening - and how to see them over the web.

Yes, this very night, Iceland, Denmark and 2010 hosts Norway will choose the songs which will go forth to the Eurovision stage in late May under each nation's respective flag. Not only that, but the biggest national final of them all - Melodifestivalen - has the first of its five weekly qualifying rounds in Sweden tonight. In around six weeks, we should know the full line-up for Eurovision 2010. But before all that, here are Boom Bang a Blog's predictions.

Finland 2010: And doesn't it just scream 'winner' at you?

The Finnish national final finished last night and the band Kuunkuiskaajat, fronted by sisters who bring to mind thoughts of those dreadfully tuneless twins for Your Country Needs You last year, will be giving it laldy in Norway with the rather unusual number Työlki Ellää.

It starts off rather folky, as though someone's decided to get an especially lacklustre wedding reception going with a bit of a sing-song round the accordion and there are certaimly signs of it having the desired effect among the audience members.

But is it a winner? Or even a song which will qualify to the final itself form the semi? There are still too many songs to be picked to make any concrete predictions, but let's just say that after clicking 'save' on this particular blog entry I won't be dashing to ladbrokes.com for a cheeky flutter.

And they look like such charming young ladies as well. So cruel.

The A1 now leads to Norway, apparently

Largely British boyband A1 made a comeback last night - at the semi-finals of Norway's Melodi Grand Prix. The group which won the Best Breakthrough Act BRIT award in 2001 and enjoyed two number one hits at the beginning of the noughties are seeing their possible appearance at Eurovision 2010 a bit of a career renaissance. Their song Don't Wanna Lose You Again was one of two entries receiving enough votes to go straight through to the Norwegian final on February 6.

Since day one, A1 has had Norwegian links, especially regarding original member Christian Ingebrigtsen (who was born in Oslo), before anyone cries out that the lads are being unpatriotic.

Lead singer Ben Adams, you may remember, appeared on Celebrity Big Brother last year - and may or not be named after Ben Adam, the title of the Israeli entry from 1988.

Ben finished fifth in Celeb BB, but with the size of A1's fanbase, I'd imagine he and his bandmates will be going a lot further in Melodi Grand Prix.

Snowed in? Got a reliable internet conenction? Like Eurovision? If that sounds like you, then Boom Bang a Blog has something which will warm your cockles in this very brrrr-y weather.

Tonight sees the first round of Melodi Grand Prix, the national final of reigning Eurovision champs, Norway. Held in the main aircraft base of Ørland, seven songs will be fighting for the two available spots at the grand final in Olso on February 6. The songs in third and fourth place will go into a second chance round.

It's a right mix of songs and styles, with snippets of the septet available to listen to on NRK (Norwegian TV)'s website.

Eurovision was getting a popular thing to be part of in 1996. So much so, there simply wasn't enough room to accommodate the 29 nations wishing to participate in Olso. With that in mind, the organisers staged a preliminary round in the months leading up to the show where a group of juries sat and listened to studio recordings of every song (bar hosts Norway, the only country sure of a spot on the big night) and voted on them as though it were a rather sterile version of Big Eurovision. This sorted everyone out, with Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Israel, FYR Macedonia, Romania and Russia all missing out on a place in Norway. By dumping Germany (whose Kraftwerk-ish song was tipped for great things beforehand), those juries had rather foolishly removed one of the largest potential audiences for the show before it had even begun and the 1996 Contest remains the only one so far not to have an entry from Deutschland.

When 23 nations did assemble in Oslo's Spektrum Centre on May 18, some who did badly in the preliminary round soared up the scoreboard, while others who scored very well when the juries were just listening to the CD version nosedived.

Don't worry, we're going to show you the placing in both rounds for each entry so you can draw your own conclusions...

The film celebrating 40 Eurovision Song Contests which opened the 1995 event. Think of it as reminder of most of your Bluffer's Guides so far...

I wasn't impressed when Ireland won Eurovision for the third successive year in 1994. I therefore refused point blank to support the Irish squad who got to the World Cup in the USA that year (despite it being the tournament Graham Taylor couldn't lead England into) and, being young, naive and foolish, refused to like anything remotely linked with Ireland for the next 12 months. As I say, I certainly was young, naive and foolish as I have an Irish surname for a start.

Anyway, I'm sure you can imagine my reaction when smiley host Mary Kennedy appeared on stage at The Point - the only time the same venue has been used in two successive years - and welcomed viewers to "What has almost become the annual Eurovision Song Contest from Ireland."

I booed. Loudly. But the slightly smug tone Mary used when introducing everyone back to Ireland (again) would soon backfire on her. This was the year when some canny countries realised it was time to play the Irish at their own game. And win.

When Linda Martin won in 1992, it must have been inconceivable that the Contest would be held anywhere other than Dublin in 1993. But an entrepreneurial equestrian centre owner had other ideas. He wrote to RTE, the Irish broadcaster, on the very night Ms Martin took the trophy, suggesting that the Green Glens Arena in the tiny County Cork town of Millstreet would be the ideal setting for the 38th Eurovision Song Contest. The people at the telly admired his brass and so it came to pass that the Contest was heading for its least populous host town ever. Millstreet in 1993 had a population of around 1,500.

And so, this lush speck on the map became the setting for one of the most highly publicised Eurovisions of the decade. Three former Yugoslavian states made their debut. Luxembourg said goodbye for good and Italy sort-of-did too. Switzerland had its last top five showing to date and the stage looked a bit like a paper plane.

But all that was overshadowed by one of the most nailbiting finishes ever, when the UK possibly counted the cost of snubbing the Maltese entry in Malmo.

A few years back, Bruce Forsyth appeared on Room 101, the BBC show where celebs can put the case forward for consigning their least favourite things to history. The very last thing he wanted to put into the dank holding bay of infamy was Yugoslavia. When presenter Paul Merton probed Brucie further for this unusual choice, the veteran entertainer was happy to elucidate; in 1988, his daughter, Julie, had composed the British entry to the Eurovision Song Contest. When Yugoslavia, the final jury of the night, was called for its votes, the United Kingdom had a fairly strong six-point lead and a score of seven or more would guarantee victory.

As you've probably worked out, the final decision of the Yugoslav jury didn't curry much favour with our Brucie - or those watching on these fair isles. But what Bruce doesn't understand is that his reasons for punishing Yugoslavia must be far wider reaching than mere paternal loyalty. That panel in Llubjana were responsible for inflicting a great evil upon this world, a blight that has caused pain to many good people and one that needs to be stopped before it is responsible for any more international upset. Boom Bang a Blog is speaking, of course, about the ongoing career and success of Celine Dion.

Sad news to bring you this drizzly October afternoon, but the Hungarians will not be present in Oslo in 2010. And, quelle surprise, it's all about the money.

According to reports, MTV (that's Magyar Television, not the music one), has had its budget slashed by 50 per cent as the not-particularly-melodic economic situation tightens its grip.

Sadly, it's seen employees made redundant as well as programming creativity and spending take a tumble, so it would be difficult to justify an expensive jaunt to Norway when safe passage from the semi-final is no guarantee.

It's a real shame as the past three Hungarian entrants have all been enjoyable, but poles apart from each other in terms of style and presentation, be it a jazz-tinged ballad (which did very well in the later-released juries only vote), a real diva moment (actually, we really didn't like this at all but didn't want to ruin the sentiment of this post) and the skintight green denim daftness of Zoli in Moscow this year, who, as far as singing goes, has an excellent future in choreography.

Hungary, Boom Bang a Blog will miss you. In fact, we'll be Budapestering you to return in '11.

They had waited for a win since their first appearance in 1960. They had scored nul points in 1963, 1978 and 1981, three of the six occasions they had finished bottom of the scoreboard. They were destined to be the Contest's eternal no-hopers. Then, in 1985, twenty-five years after their first appearance, something amazing happened. Norway won the Eurovision Song Contest.

Above you'll find a performance of the song Balalaika, ably belted out by Israeli singer Ilanit, who had already represented her country at Eurovision in 1973 and 1977. This would have been the song which bore the Israeli flag at the 29th Eurovision Song Contest in Luxembourg. However - and it was a habit those pesky organisers kept on making - the date for the 1984 Contest clashed with an important festival in Israel's calendar. Therefore, just as an awkward date saw the land of Milk and Honey miss the Contest following its two successive wins, another balls-up in the date stakes saw them sit out the event which followed its two successive silvers.

Balalika did go on to be one of the biggest selling singles of 1984 in Israel. What do you think? Would it have been a winner had it made it to Luxembourg City?

News from Norway, next year's host broadcaster is having to allocate a bit more kroner to the original budget for staging the show.

In a move which the organisers of London 2012 will no doubt sympathise with, the original plan of spending 150m Norwegian kroner (about £16m) on the event has now been upped to 211m Norwegian kroner (about £22m).

It's still not quite as much as Russia spent on this year's show - and we're sure the Norwegians have a few sneaky barrels of oil knocking about they could sell to raise the extra cash, but it looks like our chums in Oslo are planning a spectacular show.

Still no news on when tickets go on sale, but Boom Bang a Blog has its virtual fingers crossed that we'll be among the people in the crowd at the Fornebu Arena on the big night. Here's hoping.

As you may have already read, Israel had won both the 1978 and 1979 Contests, but when the Netherlands stepped in to host as a favour to the cash-strapped Israeli Broadcasting Authority, they inadvertently scheduled Eurovision for a date when the trophy holders remembered their fallen and couldn't possibly take part.

With the country who had had a stranglehold on the results at the end of the '70s now absent, there was a clear run for everyone else involved. Although, 'I' would continue to be a lucky initial for Eurovision's winner for the third year running.

With stepping in at relatively short notice, the Dutch production was nowehere near as grand as it had been in 1976. With The Hague's Congresgebouw (pictured, above) being used once more, part of the opening travelogue film from four years previous - featuring beckoning hands welcoming allcomers to Den Haag - was recycled to save a few gelder. While only those with long-term photographic memories would have made the connection in 1980, it's a bit easier to spot in the era of videos, DVD and a certain file-sharing website.

Opinion is divided over Eurovision 1978. Whereas parts of it look spectacular (the entire orchestra was on a revolving platform and there was an impressive laser show built into the set), many think it a rather drab affair with not much heart and soul put into the production. Maybe it's because so many BBC-style Contests had dominated the decade that a distinct change in style stands out like a sore thumb. Either way, Boom Bang a Blog has always rather liked it. There are a couple of things to watch out for in '78. Denmark return after a 12 year absence, the UK does abominably badly for the first time since 1966, the Norwegians fare even worse, a Swedish singer whose trousers were far too tight and the start of a remarkable run of success for a country which you won't find on any European map.

Winners 1978: Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta perform A Ba Ni Bi for Israel. It's the caption that's wrong, not us. Swear down.

However, this was also the year that the Contest's popularity took a severe dip.

Sad to say, but by 1978, the Contest had passed its mid-70s peak and viewers everywhere were starting to fall out love with this annual party of pop.

You may have read this week that Graham Norton could be set to leave the BBC for his old stomping ground of Channel 4 after his last show, Totally Saturday, proved totally unwatchable.

This does raise one question - will this mean Graham won't be back in the commentary box for Eurovision in Norway next year?

That seems to be the rumour rumbling about the fan sections of the internet, but Boom Bang a Blog would advise fans of Graham's really rather good UK commentary in Moscow not to worry too much. Terry Wogan has not had an exclusive BBC contract for years. While he commentated at Eurovision for the Corporation, he also hosted a daytime TV show with Gaby Roslin on five and even now has a regular teatime game show on Channel 4 while still hosting his BBC Radio 2 breakfast show over the six weeks of the year that he's not on holiday.

If Graham is determined to stay in that commentary box - and if the BBC still want him to be there - we're confident they'll find a way.

The following clip is shown to students of TV production everywhere. It's the feed from industry legend and maverick, the late Stewart Morris, a stalwart of big BBC productions, as he directed his team through the hairy final moments and winning reprise of Eurovision 1977 at the Wembley Conference Centre in London.

PLEASE BE AWARE! Mr Morris does not hold back on his language, so don't click on this clip if easily offended by extremely salty words.

Our favourite bits are where he's screaming at someone to make the flags start revolving and the moment he realises the end credits have gone missing.

That's how the Contest ended, but let's delve a little deeper into how it all began in 1977...

In 1976, the BBC decided to stop asking an established act to put themselves forward for Eurovision and A Song For Europe became an open competition for the first time since 1963. This meant that songwriters could now marry up their potential entry with the act of their choice, which composers found a far more favourable arrangement.

Michael Aspel hosted the Miss World-style heat, which even got the front cover slot on the Radio Times, where 12 acts lined up for the right to represent the UK. That line-up included Tony 'Amarillo' Christie, who finished third with this and '60s favourite Frank Ifield who sadly finished last with this. After a close-fought fight with the group CoCo (and you'll hear more about them in a future Bluffer's Guide) and some genuinely good-quality contemporary stuff among the competing dozen (Boom Bang a Blog's personal favourite is this), the winner-by-a-squeak of A Song For Europe 1976 was Brotherhood of Man with Save Your Kisses For Me.

The quartet's biggest battle was already behind them. When they got to Eurovision in The Hague they won with very little trouble at all.

Winners 1976: Brotherhood of Man perform Save Your Kisses For Me for the United Kingdom

The song topped the charts and went on the be the biggest selling single of the year in the UK, shifting more copies than ABBA's Dancing Queen, Elton John and Kiki Dee's Don't Go Breaking My Heart and the much-hyped/much-banned Sex Pistols early work.

And there was also that dance.