The second semi final of Melodi Grand Prix 2008, the Norwegian semi final for the Eurovision Song Contest, is about to take place. You can follow our live coverage below.
The show has started.
1. Zuma – Always, always
The first entry tonight is a classic but not very spectacular disco pop song. Remarkably, the singer – who looks not very happy, but that it probably part of the show – wears a classy black suit (has he just come from a funeral? from the office? who knows!). So it's up to you to decide it this one was interesting or just boring.
2. Cube– Would you spend the night with me
As expected, Glam's song is a pop/rock entry (a bit more pop, isn't it) with an interesting arrangement. Strange outfits with a military background dancers, probably not what people want to see on the Eurovision Song Contest stage. Nevertheless, this could be a surprise qualifier tonight.
3. Anne Hvidsten – A little more
The singer presents a very strong guitar pop song that could well be a hit on the radios (nevertheless, we do know that these songs are usually not very sucesful in Eurovision Song Contest national finals). The silver dress and the yellow stage fit very well and are not as over-the-top as the customary wind machine is. It's the song that is the least likely to reach the final according to the betting odds.
4. Crash! – Get up
It's time for Teeny's entry. The performance of the song is very simple but suits the entry, another rock/pop one, this time with more rock, very well. The vocals are good but again we can see a military theme in the outfits. Very hard to tell how this is supposed to illustrate the lyrics and/or the music.
5. Sven Garås– I'm on love
A very decent ballad (the last song of that style did very well for Norway in 2003!). The performance is very simple but nice, although the singer seems to have rehearsed his song to often and both the vocals and the mimic art lack some charisma and do no transmit a deep feeling for the words and the music.
6. Maria Haukaas Storeng – Hold on, be strong
Already time for the last song, and this one is the hottest favourite according to the betting odds. Mira Craig wrote the music and the lyrics. Maria is a very charismatic singer (she sometimes reminds of Kelly Clarkson) and the vocals are flawless and emotional. The soul song is prrobably the strongest one tonight and has a high recognition value.
The interval looks back at Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest in the 1970s with another song that finished last in the Eurovision Song Contest: Anne Karine Strøm's Mata Hari from the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest. She is the only soloist that mangaed to finsh last twice as she had already been at the very bottom (with another three countries) in 1974 with The first day of love.
The results: Anne Hvidsten and Zuma are in the second chance round. Crash and Maria Haukaas Storeng are in the final.
