Tonight, the third and last of the Norwegian selection for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest – MGP 2009 – was held. Seven acts presented one song each and two were chosen by televoting to move forward to the national final on 21st February. The third and fourth placed songs will enter the second chance round next week.

The following songs made it to the national final:

• Alexander Rybak – Fairytale
• Ovi – Seven seconds

The following songs will enter the second chance round:

• Sunny – Carrie
• Jane Helen – Shuffled

The following songs did notreach the top four but might get a very last chance (read more here):

• Sichelle – Left right
• The Rebelettes – Soul train
• Foxy – Do it again

esctoday.com poll results

The esctoday.com poll voters widely agreed with the televoters as therunaway poll winner Alexander Rybak (71.3%) directly qualified for the national final. The 'last chance' entrants had finished fourth and fifth in the poll, while the second qualifier Ovi had finished third in the poll. Runner-up Sichelle did not reach the top four.

Maria Haukaas Storeng easily won the 2008 Melodi Grand Prix final getting almost 80,000 votes more than runner-up Torstein Sødal. With the song Hold on be strong, she finished 5th in the Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade giving Norway its best placing since 2003. The song was a #1 hit in Norway and also entered the charts in Sweden and Denmark.

• Join the esctoday.com FACEBOOK page here
• Join the esctoday.com FACEBOOK group here

Saturday's live performances:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BydA4bQbA8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmSqcYFR9sw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2JZKrK9N88

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5PtPHD3-DA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucpD6fUf8Dg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDSWWTq4j8U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtVDRha4PIA

A WEBCAST is provided here.

REPLAY: the show can be watched again here.

Participants

Composer/lyricist in brackets.

1. Sichelle – Left right (Mats Lie Skåre)
2. The Rebelettes – Soul train (The Rebelettes)
3. Ovi – Seven seconds (Simone Larsen, Simen Æriksrud/Simone Larsen)
4. Jane Helen – Shuffled (Jane Helen)
5. Foxy – Do it again (Hanne Sørvaag, Harry Sommerdahl)
6. Sunny – Carrie (Solgunn Ivana, Hans Petter Aaserud)
7. Alexander Rybak – Fairytale (Alexander Rybak)

LIVE

The show has started. Maria Haukaas Storeng and Per Sundnes welcome the audience from Grenland for the first time.

1. Sichelle – Left right

Current poll result: 8.3% (2nd)

The show starts with a strong R'n'B ballad that could easily be an international hit by an American singer. The melody is memorable and the vocals are strong, but generally this is a style that might not be very popular in the Eurovision Song Contest, like many song in typical US styles. Besides that, the pink dress looks a bit strange and the mirrors in the background remind a bit too much of Ani Lorak's performance in Belgrade.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BydA4bQbA8

2. The Rebelettes – Soul train

Current poll result: 1.9% (7th)

The second song tonight delivers exactly what you would expect from its title. The melody is very catchy (although one line reminds of the Scorpions' 1980s hit song Rock you like a hurricane). However, this might be too much of a stage song to suceed at the Eurovision Song Contest although it seems to entertain the audience.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmSqcYFR9sw

3. Ovi – Seven seconds

Current poll result: 7.4% (3rd)

Ovi presents a rather laid-back midtempo ballad. The melody is catchy and the song is definitely strong in its genre but it is probably not a style that could suceed at the Eurovision Song Contest. However, the performance is simple, authentic and vocally flawless and is very warmly received by the audience.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2JZKrK9N88

4. Jane Helen – Shuffled

Current poll result: 4.6% (4th)

A strong and unusual rock song for a Eurovision selection somwhere between Alanis Morissette and Fiona Apple. Jane performs the song very well and suitable for the genre. This is definitely outstanding even if not the most probably qualifier.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5PtPHD3-DA

5. Foxy – Do it again

Current poll result: 2.8% (6th)

This is a catch girl group pop song in the style of Tricky from the first semi final, which was also co-written by Hanne Sørvaag. The performance is flawless but compared to the group Velvet it is falling back and might not be a favourite in the selection compared to other songs in this style that are competing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucpD6fUf8Dg

6. Sunny – Carrie

Current poll result: 3.7% (5th)

This is definitely a sex kitten! Sunny performs this undiniably catch pop/rock song very well and in an authentic style that comes across strong on screen. A very warm reaction from the audience and this might definitely be among the top four tonight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDSWWTq4j8U

7. Alexander Rybak – Fairytale

Current poll result: 71.3% (1st)

This is probably the most interesting song tonight as it mixes folk elements slightly reminding of the 1994 Irish interval Riverdance with a rathernostalgic Schlager tune. Alexander performs his entry in a very charming way playing the violin himself. The vocals are flawless and regarding the very enthusiastic reaction by the audience, this can almost be seen as a secure qualifier.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtVDRha4PIA

Tonight's interval acts is dedicated to songs by Anita Skorgan, who represented Norway as a singer in 1978, 1979 and 1982 and as a composer in 1979, 1983 and 1988. She now performs her 1979 entry Oliver live on stage.

Results

Sunny and Jane Helen to 'Siste sjansen'. Alexander Rybak and Ovi to thenational final.