NRK have revealed to esctoday.com further details of the entries submitted for Melodi Grand Prix 2008, the national selection show that will once again by used to choose Norway's Eurovision Song Contest entry. The They have also confirmed the dates for the competition and the venues of all but one of the shows.
The location of the first Regional final is not ready yet confirmed, but the secong final has been awarded to Kongsvinger and the third semi final will once again be held in Bodø.The final will once again be held in Oslo Spektrum, but our Last Chance show will have a change of venue this year.
Of the 600 entries received this year, esctoday.com has learnt that 34 % came from Norwegian composers, while the rest came from Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Australia, Israel, UK, Germany, Malta, Poland, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Ireland etc…
Stian Malme, Norway's head of delegation and producer of Melodi Grand Prix told esctoday.com that "The big change for us this year is that all the composers and artists we actively approach to enter have changed their attitude completely. They are now starting to see the commercial potential and also the fun of participating. I seriously think that the quality of this years songs is the best in many years!"
The dates for Melodi Grand Prix 2008 have also been confirmed. As previously reported, the show will follow the same format as the two previous years with 3 regional semi finals, one last chance show and the grand final. The dates are as follows:
- 11th January 2008 Regional final 1, venue TBC
- 18th January 2008 Regional final 2, Kongsvinger
- 25th January 2008 Regional final 3, Bodø
- 6th February 2008 – Last Chance round, venue TBC
- 9th February 2008 – Melodi Grand Prix Final, Spektrum, Oslo
