04 February 2024

Gåte have won the final of NRK Melodi Grand Prix 2024 with Ulveham in a result closer than expected. Always huge favourites to win, only six points proved to be the margin to second placed Keiino with Damdiggida. Since winning in 2019 with Spirit In The Sky and then finishing sixth at the Eurovision Song Contest, it’s now the second time Keiino have finished agonisingly in second place to deny themselves a second Eurovision appearance. The other time was in 2021 with Monument, losing to Tix with Fallen Angel.

For Gåte, winning MGP marks the pinnacle of their return to the music scene in 2017 following a 12 year break. Their mix of folk and rock has earned them great popularity and success in Norway over the years, which propelled them to be such heavy favourites to win MGP, even with the likes of Keiino and 2013 winner Margaret Berger returning. Keiino actually won the international jury vote quite comfortably, 98 to 76, while Gåte were able to overcome the deficit by winning the public vote 174 to 146, which included a 60/40 bias. With the 50/50 split commonly seen, and used last year, Keiino would have won.

About that international jury, nice to see it packed with all the other four Nordic countries, along with Estonia. That helps preserve some local flavour in the jury results and certainly contributed to Keiino building their lead due to their regional popularity. Three of Keiino’s five sets of 12 points come from those countries, with Switzerland and Netherlands providing the other two. Keiino also scored from every country. Gåte’s only 12 points came from Czechia while Denmark and Netherlands gave them nothing. They kept in range by accruing six sets of 10 points.

Results

1 Gåte – Ulveham – 250 (76/174)
2 Keiino – Damdiggida – 244 (98/146)
3 Super Rob & Erika Norwich – My AI – 165 (45/120)
4 Gothminister – We Come Alive – 115 (35/80)
5 Anne Fagermo & Dag Erik Oksvold – Judge Tenderly of Me – 105 (58/47)
6 Miia – Green Lights – 76 (54/22)
7 Margaret Berger – Oblivion – 45 (26/19)
8 Ingrid Jasmin – Eya – 42 (22/20)
9 Annprincess – Save Me – 33 (16/17)

Review & Score

1 Keiino – Damdiggida (8)

I definitely got more out of this than the semis, and when Keiino were leading the jury vote, I was really hoping they could build enough lead to win. Sadly it wasn’t quite enough.

2 Annprincess – Save Me (7)

Surprised this finished last, as the song was enjoyable, the vocals sound, and the choreography interesting. Could be just a case of it lost among all the superior or more spectacular entries.

3 Gothminister – We Come Alive (6)

Novelty value really fell away, and while enjoyable and a fun presentation, ultimately a bit lifeless.

4 Ingrid Jasmin – Eya (5)

If MGP was a hot babe contest, this wins 1000 to zero due the delectable collection of the female form assembled on stage. As a song, it went missing.

5 Miia – Green Lights (7)

The most improved for me with really strong vocals and performance.

6 Margaret Berger – Oblivion (9)

Swamped into oblivion by the more spectacular and punchier performances. Of course, for me, I love Margaret Berger, and she didn’t do much wrong. A classy, well structured song and a solid presentation. Excellent vocals too. Even though there seemed more punch added to overall performance, it would never be enough to beat the favourites.

7 Anne Fagermo & Dag Erik Oksvold – Judge Tenderly of Me (8)

Good to see the international jury like this by awarding it 12 points twice and making it their third ranked entry. The public dragged them down to fifth. A sweet song that sort of lost a little interest by the end, and Dag seemed to be trying too hard.

8 Gåte – Ulveham (6)

I understand the appeal, and I really should like it, because I normally gravitate to this explosive style of rock music like a pitbull on a chihuahua. It’s just that it mostly feels like random noise. Perhaps in time, with more listens, it will grab me. This year will be the first time Norway is sending a song in Norwegian to Eurovision since 2006 (Christine Guldbrandsen – Alvedansen) and a rock song since 2005 (Wig Wam – In My Dreams). Both of those are among my all time favourite Eurovision entries, with Alvedansen in my top 10 and In My Dreams among the most infectious songs ever.

9 Super Rob & Erika Norwich – My AI (7)

Another that lost its novelty value. Still fun and deserved third place, and it was the clear third favourite of the Norwegian public. In fact, the top 6 of the combined vote were the exact top 6 of the public vote. It makes you wonder, especially with the 60/40 split in favour of the public vote, why MGP bothers with an international jury at all.

The average score of the Melodi Grand Prix 2024 Final is 7 and that classifies it as very good. It’s very rare for any show to exceed a 7.

My Top 9

1 Margaret Berger – Oblivion (9)
2 Keiino – Damdiggida (8)
3 Anne Fagermo & Dag Erik Oksvold – Judge Tenderly of Me (8)
4 Super Rob & Erika Norwich – My AI (7)
5 Miia – Green Lights (7)
6 Annprincess – Save Me (7)
7 Gåte – Ulveham (6)
8 Gothminister – We Come Alive (6)
9 Ingrid Jasmin – Eya (5)

The main change from my preview following the semi finals is the rise of Miia from 9th to 5th. Others that jumped were Keiino from 3rd to 2nd and Annprincess from 8th to 6th. Those that fell were Gothminister from 5th to 8th and Ingrid Jasmin from 7th to 9th. All of that shuffling knocked Gåte from 6th to 7th even though my feelings about Ulveham did not change.

Norway: NRK Melodi Grand Prix 2024 Final – Preview & My Top 9