About the reviewers Espen Borge Music reviewer at news. Most streamed artist: Mac DeMarco Norwegian MGP song of the year: “La det swinge” by Bobbysocks MGP favorite of the year: Eirik Næss Isalill Kolpus Comedian and actor in “Flex” and “Same same”. My most streamed artist: Taylor Swift Norwegian MGP song of the day: “Sámiid ædnan” by Sverre Kjelsberg and Mattis Hætta MGP favorite of the year: Don’t know yet, must see the live show! Swing’it: “Prohibition” Lyrics and melody: Martin Jarl Velsin, Jonah Charles Hitchens, Vebjørn Mamen, Sam Peter Norris. FROM TØNSBERG TO PARIS: Swing’ it started their career as street musicians in Tønsberg, with a desire to spread happy jazz throughout the world. Straight from stages in Berlin, Amsterdam, London and Paris, they have now turned their noses at Trondheim Spektrum. Photo: Julia Marie Naglestad / news Isalill Kolpus: Espen Borge: This is a pure party song for the swing evening at the village house. Espen Borge: ?Isalill Kolpus: I get angry with music like this. I don’t care. Isalill Kolpus: I promised myself that I would listen to each song at least five times. But here I can barely take one. Espen Borge: It’s really cool to hear something that breaks with the MGP genre?! Isalill Kolpus: I think what bothers me is that it feels like they have an ironic distance from their own music. I can’t stand that in MGP. Isalill Kolpus: Here it must be 100% sincere, otherwise it’s pointless. Espen Borge: Disagree! Here there is a fine vocal lead, especially in the chorus, and with a delicious hook as dessert. All wind players are also welcome!Espen Borge:Isalill Kolpus:This is music by a group of friends who LARP Boardwalk Empire.Espen Borge:The song is deliciously new and unusual for the competition, and no one can argue that it is catchy. Isalill Kolpus: Well… This is a typical song that divides the audience, but we CAN’T send an ironic song two years in a row. I refuse. Isalill Kolpus: The only thing I can say is that it is at an international level; it sounds like some crap Moldova could send. Jone: “Ekko inni meg” Lyrics and melody: Morten Franck, Christopher Colin Archer, Christine Ekeberg, Audun Agnar Guldbrandsen, Jonas Nes Steinset. CITY DEBUT: After warming up for Hagle, TIX, Staysman and Ringnes-Ronny, Jone is now ready to become Norwegian party music’s new headliner. Photo: Julia Marie Naglestad / news Espen Borge: There is probably not much hope here, then. Espen Borge: ?Isalill Kolpus: The first fourteen seconds: lovely. The rest: Not for me. Isalill Kolpus: Espen Borge: The best thing you can say about this song is that the melody is rather catchy, but I’m absolutely sure that the audience will say no thanks fairly quickly. Isalill Kolpus: It’s after all, a rather soft and nice text, paired with a rhythm that almost feels like an assault. It’s a bit… exciting? Espen Borge: A russel song from 2019 that cynically uses Erkennor’s stevens as a magic flute. Isalill Kolpus: Yes, a russel song that has gone to a psychologist and learned to be open about feelings. Isalill Kolpus: I see that this can be fun for some. But I have zero understanding of that. Espen Borge: I’m done with this, that is. Espen Borge: Isalill Kolpus: This is a 100% Norwegian genre, I don’t think it has a chance in Europe. Listen to the whole song on Spotify | Tidal | Apple Music Elsie Bay: “Love You in a Dream” Lyrics and melody: Raphaela Antônia Souza Silva, Timothy John Adam Gosden, Tristan Henry. BACK IN THE RING: After almost reaching the top in 2022 with “Death of Us”, this year she dreams of taking the victory. Photo: Julia Marie Naglestad / news Hear the whole song on Spotify | Tidal Espen Borge:?️♀️Espen Borge: Here there are elements of James Bond himself – magnificent, geopolitical intrigue meets 40s jazz. Isalill Kolpus: Yes, this is a Bond ballad, but it won’t be enough. Isalill Kolpus: Ballads in MGP have to be completely alien if I’m going to like them. Isalill Kolpus: I thought this was boring. Espen Borge: I love her voice, ass! The melodies and structure of this song hold your attention throughout. Isalill Kolpus: I had to remind myself to listen to the song. I hope it comes into its own on stage.Espen Borge: Reindeer farming, complete and beautiful. Fears that some may get bored along the way, but this is about the best you can hope for in the MGP context. Isalill Kolpus: It lacks a final gear. The last 20 seconds of the song – then it feels like we’re on our way somewhere. Isalill Kolpus: If you want to win with a ballad, it must have more character than this. Isalill Kolpus: Espen Borge: Come on, ‘ah! It’s so raw when MGP songs are as accomplished and genre-challenging as this one. Espen Borge:Espen Borge:Sees to me a big political game that is going seriously crazy. And I’ve never said THAT about an MGP song before. Ella: “Waist” Lyrics and melody: Raphaela Antônia Souza Silva, Timothy John Adam Gosden, Tristan Henry. BRAZILIAN RHYTHM IMPORT: Born and raised in Brazil with her teenage years spent in Tromsø, it comes naturally to Ella to mix Scandinavian and Latin tones. Photo: Julia Marie Naglestad / news Hear the whole song on Spotify | Tidal Isalill Kolpus: This gives me such an ESC vibe that it tingles! Espen Borge: There will be dancing here! Espen Borge:?Isalill Kolpus:Yes, finally something danceable!❤️Espen Borge:Ella has singled out a random, European dance floor as a victim. Isalill Kolpus: A Rihanna-like dance song that screams Eurovision! Espen Borge: Fresh and surprising riffs and beats in long tracks. Isalill Kolpus: If there’s something I really love in MGP, it’s super-ambitious pop musicians. Isalill Kolpus: Espen Borge: Here, a lot of strange things happen along the way, and it gives a great unpredictability that you rarely get to experience in an MGP context. Espen Borge: Isalill Kolpus: The song has very ESC-friendly rhythms, slightly Britney-like lyrics, different languages (do I hear Northern Norwegian in there?) and most importantly: a hook where I don’t quite understand what she’s saying. Espen Borge: You can dance in a hundred different ways along the way. Espen Borge: As Ella says: Shut up and watch my waist. Isalill Kolpus: If Ella puts on a real show, it’s impossible not to like this one. Isalill Kolpus: I want spectacle , strobes, dangling rhinestones, preferably a wild stage outfit, a water feature… Isalill Kolpus: I’ve started moodboarding the whole thing. Call me, Ella! Alejandro Fuentes: “Fuego” Lyrics and melody: Alejandro Fuentes, Nermin Harambasic, Chris Young, Mateo Camargo. WARM IN TRØYA: Alejandro has been seen a lot on Norwegian TV screens since Idol in 2005. After his last MGP contribution “Tengo Otra”, he has fully invested in a Spanish-speaking music career in Latin America. Photo: Julia Marie Naglestad / news Hear the whole song on Spotify | Tidal | Apple Music Sandra Lyng: “Dream away” Lyrics and melody: Sandra Lyng, Erlend Torheim, Ferdinann West, Kristina Blakli. BACK ON THE SCREEN: Sandra Lyng (35) is participating in Melodi Grand Prix for the first time this year, after she became famous as a 16-year-old in Idol. Photo: Julia Marie Naglestad / news Hear the whole song on Spotify | Tidal | Apple Music Isalill Kolpus: She’s back! And in dialect. I love that. Espen Borge: Ugh, no. Idol colleague Alejandro Fuentes chose Spanish, Sandra Lyng landed on the Mosjøen dialect. Isalill Kolpus : Sandra was my favorite when she was in Idol, but I never admitted it. Isalill Kolpus: At that time I was very concerned that I liked Avril Lavigne and Nirvana. Isalill Kolpus: It’s easy to remember, easy to sing along to, but no one wins for me. Isalill Kolpus: Espen Borge: Sandra Lyng tries here with an epically structured masterpiece, but stumbles in its own melody. Espen Borge: Isalill Kolpus: The chorus is quite similar to joik, I like that! Isalill Kolpus: It feels like a song that belongs in Jikŋon 3. (Frost 3, for Norwegians.)Espen Borge: Yes, this draws inspiration from joik, but lacks most of the inspiration and magic from there. Isalill Kolpus : Not excited about the drums. There is too much viking pathos. Espen Borge: In any case, Sandra has a strong vocal on the studio version, so if she manages to do just as well live, it may well land in the middle of the tree. Bjørn Olav Edvardsen: “Turn Off My Heart” Lyrics and melody: Bjørn Olav Edvardsen, Christian Ingebrigtsen and Henrik Thala. FROM THE MIXING TABLE TO THE STAGE: Since the final place in Idol in 2005, Bjørn Olav has worked in a record company. This year he is in danger of competing against himself because he is the songwriter on Umami Tsunami’s song “Geronimo” from the first semi-final. Photo: Julia Marie Naglestad / news Hear the whole song on Spotify | Tidal | Apple Music Espen Borge: If someone had talked to me like that about love, I would have had to pinch my arm. Isalill Kolpus: Oi, now I was surprised! Isalill Kolpus: Mostly because I like it. Very. Espen Borge: The world’s worst song title? “Turn off my heart”, haha. Espen Borge: It hurts to say, and then it goes without saying that it hurts to hear it sung. Espen Borge: But! If you disregard the actual words, the melody is quite pleasant. Isalill Kolpus: Yes, a sore and growing ballad that does a lot of justice. bad love. Espen Borge: Isalill Kolpus: Despite a slightly embarrassing first stanza, this is a ballad that hits me! Isalill Kolpus: He’s a likeable guy, but I’m not taken aback. Espen Borge: Difficult to swallow that text here, ass. But your voice then! Isalill Kolpus: There is almost something Demi Lovato or early Ariana Grande about this one. And I LOVE early Ariana Grande. Isalill Kolpus: And a little Kari Bremnes-esque atmosphere at the end there! Pretty.
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Melodi Grand Prix 2023 – the songs from the second semi-final – Reviews and recommendations
