Bjørn Olav Edvardsen was 22 years old when he stepped out into the public eye, and fought his way to a semi-final place in Idol in 2005. He was young, had recently come out of the closet to those closest to him – and he dreamed of a music career. – The pressure was very great, and I had just started to dare to be myself. The music opened up for me, but it all ended up being a difficult paradox, says Edvardsen. The young talent quickly realized that it was not just about coming out as gay if you wanted to succeed as an artist. The start of his dream of breaking through in the music industry was tough, and the attitudes he was met with at the time have left their mark on him to this day. Bjørn Olav Edvardsen is in this year’s MGP with the song “Turn Off My Heart”. Photo: Beate Oma Dahle / NTB Female artists sold records At the beginning of the 2000s, it was important to get a record contract from the right people in order to get the “golden ticket” into the industry. – Back then it seemed like there was an attitude that it was almost exclusively women who bought records, and that queer artists would not sell, says Edvardsen, who was advised not to “come out” in public as gay by several managers and record companies. Bjørn Olav Edvardsen on Idol in 2005. Photo: Ørn E. Borgen / NTB Edvardsen did as he was told, against his own will. But the suspicion that he was gay quickly became a topic in comment fields and discussion forums. – There was almost more focus on that than my music. I thought about this a lot and almost considered going back into the closet. I analyzed every situation and became very unsure of myself. Later, he tried to speak out about the discrimination and exclusion he experienced from several people, but quickly realized that it did not help. – Once I was told not to whine, and that it was wrong to speak up. It hurt a lot. – Terrible way of thinking One of those who had good insight into the music industry at the time is presenter and music journalist, Tone-Lise Skagefoss. She was on Idol’s judging panel the year Edvardsen was on, and knew well what attitudes were moving around in the industry. Tone-Lise Skagefoss was on the judging panel together with Ole Evenrud, David Eriksen and Tor Milde in Idol 2005. Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen / SCANPIX – I have never directly witnessed this myself or been involved in it, but in general it was a a period where one was concerned with reaching as many people as possible as an artist. The stigma around being gay was a fact, she tells news. She clarifies that she thought it was an old way of thinking, and that it is important to distinguish between being refused, and being advised that it was not a good idea to come forward with one’s attitude. – It is terrible to feel that you have to lie about who you are in order to become an artist. But now, fortunately, things have changed to a large extent here in Norway. And it is in line with developments if it has become more accepted. But we still have a way to go. She believes that laying should not be a theme, but what you do musically. – People should be who they are, and what you do as an artist becomes better and more genuine if you are yourself, she says. Bjørn Olav Edvardsen together with Christian Stenseng and Alejandro Fuentes in 2005. The latter is also in the second semi-final of the MGP this year. Photo: Private Would not have accepted it today Today, Edvardsen regrets that he was not stronger, and stood against the attitudes he was met with. – I was young and wanted to present myself in the right way, but if I had been who I am today, I would not have accepted being treated that way, he says. The artist will still make a point: – I don’t want to point the finger and punish anyone today, because I understand that things were different back then. It is behind me now, but it is important for me to tell how I actually experienced things at the time. – Many probably did not know how the sharp comments and descriptions of us young, inexperienced artists really affected us, he adds. Now Edvardsen runs his own record company, and thus a completely different freedom to do what he wants himself. With social development and therapy to help, Edvardsen has come to a good place. – Now I dare to be more proud of what I do. Although the polarization has gotten stronger lately, and it scares me. People need to be kinder to each other, and dialogue is so important! Today, Bjørn Olav Edvardsen is proud of himself, an attitude he believes everyone should have about themselves. Photo: Marianne Hovden / – Means a lot to me On Saturday, the 40-year-old is ready to enter the MGP stage for the first time, but it is not the first time Edvardsen has been involved in MGP. In 2021, he was a songwriter on the final entry “I Can’t Escape” and this year he has helped write the song “Geronimo” for Umami Tsunami – who made it to the final after the year’s first semi-final. But it is the first time he is on stage as an artist. His song is called “Turn Off My Heart” and was written together with Christian Ingebrigtsen and Henrik Tala. – My song is about the desire to be able to “turn off” one’s feelings and heart to get a break from thoughts, anxiety and prejudice. It is important to feel valuable and to have love for yourself, which I think is a universal theme that many people can relate to, he says. Now he is looking forward to performing the song in MGP’s second semi-final. – I can’t wait to stand there and just be myself, and I’m ready to share my heart with all of Norway. Watch the second semi-final of Melodi Grand Prix on Saturday at 19:50 and on news TV.
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