NORWAY

The Norwegian Final was held on March 15th at the Spektrum in Oslo, hosted by Jenny Skavlan & Erik Solbakken. Before the final there were 3 semi-finals with 3 songs qualifying from each. The winner was be chosen in two rounds of televoting - the first to select the top 4 and the second to select the winner. The winning song was "Silent Storm" sung by Carl Jepsen.

I was able to watch the second half of the show in the internet, stating with the reprise of the 4 songs that go through to the superfinal. I thought that the idea of having the semi-finals in a much smaller venue than the final a very clever idea. Let's remember, this is a song contest and if you only have enough stage to truly rely on the song, this si no bad thing. However it was also interesting to see how he acts developed their semi-final acts to a much bigger stage.

The staging of the song is very simple. the atmosphere is very dark with blue lights. Carl is backed only by a pianist, who is viable all the time on stage and is the only instrument you hear at first, then as the song progresses you also see a timpani player. Initially Carl is staic for the first verse and chorus then moves more centre stage for the rest of the song. Carl is a very burly looking gentleman who looks very butch and rough with his beard, tattoos and beer belly but this is counteracted by is very tender vocals.

This is not typical Eurovision entry at all. This is a very, quiet minor ballad which almost feels like an epilogue to "Birds" by Anouk last year. Its structure is very simple as there are two verses with a chorus after each one. The chorus sounds eerily familiar but don't quite know why. There is a real progression in the song and does build nicely. If he can grab the viewers' attention long enough to get through the first chorus I think he will have people on his side. The song does end very quietly and I have a feeling that this is not doing to work. I fear that the audience in the crowd will hear this 'false ending' and start cheering before its actually finished. hearing the ending properly is also important to this songs chances.

I have to admit that the first time I heard this song, it did nothing for me and could not quite understand why so many people were gushing over it. But I think I now understand how and why this is. It is one of those emotion lead songs that if you listen carefully enough to the words of the song it could mean something dear to you, and it sounds like it does to many people. Also I think that that you expect a man that looks like Carl to sing in a certain way and sing a certain style of song and when that doesn't happen it takes you aback. However I think this is an important selling point.

This song is a grower. It is a very quiet ballad sung by a man - and there are not that many of those in the contest. If he can keep everyone's attention through the first verse into the chorus he may well get a lot of votes. I also think a song like this may polarise the juries. Part of me thinks this might just be a little bit too different to be a contender for the win.

Artist - Carl Epsen

Song - Silent storm

Music - Josefin Winther

Lyrics - Josefin Winther