NORWAY

The Norwegian Final was held on February 15th at the Spektrum in Trondheim, hosted by Ingrid Gjessing Linhave, Ronny Brede Aase & Kåre Magnus Bergh. Five songs were preselected for the final and were joined by the 5 semi-final winners. The overall winner was due to be chosen in 3 rounds of online voting but the first online vote failed and the backup jury was used instead to select the top 4. The online vote successfully selected the top 2 then a final vote to select the winner. Going to Rotterdam is Ulrikke Brandstorp with "Attention"

The colour palette for this song is black and gold. Ulrikke is in a figure hugging gold dress as her dark hair cascades behind her. The backdrop starts of black with flashes of gold randomly appear on the beat.Later on the backdrop turns into long oblongs highlighting lighting rigs. As the song goes on, the stage lights up slowly ending with a pryro curtain behind her. Either side of Ulrikke are a cellist and violinist and the floor begins as intertwined squares. The crowd in the arena are also holding their lights up which makes the camera view from behind her very similar to the views of the backdrop.

The song starts with a short melodic intro with the strings. This suddenly cuts off to a very minimalist beat. Ulrikke has a very piercing tone to her voice and the haunting bass line really shows this off. It also means that if she is a moment off timing or ever so slightly out of tune, you'll know about it. The first round of verse/chorus takes well over a minute but the next section is truncated and only lasts 45 seconds. This leads into a small bridge which sets up the big notes and the build up to the end after the last chorus the backing track cuts out to end how it began.

As I have already said her voice has a very distinctive quality and the production of the song really emphasises this. The repetition of the word throughout the song, especially at the end of phrases keeps the songs meaning in your head which is also a very clever technique. This song is all about the build and visually and vocally this does with really well. The choice of colour palette screams 'winner' with the amount of gold used throughout. Apart from a brief walk during the second verse there is very little movement.

Visually I think this needs little done to it but will need some thinking when it comes to backing singers and whether or not the instrumentalists are needed either side of her. This song carries on the recent Norwegian theme of choosing something rather random and slightly austere and maudlin to Eurovision. This song is co written by Kjetil Mørland who wrote and co-performed the wonderful "A monster like me" a few years ago. I feel that the song not only demands your attention but also keeps it. I would say that the verses are a little stronger than the chorus if only because I find this part a little bit too shouty compared to the quite timid and intimate start to proceedings.
Amazingly this is the first proper ballad we have in English right now and this does stand out and I could see this song as an early contender to semi 2 closer. Although the voting issues during the national final may have cast some shadow over the validity of this result, in the end I think the right result was gained at the end.

Artist - Ulrikke Brandstorp

Song - Attention

Composers - Ulrikke Brandstorp, Christian Ingebrigtsen, Kjetil Mørland 

Lyricists - Ulrikke Brandstorp, Christian Ingebrigtsen, Kjetil Mørland