To run alongside our Norwegian polls this month, the Eurovision Ireland team and friends have put together four of their Norwegian favourites. Today is the turn of James Scanlan.

Alvedansen – Christine Guldbrandsen – (2006)

The first time I heard this all the way back in 2006, I was mesmerised! Christine Guldbrandsen’s clear and hypnotic vocals, the soft music with a hint of the traditional… it was all so beautiful and ethereal, it made me want to learn Norwegian! Rediscovering the song years later and now speaking a little Norwegian, I was doubly delighted when I could pick out parts of the words!

A Monster Like Me – Mørland & Debrah Scarlett – (2015)

Dark, brooding, mysterious, sublime… these are just some of the words I think of when listening to Mørland & Debrah Scarlett’s haunting and emotive duet. The moment I heard it in the national selection, I said it just had to win! The way this song builds to its dramatic crescendo is exquisite and as for that music video… so simple but so powerful too! We may never know what he did, but part of me thinks it works much better like that!

Smile – Big Daddy Karsten – (MGP 2021)

While Norway has sent many brilliant songs to the Eurovision Song Contest, its national selection programme Melodi Grand Prix always puts on a stellar show and in my opinion is consistently the strongest national selection out there! Big Daddy Karsten’s Smile was colourful, fun, a singalong chorus and embracing and celebrating difference – what more can you ask for from a potential Eurovision song?

Witch Woods – Emmy – (MGP 2021)

Another song from the pre-selection – I wasn’t kidding when I said the Norwegian Melodi Grand Prix is easily my favourite national selection! This spooky song was staged perfectly with its fire and backing dancers, and that little malevolent smirk that Emmy gave just sold the whole package perfectly! If haunted forests don’t sound exactly like the accordion solos in this song, I’ll be very disappointed!

Join us tomorrow, as we celebrate more of our Norwegian favourites. Let us know what you think about Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest – either in the comments below or on our FACEBOOK and TWITTER pages.

Author: Richard Taylor

Source: Eurovision Ireland