Country Norway Language English Lyricist(s) Philip A. Kruse | Artist(s) Anne Karine Strøm Composer(s) Frode Thingnæs Conductor Frode Thingnæs | |
"Mata Hari" was the Norwegian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1976, performed in English by Anne-Karine Strøm.
The song is an up-tempo number, in which Strøm sings about the difficulties she faces in life. The cure for these, she sings, is to borrow some of the mystique of Mata Hari, to whom she addresses the song. The sexual exploits of the famous woman are implied to have been considerable.
The song was performed ninth on the night, following the Netherlands' Sandra Reemer with "The Party's Over" and preceding Greece's Mariza Koch with "Panayia Mu, Panayia Mu". At the close of voting, it had received 7 points, placing 18th (last) in a field of 18.
Strøm had represented Norway at Eurovision twice before, once in 1973 as part of vocal group The Bendik Singers and again as a solo performer in the 1974 Contest.
As of 2012, Strøm still holds the record as the only artist in the history of Eurovision to have finished in last place twice. The first time came in 1974 with the song "The First Day of Love".
Anne was succeeded as Norwegian representative at the 1977 contest by Anita Skorgan with "Casanova".