Country Norway Selected entrant Margaret Berger | Selection process Melodi Grand Prix 2013 Selected song "I Feed You My Love" | |
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Selection date(s) Semi-finals:
19 January 2013
26 January 2013
2 February 2013
Final:
9 February 2013 Semi-final result Qualified (3rd, 120 points) | ||
Norway participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö, Sweden. The Norwegian entry was selected through the national selection "Melodi Grand Prix 2013", organised by the Norwegian broadcaster Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK). Margaret Berger represented Norway with the song "I Feed You My Love", which qualified from the second semi-final of the competition and placed 4th in the final with 191 points.
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Melodi Grand Prix 2013
On 13 June 2012, NRK confirmed Norway's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 by announcing details regarding their national selection procedure. NRK opened a submission period that lasted until 1 September 2012 where artists and composers could send in their entries to NRK. Artists that applied had to confirm that would be at least 16 years old by the first semifinal for the Eurovision Song Contest 2013. A profession jury panel was assembled in order to select the competing song.
On 15 September 2012, NRK announced that radio host Jenny Skavlan and Eurovision Song Contest 2010 presenter Erik Solbakken would be the hosts for the competition. They replace long-standing presenter Per Sundnes who stepped down after the conclusion of the Eurovision Song Contest 2012.
The new musical director of Melodi Grand Prix, Vivi Stenberg, worked with a team at NRK as well as music industry professionals Kristin Winsents, Gisle Stokland and Christine Dancke in order to select the 21 competing songs. While the songs were already selected and drawn into semifinals, a new program called "MGP Direkte" aired every Wednesday before each semifinal where the artists and the songs competing in that week's semifinal would be presented to the public and press for the first time. This was implemented as an attempt to place all competing artists on a level playing field and increase interest in the competition.
Semi-final 1
The artists and songs competing in the first semi-final were revealed on 16 January 2013.
The first semi-final took place on 19 January 2013 at Campus Steinkjer in Steinkjer. Seven artists and songs competed for three qualifying spots to the final. Vidar Busk (third place), Datarock (second place), and Gromth featuring Emil Solli-Tangen (first place) qualified to the final.
Semi-final 2
The artists and songs competing in the second semi-final were revealed on 23 January 2013.
The second semi-final took place on 26 January 2013 at Florø Idrettssenter in Florø. Seven artists and songs competed for three qualifying spots to the final. Annsofi (third place), Fjellfolk (second place), and Margaret Berger (first place) qualified to the final.
Semi-final 3
The artists and songs competing in the third semi-final were revealed on 30 January 2013.
The third semi-final took place on 2 February 2013 at Arena Larvik in Larvik. Seven artists and songs competed for three qualifying spots to the final. Gaute Ormåsen (third place), Sirkus Eliassen (second place), and Adelén (first place) qualified to the finals.
On 4 February 2013, NRK gave the group Lucky Lips a wildcard to the final after considering an act from each semifinal.
Final
The final took place on 9 February 2013 at Oslo Spektrum in Oslo. The three qualifiers from each of the previous three semifinals and the wildcard completed the line-up of ten artists and songs. In the first part of the program, all ten competing entries were performed and the voting lines were opened. In the second part of the program, the four "Gold Final" finalists were announced to be Adelén, Annsofi, Sirkus Eliassen, and Margaret Berger.
The interval acts for the evening were Eurovision Song Contest 2012 winner Loreen and 2012 Norwegian entrant Tooji.
After the jury and televotes were combined, Margaret Berger was the winner of Melodi Grand Prix 2013 with the song "I Feed You My Love".
Gold Final
Voting
At Eurovision
To ensure fair ticket distribution in the semifinals, the Eurovision Reference Group decided on 7 November 2012 that Norway would compete in the second semifinal on 16 May. In the second semifinal, the producers of the show decided that Norway would perform 13th, following Hungary and preceding Albania. On stage, Margaret Berger was joined by drummer Axel Tidemann and three backing vocalists: May Kristin Kaspersen, Jorunn Hauge and Nicoline Berg Kaasin.
Norway qualified from the second semi-final, placing 3rd and scoring 120 points. At the second semi-final winners' press conference, Norway was allocated to perform in the second half of the final. In the final, the producers of the show decided that Norway would perform 24th, following Italy and preceding Georgia. Norway placed 4th in the final, scoring 191 points.
In Norway, the semi-finals and final were aired on NRK1, with commentary by Olav Viksmo Slettan. In addition, NRK3 also aired an alternative broadcast of the final with commentary by the hosts of the P3morgen radio show on NRK P3, Ronny Brede Aase, Silje Therese Reiten Nordnes and Yngve Hustad Reite.
The national jury that provided 50% of the Norwegian vote in the second semi-final and the final consisted of: Suzanne Sumbundu, Henning Solvang, Martine Maribel Furulund, Simone Eriksrud and Harald Sommerstad. The Norwegian spokesperson in the grand final was 2012 entrant Tooji.