Carl Espen to represent Norway in Copenhagen!

About Carl Espen

Carl Espen Thorbjørnsen was born in Bergen, Norway, in 1982. In English he simply calls himself Carl Espen. He is the oldest of three siblings, and grew up in a family full of a love for music. Now he will represent Norway at the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen with the song Silent Storm.
View full profile

Oslo, Norway - Tonight in a spectacular show at the Oslo Spektrum Arena, Carl Espen was announced the winner of Melodi Grand Prix 2014 with the song Silent Storm and will thus represent Norway at the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen in May.

After three Semi-Finals with a total of 15 participants, the 2014 edition of Melodi Grand Prix culminated tonight at the Oslo Spektrum arena, where the 9 qualifiers gave it their all to win the right to represent Norway at the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen in May.
Despite singing their hearts out, there could only be one winner and this was Carl Espen with the song Silent Storm who will now have the honour of flying the Norwegian flag in Copenhagen on the 8th of May.
See our interview with Carl Espen below:

The Acts

Tonight, 9 acts performed in the Grand Final of Melodi Grand Prix 2014. After this these were whittled down to just 4, who after a first round of voting went on to perform again in the so-called Super-Final.
The Eurovision.tv team were in Oslo and spoke to many of tonight's artists, and last year's Norwegian representative in Malmö. You can check out what they had to say here:

Below you can see a list of all 9 finalists in order of appearance (qualifiers in bold):

1. El Cuero - Ain't No Love In This City No More
2. Elisabeth Carew – Sole Survivor
3. Knut Kippersund Nesdal - Taste of You
4. Dina Misund - Needs
5. Mo - Heal
6. Linnea Dale - High Hopes
7. Charlie - Hit Me Up
8. Carl Espen - Silent Storm
9. Oda & Wulff - Sing

Melodi Grand Prix 2014 - Impressions

Check out the Full gallery

Super-Final

The following four acts qualified to the Super-Final of Melodi Grand Prix 2014, in the order they were announced and performed (winner in bold):

1. Knut Kippersund Nesdal - Taste of You
2. Carl Espen - Silent Storm
3. Mo - Heal
4. Linnea Dale - High Hopes

After the four Super-Finalists performed again the viewers had the chance to vote once more. The voting was split up into 5 regions. Here, Carl Espen received the most points with 53,712 votes cast.
Unlike in previous years where there was a jury vote from each of cities where the Semi-Finals took place, this year only the viewers could choose who would win Melodi Grand Prix 2014.

Berger is back!

Last year's Norwegian entrant, Margaret Berger, returned to Melodi Grand Prix this year to perform with her friend and co-writer of the song I Feed You My Love, Karin Park. On stage they performed their respective new singles and then came together to sing their Eurovision Song Contest entry from 2013, where they achieved a very respectable 4th place in Malmö.

Margaret Berger performing on stage in Oslo tonight. Photo: Stijn Smulders (EBU)

Read more

If you find out more about this year's competition including who participated in the three Semi-Finals, why not take a look at the articles below:

First finalists found in Norway

Tonight, the first Semi-Final of Melodi Grand Prix 2014 took place at the Folketeateret in Oslo where Dina Misund, Linnea Dale and Mo became the first three artists to qualify to the Grand F... Read more

Three more acts found for Norwegian final

Tonight, the second Semi-Final of Melodi Grand Prix 2014 took place at the Folketeateret in Oslo where Charlie, Oda & Wulff and Knut Kippersund Nesdal became the second three artists to ... Read more

Final Semi-Final takes place in Norway

Tonight, the third and final Semi-Final of Melodi Grand Prix 2014 took place at the Folketeateret in Oslo where Elisabeth Carew, El Cuero and Carl Espen became the final three artists to qua... Read more

Norway will take part in the second Semi-Final of the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest, which takes place at the B&W-Hallerne in Copenhagen on the 8th of May. The Grand Final is on the 10th of May.

Did the right song win?

Final Semi-Final takes place in Norway

The three qualifiers.

 

Oslo, Norway - Tonight, the third and final Semi-Final of Melodi Grand Prix 2014 took place at the Folketeateret in Oslo where Elisabeth Carew, El Cuero and Carl Espen became the final three artists to qualify to the Grand Final.

Tonight in Oslo, five acts gave it their all to win one of the three coveted places in the Grand Final of Melodi Grand Prix 2014, which takes place at the Oslo Spektrum Arena on the 15th of March. These places went to Elisabeth Carew, El Cuero and Carl Espen.
Now, the line-up is complete for the Grand Final next Saturday.

The Songs

Tonight, five songs competed in the third and final Semi-Final of Melodi Grand Prix 2014. You can see the list below.

1. Moi - Bensin
2. El Cuero - Ain't No Love In This City No More - 2nd Place
3. Ilebek - Who Needs The Universe?
4. Elisabeth Carew – Sole Survivor - 3rd Place
5. Carl Espen - Silent Storm - 1st Place

Norway: Melodi Grand Prix 2014 Acts

Check out the Full gallery

The Final Line-Up

Below you can see a list of the 9 finalists. The running order for the Grand Final has not yet been determined by NRK:

1. Mo - Heal
2. Linnea Dale - High Hopes
3. Dina Misund - Needs
   
4. Knut Kippersund Nesdal - Taste of You
5. Oda & Wulff - Sing
6. Charlie - Hit Me Up
7. Elisabeth Carew – Sole Survivor
8. El Cuero - Ain't No Love In This City No More
9. Carl Espen - Silent Storm

The format

There are fewer songs taking part this year than in previous years, as broadcaster NRK are keen to focus on quality as opposed to quantiy, an approach pioneered by Music Coordinator, Vivi Stenberg.
Each of the Semi-Finals taking place on the 7th, 8th and 9th of March contain five acts. Three acts from each Semi-Final will qualify to the Grand Final on the 15th of March. At the same time the audience, by way of video reports, will be part of the process, from when a song was given the green light by the Melodi Grand Prix editorial team in the autumn of 2013, right up until they stand on stage at the Folketeatret. In addition, the jury, who were responsible for selecting the entries, will give their feedback about the performances during the broadcasts.
The Melodi Grand Prix team received over 600 entries this year from songwriters, producers and artists, who want to show Norway how good they are.
The winner of Melodi Grand Prix 2014 will go on to represent Norway in the second Semi-Final of the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen on the 8th of May. The Grand Final takes place on the 10th of May.

What do you think of the final line-up?

Three more acts found for Norwegian final

Second Semi-Final qualifiers.

Oslo, Norway - Tonight, the second Semi-Final of Melodi Grand Prix 2014 took place at the Folketeateret in Oslo where Charlie, Oda & Wulff and Knut Kippersund Nesdal became the second three artists to qualify to the Grand Final.

Tonight in Oslo, five acts gave it their all to win one of the three coveted places in the Grand Final of Melodi Grand Prix 2014, which takes place at the Oslo Spektrum Arena on the 15th of March. These places went to Charlie, Oda & Wulff and Knut Kippersund Nesdal.
Tomorrow, three more acts will be found to complete the line-up for the Grand Final.

The Songs

Tonight, five songs competed in the second Semi-Final of Melodi Grand Prix 2014. You can see the list below.

1. Cir.Cuz - Hele verden
2. Martine Marbel - Right Now
3. Oda & Wulff - Sing - 2nd Place
4. Knut Kippersund Nesdal - Taste of You - 1st Place
5. Charlie - Hit Me Up - 3rd Place

Norway: Melodi Grand Prix 2014 Acts

Check out the Full gallery

The Line-Up So Far

Below you can see a list of the six acts that have qualified so far. The final three will be found tomorrow night:

1. Mo - Heal
2. Linnea Dale - High Hopes
3. Dina Misund - Needs
4. Knut Kippersund Nesdal - Taste of You
5. Oda & Wulff - Sing
6. Charlie - Hit Me Up

The format

There are fewer songs taking part this year than in previous years, as broadcaster NRK are keen to focus on quality as opposed to quantiy, an approach pioneered by Music Coordinator, Vivi Stenberg.
Each of the Semi-Finals taking place on the 7th, 8th and 9th of March contain five acts. Three acts from each Semi-Final will qualify to the Grand Final on the 15th of March. At the same time the audience, by way of video reports, will be part of the process, from when a song was given the green light by the Melodi Grand Prix editorial team in the autumn of 2013, right up until they stand on stage at the Folketeatret. In addition, the jury, who were responsible for selecting the entries, will give their feedback about the performances during the broadcasts.
The Melodi Grand Prix team received over 600 entries this year from songwriters, producers and artists, who want to show Norway how good they are.
The winner of Melodi Grand Prix 2014 will go on to represent Norway in the second Semi-Final of the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen on the 8th of May. The Grand Final takes place on the 10th of May.

Are you happy with tonight's qualifiers?

First finalists found in Norway

Semi-Final 1 qualifers.

Oslo, Norway - Tonight, the first Semi-Final of Melodi Grand Prix 2014 took place at the Folketeateret in Oslo where Dina Misund, Linnea Dale and Mo became the first three artists to qualify to the Grand Final.

Tonight in Oslo, five acts gave it their all to win one of the three coveted places in the Grand Final of Melodi Grand Prix 2014, which takes place at the Oslo Spektrum Arena on the 15th of March. These places went to Dina Misund, Linnea Dale and Mo.
Tomorrow and on the Sunday, six more acts will be found to complete the line-up for the Grand Final.

The Songs

Tonight, five songs competed in the first Semi-Final of Melodi Grand Prix 2014. You can see the list below. The finalists are all marked in bold:

1. Hilda & Thea Leora - Best Friend`s Boyfriend
2. Mo - Heal - 1st Place
3. Dina Misund - Needs - 3rd Place
4. Linnea Dale - High Hopes - 2nd Place
5. TIMBRE & Frikk Heide-Steen feat. Ida Stein - Frozen By Your Love

The format

There are fewer songs taking part this year than in previous years, as broadcaster NRK are keen to focus on quality as opposed to quantiy, an approach pioneered by Music Coordinator, Vivi Stenberg.
Each of the Semi-Finals taking place on the 7th, 8th and 9th of March contain five acts. Three acts from each Semi-Final will qualify to the Grand Final on the 15th of March. At the same time the audience, by way of video reports, will be part of the process, from when a song was given the green light by the Melodi Grand Prix editorial team in the autumn of 2013, right up until they stand on stage at the Folketeatret. In addition, the jury, who were responsible for selecting the entries, will give their feedback about the performances during the broadcasts.
The Melodi Grand Prix team received over 600 entries this year from songwriters, producers and artists, who want to show Norway how good they are.
The winner of Melodi Grand Prix 2014 will go on to represent Norway in the second Semi-Final of the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen on the 8th of May. The Grand Final takes place on the 10th of May.

Are you happy with tonight's qualifiers?

15 Norwegian Hopefuls Revealed

The 15 Acts of MGP 2014.

 

Oslo, Norway - Today, Norwegian broadcaster NRK, revealed the 15 acts that will take part in their radically overhauled national selection format, Melodi Grand Prix 2014 with the final being held at Oslo Spektrum on the 15th March.

This year the Norwegian national selection, Melodi Grand Prix, has undergone an extensive make-over, leaving us with just 15 songs and three Semi-Finals all taking place at the Folketeateret in Oslo, not to mention the Grand Final at the Oslo Spektrum arena.
Unlike previous years where the Semi-Finals took place over three weeks in different cities all over Norway, this year they will all take place over three consecutive evenings in Oslo on the 7th, 8th, 9th of March followed by the big Final on the 15th.

The 15 acts

Fans of the Norwegian national selection have been waiting for months to find out who will compete in this year's edition of Melodi Grand Prix and the wait is finally over. Below are the details of all 15 acts competing in this year's competition. We will publish more detailed information about each act in the coming days.
SEMI-FINAL 1
Song 1
Hilda & Thea Leora - Best Friend`s Boyfriend
Music & Lyrics: Martin Kleveland, Lisa Desmond Linder & Jesper Jakobsen
Song 2
Mo - Heal
Music & Lyrics: Laila Samuelsen
Song 3
Dina Misund - Needs
Music: Dina Misund. Lyrics: Frode Bjørgmo Strømvik
Song 4
Linnea Dale - High Hopes
Music & Lyrics: Linnea Dale & Kim Bergseth
Song 5
TIMBRE & Frikk Heide-Steen feat. Ida Stein - Frozen By Your Love
Music & Lyrics: TIMBRE
SEMI-FINAL 2
Song 6
Cir.Cuz - Hele verden
Music & Lyrics: Cir.Cuz
Song 7
Martine Marbel - Right Now
Music: Martine Marbel & Goran Obad. Lyrics: Martine Marbel
Song 8
Oda & Wulff - Sing
Music & Lyrics: Christer Wulff
Song 9
Knut Kippersund Nesdal - Taste of You
Music: Magnus Hængsle. Lyrics: Magnus Hængsle & Jenny Moe
Song 10
Charlie - Hit Me Up
Music & Lyrics: Lars K. Hustoft, Jon Asher & Melanie Fontana
SEMI-FINAL 3
Song 11
Moi - Bensin
Music & Lyrics: Ingjerd Østrem Omland
Song 12
El Cuero - Ain’t No Love In This City No More
Music: Brynjar Takle Ohr & B.L. Rolland. Lyrics: Brynjar Takle Ohr, Øyvind Blomstrøm og Håvard Takle Ohr
Song 13
Ilebek - Who Needs the Universe?
Music & Lyrics: Andrea Ihlebæk
Song 14
Elisabeth Carew - Sole Survivor
Music & Lyrics: Mats Lie Skåre, David Eriksen, Simon Climie & Elisabeth Carew
Song 15
Carl Espen - Silent Storm
Music & Lyrics: Josefin Winther

Norway: Melodi Grand Prix 2014 Acts

Check out the Full gallery

Listen to short clips of the songs

Today, NRK uploaded short videos of each of the 15 acts containing short clips of each of the songs. You can listen to these by clicking right HERE.

The format

There are fewer songs taking part this year than in previous years, as broadcaster NRK are keen to focus on quality as opposed to quantiy, an approach pioneered by Music Coordinator, Vivi Stenberg.
Each of the Semi-Finals taking place on the 7th, 8th and 9th of March will contain five acts. Three acts from each Semi-Final will qualify to the Grand Final on the 15th of March. At the same time the audience, by way of video reports, will be part of the process, from when a song was given the green light by the Melodi Grand Prix editorial team in the autumn of 2013, right up until they stand on stage at the Folketeatret in March 2014. In addition, the jury, who were reponsible for selecting the entries, will give their feedback about the performances during the broadcasts.

The Melodi Grand Prix team received over 600 entries this year from songwriters, producers and artists, who want to show Norway how good they are.
The winner of Melodi Grand Prix 2014 will go on to represent Norway in the second Semi-Final of the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen on the 8th of May. The Grand Final takes place on the 10th of May.
Over the next couple of days, we published two special features about the 15 Norwegian acts, so that you can get to know them a bit better.
 

What do you think of the acts?