Norway

[Gavster]

.

[Gavster]

AND THE WINNER & SONG TO REPRESENT NORWAY IS...

You Tube

You Tube

Serious wobble in the voice. You can hear the nerves! The song is a little boring until the fortissimo moment after 2mins. Does have potential to do very well, but all hinges on his nerves and wobbly voice during those soft opening verses.

This song is also very comparable with the nailed on favourite to qualify for Span. Which one edges it?

[Beanie]

As usual the holders go for the ultra moody, ultra big ending ballad, safe in the knowledge it will be roared along by the audience which carries it through the weak bits and builds to the biggest ending possible.

Shocking wobbles early on though yeah, youre right there, and then like a different singer in the final minute.

Not much scope for improvement with a song like this - although i'd get some sort of instrument in the opening lines to give him a hand.

Ummm ummm, im not sure, i like it and i hate it.

[squallsquall]

Should be a definite top10, imo.

[Beanie]

Looking forward to the performance on the night - the place is gonna go bananas, its the textbook big finish - should be perfect for a 10 minute trade.

In terms of winning its just Anna Vissi from 06 all over again - don't think voters are too keen on repeat winners and most host songs have ended up in roughly the same place in recent years.

[Beanie]

Didn't think I'd be coming back to this one so soon.

On reflection I cant just toss it into the Anna Vissi camp - that one was lost in a shouty mess, whereas this doesnt really run that risk as all the big notes are clear, long and solid.

Still dont see it as a winner but how far can the market drift it?

Fact remains that the opening minute completely dies because he cant sing it right. From then on its the most epic cheesy ballad I've heard in Eurovision - perhaps ever when you consider that the crowd will be going nuts.

Solve the early issues(might go down the route of a hidden second singer?) and I'd be 90% certain this will win in Western Europe, but probably not get enough from the East to carry it to an overall win.

[Gavster]

Do you not think there will be voter apathy towards Norway though? Also, what about Sweden... will voters defect and try to get another scandi country to win instead?

I really don't see a double win

[Beanie]

Yeah I still go with the theory that last years winner has to work that little bit harder for votes, and overall this isnt good enough for the overall win.

In Skandi terms I think Sweden really suffers in comparison to this - I had the two on back to back earlier and listening to Sweden after the Norway finish was v depressing, even though I like the song. I dont see too many draws where Sweden is going to come across well(after Russia perhaps!? )

As it stands, I'll go with ss and say Norway are guaranteed a top 10. If they sort the singing in the opening minute, then guaranteed a top 5.

[MickeyPaul]

Hello everyone. I'm here to disagree with you all again. This is dreadful beyond belief. He can't sing. He CANNOT sing. And the song is mind numbingly awful. This is the Disney song for 2010 - Cinderella 2 (straight to DVD). I have no problem writing this off completely. I'm a bad person I guess.

[Beanie]

He can't no, but then neither could Dima Bilan, and it is sickly Disney, but then so was Believe, and I cant say I particularly liked either this or that. There's always plenty votes available for this kind of stuff, not enough to win but enough to do well.

[MickeyPaul]

Hmmm. Dima Bilan is better than this (what was Believe?). I'd have this near the bottom to be honest on song and performance. That's my initial feeling on it but I suppose I have to pay attention to what other people are saying. Much as it pains me.

How do people get through these songs without drink or drugs? I salute your indefatigability.

[Beanie]

Believe was the one which Dima won with 2 years ago. Torture yourself with another listen if you dare and then come back to whether he is actually better than this...cant be much in it...

I think we agree on the merits of the song(which along with the UK gives a grand total of 2 this year ) but I think this will have enough appeal to juries, certain types of voter, skandi countries to do ok - with the crowd roaring throughout(hopefully, if only to drown out that early singing) it will be one of the memorable ones of the night.

[MickeyPaul]

It makes me cringe from beginning to end, Beanie. I don't just slate everything for effect, honest. I genuinely cannot see any quality in here. I'm not even able to give it bonus points for being Norway. It's the kind of song I point at every year and giggle.

I guess I'll just stay out of everyone's way on this one as I know there's nothing they can do to this to make it more pleasant to my sensitive, snobby, lugs.

[Beanie]

Wierdly, all the other videos I can find of old Didrik show his vocals to be pretty much flawless(it's generally operatic stuff as that's his speciality but still, not bad):



Certainly seems to suggest that he has the ability to drastically improve his vocals on this entry...

[squallsquall]

I still think this is top5 songs this year, but have become hesitant due to poor showing in polls...