WHEN? 7pm Saturday 10/3/18 on NRK (link at the bottom of the preview)

This year’s Norwegian selection includes a former Eurovision winner, a past entrant and the writer behind one of Scandinavia’s biggest groups of the 90s in its ranks.

• Read on for our predictions for how these entries would do in Eurovision

Norway competes in the 2nd semi final of Eurovision on 10/5/18 alongside neighbours Sweden and Denmark.

Alejandro Fuentes Tengo Otra PREDICTION: non-qualifier

Latino songs are very of the moment but this is done a million times better in Melodifestivalen, where In My Cabana by Margaret is our favourite.

Aleksander Walmann Talk To The Hand PREDICTION: non-qualifier

The chorus goes: ‘Talk to the hand ‘cos the face ain’t listening.’ Appropriate.

Alexander Rybak That’s How You Write A Song PREDICTION: 1st to 5th

2009 Eurovision winner Rybak returns with a song which lyrically seems to owe a great deal to 2013 Eurovision interval act Love, Love, Peace, Peace. Is it a bit smug of a former winner to be running through the steps of writing a song? Oddly the entries from Germany and Moldova include a similar, simple counting structure in their choruses. Musically, there’s the trademark fiddle at the beginning and it has a Justin Timberlake groove but it’s a package we can see Norway passing on.

Charla K Stop the Music PREDICTION: 21st to 26th

Author Per Gessle is the Swedish songwriter behind Roxette which is the most remarkable thing about this run-of-the-mill entry.

Ida Maria Scandilove PREDICTION: 11th to 15th

These songs have been available for a month or so already and this is the one that’s grown on us the most. Musically it’s very You Can Call Me Al by Paul Simon but lyrically it’s mischievous asking: ‘Can you make love like a Scandinavian?’. For once, we don’t even mind the swearing because it’s quite funny.

Nicoline Light Me Up PREDICTION: non-qualifier

Barely registers a flicker of interest.

Rebecca Who We Are PREDICTION: 21st to 26th

A fan favourite written by the author of 2015 entry A Monster Like Me which finished 8th. We loved that but find this a little too gothic, charmless and without hook.

Stella and Alexandra You Got Me PREDICTION: 16th to 20th

This is our own personal favourite and features 2011 entrant Stella Mwangi (left above) who failed to qualify for the final, finishing 17th in her semi. We like it because it’s uptempo, catchy and bags of fun but think it sounds a bit Girls Aloud and might lose out because it’s a little dated.

Tom Hugo I Like I Like I Like PREDICTION: non-qualifier

More Justin Timberlake album fodder. When he hadn’t gone Country’n’Western.

Vidar Villa Moren Din PREDICTION: non-qualifier

Pleasingly 80s synthy with a catchy guitar strum but forgettable.

• Pictures via Facebook courtesy NRK. Clips via YouTube courtesy NRK. Watch the show here. Melodi Grand Prix tickets
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