WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2

We’ve heard all 18 songs vying to represent Norway at the 68th Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden in May and this is the 1 we couldn’t get out of our head on 1st listen.

• Read on for reasons including how this leans into a novelty Aqua/Little Big sound

The Kylie reference is apt we think because like her big hit of 2023 – Padam Padam – Damdiggida could be about the thump of one’s heart although it may also be Sami for that which makes you happy.

The band’s journey began in 2018, when singer/songwriter Tom Hugo joined forces with the Sami rapper Fred Buljo and pop singer Alexandra Rotan.

Their single Spirit in the Sky won Norwegian Eurovision selection show Melodi Grand Prix, topped the charts at home and won the public vote in the final finishing 6th overall.

KEiiNO have released 28 songs since including Monument which finished 2nd in 2021’s MGP. We saw them live last year in London and said: ‘We’d love to see them back on the MGP stage and soon aiming to represent Norway at Eurovision.’

Damdiggida is in the 3rd and toughest MGP heat on Saturday 27 January. KEiiNO have always struggled for the jury vote but this entry goes the other way and leans into an almost novelty sound reminding of Aqua and Little Big, who almost represented Russia in the Eurovision-that-never-was of 2020.

KEiiNO will do well to win in Norway with its main competition appearing to us to be a former song of the week by Margaret Berger.

• Main picture via Facebook courtesy KEiiNO
• Have you seen KEiiNO before or heard 1 of their songs? Tickets
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