About Norway...

2007 Result
History (1956 to 2006)
This year's entry
What I predicted...
What you thought...
What actually happened

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2007 Result

Points in Semi Final: 48
Position in Semi Final: 18th

Points in Final:
Position in Final:
More about the 2007 result for Norway

2008 Contest: Must compete in Semi Final

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History (1956 to 2006)

Norway's previous appearances: 45 year(s) out of 51 [note]
Years participated: 1960-1969; 1971-2001; 2003- [note]
Best result: 1st (1985, 1995)

Norway is renowned for scoring 'nul points' - under the present voting system, introduced in 1975, it has achieved the feat three times (most recently in 1997), and finished last on a further three occasions. However, victories in 1985 with the dreadful 'La det swinge' and in 1995 with Secret Garden's beautiful 'Nocturne' have helped redress the balance. Certainly, Norway's two winners could hardly be more different - remarkable then that both were written by Rolf Lovland, composer of 'You raise me up' - originally recorded by Secret Garden themselves (with vocals by Brian Kennedy, Ireland's participant in 2006), but perhaps more famously covered by Josh Groban in 2003, and Westlife in 2005.

While neighbours Sweden have generally prospered under televoting, with a run of top ten finishes between 1998 and 2004, Norway's record has been patchy. After a respectable 8th place in 1998, the awful 'Living my life without you' finished an undeservedly high 14th in 1999. 2000 brought a catchy song in 'My heart goes boom', but a relatively disappointing 11th place. In 2001, Haldor performed 'On my own', what I thought was a rather attractive and powerful ballad. However, televoters were evidently distracted by Haldor's grimacing, and it scored just 3 points from Portugal for its efforts, finishing last. Following this poor result, some were wary when Norway came back in 2003 with another male-sung ballad. However, Jostein was cuter and more endearing than Haldor, and 'I'm not afraid to move on' finished a very respectable 4th.

As a result, the Norwegians found themselves directly qualified for the Final in 2004, and were probably confident about sending yet another male with a ballad - unfortunately, however, as far as the televoters were concerned, Knut Anders Sørum had more in common with Haldor than Jostein. Finishing last (again) with just 3 points, the title of Norway's song assumed an amusing irony, Knut's position being anything but 'High'.

Fortunately, 2005 brought better things for Norway, with Wig Wam's rock anthem, 'In my dreams', finishing a promising 6th in the Semi Final, before going on to secure 9th place in the Final. Guaranteed a place in the 2006 Final, hopes were high that Christine Guldbrandsen could gain another top ten placing with the lovely 'Alvedansen'. However, despite a good vocal and visually appealing performance, Christine's song failed to resonate with the voting public, picking up just 36 points in 14th place. Consequently, Norway must once again take part in the Semi Final in 2007.
Get 'The Eurovision Song Contest: The Offical History' at Amazon.co.uk

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This year's entry

Position in Semi Final draw: 19
Position in Final draw: Failed to qualify

What I said prior to the Semi Final:
"The Final of Norway's Melodi Grand Prix took place on 10 February, with 45-year-old Guri Schanke emerging as the winner. As you know, I have a deep aversion to Scandinavians sending Latino-inspired songs to Eurovision - it just seems so very cheap, desperate and inauthentic - so Norway's entry being called 'Ven a bailar conmigo' was never going to be a good start. Indeed, the first time I watched this performance I hated it with a passion - it was like Geri Halliwell's mother singing 'Mi chico latino'. Subsequently, my view has softened a little - Guri's undoubtedly a very good singer, and the song is strangely appealing after repeated listens, even if it is complete tosh."

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What I predicted...

My prediction for Semi Final: 21st to 23rd
My prediction for Final: Will not qualify
What I predicted prior to the Semi Final:
"I suspect 'Ven a bailar conmigo' will either do scarily well or score next to nothing - possibly the latter. "
Want an alternative prediction? See Simon Hylands' 'Je t'adore, Eurovision!' site

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What you thought...

View the final leader board

In the run up to the Contest, 1,274 visitors to this site awarded points to their favourite songs in the Soult.com Eurovision Jury Vote 2007, voting as a representative of their own country's 'jury'. The votes awarded by representatives of each country were totalled, with each of the 42 participating countries (plus the 'Rest of the World') then awarding points - 12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 - based on the overall voting preference of its representatives. The points awarded to the entry from Norway are shown in the tables below:

Points awarded to Norway overall:
AL	0	AD	0	AM	0	AT	0	BY	0	BE	0
BA	0	BG	0	HR	0	CY	0	CZ	0	DK	0
EE	5	FI	0	FR	0	GE	0	DE	0	GR	0
HU	0	IS	10	IE	0	IL	0	LV	0	LT	0
MK	0	MT	0	MD	0	ME	0	NL	0	NO	X
PL	0	PT	0	RO	0	RU	0	RS	0	SI	0
ES	0	SE	0	CH	0	TR	0	UA	0	UK	0
WO	0	Last updated: 12 May 2007 Next scheduled update: None
Total points: 15, from 2/43 juries
Position: 30 out of 42

Points awarded to Norway in the Semi Final:
AL	0	AD	0	AM	0	AT	0	BY	0	BE	0
BA	0	BG	0	HR	0	CY	3	CZ	0	DK	2
EE	7	FI	0	FR	0	GE	0	DE	0	GR	0
HU	0	IS	12	IE	0	IL	4	LV	0	LT	2
MK	0	MT	0	MD	0	ME	0	NL	0	NO	X
PL	0	PT	0	RO	0	RU	0	RS	0	SI	0
ES	0	SE	0	CH	0	TR	0	UA	0	UK	0
WO	0	Last updated: 12 May 2007 Next scheduled update: None
Total points: 30, from 6/43 juries
Position: 19 out of 28

Points awarded to Norway in the Final:
AL	0	AD	0	AM	0	AT	0	BY	0	BE	0
BA	0	BG	0	HR	0	CY	0	CZ	0	DK	0
EE	0	FI	0	FR	0	GE	0	DE	0	GR	0
HU	0	IS	0	IE	0	IL	0	LV	0	LT	0