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TV: Kim Rune Hagen, or Kiim, took the final penultimate place in the Melodi Grand Prix after the fourth semi-final of the Melodi Grand Prix on NRK.
Six artists will accompany six prequalified artists to the final. This year a total of 26 songs are participating, and this is the highest number in the history of the competition. We review as usual song by song.
Marianne Pentha and Mikkel Gaup: «Pages» (Vanessa Liftig, Robin Lynch, Marianne Pentha and Mikkel Gaup)
The second entry to this year’s Grand Prix with yoik, and that on the day of the Sami people! And why not, the yoik has strong traditions in competition since “Samiid Ædnan” in 1980!
Marianne Pentha (40) and Mikkel Gaup (53) have a slightly different approach than Keiino. Here the yoik is as an elegant backdrop or as a “cake topper”. You could say it drives the song, but it’s Pentha’s voice that plays the lead. Pentha, with experience as a participant in “La Voz” and the group Sami Ánnásuolo, has known the actor and yoiker Gaup de Alta all his life. Supposedly, “Pages” already started in 2017.
Pentha starts off a bit nervous, but walks in and reaches great heights towards the end. There’s a captivating momentum to the song the entire way, which makes it even better live. Maybe there will be some extra votes tonight?
Road Heroes: “All That” (Lars-Erik Blokkhus, Petter Bjørklund Kristiansen and Thor-Erik Claussen)
It had to happen. Norway’s oldest boy band, or teddy band, is trying out for the Grand Prix. Rune Rudberg has only seven attempts from before, while Stian “Staysman” Thorbjørnsen and Lars Erik Blokkhus (Plumbo) have one each. Only Dag Ingebrigtsen is a debutant in GP.
These “boys” have lived many lives behind them, especially on the road, and they share ups and downs. And – “they would never change that”, as they sing. This is hopelessly behind both in terms of time and gender, but at the same time it is liberating to listen to four grown men who give so much of themselves, take so little solemnly, and generously share a contagious self-irony (‘I’ve kept the child less than a microphone ‘»). Whether they have anything to do with a Grand Prix final is another matter, but this sometimes makes pretentious attempts to make “the perfect hit song.” And I guess it really can’t go well. These four guys have fun, party, and sing well together and separately. They know very well what they are doing. Party in the living room!
KIIM: “My beautiful voice” (Kim Rune Hagen, Espen Andreas Fjeld, Vebjørn Jernberg and Niklas Rosström)
Kim Rune Hagen (30) was born in Porsgrunn, but lives in Notoodden, the European capital of blues. But do you sing the blues?
Hagen earned a third place on “Idol” in 2007, and has also been on “The Voice” and bands like The Norwegian Soulband and the cover band Hans Orkester. “My Lovely Voice” is far from blues and not so much from soul. Instead, it’s a typical pop ballad that you feel like you’ve heard many times at the international Grand Prix final. First of all, it reminds me of something an artist like Brit Sam Smith or any boy band could have thrown, with a lot of emotion and falsetto singing. Run safely with stagnant demeanor with emphasis on song. The tempo speeds up over time, but the song lacks a kind of “statement.” KIIM has an impressive voice, perhaps one of the best in this year’s GP season, but this is just plain boring. And what about these double-entry constructed names? KIIM and Keiino… What’s wrong with Kim Rune?
Royane: “Circus” (Royane Harkati, produced by Junior Paris, mixed by Simen Handeland)
This is the fittest, most original, and most exuberant Grand Prix entry I’ve heard and seen in a long time. Royane (28) has his origins in Spain and Morocco, but came to Norway when he was nine years old. It is reflected in the music. And unlike most, she wrote the song herself.
Royane uses TikTok and Instagram and the TV series “Influencers” as channels, but surprisingly does not have a record deal. That may change after all, after she has gained access to the Grand Prix showcase. There is something like Grace Jones in this passionate artist. The song may be too special for this competition, but it is brave on your part to make a contribution that is easy to place in the category of world music, with a nod to reggaeton. Here we are in the circus also visually, with dancers of various sizes. Or is it a freak show? Royane might have become the clown in this, but instead she’s the excellent circus director who owns the stage and is in full control. I would like to see this in the international final. You need it.
Atle Pettersen: “World on Fire” (Atle Pettersen, Jesper Borgen, Magnus Clausen, Alexander Pavelich and Peter Daniel Newman)
Atle Pettersen (31) is probably to many, after all, best known as the host of “Beat For Beat” on the very golden NRK 1 series, but he is also known for various music competitions on television.
“World on Fire” sounds like the new Olympic song. He is “tall” and pompous and does not touch any nerves with this critic. Atle sings perfectly well, but there are those of us who think that lyrics are also important. This is hollow and complete harmless. «We will set the world on fire (….) My heart ignites, burns in flames»…. What is this for some visvas? It will be a great cliché. But it should have, Atle can “behave” on stage, and NRK works with digital effects so you almost forget about the music. A bespoke Grand Prix song? We will only know in the final.
