Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 1996

Eurovision Song Contest 1996
Participating broadcasterNorsk rikskringkasting (NRK)
Country Norway
National selection
Selection processMelodi Grand Prix 1996
Selection date(s)30 March 1996
Selected artist(s)Elisabeth Andreassen
Selected song"I evighet"
Selected songwriter(s)Torhild Nigar
Finals performance
Final result2nd, 114 points
Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄1995 1996 1997►

Norway was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1996 with the song "I evighet", written by Torhild Nigar, and performed by Elisabeth Andreassen. The Norwegian participating broadcaster, Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK), selected its entry through the Melodi Grand Prix 1996. In addition, NRK was also the host broadcaster and staged the event at the Oslo Spektrum in Oslo, after winning the previous edition with the song "Nocturne" by Secret Garden. This was the last of four Eurovision appearances as a main performer by Andreassen, a record shared with Lys Assia, Fud Leclerc, Valentina Monetta, and Peter, Sue and Marc.

Before Eurovision

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Melodi Grand Prix 1996

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Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK) held the Melodi Grand Prix 1996 at its studios in Oslo, hosted by Tande-P. Eight songs took part with the winner being chosen by voting from regional juries. Other participants included three-time Norwegian representative and MGP regular Jahn Teigen (as one of the duo To Tenorer) and Geir Rønning, who would later represent Finland in the 2005 contest.[1]

Final – 30 March 1996
Draw Artist Song Songwriter(s) Points Place
1 Scandinavia "Når hjertet står i brann" Tom Sennerud, Bjørn Terje Bråthen 12 8
2 Arnold B. Family "Din smittende glede" Thomas Børud, Arnold Børud 29 6
3 Elisabeth Andreassen "I evighet" Torhild Nigar 88 1
4 Stephen Ackles "Jennina" Geir Rønning 32 5
5 Mia Gundersen "Tenn lys" Inge Enoksen, Leiv Grøtte 28 7
6 Helga Hatløy Hagen and Marie Hatløy Osdal "Frieri" Helga Hatløy Hagen, Marie Hatløy Osdal 56 2
7 Geir Rønning "Uten de'" Geir Rønning 56 2
8 To Tenorer "Ariel" Sverre Wiik, Øystein Wiik 39 4
Detailed Regional Jury Votes
Draw Song
Rogaland
Østfold
Finnmark
Sør-Trøndelag
Troms
Oppland
Østlandet
Hordaland
Sørlandet
Telemark
Total
1 "Når hjertet står i brann" 1 1 2 6 2 12
2 "Den smittende glede" 3 1 1 6 4 3 1 6 4 29
3 "I evighet" 4 10 6 10 10 10 10 10 8 10 88
4 "Jennina" 4 2 2 2 6 2 4 4 6 32
5 "Tenn lys" 8 3 3 1 1 6 3 3 28
6 "Frieri" 6 8 4 3 8 8 8 2 1 8 56
7 "Uten de'" 10 2 10 4 6 3 1 8 10 2 56
8 "Ariel" 2 6 8 8 3 4 4 3 1 39

At Eurovision

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The European Broadcasting Union granted Norway, as the host nation, exemption from an audio-only qualifying round which took place on 20 March with all 29 other participants competing to avoid the bottom seven placings which would mean early elimination from the 1996 contest and non-representation in Oslo.[2][3]

On the night of the final Andreassen performed 12th in the running order, following Estonia and preceding France. At the close of voting "I evighet" had received 114 points, placing Norway second of the 23 entries.[4] The highest marks received were three 10s from the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Sweden – during the 1975-2015 period at the contest, "I evighet" was the best placed song without any 12 points. The Norwegian jury awarded its 12 points to Portugal.[5]

Andreassen is one of five artists – along with Lys Assia, Gigliola Cinquetti, Linda Martin and Dima Bilan – to have finished both first and second at Eurovision.

Voting

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Qualifying round

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As the host nation, Norway automatically qualified for the final.[2]

Points awarded by Norway (qualifying round)[6]
Score Country
12 points  Iceland
10 points  Estonia
8 points  United Kingdom
7 points  Sweden
6 points   Switzerland
5 points  Austria
4 points  Malta
3 points  Portugal
2 points  Belgium
1 point  Denmark

Final

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References

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  1. ^ ESC National Finals database 1996
  2. ^ a b "Oslo 1996 - Eurovision Song Contest". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  3. ^ Roxburgh, Gordon (2020). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Volume Four: The 1990s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. pp. 255–261. ISBN 978-1-84583-163-9.
  4. ^ "Final of Oslo 1996". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  5. ^ ESC History - Norway 1996
  6. ^ Roxburgh, Gordon (2020). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Volume Four: The 1990s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. p. 259. ISBN 978-1-84583-163-9.
  7. ^ a b "Results of the Final of Oslo 1996". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
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