Melodi Grand Prix frontrunners Gåte have come under fire as their song’s lyrics have been revealed o be taken from a 1,000 year old folk song.
What is happening?
Gåte, qualified from Heat 2 of Melodi Grand Prix, and are currently the bookies’ favourites to win the competition.
Their song, “Ulveham” is based on a traditional norwegian kulokk, a traditional form of music historically used to call cattle down from grazing pastures. You can hear this call in several songs throughout history, such as Martin Jensen Lillebuen’s “Lokk Av Marit Jensen Lillebuen.
Should Gåte win Norway’s ticket to Eurovision, the EBU have cleared this for participation.
The real problem is that the song contains text from a 1,000 year old medieval ballad. Lead singer Gunnhild Sundli says that using old texts and folkore in the band’s music is: “a large part of [their] identity, and something wee have been honoured for all these years.”
There is precedent behind this decision, in 2021, Ukrainian representatives Go_A were made to rewrite their song “Shum” for similar reasons.
Ulveham “Won’t feel different” says MGP Chief
NRK Executive TV producer and Head of Eurovision Delegation for Norway, Stig Karlsen, has eased concerns, stating that the song won’t feel different from its heat.
Speaking to NRK, he said: “The song, the story, the identity and expression of the song will be virtually identical in the performance in the final. We therefore do not see that it is the change of the text is of decisive importance.”
What is Melodi Grand Prix?
Melodi Grand Prix is the Norwegian method of selection for Eurovision. This national final selection method is over 60 years old. The only year where Melodi Grand Prix has not taken place was 2002, when Norway were relegated from the Eurovision Song Contest. Melodi Grand Prix had undertaken a few different formats. The changes in format have mainly taken place in the last few years, since 2020.
Norway’s Eurovision Journey
The Scandinavian nation made its debut in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1960, with Nora Brockstedt and the song “Voi Voi”, which placed 4th. Since their debut, they have participated 61 times, and made the Grand Final 58 of these. In addition, Norway has won the competition three times – in 1985, 1995, and 2009.
Norway’s latest Eurovision participation saw them being represented by Alessandra with the song “Queen of Kings”. After qualifying for the final, Norway placed 5th in the Grand Final, receiving 268 points, 52 of which from the jury and 216 from televoters.
What do you think of the decision by NRK? Do you think Gåte can win Melodi Grand Prix ? As always, let us know what you think by commenting below. Also, be sure to follow “That Eurovision Site” on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tiktok, Threads, Tumblr and Bluesky as we look ahead to Eurovision 2024!
News Source: NRK
Photo Credit: Julia Marie Naglestad / NRK
Rory Gannon