Norway’s Eurovision national selection in chaos as jury replaces public vote at last minute

Norway’s Eurovision Song Contest national selection has been plagued by controversy, after an online vote was replaced by a jury.

Over the weekend, Ulrikke won Melodi Grand Prix with her song Attention, edging out three other singers in the gold final and nine finalists across the Grand Prix.

However, there has been criticism of the gold final line-up, after it emerged that a panel of 30 jurors decided the first round of votes.

Norwegian broadcaster NRK had switch to an online-only voting system this year, but the system crashed after the first round.

NRK confirmed that a back-up jury, made up of 30 people who had listened to the recorded versions of the song rather than the live performances, had replaced the online vote – with some of the artists’ managers claiming they hadn’t been warned about the switch.

The jury voted Ulrikke, Kristin Husøy, Liza Vassilieva and Raylee into the gold final.

Many were shocked that Rein Alexander and his dramatic song One Last Time didn’t make it, with a poll from Norwegian newspaper VG citing Rein as the second favourite after Ulrikke.

It has been confirmed that no further voting will take place, with Ulrikke set to represent Norway in Rotterdam this May.

However, many competing artists have spoken of their anger about the last minute switch.

Former Norwegian Eurovision entry JOWST, who penned Magnus Bokn’s Over The Sea for Melodi Grand Prix, shared his feelings on Instagram.

He wrote: ‘When they announced that a jury would decide the 4 that would go to the gold-final, I was shocked. I pinched my arm to see if it was a dream. And then when

Magnus didn’t get announced as one of the four, I felt robbed. Robbed of the opportunity to win or even loose. It felt like we just got disqualified. It felt like all of the work we had put in, both me, Magnus, the dancers, the band, the stylists, the management, the people working at NRK (who really did an amazing job) was all in vain, as the jury votes were based on ONLY the music (Spotify). But of course, we made an amazing show together. Something that we all could be very proud of. So not all in vain.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8oPS11nJLd/

‘Maybe the final result would have been the same. We will never know. And maybe Ulrikke will take it home and win the whole thing. I think her song and her performance was amazing. But there are a few people who don’t like that type of music at all.’

Akuvi, who competed in the final with Som du er, was equally peeved, saying: ‘Every single thing we did live on the stage, was not taken into consideration whatsoever. That is so unprofessional and that is so hurtful. I worked so hard and I’m deeply deeply disappointed.’

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And Didrik Solli-Tangen, who competed with Emil Solli-Tangen with their song Out Of Air, made his feelings very clear by chucking his Melodi Grand Prix lanyard in the bin.

However, Ulrikke has been congratulated by her fellow competitors after coming out on top.

Attention was written by 2015 Norwegian Eurovision entrant Mørland, as well as A1 star Christian Ingebrigtsen.

Ulrikke has big shoes to fill after the success of KEiiNO last year, with the band coming sixth with their track Spirit In The Sky.

Norway will compete in the first semi-final this year on 12 May.

The Eurovision grand final takes place on 16 May in Rotterdam.

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