Norway: Jowst Wins Melodi Grand Prix 2017

Tonight, Norway has selected Jowst feat. Aleksander Walmann to represent the country at the 62nd Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv. They will sing “Grab the Moment” when they take to the stage in May.

NRK held the 55th edition of Melodi Grand Prix, Norway’s selection show for Eurovision, tonight. Ten acts participated in the show, which was narrowed down to four for the Goldfinal following a 50-50 vote from the public and international juries. The introduction of international juries in this year’s Melodi Grand Prix marks an attempt from Norway to try and appeal more to a European audience in May. International juries were previously chosen to select Norway’s entrants in 1985 and 1995, which went on to win the contest. Tonight Armenia, Austria, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Malta, Sweden and the United Kingdom all helped to decide the results in Norway.

The full results tonight were as follows:

1. Ulrikke - “Places” [Goldfinalist]

2. Jenny Augusta - “I Go Where You Go”

3. Rune Rudberg Band - “Run Run Away”

4. Jowst feat. Aleksander Walmann - “Grab the Moment” [Goldfinalist]

5. Kristian Valen - “You & I”

6. In Fusion - “Nothing Ever Knocked Us Over”

7. Amina Sewali - “Mesterverk”

8. Ammunition - “Wrecking Crew” [Goldfinalist]

9. Elin & The Woods - “First Step In Faith (Oadjebasvuhtii)” [Goldfinalist]

10. Ella - “Mama’s Boy”

The international juries each awarded a vote to their favourite song. By the end of the jury voting, Jowst had 4 votes, Ulrikke had 3, Ammunition had 2 and Ella had 1. However, once the public vote was added to the overall scores, Ulrikke, Jowst, Ammunition and Elin & The Woods were announced as the four Goldfinalists.

Goldfinal results:

1. Jowst feat. Aleksander Walmann - “Grab the Moment” [Winner]

2. Ammunition - "Wrecking Crew"

3. Elin & The Woods - “First Step In Faith (Oadjebasvuhtii)"

4. Ulrikke - "Places"

And so, with the most votes in the Goldfinal, Jowst feat. Aleksander Walmann will represent Norway in Kyiv. They will participate in the 2nd semi-final of this year’s contest on 11th May, and will hope to take Norway back to the final after last year’s participant, Agnete, finished in 13th place in her semi-final.

Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest

Norway debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1960, and have won the contest three times - in 1985, 1995 and 2009. The country has the dubious record of finishing last the most times, eleven in total, and have received nul points four times. Norway last won the contest in 2009 when Alexander Rybak broke all records with his song “Fairytale”. He scored 387 points in the final, receiving 16 sets of 12 points and scoring points from every country.