Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 1966 explained

Year:1966
Broadcaster:Norwegian: [[NRK|Norsk rikskringkasting]]|i=no (NRK)
Country:Norway
Preselection:Melodi Grand Prix 1966
Preselection Date:5 February 1966
Entrant:Åse Kleveland
Song:Norwegian: Intet er nytt under solen|i=no
Final Result:3rd, 15 points

Norway was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1966 with the song "Norwegian: Intet er nytt under solen|i=no", written by Arne Bendiksen, and performed by Åse Kleveland. The Norwegian participating broadcaster, Norwegian: [[NRK|Norsk rikskringkasting]]|i=no (NRK), organised the national final Melodi Grand Prix 1966 in order to select its entry for the contest.

Before Eurovision

Melodi Grand Prix 1966

Norwegian: [[NRK|Norsk rikskringkasting]]|i=no (NRK) held the Melodi Grand Prix 1966 at Centralteatret in Oslo, hosted by Øivind Bergh. Five performers and songs took part in the final with each song sung twice by different singers, once with a small combo and once with a full orchestra. The winning song was chosen by voting from ten regional juries.[1]

MGP - 5 February 1966
LetterDrawSingerArrangementSongPointsPlace
A1Wenche MyhreCombo"Lørdagstripp"64
A8Kirsti SparboeOrchestra"Lørdagstripp"64
B7Grynet MolvigCombo"Ung og forelsket"73
B2Anita ThallaugOrchestra"Ung og forelsket"73
C3Kirsti SparboeCombo"Gi meg fri"112
C6Åse KlevelandOrchestra"Gi meg fri"112
D9Åse KlevelandCombo"Intet er nytt under solen"221
D4Grynet MolvigOrchestra"Intet er nytt under solen"221
E5Anita ThallaugCombo"Vims"45
E10Wenche MyhreOrchestra"Vims"45

At Eurovision

On the evening of the final Kleveland performed 6th in the running order, following and preceding . "Norwegian: Intet er nytt under solen|i=no" was an unusual and adventurous song for Eurovision at the time, with a sophisticated, atmospheric instrumental arrangement, and a 5/4 time signature. Kleveland was the first female performer in Eurovision to appear on stage with a guitar, and the first female performer to appear in trousers rather than a dress or skirt. Voting was by each national jury awarding 5-3-1 to their top 3 songs, and at the close "Norwegian: Intet er nytt under solen|i=no" had picked up 15 points (5 from, 3s from,, and, and 1 from), placing Norway third of the 18 entries. This was Norway's best Eurovision showing at the time, and would remain so until the victory of Bobbysocks! in 1985. Kleveland went on to present the 1986 contest in Bergen, the first to be hosted by Norway.[2]

Voting

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://natfinals.50webs.com/50s_60s/Norway1966.html ESC National Finals database 1966
  2. http://www.esc-history.com/details.asp?key=172 ESC History - Norway 1966
  3. Web site: Results of the Final of Luxembourg 1966 . Eurovision Song Contest . 7 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210407120203/https://eurovision.tv/event/luxembourg-1966/final/results/norway . 7 April 2021 . live.