Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 1996

Eurovision Song Contest 1996
Country	Norway
National selection
Selection process	Melodi Grand Prix 1996
Selection date(s)	30 March 1996
Selected entrant	Elisabeth Andreassen
Selected song	"I evighet"
Finals performance
Final result	2nd, 114 points

Norway was represented by Elisabeth Andreassen, with the song '"I evighet", at the 1996 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 18 May at the Oslo Spektrum, following Secret Garden's victory for Norway in Dublin the previous year. "I evighet" was chosen as the Norwegian entry at the Melodi Grand Prix on 30 March. This was the last of four Eurovision appearances as a main performer by Andreassen, a record shared with Lys Assia, Fud Leclerc and Peter, Sue & Marc.

Final

The MGP was held at the studios of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation 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 Eurovision Song Contest 2005.^[1]

MGP - 20 March 1996

Draw	Artist	Song	Translation	Points	Place
1	Scandinavia	"Når hjertet står i brann"	When the heart is on fire	12	8
2	Arnold B. Family	"Din smittende glede"	Your huge joy	29	6
3	Elisabeth Andreassen	"I evighet"	In eternity	88	1
4	Stephen Ackles	"Jennina"	—	32	5
5	Mia Gundersen	"Tenn lys"	Light a candle	28	7
6	Helga Hatløy Hagen & Marie Hatløy Osdal	"Frieri"	Proposal	56	2
7	Geir Rønning	"Uten de'"	Without you	56	2
8	To Tenorer	"Ariel"	—	39	4

At Eurovision

The European Broadcasting Union granted Norway, as the host nation, exemption from an audio-only pre-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.

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. The highest marks received were three 10s from the Netherlands, Slovenia and Sweden – since the introduction of the current scoring system in 1975, "I evighet" is the only song to have finished second without receiving a single 12 points vote. The Norwegian jury awarded its 12 points to Portugal.^[2]

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.

See also

• Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest
• Eurovision Song Contest 1996

References

1. ^ ESC National Finals database 1996
2. ^ ESC History - Norway 1996