Geir Rönning

Geir Rönning (born November 5, 1962) is a professional singer-songwriter from the Norwegian city of Ålesund. He later moved to Oslo in the 1980s, but as his life was somewhat troublesome in that period, he didn't feel he really fit in, and soon moved further on to Stockholm, where he finally found peace and inspiration to start his musical career.

Musical career

Melodi Grand Prix

In 1994 Geir's career as a composer started. That year he composed the song "Gi alt vi har", which was performed by Jahn Teigen - a living legend and star of the Norwegian music scene - in Melodi Grand Prix 1994, the national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. In the years 1994 till 1997, Geir wrote four composed four songs for and performed three songs in Melodi Grand Prix.

Moving to Finland

Around the time of the millennium change, Geir settled in Finland, where he became the lead singer of a five member rock 'n' roll band, among them the guitarist of Leningrad Cowboys. Geir has also toured outside the Nordic countries; he's done gigs in Albania, Romania, England and the USA.

Ticket to Kiev

In 2002 Geir returned to Eurovision spin-offs. This year he participated in the Finnish national final for the first time, with the ballad "I Don't Wanna Throw It All Away", finishing third. He returned once again to the Finnish national final stage in 2004, this time finishing fifth with "I Don't Need To Say". Finally it was three times lucky for Geir in 2005, when he managed to win the entire Finnish Eurovision selection with the song "Why?", a ballad concerning the Beslan terror tragedy in Russia. That didn't matter much however, neither did the heavy televoting from Norway and Sweden. Geir ended just 18th with 50 points in the semifinal of the Eurovision Song Contest 2005, which that year was held in the Ukrainian capital Kiev. He had to be among the top ten to advance to the final night.

Trying again

Despite his Eurovision participation in 2005, Geir wants to try again, this time representing his home country Norway. By being one of the two most popular acts (out of six) in the semi final in Alta, northern Norway, Geir and his companion Jorun Erdal qualified directly to the final night of Melodi Grand Prix 2006, performing the ABBAesque schlager "Lost And Found", written by three experienced Swedish composers. The second entry which went straight to the final, "Here For The Show" by Norwegian super-star Trine Rein, is also written by the same Swedish trio. Also Jorun Erdal is almost a veteran on the Melodi Grand Prix stage, this being her third participation in the contest, after she almost won in 2004, finishing an impressive second with "I Am Rock 'n' Roll". In the final in Norway's biggest concert hall, the Oslo Spektrum they ended 4th out of 8.

ee also

* Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest
* Eurovision Song Contest 2005
* Melodi Grand Prix 2006

External links

* [http://www.geirronning.com Official website]
* [http://s12.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1PZU6P0PC7C1O3T4OWZNACZHCA "Lost And Found"]