Norway was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1977 with the song "Casanova", composed by Svein Strugstad, with lyrics by Dag Nordtømme, and performed by Anita Skorgan. The Norwegian participating broadcaster, Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK), selected its entry through the Melodi Grand Prix 1977. This was the first of three Eurovision appearances (and a further uncredited fourth) for Skorgan.
Before Eurovision
Melodi Grand Prix 1977
Format
The format of Melodi Grand Prix 1977 was a lot less centralised than in previous editions. It consisted of each county being assigned to one of five districts with each district providing their own entries to a final. The final would then have six songs, one from each district but two from the district with the Eastern counties. Each district was able to dictate the format of their own semi-finals.[1] These semi-finals were broadcast on regional radio. The North, South, West, and Central Districts had semi-finals with four songs each, while the Eastern District had six songs in their semi-final.[2]
Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK) opened a submission period for entries which lasted from 16 November 1976 until 10 December 1976. Interested artists were required to send their entries not to NRK but to their respective District Offices.[1] A total of 348 entries were received by the districts and a 3-member jury in each district chose the entries for their district's semi-final.[3]
The competing entries of the Northern District semi-final were broadcast on 14 January 1977, in a show hosted by Leif Erik Forberg, after which the public was able to send in postcard votes until 19 January 1977.[20][21] The four entries were recorded by either Turid Pedersen or Kristen Lyngedal and were accompanied by Kurt Samuelsen's quartet, who also arranged all four competing entries.[20][22] The winner of the semi-final was announced on 21 January 1977.[21]
The competing entries of the Central District semi-final were broadcast on 14 January 1977, after which the public was able to send in postcard votes until 19 January 1977.[24] The winner of the semi-final was announced on 21 January 1977.[21]
The competing entries of the Western District semi-final were broadcast twice, on 13 January and 17 January 1977, after which the public was able to send in postcard votes until 19 January 1977. All four entries were recorded by either Ellen Margrethe Johansen or Helge Nilsen and were arranged by Brødrene Thue.[8][9] The winner of the semi-final was announced on 21 January 1977.[21]
The competing entries of the South District semi-final were broadcast on 10 January 1977, in a show hosted by Julius Hougen, after which the public was able to send in postcard votes until 19 January 1977.[18][21][26] All four entries were recorded by either Hans Petter Hansen or Magne Høyland and were arranged by Håkon Berge.[18] The winner of the semi-final was announced on 21 January 1977.[21]
The competing entries of the East District semi-final were broadcast on 13 January 1977, after which the public was able to send in postcard votes until 19 January 1977.[21][10] The entries were recorded by Benny Borg, Nora Brockstedt, and Kirsti Sparboe, with Roy Hellvin's quartet, who also arranged all six competing entries.[10] Around 1300 votes were received and the winners of the semi-final were announced on 21 January 1977.[19][21]
Prior to the final, the entries were broadcast two at a time in the show Lørdagslag on 29 January, 5 February, and 12 February 1977. The final was held during a special edition of Lørdagslag on 19 February 1977. The competition took place the studios of NRK studios in Oslo and was hosted by Vidar Lønn-Arnesen. The Orchestra was conducted by Carsten Klouman. Every song, with the exception of "Sang", was performed by a different singer than in the regional radio semi-finals. The results were decided by regional juries consisting of 8 to 10 members each.[12][27]
On the night of the final Skorgan performed 5th in the running order, following Austria and preceding Germany. Like the previous year's Norwegian entry "Mata Hari", "Casanova" was an uptempo song with a disco-style arrangement, but for a second year the national juries showed that this was not the type of song they were looking for. At the close of voting "Casanova" had picked up only 18 points, placing Norway joint 14th (with Portugal) of the 18 entries.[28] The Norwegian jury awarded its 12 points to Ireland.[29]
Postcards controversy
On the night of the broadcast, many viewers wondered why they were merely shown panning shots over the audience in between the songs, rather than the postcard-style clips of the next performers which had become traditional in the 1970s. It later transpired that the planned postcards had been filmed by the BBC during a night out for all the performers at a London nightclub, but when they were previewed NRK had objected as in several of the clips Skorgan could be seen drinking alcohol – at 18 years old she was below the age for legal alcohol consumption in Norway (although not in the United Kingdom) – and behaving in a manner which NRK deemed inappropriate. The Swedish delegation also complained that their performers had been caught on film conducting themselves in a less than exemplary way. As there was insufficient time or opportunity left to film a different set of postcards for all the participating countries, the BBC was left with no option but to scrap them completely.
^ ab"Mange bidrag til Melodi Grand Prix" [Many contributions to Melodi Grand Prix]. Fredriksstad Blad. 17 December 1976. p. 3. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
^Berg, Kare (14 December 1976). "36 Melodier Skal Konkurrere" [36 Melodies Shall Compete]. Rogalands Avis. p. 20. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
^"Ca. 350 bidrag til Melodi Grand Prix" [Approx. 350 entries for Melodi Grand Prix]. Telemark Arbeiderblad. 17 December 1976. p. 5. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
Norway
