Last Wednesday, Norwegian broadcaster, NRK has presented all of the artists which will be competing for a chance to represent Norway at Eurovision 2023. Today all of the entries competing at the first semi-final are fully released and you can listen to them below.

Ulrikke Brandstorp – “Honestly”
Lyrics and music: Jim Bergsted, Helge Moen, Ben Adams, Ulrikke Brandstorp, Joshua Oliver and Christoffer Gunnestad

Ulrikke has won the Melodi Grand Prix 2020 with “Attention”. Unfortunately she didn’t have a chance to compete with it as the Eurovision Song Contest got cancelled because of the pandemic, so she is back at the contest as the right song to compete with has appeared, as she previously announced. She took part in “The Masked Singer” where she was masked as Troll and she played the lead role of Sophie in the musical “Mamma Mia”.

Eirik Næss – “Wave”
Lyrics and music: Viktor Ljungqvist, Amalie Olsen and Eirik Næss

Eirik Næss is an artist and songwriter from Larvik. After graduating, he moved to London, where he lived for seven years. Since he moved back to Oslo, he has played in several bands, and within a year he performes many different music styles.

Kate Gulbrandsen – “Tårer i paradis”
Lyrics and music: Kjetil Mørland and Kate Gulbrandsen

Kate Gulbrandsen won MGP in 1987 with “Mitt liv” for which she received 65 points which placed her as 9th at Eurovision Song Contest 1987. She has performing at many different stages and took part at various Norwegian TV shows such as “Beat på Beat”, “Stjernekamp” and “Allsang på grensen”. The composer of the song is Kjetil Mørland, even more familiar name for the Eurovision audience as he ended as 8th in the final of ESC 2015 in a duet with Debrah Scarlett singing “A Monster Like Me”.

Rasmus Thall – “TRESKO”
Lyrics and music: Rasmus Simon Vedvik Thallaug, Farida Louise Bolseth Benounis and Robin Alexander Vedvik Helmersen

Rasmus Thallaug is a songwriter, producer and artist from Tønsberg. In MGP last year, he was both producer, co-songwriter and pianist on his girlfriend Farida’s contribution “Dangerous”. Rasmus is the grandson of the well-known artist Anita Thallaug, who participated in MGP in the 60s.

Alessandra Mele – “Queen Of Kings”
Lyrics and music: Henning Olerud, Stanley Ferdinandez, Alessandra Mele and Linda Dale

Alessandra Mele is a Norwegian-Italian artist and songwriter. The 20-year-old has lived most of her life in Italy, but after she finished her secondary school she moved to Norway. She is studying at LIMPI in Lillehammer. The song “Queen of Kings” is about daring and being yourself, and coming out stronger from difficult periods in life.

Byron Williams Jr & Jowst: “Freaky For The Weekend”
Lyrics and music: Byron Williams Jr and Joachim With Steen

Byron Williams comes from Miami, Florida, and Norwegian audience knows him as the contestant of “The Voice” Joakim With Steen, better known under the stage name Jowst, won MGP in 2017 with the song “Grab The Moment”. The two of them joined forces to create the party song “Freaky for the Weekend.”

Umami Tsunami feat. Kyle Alessandro, Kristian Haugstøyl & Magnus Winjum: “Geronimo”
Lyrics and music: Torgeir Ryssevik, Carl-Henrik Wahl, Bjørn Olav Edvardsen, Sindre Timberlid Jenssen, Lasse Midtsian Nymann and Kristian Lund

Umami Tsunami is a project consisting of songwriters, artists, producers and people who work with design and visual expression. At MGP 2023 they will be featuring Kyle Alessandro (16), Kristian Haux (20) and Magnus Winjum (17) from Lillestrøm.

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Semi-final 2 (21st of January)

• Sandra Lyng – “Drøm d bort“
• JONE – “Ekko Inni Meg“
• Swing’ it – “Prohibition“
• Ella – “Waist“
• Alejandro Fuentes – “Fuego“
• Bjørn Olav Edvardsen – “Turn Off My Heart“
• Elsie Bay – “Love You in a Dream“

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Semi-final 3 (28th of January)

• Skrellex – “Love Again“
• Tiril Beisland – “Break It“
• Akuvi – “Triumph“
• Atle Pettersen – “Masterpiece“
• Eline Thorp – “Not Meant to Be“
• Maria Celin – “Freya“
• Stig van Eijk – “Someday“

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This years edition of Melodi Grand Prix will be organised in a slightly different format than last previous editions as it will feature the total of 4 shows, three semi-finals and a grand final. The three artists with the most votes from each of the semi-final will be advancing to the final which is set to take place on 4th of February. The hosts of the show will be Stian “Staysman” Thorbjørnsen and Arianrhod “Arian” Engebø. From this year, artists competing at MGP will be having a chance to use auto-tune. Release of the songs competing at each semi-final will be happening every Monday ahead of the semis. Except today the remaining releases will be on 16th and 23rd of January. The dates of the shows are as follows:

• Semi-final 1 – 14th of January
• Semi-final 1 – 21st of January
• Semi-final 1 – 28th of January
• Grand Final – 4th of February

Which songs are your favourite to qualify from the first semi-final of MGP 2023? Let us know your impressions in the comments below and at our social media @escbubble