MGP head Stig Karlsen has revealed that format changes are being looked at for Melodi Grand Prix 2022.
During the Norwegian Grand Prix club yearly autumn meeting, Stig Karlsen the Head of MGP for NRK revealed more details regarding the nation’s selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.
Both the semi-finals and the final of Melodi Grand Prix 2022 will be broadcast from the H3 Arena at Fornebu. The amount of space that will be used for the contest is being expanded to the maximum available space, meaning a larger venue for the contest. The use of a larger venue is not planned due to the ongoing uncertainty regarding the Covid-19 situation. The H3 Arena at Fornebu has a max capacity of just over 1000 people. At this time other events such as Melfest 2022 have plans for a full audience in large arenas
There are also some changes to the format of Melodi Grand Prix 2022 in the works but these can not be fully confirmed at this stage. Mr Karlsen explained that these are mostly still in the early planning stage. Changes that may be made are:
- Return of a jury vote. In the past, an International Jury was part of the final.
- The timing of when the songs and acts are revealed. Last year the songs and acts were revealed just a few days before each heat.
- New methods for voting
The song submission window for Melodi Grand Prix closed on September 15. EscNorge reports that fewer Swedish and foreign songwriters have submitted songs than in previous years. Not much is known yet about the songs submitted but it is reported that names such as Kevin Haugan, Reidun Sæther and Emelie Hollow are involved as singers or songwriters for songs submitted.
The dates for Melodi Grand Prix 2022 are as follows:
- Semi-Final One – January 15
- Semi-Final Two – January 22
- Semi-Final Three – January 29
- Semi-Final Four – February 5
- Semi-Final Five – February 12
- Grand Final – February 19
It is expended as in 2020 and 2021 there will be a select number of pre-qualified songs that will not need to win a place in the final.
Image Source: ESC Daily | Source: escNorge
Norway debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1960 and have won the contest three times – in 1985, 1995 and 2009. The country has the dubious record of finishing last the most times, eleven in total, and have received nul points four times. Norway last won the contest in 2009 when Alexander Rybak broke all records with his song “Fairytale”. He scored 387 points in the final, receiving 16 sets of 12 points and scoring points from every country.
