Norway made its debut in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1960 with the entry “Voi-voi” by Nora Brocksted, which achieved an impressive 4th place. However, despite notable successes, Norway holds the unfortunate record for the most last-place finishes in Eurovision history, having received the lowest points on 11 occasions. Additionally, Norway has endured the indignity of not receiving a single point four times throughout its 62-year history in the competition.
Despite the similarities in musical tastes among Scandinavian countries and the mutual recognition of singers across the region, Norway and Sweden often find themselves engaged in their own friendly rivalry within the contest. However, like their Nordic counterparts, they tend to be generous in exchanging points with each other, a trend also observed among Balkan countries, Greece, Cyprus, and other neighbouring nations.
Norway has had its fair share of successes in the Eurovision Song Contest. With three victories under its belt and a remarkable 58 appearances in the Grand Final, Norway has consistently been a strong contender on the Eurovision stage. Achieving a Top 10 position 25 times highlights Norway’s consistent performance, translating to a 40% chance of securing a spot in the Top 10.
Certain periods, like the 1990s, stand out as particularly strong for Norway, with five Top 10 finishes during that decade alone. However, there have been instances where Norway’s entries may not have resonated as strongly with audiences, leading to less fortunate results in some years.
Despite this, several Norwegian Eurovision entries have transcended the contest to become enduring classics both within Norway and internationally, serving as testament to the country’s rich musical heritage and its ability to produce memorable songs.
Norway has experienced a resurgence in recent years, and this can largely be attributed to the consistently high-quality songs they have been sending to the Eurovision Song Contest. The evolution and improvement of their national selection process, Melodi Grand Prix, have also played a significant role in their success. By refining and modernizing their approach to selecting entries, Norway has been able to better identify songs and artists with broad appeal and competitive potential on the Eurovision stage. As a result, they have achieved notable successes and positioned themselves as a formidable contender in the contest.
Norway has had the honour of hosting the Eurovision Song Contest three times: in 1986 in Bergen, 1996 in Oslo, and 2010, also in Oslo. The Norwegian people are renowned for their fervent enthusiasm towards both their national final, Melodi Grand Prix, and the Eurovision Song Contest itself. Melodi Grand Prix is widely regarded as one of the most popular TV shows in Norway, drawing significant attention and excitement from the public each year. This vibrant enthusiasm underscores Norway’s deep-rooted connection to the Eurovision tradition and its status as an integral part of the country’s cultural landscape.
Biggest successes
1st place, Bobbysocks with “La Det Swinge” (Gothenburg 1985)
1st place, Secret Garden with “Nocturne” (Dublin 1995)
1st place, Alexander Rybak with “Fairytale” (Moscow 2009)
History
- Debut: 1960
- Participations: 62
- Victories: 3
- Finals: 59 (17 since 2004)
- Chances to reach the final: 95% (85% since 2004)
- Top 10: 25
- Chances to reach the Top 10: 40% (50% since 2004)
- Last places: 11
Video Nostalgia
Anne-Karine Strøm with “Mata Hari”, Rank 18 (The Hague 1976)
Ketil Stokkan with “Romeo”, Rank 12 (Bergen 1986)
Knut Anders Sørum with “High”, Rank 24 (Istanbul 2004)