Geir Rönning
Encyclopedia
Geir Rönning is a professional singer-songwriter
from Ålesund
, Norway
. He later moved to the capital Oslo
in the 1980s, and later on to Stockholm
, Sweden
, where he found opportunity to start a musical career. He later moved to Finland
, which he represented in the Eurovision Song Contest
in 2005. He returned to Norway in 2006 to try unsuccessfully to represent Norway in Eurovision through a joint song with Jorun Erdal. In 2010 he had a come back trying to represent this time Finland in Eurovision. The same year he also took part Swedish Idol 2010
coming seventh.
- 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.
, 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.
. 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.
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.
. 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. In the final in Norway's biggest concert hall, the Oslo Spektrum
they ended 4th out of 8.
. He was eliminated on 5 November, placing seventh.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
from Ålesund
Ålesund
is a town and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Sunnmøre, and the center of the Ålesund Region. It is a sea port, and is noted for its unique concentration of Art Nouveau architecture....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. He later moved to the capital Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
in the 1980s, and later on to Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, where he found opportunity to start a musical career. He later moved to Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, which he represented in the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
in 2005. He returned to Norway in 2006 to try unsuccessfully to represent Norway in Eurovision through a joint song with Jorun Erdal. In 2010 he had a come back trying to represent this time Finland in Eurovision. The same year he also took part Swedish Idol 2010
Idol 2010
The seventh season of Swedish Idol premiered on September 7, 2010 and concluded in December 2010 and was broadcasted by TV4. Judges Anders Bagge, Laila Bagge Wahlgren and Andreas Carlsson continued to judge the show's contestants for their third year, along with, for the fourth consecutive year,...
coming seventh.
Melodi Grand Prix (1994-1997)
In 1994 Geir's career as a composer started. That year he composed the song Gi alt vi har, which was performed by Jahn TeigenJahn Teigen
Jahn Teigen is a Norwegian singer and musician. Jahn received a knighthood from H.M. King Harald V. He represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest three times, in 1978, 1982 and 1983. His given name was Jan, he added the silent H later. Since October 2006 he has been living in Sweden...
- a living legend and star of the Norwegian music scene - in Melodi Grand Prix
Melodi Grand Prix
Melodi Grand Prix is an annual music competition organised by Norwegian public broadcaster Norsk Rikskringkasting . It determines the country's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest, and has been staged almost every year since 1960.The festival has produced three Eurovision winners and...
1994, the national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
. 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 FinlandFinland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, where he became the lead singer of a five member rock 'n' roll band, among them the guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
of Leningrad Cowboys
Leningrad Cowboys
The Leningrad Cowboys is a Finnish rock band famous for humorously making rock and roll covers of popular songs, exaggerated pompadour hairstyles, long, pointy shoes, often featuring a Russian military band, the Alexandrov Ensemble.-Beginnings:...
. Geir has also toured outside the Nordic countries; he's done gigs in Albania, Romania, England and the USA.
Finnish Euroviisut 2002, 2004
In 2002 Geir returned to Eurovision spin-offsSpin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
. 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.
Eurovision Song Contest 2005
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 BeslanBeslan
Beslan is a town and the administrative center of Pravoberezhny District of the Republic of North Ossetia–Alania, Russia. In terms of population, Beslan is the third largest town in the republic behind Vladikavkaz and Mozdok...
terror tragedy in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. 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
Eurovision Song Contest 2005
The Eurovision Song Contest 2005 was the 50th Eurovision Song Contest, which was held at the Palace of Sports, Kiev, Ukraine. The winner was Greece's My Number One, written by Christos Dantis and Natalia Germanou and performed by Swedish-born Greek singer Elena Paparizou, who scored 230 points,...
, which that year was held in the Ukrainian
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
capital Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
. He had to be among the top ten to advance to the final night.
Melodi Grand Prix 2006
Despite his Eurovision participation in 2005, Geir wants to try again, this time representing his home country NorwayNorway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. By being one of the two most popular acts (out of six) in the semi final in Alta
Alta, Norway
-Birdlife:For those interested in bird watching, the river outlet, known locally as Altaosen is well worth a visit. This tidal area is used as a stopover for many wetland species.-Transportation:...
, northern Norway, Geir and his companion Jorun Erdal
Jorun Erdal
Jorun Irene Erdal is a Norwegian singer and musical theatre artist. Her parents are from Oppstryn in Stryn, in Sogn og Fjordane county, and she has also lived there since age 12. However she was born in Oslo on May 14, 1963, and from then on raised on Snarøya in Bærum, a suburb of the city of...
qualified directly to the final night of Melodi Grand Prix 2006
Melodi Grand Prix 2006
Melodi Grand Prix 2006 is the television show in which the Norwegian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 was chosen....
, performing the ABBAesque schlager
Schlager
Schlager music is a style of popular music prevalent in Central and Northern Europe and the Balkans and also in France and Poland. In Portugal, it was adapted and became pimba music...
Lost And Found, written by three experienced Swedish composers. In the final in Norway's biggest concert hall, the Oslo Spektrum
Oslo Spektrum
Oslo Spektrum is an indoor multi-purpose arena in east central Oslo, Norway. It opened in December 1990. It is currently owned and operated by Norges Varemesse , who also own and operate the Norges Varemesse conference center in Lillestrøm which is Norway's largest conference center...
they ended 4th out of 8.
Finnish Euroviisut 2010
Geir has also participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 qualifiers in Finland.Swedish Idol 2010
In 2010 he reached the finals of Swedish Idol 2010Idol 2010
The seventh season of Swedish Idol premiered on September 7, 2010 and concluded in December 2010 and was broadcasted by TV4. Judges Anders Bagge, Laila Bagge Wahlgren and Andreas Carlsson continued to judge the show's contestants for their third year, along with, for the fourth consecutive year,...
. He was eliminated on 5 November, placing seventh.
Singles
- 2002: "I Don't Wanna Throw It All Away"
- 2004: "I Don't Need to Say"
- 2005: "Why?"
- 2006: "Lost and Found" (Jorun ErdalJorun ErdalJorun Irene Erdal is a Norwegian singer and musical theatre artist. Her parents are from Oppstryn in Stryn, in Sogn og Fjordane county, and she has also lived there since age 12. However she was born in Oslo on May 14, 1963, and from then on raised on Snarøya in Bærum, a suburb of the city of...
and Geir Rönning)
See also
- Finland in the Eurovision Song ContestFinland in the Eurovision Song ContestFinland first entered the Eurovision Song Contest in 1961, and has participated a total of 45 times. Finland won the contest for the first time in 2006 with Lordi's "Hard Rock Hallelujah"...
- Eurovision Song Contest 2005Eurovision Song Contest 2005The Eurovision Song Contest 2005 was the 50th Eurovision Song Contest, which was held at the Palace of Sports, Kiev, Ukraine. The winner was Greece's My Number One, written by Christos Dantis and Natalia Germanou and performed by Swedish-born Greek singer Elena Paparizou, who scored 230 points,...
- Melodi Grand Prix 2006Melodi Grand Prix 2006Melodi Grand Prix 2006 is the television show in which the Norwegian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 was chosen....