Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 1981
Encyclopedia
Norway was represented by Finn Kalvik
, with the song '"Aldri i livet
", at the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 4 April in Dublin. "Aldri i livet" was chosen as the Norwegian entry at the Melodi Grand Prix
on 7 March.
, hosted by the previous year's Norwegian performer Sverre Kjelsberg
. Ten songs took part in the final, with the winner chosen by a 9-member "expert" jury who awarded 10 points to their favourite song down to 1 point to the least-liked.
and preceding the United Kingdom
– in one of Eurovision's stranger coincidences, this was to be the first of six consecutive contests in which Norway was drawn to perform immediately before the United Kingdom. Kalvik performed the low-key ballad seated and strumming a guitar, and it was surmised that the song may have suffered by being sandwiched between the Irish and British entries, both of which were uptempo, instantly catchy pop songs with eye-catching stage presentations. "Aldri i livet" got totally lost, and at the close of voting had failed register any score, giving Norway a second nul-points in four contests and a sixth time at the foot of the scoreboard. The Norwegian jury awarded its 12 points to Switzerland
.
Finn Kalvik
Finn Bjørn Kalvik is a Norwegian singer and composer.-Early career:He was born in Fåvang, but his family moved to the working class district of Grorud, Oslo in 1952. Early in his career Kalvik found success putting music to the poetry of popular Norwegian writers André Bjerke and Inger Hagerup...
, with the song '"Aldri i livet
Aldri I Livet
"Aldri i livet" was the Norwegian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1981, performed in Norwegian by Finn Kalvik.The song is a ballad, with Kalvik telling his lover that "Never in my life have I thought of leaving you", and asking whether she thinks of him when he is not with her.The song was...
", at the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 4 April in Dublin. "Aldri i livet" was chosen as the Norwegian entry at the 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...
on 7 March.
Final
The MGP was held at the studios of broadcaster NRK in OsloOslo
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...
, hosted by the previous year's Norwegian performer Sverre Kjelsberg
Sverre Kjelsberg
Sverre Kjelsberg in Tromsø) is a Norwegian singer, musician , composer and lyricist. He was a member of the band The Pussycats from 1964...
. Ten songs took part in the final, with the winner chosen by a 9-member "expert" jury who awarded 10 points to their favourite song down to 1 point to the least-liked.
| Draw | Artist | Song | Points | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alex | "Rock'n Roller" | 52 | 5 |
| 2 | Unit 5 | "Lei mæ hjem" | 64 | 2 |
| 3 | Dollie | "1984" | 49 | 6 |
| 4 | Berit Nyheim | "Rock'n Roll" | 19 | 10 |
| 5 | Inger Lise Rypdal | "Tankar" | 63 | 3 |
| 6 | Eigil Berg | "Lorelei" | 35 | 9 |
| 7 | Halvdan Sivertsen | "Liv laga" | 39 | 7 |
| 8 | Darlings | "Født på ny" | 36 | 8 |
| 9 | Tramteatret | "Det er vår tur nå" | 59 | 4 |
| 10 | Finn Kalvik | "Aldri i livet" | 79 | 1 |
At Eurovision
On the night of the final Kalvik performed 13th in the running order, following IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and preceding the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
– in one of Eurovision's stranger coincidences, this was to be the first of six consecutive contests in which Norway was drawn to perform immediately before the United Kingdom. Kalvik performed the low-key ballad seated and strumming a guitar, and it was surmised that the song may have suffered by being sandwiched between the Irish and British entries, both of which were uptempo, instantly catchy pop songs with eye-catching stage presentations. "Aldri i livet" got totally lost, and at the close of voting had failed register any score, giving Norway a second nul-points in four contests and a sixth time at the foot of the scoreboard. The Norwegian jury awarded its 12 points to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.