# Melodi Grand Prix 2021

Melodi Grand Prix 2021 was the 59th edition of the Norwegian music competition Melodi Grand Prix (MGP). The contest served as the country's preselection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. The competition was organized by NRK and was held between 16 January 2021 and 20 February 2021. A total of 26 songs participated – the highest number in the history of the competition.
The competition consisted of five semi-finals, a "wild card" show, and the final on Saturday 20 February 2021. A total of twelve songs participated in the final. Of these, six songs were pre-qualified, while the rest had to qualify through the five semi-finals and the wild card show. All shows were broadcast live from the H3 Arena in Fornebu, just outside Oslo.
The contest was won by the song "Fallen Angel" by Tix. The song therefore represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

## Format

The contest was held without an audience due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway.

### Presenters

The competition was hosted by the same three presenters as the previous edition: Kåre Magnus Bergh hosted for the seventh time, whereas Ronny Brede Aase and Ingrid Gjessing Linhave hosted the show for the second time. Linhave left the show from the fifth semi-final, citing long-term back problems, and was replaced by Silje Nordnes.

## Competing entries

Song submissions were open from 15 May 2020 to 16 August 2020. The competing entries in each semi-final were revealed five days before their respective semi-final's scheduled airdate. The six pre-qualified acts were revealed on 11 January 2021, along with the competing entries in the first semi-final.
Competing entries :
| Artist | Song | Composer(s) |
| Ane.Fin | "Walking in My Sleep" | Ane Caroline Finstad, Niklas Rosström, Espen Andreas Fjeld, Kim Rune Hagen, Vebjørn Jernberg |
| Atle Pettersen | "World on Fire" | Atle Pettersen, Jesper Borgen, Magnus Clausen, Alexander Standal Pavelich, Peter Daniel Newman |
| Beady Belle | "Playing with Fire" | Beady Belle |
| Big Daddy Karsten | "Smile" | Karsten Dahl Marcussen, Are Næsset, Pål Gauslaa Sivertzen |
| Blåsemafian [no] feat. Hazel | "Let Loose" | Jørgen Lund Karlsen, Sigurd Evensen, Stig Espen Hundsnes, Benjamin Sefring, Caroline Teigen |
| Daniel Owen | "Psycho" | Daniel Elmhari, Paria Ahmadzade, Marius Hongve, Henrik Høven, Patrick Brizard, Jørgen Troøyen, Leif Inge Fosen, Marcus Nilsen Ulstad |
| Dinaye | "Own Yourself" | Christian Ingebrigtsen, David Thulin, Dina Matheussen |
| Emmy | "Witch Woods" | Olli Äkräs, Elsa Søllesvik, Morten Franck |
| Imerika [no] | "I Can't Escape" | Erika Dahlen, Bjørn Olav Edvardsen, Morten Franck, Ben Adams |
| Jorn | "Faith Bloody Faith" | Åge Sten Nilsen, Jørn Lande, Eirik Renton, Kjell Åge Karlsen |
| Kaja Rode [no] | "Feel Again" | Magnus Martinsen, Mirjam Johanne Omdal, Andreas Gjone, Erika Dahlen |
| Keiino | "Monument" | Tom Hugo Hermansen, Alexander Nyborg Olsson, Fred Buljo, Alexandra Rotan, Rüdiger Schramm |
| Ketil Stokkan | "My Life Is OK" | Ketil Stokkan |
| Kiim [no] | "My Lonely Voice" | Kim Rune Hagen, Espen Andreas Fjeld, Vebjørn Jernberg, Niklas Rosström |
| Landeveiens Helter | "Alt det der" | Lars-Erik Blokkhus, Petter Bjørklund Kristiansen, Thor-Erik Claussen |
| Maria Solheim | "Nordlyset" | Andreas Gjone, Camilla North, Elsbeth Rehder, Torgeir Ryssevik, Maria Solheim |
| Marianne Pentha & Mikkel Gaup | "Pages" | Vanessa Liftig, Robin Lynch, Marianne Pentha, Mikkel Gaup |
| Ole Hartz | "Vi er Norge" | Rein Mellbye Van Vliet, Eirik Næss, Ole F. Hartz Gravbråten, Magnus Hagen Clausen, Petter Bjørklund Kristiansen |
| Raylee [no] | "Hero" | Andreas Stone Johansson, Anderz Wrethov, Laurell Barker, Thomas Stengaard, Frazer Mac |
| Rein Alexander [no] | "Eyes Wide Open" | Rein Alexander Korshamn, Christian Ingebrigtsen, Kjetil Mørland |
| River | "Coming Home" | Thomas Heiland, Lennart Karlsen, Magnus Claussen, Simen Meland Handeland, Tommy La Vardi |
| Royane | "Circus" | Royane Harkati |
| Stavangerkameratene [no] | "Who I Am" | Tommy Fredvang, Lars Horn Lavik, Robin Sharma, Glenn Lyse |
| Stina Talling [no] | "Elevate" | Bård Mathias Bonsaksen, Hilda Stenmalm, Stina Talling, Eirik Hella, Monika Engeseth |
| Tix | "Fallen Angel" | Andreas Haukeland |
| TuVeia | "Bli med meg på gar'n" | Kristian Galaaen Bredalslien, Roar Galaaen Bredalslien, Bendik Johnsen, Torgeir Ryssevik, Carl-Henrik Wahl, Jonas Holteberg Jensen, Sindre Timberlid Jenssen, Sarah A. V. Johnston |

## Semi-finals
### Semi-final 1

The entries competing in the first semi-final were revealed on 11 January 2021, and the semi-final took place on 16 January 2021.
Semi-final 1: 16 January 2021 :
| Duel | Draw | Artist | Song | Result |
| Duel 1 | 1 | Stina Talling | "Elevate" | Gold Duel |
| Duel 1 | 2 | Beady Belle | "Playing with Fire" | Second Chance |
| Duel 2 | 1 | Jorn | "Faith Bloody Faith" | Second Chance |
| Duel 2 | 2 | Blåsemafian feat. Hazel | "Let Loose" | Gold Duel |
| Promo | – | Keiino | "Monument" | Pre-qualified |
| Promo | – | Tix | "Ut av mørket" | Pre-qualified |
Gold Duel: 16 January 2021 :
| Draw | Artist | Song | Result |
| 1 | Stina Talling | "Elevate" | Second Chance |
| 2 | Blåsemafian feat. Hazel | "Let Loose" | Final |

### Semi-final 2

The entries competing in the second semi-final were revealed on 18 January 2021, and the semi-final took place on 23 January 2021.
Semi-final 2: 23 January 2021 :
| Duel | Draw | Artist | Song | Result |
| Duel 1 | 1 | Ketil Stokkan | "My Life Is OK" | Second Chance |
| Duel 1 | 2 | Daniel Owen | "Psycho" | Gold Duel |
| Duel 2 | 1 | Raylee | "Hero" | Gold Duel |
| Duel 2 | 2 | Maria Solheim | "Nordlyset" | Second Chance |
| Promo | – | Stavangerkameratene | "Barndomsgater" | Pre-qualified |
Gold Duel: 23 January 2021 :
| Draw | Artist | Song | Result |
| 1 | Daniel Owen | "Psycho" | Second Chance |
| 2 | Raylee | "Hero" | Final |

### Semi-final 3

The entries competing in the third semi-final were revealed on 25 January 2021, and the semi-final took place on 30 January 2021.
Semi-final 3: 30 January 2021 :
| Duel | Draw | Artist | Song | Result |
| Duel 1 | 1 | Dinaye | "Own Yourself" | Second Chance |
| Duel 1 | 2 | Big Daddy Karsten | "Smile" | Gold Duel |
| Duel 2 | 1 | Emmy | "Witch Woods" | Gold Duel |
| Duel 2 | 2 | Ole Hartz | "Vi er Norge" | Second Chance |
| Promo | – | Kaja Rode | "Feel Again" | Pre-qualified |
Gold Duel: 30 January 2021 :
| Draw | Artist | Song | Result |
| 1 | Big Daddy Karsten | "Smile" | Second Chance |
| 2 | Emmy | "Witch Woods" | Final |

### Semi-final 4

The entries competing in the fourth semi-final were revealed on 1 February 2021, and the semi-final took place on 6 February 2021.
Semi-final 4: 6 February 2021 :
| Duel | Draw | Artist | Song | Result |
| Duel 1 | 1 | Marianne Pentha & Mikkel Gaup | "Pages" | Gold Duel |
| Duel 1 | 2 | Landeveiens Helter | "Alt det der" | Second Chance |
| Duel 2 | 1 | Kiim | "My Lonely Voice" | Gold Duel |
| Duel 2 | 2 | Royane | "Circus" | Second Chance |
| Promo | – | Atle Pettersen | "World on Fire" | Pre-qualified |
Gold Duel: 6 February 2021 :
| Draw | Artist | Song | Result |
| 1 | Marianne Pentha & Mikkel Gaup | "Pages" | Second Chance |
| 2 | Kiim | "My Lonely Voice" | Final |

### Semi-final 5

The entries competing in the fifth semi-final were revealed on 8 February 2021, and the semi-final took place on 13 February 2021.
Semi-final 5: 13 February 2021 :
| Duel | Draw | Artist | Song | Result |
| Duel 1 | 1 | TuVeia | "Bli med meg på gar'n" | Second Chance |
| Duel 1 | 2 | River | "Coming Home" | Gold Duel |
| Duel 2 | 1 | Ane.Fin | "Walking in My Sleep" | Second Chance |
| Duel 2 | 2 | Imerika | "I Can't Escape" | Gold Duel |
| Promo | – | Rein Alexander | "Eyes Wide Open" | Pre-qualified |
Gold Duel: 13 February 2021 :
| Draw | Artist | Song | Result |
| 1 | River | "Coming Home" | Second Chance |
| 2 | Imerika | "I Can't Escape" | Final |

## Second Chance

The second chance round took place on 15 February 2021.
Second Chance: 15 February 2021 :
| Draw | Artist | Song | Result |
| 1 | Beady Belle | "Playing with Fire" | Eliminated |
| 2 | Jorn | "Faith Bloody Faith" | Final |
| 3 | Stina Talling | "Elevate" | Eliminated |
| 4 | Ketil Stokkan | "My Life Is OK" | Eliminated |
| 5 | Maria Solheim | "Nordlyset" | Eliminated |
| 6 | Daniel Owen | "Psycho" | Eliminated |
| 7 | Dinaye | "Own Yourself" | Eliminated |
| 8 | Ole Hartz | "Vi er Norge" | Eliminated |
| 9 | Big Daddy Karsten | "Smile" | Eliminated |
| 10 | Landeveiens Helter | "Alt det der" | Eliminated |
| 11 | Royane | "Circus" | Eliminated |
| 12 | Marianne Pentha & Mikkel Gaup | "Pages" | Eliminated |
| 13 | Ane.Fin | "Walking in My Sleep" | Eliminated |
| 14 | TuVeia | "Bli med meg på gar'n" | Eliminated |
| 15 | River | "Coming Home" | Eliminated |

## Final

Twelve songs consisting of the five semi-finals winners and one Second Chance alongside the six pre-qualified songs competed in the final which was hosted by H3 Arena, Fornebu on 20 February 2021. In the first round, all twelve finalists performed once, after which the four best songs proceeded to the gold final. After the second voting round, the two best songs from the gold final proceeded to the gold duel. A third voting round then determined the winner of Melodi Grand Prix 2021.
After the gold duel, the results of the online voting were revealed by representatives of Norway's five regions, which led to the victory of "Fallen Angel" performed by Tix.
Final: 20 February 2021 :
| Draw | Artist | Song | Result |
| 1 | Atle Pettersen | "World on Fire" | Eliminated |
| 2 | Raylee | "Hero" | Eliminated |
| 3 | Stavangerkameratene | "Who I Am" | Eliminated |
| 4 | Kiim | "My Lonely Voice" | Eliminated |
| 5 | Blåsemafian feat. Hazel | "Let Loose" | Gold Final |
| 6 | Emmy | "Witch Woods" | Eliminated |
| 7 | Tix | "Fallen Angel" | Gold Final |
| 8 | Kaja Rode | "Feel Again" | Eliminated |
| 9 | Rein Alexander | "Eyes Wide Open" | Eliminated |
| 10 | Imerika | "I Can't Escape" | Eliminated |
| 11 | Keiino | "Monument" | Gold Final |
| 12 | Jorn | "Faith Bloody Faith" | Gold Final |
Gold Final: 20 February 2021 :
| Draw | Artist | Song | Result |
| 1 | Blåsemafian feat. Hazel | "Let Loose" | Eliminated |
| 2 | Tix | "Fallen Angel" | Gold Duel |
| 3 | Keiino | "Monument" | Gold Duel |
| 4 | Jorn | "Faith Bloody Faith" | Eliminated |
Gold Duel: 20 February 2021 :
| Draw | Artist | Song | South | South | Central | Central | North | North | West | West | East | East | Total | Total | Place |
| Draw | Artist | Song | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Place |
| 1 | Keiino | "Monument" | 27,666 | 42.80 | 38,850 | 45.29 | 42,437 | 60.16 | 58,942 | 41.56 | 113,148 | 37.94 | 281,043 | 42.51 | 2 |
| 2 | Tix | "Fallen Angel" | 36,996 | 57.20 | 46,937 | 54.71 | 28,105 | 39.84 | 82,891 | 58.44 | 185,104 | 62.06 | 380,033 | 57.49 | 1 |

## Incidents

After the second semi-final, NRK revealed that there had been technical difficulties in the first two semi-finals, which caused votes from devices with older iOS and Android operating systems to be rejected. NRK stated that the results of the semi-finals were unaffected. The system was corrected for the later shows.
After the final, it was reported by Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang that voting issues had again occurred in the final, and that some viewers' votes had not been counted. NRK stated that the voting system had interpreted the large number of votes as suspicious, and confirmed that the error did not affect the results.

## Ratings

Viewing figures by show :
| Show | Air date | Viewers (millions) | Share |
| Semi-final 1 | 16 January 2021 | 0.784 | 46% |
| Semi-final 2 | 23 January 2021 | 0.717 | 48% |
| Semi-final 3 | 30 January 2021 | 0.668 | 47% |
| Semi-final 4 | 6 February 2021 | 0.758 | 52% |
| Semi-final 5 | 13 February 2021 | 0.706 | – |
| Second Chance | 15 February 2021 | – | – |
| Final | 20 February 2021 | 1.110 | 67% |