Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 1968
Encyclopedia
Norway was represented by Odd Børre
, with the song '"Stress
", at the 1968 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 6 April in London
.
"Stress" originally finished second in the 1968 Melodi Grand Prix
on 3 March, but was promoted to the Norwegian entry when the winning song "Jag har aldri vært så glad i no'en som deg" was withdrawn from the contest by its composer amid persistent allegations that it plagiarised
the 1963 hit "Summer Holiday
" by Cliff Richard
– who ironically was the United Kingdom
's singer in the 1968 contest. This is the only occasion on which the MGP winner did not go forward to Eurovision.
in Oslo
, hosted by Jan Voigt
. Five performers and songs took part in the final with each song sung twice by different singers, once with a small combo and once with a full orchestra. The winning song was chosen by voting from ten regional juries.
. Each national jury had 10 points to distribute between the songs, and at the close "Stress" had picked up 2 points (1 each from Luxembourg
and Spain
), placing Norway joint 13th (with Austria
and Switzerland
) of the 17 entries. The Norwegian jury awarded 6 of its 10 points to Sweden
.
Odd Børre
Odd Børre Sørensen was a former Norwegian pop singer. He was better known by his stage name of Odd Børre. Internationally he is best known for the song "Stress" that he performed in the Eurovision Song Contest of 1968. He sung in the Kjell Karlsen's Orchestra and was releasing singles during that...
, with the song '"Stress
Stress (song)
"Stress" was the Norwegian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1968, performed in Norwegian by Odd Børre.The song is a moderately up-tempo number, with Børre seemingly conducting a conversation with a friend or colleague, while trying to excuse himself to catch "the last bus home"...
", at the 1968 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 6 April in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
"Stress" originally finished second in the 1968 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 3 March, but was promoted to the Norwegian entry when the winning song "Jag har aldri vært så glad i no'en som deg" was withdrawn from the contest by its composer amid persistent allegations that it plagiarised
Musical plagiarism
Music plagiarism is the use or close imitation of another author's music while representing it as one's own original work. Plagiarism in music now occurs in two contexts – with a musical idea or sampling...
the 1963 hit "Summer Holiday
Summer Holiday (song)
"Summer Holiday" is a song recorded by Cliff Richard and The Shadows, written by rhythm guitarist Bruce Welch and drummer Brian Bennett. It went to number one in the UK. It is taken from the film of the same name and is one of Richard's best known titles...
" by Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
– who ironically was 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...
's singer in the 1968 contest. This is the only occasion on which the MGP winner did not go forward to Eurovision.
Final
The MGP was held at CentralteatretCentralteatret
Centralteatret is a theatre in Akersgata, Oslo, Norway.Centralteatret was established by the Alma Isabella Bosse Fahlstrøm and Johan Peter Broust Fahlstrøm in 1897. From 1902, Harald Otto was the theater manager and owner. His son, Reidar Otto, subsequently ran it, while his son, Harald Otto...
in 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...
, hosted by Jan Voigt
Jan Voigt
Jan Voigt was a Norwegian actor, dancer and museum director.He was born in Bærum as a son of Charles Antonius Voigt and Nathalie Reuter Sande . He made his stage debut at Centralteatret in 1950, and remained there for four years. He was then a freelance actor, mainly at Edderkoppen, Chat Noir and...
. Five performers and songs took part in the final with each song sung twice by different singers, once with a small combo and once with a full orchestra. The winning song was chosen by voting from ten regional juries.
| Draw | Combo | Orchestra | Song | Points | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Per Asplin Per Asplin Per Asplin was a Norwegian singer, composer and actor. He co-starred in a handful of films as well as participating in Melodi Grand Prix five times in the 1960s... |
Nora Brockstedt Nora Brockstedt Nora Brockstedt is a successful Norwegian singer, born on 20 January 1923. She first entered a professional stage at the age of 20, namely the highly reputed Chat Noir in Oslo. During the next two decades, she managed to become one of Norway's most famous and beloved singers and entertainers... |
"Nysgjerrig-Per" | 4 | 4 |
| 2 | Kirsti Sparboe Kirsti Sparboe Kirsti Sparboe was born on 7 December 1946 in Tromsø, Norway. She Is a musical performer, and an actress. Most of her musical career is based around the widely popular Eurovision Song Contest.... |
Odd Børre | "Stress" | 14 | 2 |
| 3 | Nora Brockstedt | Per Müller | "Nordlys" | 10 | 3 |
| 4 | Kirsti Sparboe | Odd Børre | "Jag har aldri vært så glad i no'en som deg" | 20 | 1 (W/D) |
| 5 | Per Müller | Per Asplin | "Ingenmannsland" | 2 | 5 |
At Eurovision
On the night of the final Børre performed 13th in the running order, following the United Kingdom and preceding 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...
. Each national jury had 10 points to distribute between the songs, and at the close "Stress" had picked up 2 points (1 each from Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
), placing Norway joint 13th (with Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and 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....
) of the 17 entries. The Norwegian jury awarded 6 of its 10 points to 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....
.