Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 1976
Encyclopedia
Norway was represented by Anne-Karine Strøm
, with the song '"Mata Hari
", at the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 3 April in The Hague
. "Mata Hari" was chosen as the Norwegian entry at the Melodi Grand Prix
on 7 February. This was a third Eurovision appearance in four contests for Strøm.
in Oslo
, hosted by Jan Voigt
. Five songs were presented 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.
and preceding Greece
. "Mata Hari" was an uptempo song which had been given a very contemporary disco arrangement, and prior to the contest had attracted more attention than was the norm for Norwegian entries at the time. It was not expected to challenge for the win as the consensus was that the title would be fought out between France
and the United Kingdom
, but was widely predicted as likely to give Norway one of its better placements to date. However things did not go to plan, and at the close of voting "Mata Hari" had picked up only 7 points (4 from Portugal
and 3 from the Netherlands), placing Norway last of the 18 entries, the fourth time the country had finished the evening at the foot of the scoreboard. In the wake of the disastrous result, it was widely suggested that Strøm's odd presentation – in which she appeared on stage in a very unflattering pair of sunglasses, which she proceeded at apparently random intervals to remove and wave around and then put back on again – may have been puzzling and distracting for viewers and juries. The Norwegian jury awarded its 12 points to contest winners the United Kingdom.
Anne-Karine Strøm
Anne-Karine Strøm is a Norwegian singer, best known for having taken part in the Norwegian Eurovision Song Contest selection, Melodi Grand Prix, in six consecutive years between 1971 and 1976, winning on three occasions and representing Norway in the Eurovision Song Contests of 1973, 1974 and...
, with the song '"Mata Hari
Mata Hari (song)
"Mata Hari" was the Norwegian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1976, performed in English by Anne-Karine Strøm.The song is an up-tempo number, in which Strøm sings about the difficulties she faces in life. The cure for these, she sings, is to borrow some of the mystique of Mata Hari, to whom...
", at the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 3 April in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
. "Mata Hari" 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 February. This was a third Eurovision appearance in four contests for Strøm.
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 songs were presented 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 | Jahn Teigen Jahn 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... |
Anita Skorgan Anita Skorgan Anita Skorgan is a Norwegian singer-songwriter. She was once married to Jahn Teigen, another successful Norwegian singer-songwriter... |
"Hastverk" | 226 | 3 |
| 2 | Gudny Aspaas & Jahn Teigen | Dag Spantell Dag Spantell Dag Spantell is a Norwegian singer who was at his most popular in the 1970s.At the age of twelve he was inspired by The Shadows to start his own instrumental band called Beatboys, where he played rhythm guitar... , Anne Lise Gjøstøl, Gro Anita Schonn & Stein Ingebrigtsen Stein Ingebrigtsen Stein Ingebrigtsen is a Norwegian singer. He was enormously popular in Norway in the 1970s, nicknamed "Mr. Norsktoppen" for his countless hits topping Norsktoppen, an official chart for music in Norwegian.... |
"Alltid en vind" | 147 | 4 |
| 3 | Gudny Aspaas | Hans Petter Hansen | "Du fikk meg glad" | 131 | 5 |
| 4 | Gudny Aspaas & Jahn Teigen | Inger Lise Rypdal Inger Lise Rypdal Inger Lise Rypdal is a Norwegian singer and actress in many different genres: pop, rock, theater, film, and musical.-History:Inger Lise Rypdal has been an artist since 1968... & Jahn Teigen |
"Voodoo" | 351 | 2 |
| 5 | Gudny Aspaas | Anne-Karine Strøm | "Mata Hari" | 643 | 1 |
At Eurovision
On the night of the final Strøm performed 9th in the running order, following the NetherlandsNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and preceding Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. "Mata Hari" was an uptempo song which had been given a very contemporary disco arrangement, and prior to the contest had attracted more attention than was the norm for Norwegian entries at the time. It was not expected to challenge for the win as the consensus was that the title would be fought out between France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and 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...
, but was widely predicted as likely to give Norway one of its better placements to date. However things did not go to plan, and at the close of voting "Mata Hari" had picked up only 7 points (4 from Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and 3 from the Netherlands), placing Norway last of the 18 entries, the fourth time the country had finished the evening at the foot of the scoreboard. In the wake of the disastrous result, it was widely suggested that Strøm's odd presentation – in which she appeared on stage in a very unflattering pair of sunglasses, which she proceeded at apparently random intervals to remove and wave around and then put back on again – may have been puzzling and distracting for viewers and juries. The Norwegian jury awarded its 12 points to contest winners the United Kingdom.