Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980
Encyclopedia
Norway was represented by Sverre Kjelsberg
and Mattis Hætta
, with the song '"Sámiid Ædnan
", at the 1980 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 19 April in The Hague
. "Sámiid Ædnan" was chosen as the Norwegian entry at the Melodi Grand Prix
on 22 March and remains one of the best-remembered Norwegian entries, particularly in Norway itself.
, hosted by Norway's 1966 representative Åse Kleveland
. 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. Voting was very close with only 4 points separating the top five songs. The first vote resulted in a tie for first place, so each jury member was asked to nominate their preferred song of the two, and "Sámiid Ædnan" won by 5 votes to 4.
and preceding Germany
. The song was very unusual for Eurovision both structurally and thematically, and the stage presentation, although simple and gimmick-free, proved very memorable to viewers and frequently features in Eurovision montages. At the close of voting "Sámiid Ædnan" had received 15 points, placing Norway 16th of the 19 entries. The Norwegian jury awarded its 12 points to contest winners Ireland
.
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...
and Mattis Hætta
Mattis Hætta
Mattis Hætta is a Norwegian singer of the region of Lapland and he is a Sami.In 1980, he and Sverre Kjelsberg won the Melodi Grand Prix 1980 with the entry Sámiid Ædnan and went on to represent Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980.He has worked in pantomimes and yoiks in Alta, Kautokeino and...
, with the song '"Sámiid Ædnan
Sámiid Ædnan
"Sámiid Ædnan" was the Norwegian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980, performed by Sverre Kjelsberg and Mattis Hætta. The song is sometimes described as being in the Sami language, however this is not correct...
", at the 1980 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 19 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...
. "Sámiid Ædnan" 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 22 March and remains one of the best-remembered Norwegian entries, particularly in Norway itself.
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 Norway's 1966 representative Åse Kleveland
Åse Kleveland
Åse Maria Kleveland is a Swedish-Norwegian singer and politician.A well-known folk singer and traditional guitarist in Norway, she was appointed Minister of Culture in Norway from 1990 to 1996, representing the Labour Party under the Gro Harlem Brundtland administration...
. 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. Voting was very close with only 4 points separating the top five songs. The first vote resulted in a tie for first place, so each jury member was asked to nominate their preferred song of the two, and "Sámiid Ædnan" won by 5 votes to 4.
| Draw | Artist | Song | Points | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anita Skorgan Anita Skorgan Anita Skorgan is a Norwegian singer-songwriter. She was once married to Jahn Teigen, another successful Norwegian singer-songwriter... |
"Stjerneskudd" | 48 | 6 |
| 2 | 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... |
"Ja" | 32 | 9= |
| 3 | Radka Toneff | "Parken" | 43 | 8 |
| 4 | Åge Aleksandersen & Sambandet | "Bjørnen sover" | 61 (4) | 2 |
| 5 | Hilde Heltberg Hilde Heltberg Hilde Heltberg was a Norwegian singer, guitarist and songwriter, born in Oslo. She started her career in the late 70s when she entered a talent competition judged by Stein Ove Berg, who became her mentor. She later joined the band Uncle John's Band, and, in 1982, X-tra, with Trond Granlund... |
"Maestro" | 32 | 9= |
| 6 | Henning Sommerro | "Lorelei" | 45 | 7 |
| 7 | Alex | "Univers" | 58 | 3= |
| 8 | Nina Askeland | "Rudi" | 58 | 3= |
| 9 | 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... |
"Svart fortid" | 57 | 5 |
| 10 | Sverre Kjelsberg & Mattis Hætta | "Sámiid Ædnan" | 61 (5) | 1 |
At Eurovision
On the night of the final Kjelsberg and Hætta performed 11th in the running order, following 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...
and preceding Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The song was very unusual for Eurovision both structurally and thematically, and the stage presentation, although simple and gimmick-free, proved very memorable to viewers and frequently features in Eurovision montages. At the close of voting "Sámiid Ædnan" had received 15 points, placing Norway 16th of the 19 entries. The Norwegian jury awarded its 12 points to contest winners Ireland
Ireland
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...
.