Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 1985
Encyclopedia
Norway was represented by Bobbysocks!, with the song '"La det swinge
", at the 1985 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 4 May in Gothenburg
, Sweden
. "La det swinge" was chosen as the Norwegian entry at the Melodi Grand Prix
on 30 March, and went on to bring Norway a famous first Eurovision victory after decades of being the butt of jokes about their status as Eurovision's perennial also-rans. It was admitted that the lyrics of "La det swinge" had been written with the specific intention of avoiding those Norwegian consonant combinations which had been said to sound harsh in song to non-Scandinavian ears.
Bobbysocks! were Elisabeth Andreassen
and Hanne Krogh
, who both had previous Eurovision experience – Krogh as a 15 year-old for Norway in 1971
and Andreassen for Sweden in 1982
. Both would make further appearances for Norway, Krogh in 1991
and Andreassen in 1994
and 1996
.
, hosted by Rita Westvik. Ten songs took part in the final, with the winner chosen by voting from five regional juries and a panel of "experts". One of the other participants was former three-time Norwegian representative Anita Skorgan
.
and preceding the United Kingdom
. The voting in 1985 was particularly disparate, with points being spread all across the board to a much greater extent than usual. However at the close of voting "La det swinge" had picked up 123 points, enough for victory by an 18-point margin over runners-up Germany
, although the total was and remains the lowest-ever winning score under the 12 points system. "La det swinge" appeared to have sharply divided opinion with the national juries, as it had received an unusually high eight maximum 12 points votes – from Austria
, Belgium
, Denmark
, Germany, Ireland
, Israel
, Sweden and the United Kingdom – while the remaining ten juries had awarded it only 27 points between them. The Norwegian jury awarded its 12 points to Sweden.
The congratulations to Bobbysocks! after the victory are fondly remembered for the infamously double-edged remark by Swedish host Lill Lindfors
"I must say I'm honestly very happy that this happened, because Norway has been last song so many times that you really deserve it!", prompting much laughter from the audience.
La det swinge
"La det swinge" is a song in Norwegian, sung by the pop duo Bobbysocks!. It was the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 1985 - Norway's first victory in the contest.- Background :...
", at the 1985 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 4 May in Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
, 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....
. "La det swinge" 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 30 March, and went on to bring Norway a famous first Eurovision victory after decades of being the butt of jokes about their status as Eurovision's perennial also-rans. It was admitted that the lyrics of "La det swinge" had been written with the specific intention of avoiding those Norwegian consonant combinations which had been said to sound harsh in song to non-Scandinavian ears.
Bobbysocks! were Elisabeth Andreassen
Elisabeth Andreassen
Elisabeth Gunilla Andreassen - also known as just "Bettan" - is a Swedish-Norwegian singer who has finished both first and second in the Eurovision Song Contest....
and Hanne Krogh
Hanne Krogh
Hanne Krogh is a Norwegian singer and one half of the duo that won the Eurovision Song Contest 1985....
, who both had previous Eurovision experience – Krogh as a 15 year-old for Norway in 1971
Eurovision Song Contest 1971
The Eurovision Song Contest 1971 was the sixteenth Eurovision Song Contest and the first held in Dublin, Ireland. The new voting system that was introduced in this Eurovision did have one big problem: some juries gave fewer points out than others...
and Andreassen for Sweden in 1982
Eurovision Song Contest 1982
The Eurovision Song Contest 1982 was the 27th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 24 April 1982 in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom. The presenter was Jan Leeming. The opening of the contest showed a map of Europe, with the translation "Where is Harrogate?" popping up on-screen from...
. Both would make further appearances for Norway, Krogh in 1991
Eurovision Song Contest 1991
The Eurovision Song Contest 1991 was the 36th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 4 May 1991 in Rome. Due to the Gulf War and mounting tensions in Yugoslavia, RAI decided to move the contest from Sanremo to Rome, which was perceived to be more secure....
and Andreassen in 1994
Eurovision Song Contest 1994
The Eurovision Song Contest 1994 was the 39th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 30 April 1994 in the Point Theatre in Dublin, Ireland. The presenters were Cynthia Ní Mhurchú and Gerry Ryan. The pair hosted the evening in French, English and Irish...
and 1996
Eurovision Song Contest 1996
The Eurovision Song Contest 1996 was the 41st Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 18 May 1996 in Oslo Spektrum in Oslo, Norway. The presenters were Ingvild Bryn and Morten Harket. Harket, lead singer of a-ha, opened the show with a performance of his single "Heaven's Not For Saints". Eimear...
.
Final
The MGP was held at the Château Neuf 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 Rita Westvik. Ten songs took part in the final, with the winner chosen by voting from five regional juries and a panel of "experts". One of the other participants was former three-time Norwegian representative Anita Skorgan
Anita Skorgan
Anita Skorgan is a Norwegian singer-songwriter. She was once married to Jahn Teigen, another successful Norwegian singer-songwriter...
.
| Draw | Artist | Song | Points | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pastel | "Ring ring ring" | 66 | 3 |
| 2 | Bjørn Eidsvåg | "Gammel drøm" | 44 | 7 |
| 3 | Zaz | "Oh-là-là" | 27 | 9 |
| 4 | Kai Eide | "Love, amour og kjærlighet" | 22 | 10 |
| 5 | Rolf Graf | "II & II" | 50 | 5 |
| 6 | Anita Skorgan | "Karma" | 74 | 2 |
| 7 | Bobbysocks! | "La det swinge" | 80 | 1 |
| 8 | Mia Gundersen & Olav Stedje | "Nattergal" | 56 | 4 |
| 9 | 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... |
"Livet har en sjanse" | 49 | 6 |
| 10 | Silje Nergård | "Si det, si det" | 36 | 8 |
At Eurovision
On the night of the final Bobbysocks! performed 13th in the running order, following ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
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...
. The voting in 1985 was particularly disparate, with points being spread all across the board to a much greater extent than usual. However at the close of voting "La det swinge" had picked up 123 points, enough for victory by an 18-point margin over runners-up 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...
, although the total was and remains the lowest-ever winning score under the 12 points system. "La det swinge" appeared to have sharply divided opinion with the national juries, as it had received an unusually high eight maximum 12 points votes – from 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...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Germany, 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...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Sweden and the United Kingdom – while the remaining ten juries had awarded it only 27 points between them. The Norwegian jury awarded its 12 points to Sweden.
The congratulations to Bobbysocks! after the victory are fondly remembered for the infamously double-edged remark by Swedish host Lill Lindfors
Lill Lindfors
Lillemor "Lill" Lindfors is a Finland-Swedish/Swedish singer. Born in Helsinki, Finland she has been performing in Scandinavia with minor and major success since the 1960s. She debuted as a revue actress in Uddevalla in 1960 and the following year as a recording artist...
"I must say I'm honestly very happy that this happened, because Norway has been last song so many times that you really deserve it!", prompting much laughter from the audience.