Melodi Grand Prix 2009
Melodi Grand Prix 2009, the Norwegian national final, selected the Norwegian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. The entire contest was to be hosted by last year's Norwegian entry Maria Haukaas Storeng and past MGP host and Eurovision commentator Per Sundnes. For 2009, at least 50% of the songwriting team must be Norwegian or live in Norway which is due to the success of Norway in the 2008 contest with Norwegian songwriter Mira Craig. Additionally, NRK has announced that foreign singers will not be allowed to compete.
More than 350 songs were submitted, less than the more than 600 in 2007, but a respectable figure when the new songwriter rules are taken into consideration. The 21 artists selected to compete in Melodi Grand Prix 2009 will be announced over three weeks: the artists of the first semi-final will be announced on the week beginning 22 December, and the artists in the second and third semi-final will be revealed in the weeks commencing 29 December and 5 January respectively. The three semi-finals of the contest were held on 24 January, 31 January and 7 February 2009, along with a second chance round, which was held on 14 February, and the final of the contest, held on 21 February 2009.
Read more about this topic: Norway In The Eurovision Song Contest 2009
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