Norway NORWAY 2020 - Ulrikke - Attention

[escYOUnited]

 

[Loindici]

Attention is a good, polished, professional song. The lyrics, which speaks the topic of 'how should I treat them so I can hear 'you're beautiful' every morning' has a good structure, although not really poetic it tells the story clearly. I do have some issues with the instrumentation, though. I still feel it lifts too late and drags at the first minute, somehow I really want it to start lifting up by the first chorus. I also feel as if it was sent as an entry for , , , , , or , people would be okay without noticing Morland wrote this. I'll give it an for now, but there might be a moment I will change it to .

Anyways, Attention is a song in the similar category of Shaj. While most of my findings tell people really like Attention, which is an English pop ballad, some despised Albania when it was reported that Shaj is going to be revamped into an English pop ballad. Is it because this is Norway?

 

[Ezio]

The Undo haters tonight have given me the greatest gift ever imaginable.. revealing themselves as Attention fans. Thank you.

Are you sure? I hatte Undo AND Attention. #noreveal

 

[theditz83]

The Undo haters tonight have given me the greatest gift ever imaginable.. revealing themselves as Attention fans. Thank you.

And what of those who adore Undo and think it was one of Sweden's finest entries of the current century but also adore Attention because in a way it appeals to the same part of their heart that Undo did lyrically, emotionally and also has similar if slightly altered performance cues (the overhead lights sweeping up and down at different sections of the song for Attention while Sanna had the lights at the base of her platform)

Overall, Undo probably scrapes it in terms of the overall package, but I like you could never comprehend someone loving one and not the other.

 

[Koori]

Finally something I rooted for won

 

[Neo]

Well, Kristin's song does sound like something or would select.

Exactly my thoughts too. That syrup'y slow beat that Germans seem to like and the American angle (gospel-religious in this case) that both Germany and Austria are so partial to but which just doesn't work in Eurovision. It would have been a disaster despite Kristin getting the cute points.

 

[Neo]

It wasn't a professional jury like at Eurovision though. It was a demoscopic backup jury meant to simulate the televoting result.

More than fishy as the 4 finalists were by some 'miraculous coincidence' from each corner of the country. Liza from north, Kristin from middle, Raylee from south and Ulrikke from east. I think we can safely say the 'people's' jury were steered with this is mind since the whole competition this year was geared around the regions fighting each other. MGP is improving, but to have votes colored by this irrelevant topic is harmful.

 

[Neo]

Anyway, super happy Attention won. I was caught by this from the beginning. Parts fit well together with hardly a dead beat which seems to be most important to do well in Eurovision, and with good singing skills (I love the dynamics and the details) will score well with the juries too. Sad(ish) ballads would be no-hopers before, but last years have shown they are now accepted, so hopeful.

Ulrikke is not the type people fall in love with that seems to be a prerequisite for ultimate Eurovision success, but top 10 in the final is still my guess. 10 from me. (holding out my 12 for something amazing)

 

[BorisBubbles]

Lol puhleaze, "Pray for me" was a gospel Stones, but without the brilliant grittiness of Coco Gfeller OR the anti-bullying empowerment. It's freaking Swiss. (And it WOULD have NQ'd)

Anyway, "Attention" has only one problem and that's the staging. The platform, viola and cello all add nothing but clichés. Get rid of them. Invest in fitting LEDs, good camerawork and powerful lights. Put Ulrikke in a flattering dress, like the one she wore last night.The song is good. Give it space to breathe, and it will sell itself.

 

[Phoenix]

Don't know about this one quite yet. It doesn't help that it reminded me of Undo, which was and still is dumpster fire level of awfulness and well beyond Eurovision too.
This one is better though, it still suffers from being sanitized and clinical, but there is potential to grow on me. I prefer the verses to the chorus, that's a start at least and also she is a good vocalist.

 

[gingerale]

It's a from me. Very happy with the choice.
I hope they adjust her styling in Rotterdam, it looks dated and old for a young modern woman like Ulrikke.

 

[Fierro]

It's an alright song... But i don't know why people are so hyped about this. Although I could see this getting Top-10 in Rotterdam

 

[Kairit]

I wouldn't expect myself to like this immediately, but I did. This is stunning. The beginning is thrilling, then it develops into a more cliche classic ballad, but yet... Her breath-taking voice gives this so much colour and beauty and emotion. I totally dig it. I love how this song seems to move in waves. It goes into this huge chorus and pulls back, gets softer by the end of it and that totally keeps my... attention. Her voice literally brings tears to my eyes and god-damn, I love the lyrics. It commands attention.

 

[Mainshow]

It wasn't a professional jury like at Eurovision though. It was a demoscopic backup jury meant to simulate the televoting result.

In no universe, the Schlager Viking wouldn't have made the Top 4 in Norway's televoting.

 

[Uto]

In no universe, the Schlager Viking wouldn't have made the Top 4 in Norway's televoting.

True. This was custom-tailored Norwegian fanwank. It was certainly odd to see it not going top-4.

 

[ESC94]

Let´s move on to .

The song starts pretty well and I really like Ulrikkes voice, but the chorus is a little bit too repetitive tu fully enjoy it. The rest of the song is not that spectacular, and the "epic" final with the fire rain feels a little bit misplaced in my opinion.

All in all this song is okay, but nothing more. Since I still don´t mind listening to it and and since it´s one the better entries right now I give this a solid .

 

[Preuss]

First of all, this mess isn’t Ulrikke’s fault at all, it’s our broadcaster that messed up big time. To be honest, I support everyone who feels betrayed and let down by yesterday’s mess, it’s a scandal! Especially when the contestants didn’t even know it existed, and if the «jury» was supposed to simulate any form of vote, then Rein would’ve gone through as I see no situatuon where he wouldn’t be top 4 in the televote lol, given how the act was performed and how we usually vote. Our HoD has the shittiest excuse, claiming that «this is all good because Ulrikke was the favorite», then he should’ve ensured that Rein went through as well seeing that he was the 2nd favorite. I see either some scenarios from yesterday’s voting: Kristin actually positively surprised and came much closer than everyone thought she would, or it’s rather a weakness seeing that Ulrikke barely beat her in the public vote and that facing Rein would’ve demolished her. Get your act together next year, NRK…

 

[VikingTiger]

I am very happy with the results, although I would also have been fine with Raylee or Rein Alexander going to Rotterdam.

I was initially surprised that Rein didnt make it to the final 4, but his performance was rather stiff, and the song itself will certainly not be a radio hit here in Norway. Pray for Me is probably the song that is most likely to do well here (besides the winner). Kristin is young, charming, has a good voice (and although not the best live vocals, she did well enough yesterday).

So the 4 were decides by a back up jury. Certainly not good enough! BUT I am not sure the result would have been so very different with regular voting. The Solli Tanger brothers and Tone Damli are famous names here, but it's not like they have had many massive hits here. So their names shouldnt help too much.

In the end only around 5000 votes separated the two first, a very narrow margin that suprised me (and I am sure many others). But that was actually the "real" people's votes. So again; I am not sure the final heat would have looked very different if the system had worked. Besides - we will probably never know.

 

[ESCREGION]

NORWAY. How can an entry like Wild didn't win?? So sad...
Ulrikke's song is just a typical ballad not my taste. and my last place is yours

 

[Malagant]

As if this scandal could not get any worse, NRK has today informed the press that the so-called People' s 'Back Up'-jury of 30 people who decided the entries selected for the top 4 ('Silver final') yesterday pre-voted on the basis of studio versions of the songs, not based on the final itself! So the stage shows and live singing in the final - which we know are an important part of the 'ESC-package' for all artists - were not taken into account because they had voted beforehand based on studio versions. I can hardly believe what I hear. It is quite shocking and the rather pitiful half-sincere excuses made by the NRK do not make the situation any better.

Shame on you, NRK! This was D-level standard execution and planning in event of technical problems.

As I said before, I think Ulrikke would have won anyway (critical favourite and popular among the masses) but I do not doubt at all that some other songs would have been in that top 4 if the 'televote' had worked as it should, especially Rein Alexander who also was popular among the critics and a lot of people around Norway.

 

[NikolaiMoller]

I'm so sad that "Wild" didn't win. It was so fun and I really liked the staging and overall performance.