– We will do it for you and the whole world, said Magnus Børmark, who was almost in disarray while the vote was taking place.
Riddle won with 250 points. KEiiNO was six points behind, and was the European jury’s favourites.
The result was weighted with 60% popular vote and 40% jury vote.
See the full list of results further down in the case
The voting was at times too exciting for Gåte.
– I was about to faint, then I thought it had been stupid, says Sundli.
Will not comment
Gåte is looking forward to potentially bringing “Ulveham” onto the Eurovision stage, but is silent on whether they will actually travel and represent Norway in Malmö.
– It must be assessed in due course. But right now we have won here, and have focused on the music, says Børmark.
MGP’s music manager Stig Karlsen will not comment further on the matter either.
– We will return to the road ahead later, says Karlsen.
A week ago, Gåte had to rewrite the MGP song in order not to potentially break the regulations in Eurovision. Børmark did not see this as an obstacle to victory.
– We have been talking about music all week, we. And this shows how Gåte works with Norwegian traditional music.
Tribute to Sweden with Carola
Nine finalists have been on stage this evening in the battle to become Norway’s representative in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Ahead of the final, it was Gåte who were favorites to win. KEiiNO and Erika and Super Rob were hot on their heels.
The evening featured gothic metal, medieval ballads and pyro, and one could say that it was yet another final that went down in the MGP history books.
KEiiNO – Damdiggida 03:05
Annprincess – Save Me
03:12
Gothminister – We Come Alive
03:11
Ingrid Jasmin – Eya
02:42
show more
Also Carola herself, who won for Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1991 with «Caught by a storm wind», came on stage tonight.
But not just her. Our own Eurovision winner in 2009 Alexander Rybak created an atmosphere with his fiddle, and the Eurovision ring foxes Hanne Krogh and Bettan also came and delivered a spectacular performance.
Tix sang Sweden’s winning song from 2015, “Heroes”. On his elbow he had painted a Palestinian flag, while he held his fist in the air.
If that wasn’t enough, Ulrikke Brandstorp also took the stage with a tribute to “Euphoria”, Loreen’s winning song from 2012.
The Swedish star Carola came to Trondheim Spektrum tonight.
So did Alexander Rybak.
Hanne Krogh, who has participated in Melodi Grand Prix three times, let herself swing and rock tonight!
Marion Ravn, Carola and Bettan in harmony.
Former MGP winner Ulrikke Brandstorp.
Discussions around participation
This year’s Melodi Grand Prix has been characterized by what is happening in Israel and Palestine.
The petition “Exclude Israel from Eurovision”, created by the Norwegian singer and artist Marthe Valle, has several thousand signatures.
Both during the three semi-finals, as well as during the final tonight, protesters have met outside NRK to demand that Israel be banned from the Eurovision Song Contest in 2024.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has previously announced that it is out of the question to ban Israel from this year’s competition.
Demonstrators have turned up outside NRK in Trondheim with “bloody body parts” to mark those killed in Palestine.
Photo: Aurora Karoline Thommessen / NRK
Conundrum: – Problematic if Israel is to participate
Before the final, Gåte stated that they must discuss what they will do if they win the MGP final.
– The extreme and unbearable situation in Gaza must end as soon as possible, said vocalist Gunnhild Sundli the day before the final.
– We agree within the band that we find it very problematic if Israel is to participate as the situation is now, she added.
Riddle. From left: John Stenersen, Gunhild Sundli, Mats Paulsen, Magnus Børmark, Jon Even Shärer.
Photo: Julia Marie Naglestad
This year, the Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Malmö, Sweden.
Norway will play in the second semi-final on Thursday 9 May. So does Israel.
Why is Israel allowed to participate in Eurovision, and not Russia? Both Russia and Israel are at war. Why does one country get to participate in Eurovision, but not the other? Many people find this difficult to understand.