CHRISTIAN SPIRIT: Keiino is participating in Melodi Grand Prix (MGP) for the third time. On Saturday evening, the group was among the three – out of six – who progressed from the third dolphin final.
This year, Keiino tries his hand with the song “Damdiggida”, described as an energy bomb of a song.
– It’s simply about you wanting to do something that makes you very happy or that makes you feel good, said vocalist Alexandra Rotan before she could let loose the cheers together with the guys.
Advance favourites
Keiino was considered among the advance favorites on Saturday. The group consists of Christiansander Tom Hugo Hermansen, Alexandra Rotan and Fred Buljo.
Keiino along with the other two who advanced to the finals: Miia and Annprincess.
Photo: Espen Solli / NRK
– It was absolutely fantastic to see them again, I feel it is the Aqua of our time, said the artist Julie Bergan, who commented on the dolphin final ringside for NRK.
The MGP final goes to a full house in Trondheim Spektrum next Saturday. But the group has already received a lot of feedback from international fans.
– It is so incredibly nice to receive so many nice messages from all over the world. People are happy with the song, and we hope people in Norway will be too, said Tom Hugo Hermansen during the broadcast on Saturday.
The other two who went on were Miia and Annprincess, while Vidar Villa, Mistra and Thomas Jenssen had to give thanks.
Like a family
In 2019, Keiino won the Norwegian final with “Spirit In The Sky”, and in 2021 they had to see themselves beaten by Andreas “Tix” Haukeland when they performed with “Monument”.
Tom Hugo Hermansen, Alexandra Rotan and Fred Buljo during Saturday’s MGP semi-final.
Photo: Espen Solli / NRK
The group refers to itself as a family.
– Sometimes we are like an old married couple, sometimes we are like stupid teenagers. But that’s how it is in a family, smiled Tom Hugo Hermansen.
These are the six finalists from the first two semi-finals: Margaret Berger, Ingrid Jasmin, Gothminister, Gåte, Super Rob/Erika Norwich and Dag Erik Oksvold/Anne Fagermo.
In 2019, Keiino came sixth in the international Eurovision final, after they received the most audience votes. Now they hope to be able to reach all the way up, they said during a performance at Sørlandssenteret last weekend.