Vienna 2015, 60th ESC 40 For 40: Morland & Debrah Scarlett "A Monster Like Me"

Headed towards the homestretch in the ESC 2015 reviews. Up next is my review of Morland and Debrah Scarlett's (pictured) collaboration "A Monster Like Me" (Norway)

"A Monster Like Me" is a soft, piano-based ballad. Vocals good, everything is good. However, among this cluster of ballads this year, this one will seem to be very borderline when it comes to scoring after their second semifinal performance on May 21. Hope for the best, but it will be so tough for these two.

Up next: Monika Kuszynska  "In the Name of Love"

Copenhagen 2014 Reviews: Carl Espen "Silent Storm"

Another winner for Norway in ESC! Hopefully this man--Carl Espen (pictured)--can deliver for his country in Copenhagen with a stunning ballad entitled "Silent Storm."

"Silent Storm" is a powerful piano-based ballad so powerful, last year's ESC champion Emmelie de Forest picked this song as the song to win it all in Copenhagen. Seriously. I like this song and it is one of the best ballads I've heard in ESC recently. The flow and vocals are excellent here. He will perform in the second semifinal on Thursday, the 8th of May. He will qualify for the grand final, and could be a contender to win. I'm not joking.

Since the virtual let down of Touraj 'Tooji' Keshtkar's "Stay" (which barely made the grand final at Baku 2012, and finished toward the bottom of the barrel in that grand final), Norway has come on fire in ESC, with this and last year with Margaret Berger's "I Feed You My Love," which had a good reasonable (I think) finish in the grand final. Before 2012, with the exception of Ketil Stokkan ("Brandenberger Tor" in 1990), Jahn Teigen ("Mil Etter Mil" in 1978) and of course, the hard rockers Wig Wam ("In My Dreams" from 2005, the best ESC song from Norway in my opinion), there haven't been much to offer for this country in ESC. This song should join the ranks as one of the best from Norway in ESC. Wish for the best.

Up next: Donatan & Cleo "My Slowianie."

Sochi 2014: The Countdown Series: Norway

47 days remaining until the opening ceremonies (46 until the first day of competition) at Sochi 2014. Up next on the countdown: Norway.

Norway made their winter Olympics debut at Chamonix 1924, and has since appeared at every winter games. The Norwegian contingent won 303 medals in the winter games, including 107 gold medals.

Perhaps the most decorated winter Olympics athlete is Norwegian Bjorn Daehlie (pictured). Daehlie won eight gold medals, all in cross country events. He won the 50km event at Albertville 1992 and Nagano 1998. He also won the 10/15km pursuit event at Albertville as well as Lillehammer 1994. He was a member of the 4x10km relay team that won gold at Albertville as well as Nagano. He also won the 50km at Lillehammer and Nagano. His 12 medals are the most among winter games athletes.

Biathlete Ole Einar Bjorndalen (pictured) won six gold medals in the winter games. He won the 10km sprint at Nagano 1998 and Salt Lake City 2002. He also won the 12.5km sprint and 20km events at Salt Lake City. He also was a member of the 4x7.5km relay team that won gold at Salt Lake City as well as Vancouver 2010.

Another cross country skier, Thomas Alsgaard (pictured, left), won five gold medals in the winter games. He won the 30km event at Lillehammer 1994. He followed up with wins in the 10/15km pursuit at Nagano 1998, as a member of the 4x10km relay team at Nagano and Salt Lake City 2002, and in the 10/10km pursuit event at Salt Lake City.

Three Norwegians won four gold medals in the winter games. Ivar Ballangrud was the first, as the speed skater won the 500m at Garmisch Partenkirchen 1936, the 5000m at St. Moritz 1928 and Garmisch Partenkirchen, and the 10,000m, also at Garmisch Partenkirchen. The great Johann Olav Koss won four golds in the winter games. He won the 1500m at Albertville 1992, followed by three gold wins at Lillehammer 1994--in the 1500m, 5000m and 10,000m events. Kjetil Aamodt also won four gold medals, as the skier won the super G at Albertville 1992, Salt Lake City 2002 and Turin 2006, and in the combined at Salt Lake City.

Seven Norwegians have won three gold medals in the winter games:

• Thorleif Haug, cross country, men, 18km and 50km, and Nordic combined, men, individual, Chamonix 1924
• Johan Grottumsbraaten, cross country, men, 18km, St. Moritz 1928, and Nordic combined, men, individual, St. Moritz 1928 and Lake Placid 1932
• Sonja Henie, figure skating, women, singles, St. Moritz 1928, Lake Placid 1932 and Garmisch Partenkirchen 1936
• Hjalmar Andersen, speed skating, men, 1500m, 5000m and 10,000m, Oslo 1952
• Vegard Ulvang, cross country, men, 10km, 30km and 4x10km relay team member, Albertville 1992
• Halvard Hanevold, biathlon, men, 20km, Nagano 1998 and 4x7.5km relay team member, Salt Lake City 2002 and Vancouver 2010
• Marit Bjorgen, cross country, women, sprint, 15km, skiathlon, 4x5km relay team member, Vancouver 2010

These following Norwegians won two gold medals in the winter games:

• Birger Ruud, ski jump, men, normal hill, individual, Lake Placid 1932 and Garmisch Partenkirchen 1936
• Hallgeir Branden, cross country, men, 18km, Oslo 1952 and 15km, Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956
• Knut Johannesen, speed skating, men, 10,000m, Squaw Valley 1960 and 5000m, Innsbruck 1964
• Ole Ellefsaeter, cross country, men, 50km and part of 4x10km relay team, Grenoble 1968
• Harald Gromingen, cross country, men, 15km and part of 4x10km relay team, Grenoble 1968
• Magnar Solberg, biathlon, men, 20km, Grenoble 1968 and Sapporo 1972
• Pal Tyldum, cross country, men, 4x10km relay member, Grenoble 1968 and 50km, Sapporo 1972
• Kristen Skjeldal, cross country, men, 4x10km relay team member, Albertville 1992 and Salt Lake City 2002
• Fred Borre Lundberg, Nordic combined, men, individual, Lillehammer 1994 and team, Nagano 1998
• Bjarte Ergen Vik, Nordic combined, men, team and individual, Nagano 1998
• Frode Estil, cross country, men, 10/10km pursuit and member of 4x10km relay team, Salt Lake City 2002
• Petter Northug, cross country, men, 50km and team sprint, Vancouver 2010
• Emil Hegle Svendsen, biathlon, male, 20km and 4x7.5km relay team member, Vancouver 2010

For Sochi, 40 competitors will be there, including men's ice hockey, men's curling, speed skating, Nordic combined, Cross country and biathlon among others.

Norway was the host country for two winter games: Oslo 1952 and Lillehammer 1994.

Up next: Pakistan

Malmo 2013 39 For 39: Margaret Berger "I Feed You My Love"

 

29 down, 10 more to go, beginning with "I Feed You My Love" by Margaret Berger, the Norwegian representative at Malmo 2013.

 

"I Feed You My Love" is a electronic-laden (no dubstep!) tune with strongly backs up Berger's voice. Take a listen:

 



 

A stunning masterpiece and a true contender to win on May 18, that's if it makes it there. Look for the song in the second final.

 

Also since "Stay" by Tooji was a huge letdown last year at Baku, this makes up for it a lot better.

 

Hope for the best.

 

Up next: a review of Cezar "It's My Life." 



In Memoriam: Alexander Dale Oen

Alexander Dale Oen, the Norwegian breaststroker, passed away on Monday due to cardiac arrest in Flagstaff, Arizona. He was only 26.

Oen finished runner up (silver) to Kosuke Kitajima in the men's 100m breast final at Beijing 2008. On Kitajima's twitter, he was shocked: "I'm shocked over the passing of a dear friend and rival. RIP Alex."

Oen would later win the 100m breast at the Fina World Championships at Shanghai this past summer.

London 2012: The Countdown Series: Norway

106 days to go until the first day of the London Olympics. Next up on the parade of nations: Norway (NOR).

Norway has participated in the summer Olympics since the first modern day Olympics of 1896. A total of 150 medals have been won by Norwegian athletes in the summer games, including 57 gold medals.

Shooter Ole Lilloe-Olsen (pictured) has the most individual gold medals amongst Norwegian athletes in the summer games with five. He won twice in the running target, single shot team at Antwerp 1920 and Paris 1924; in the running target, double shot at Antwerp 1920 and Paris 1924, and in the running target, team double shot at Antwerp 1920.

Two Norwegians have four gold medals each, both in shooting events. Einar Liberg won in the 300m free rifle team three position at London 1908; in the running target, single shot team at Antwerp 1920 and Paris 1924, and in the running target, double shot team at Antwerp 1920 and Paris 1924. Otto Olsen won the 300m military rifle prone at Antwerp 1920, in the running target, single shot at Antwerp 1920 and in the running target, single shot team at Antwerp 1920 and Paris 1924.

Two Norwegians have three gold medals each. Shooter Harald Natvig won the single shot, running target team at Antwerp 1920 and Paris 1924, and in the running target, double shot team at Antwerp 1920. Canoeist Knut Holmann won in the 500m kayak singles at Sydney 2000 and in the 1000m kayak singles at Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000.

Javelin thrower Andreas Thorkildsen (pictured) is among thirteen Norwegians that have won two gold medals in the summer games:

• Albert Helgerud (shooting)
• Johan Anker (sailing)
• Andreas Brecke (sailing)
• Magnus Konow (sailing)
• Hans Nordvik (shooting)
• Ingar Nielsen (sailing)
• August Ringvald Sr. (sailing)
• Hakon Barfod (sailing)
• Sigve Lie (sailing)
• Thor Thorvaldsen (sailing)
• Jon Ronningen (wrestling)
• Andreas Thorkildsen (athletics)
• Olaf Tufte (rowing)

At the team level, the women's football (soccer) team won gold at Sydney 2000, defeating United States in the final. The women's handball team won gold at Beijing 2008 after defeating Russia in the final.

As of now, 60 Norwegian athletes are headed to London to compete in ten events-including athletics, cycling, weightlifting and wrestling. Women's football (soccer) has also qualified for the London games.

Up next: Oman