No More

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dagbladet.no May 15th, 2025, by Sarah Brennsæter
Translated by Karina Brandt, KEiiNO NEWS, May 22nd  2025

The former MGP winning trio, “KEiiNO”, is in Basel. They reveal their Eurovision favorites to Dagbladet.

 Trio with strength: “KEiiNO” won Norway’s hearts in MGP in 2019. From the left: Fred Buljo (37), Alexandra Rotan (28) and Tom Hugo Hermansen (45). Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB.

(Basel, Dagbladet): The sun is shining and people of all ages are flocking to St. Jakobshalle where this year’s Eurovision Song Contest has gone off the rails.

After several days of public festivities both inside and outside the arena, the grand finale on Saturday, May 17, is now approaching. 

But before it all goes completely off the rails in the third largest city in Switzerland, the second semi-final of the week will take place – where, among others, Israel will go into the fire.

Makes life: The KEiiNO gang has already been to karaoke trams and other fun in Basel. On Thursday night they will play at a nightclub. Photo: Valentin Flåten

Making a “comeback”

After the semi-final on Thursday, its time for an after-party at EuroClub. its an epicenter of partying and fun for Eurovision fans in Basel, held every night, all week. There, famous artists play until late into the night – and this May evening, the Norwegian trio “KEiiNO” will be performing.

Photo: Valentin Flåten

The music group, which consists of Sami songwriter, rapper and yoiker Fred Buljo (37), singer Alexandra Rotan (28) and singer-songwriter Tom Hugo Hermansen (45), won the hearts of “all” Norway in 2019, when they won the Melodi Grand Prix with the song “Spirit in the sky”. They then sang their way to sixth place in the Eurovision final that same year. 

In 2021, the group came in second place in the 2021 Norwegian final with the song “Monument”, only beaten by Tix, while last year there was another second place with “Damdiggida”.

Ready: Last week, KEiiNO released their 40th song, “Unstoppable.” Now they are ready to perform it, and other songs, at the official Euroclub afterparty in Basel on Thursday, May 15. Photo: Stian Werme/Private.

– Has a superpower

Now “KEiiNO” is ready for an ever-so-small Eurovision-related “comeback”, and when Dagbladet contacted the trio on Thursday afternoon, they were already in full ESC mood:

– Damn, I think it could go really well for Norway! Kyle has done an incredibly good job!, Alexandra Rotan exclaims in an audio message on WhatsApp between beats before tonight’s concert.

On to the final: Kyle Alessandro (19) had a smile on his face when Dagbladet and the rest of press Norway met him after the semi-final on Tuesday. Photo: Sarah Brennsæter/Dagbladet.

– He has traveled all over Europe and promoted his song like crazy, and I think the show has been really good, she continues to praise.

Tom Hugo Hermansen is also very positive about Norway’s entry:

– Kyle has a superpower in addition, because he has an element that we also had last year – a fantastic dancer. It is very good to see that Daniel Grindeland participated in Eurovision this year, he comments.

In Basel: Front to back: Choreographer Mona Berntsen, chorister Frode Vassel, Marte Stokstad, Reno Andersen, Kyle Alessandro, Korist Sondrey, dancers Daniel Grindeland, Oliver Paulsson and Mads Tørklep. Photo: Javad Parsa / NTB

When asked which countries have excelled in the group this year, apart from Norway, several are mentioned frequently: 

– Oh, I have a lot of favorites, actually. There are a lot of strong songs! Of course I’m rooting for Sweden’s Kaj, Finland’s Erika Vikman, Malta’s Miriana Conte … No, there are many, that’s right. But of course Kyle too, then!, says Rotan enthusiastically.

Fred Buljo says that this year is yet another varied goody bag of musical features:

– But I have to say that Sweden and Finland are my strongest cards in the hand, he emphasizes. 

Hermansen, for his part, says that Finland’s “Ich komme” is a favorite.

– But “Bara Bada Bastu” is a pop masterpiece that is absolutely fantastic – it makes my pop heart happy!, he adds.

The 45-year-old adds that Miriana Conte’s entry from Malta is “really fun”, as Norwegian songwriter Sarah Evelyn Fullerton (also known as Sarah Lake) has been on the song. 

– A “fun fact” is that Sarah sang the very first demo on “Spirit in the sky”. So she’s kind of been with us on our way, then!

Furthermore, the group agrees that Austria, which has been a pre-favorite for many, is also delivering well:

– its generally a very good field this year, concludes Rotan.

– There will be no more

Although the cheerful trio says that they are feeling the Eurovision atmosphere in Basel these days, it does not seem that there is any temptation for a Eurovision repeat for the group anytime soon. 

Rotan tells Dagbladet that they are happy to have had the pleasure of experiencing Eurovision in 2019:

– We have also participated in the Grand Prix in both 2021 and 2023. It has been very nice experiences, but for “KEiiNO” there will probably be no more MGP, she says in conclusion and adds: 

– But who knows? If we suddenly feel like participating again when we are 70, we will probably do it!

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