KEiiNO artist is Norway’s score announcer in the Eurovision final

Tom Hugo Hermansen will read out Norway’s points in Eurovision. – There is a special atmosphere in the hall when the points are awarded, he says.

By: Heather Ørbeck Eliassen, nrk.no
May 14th, 2025

Translated by Karina Brandt, KEiiNO NEWS, May 14th, 2025

– its really cool that it ended up being one of us in KEiiNO. We had a family meeting to find out who should have the honor of reading it out, says songwriter and artist, Tom Hugo Hermansen.

He says that he is the oldest of the band members – which was crucial in the choice.

– I am the oldest and have been to the most Eurovision broadcasts in my life. We decided that I was the best choice, smiles Tom Hugo.

Bad memory

Although it is very cool, Tom Hugo says that it is also a bit special that he will now read out the points, Norway is handing out – because the points for the Melodi Grand Prix (MGP) and ESC actually started as a bad memory.

The artist reminisces back to when Bobbysocks won the MGP in 1984. (Corrected by Karina Brandt: Bobbysocks won in 1985, not 1984, which was won by Herreys from Sweden with the song, Diggi-loo Diggi-ley)

– I was a bit too young to be up and watch everything. I fell asleep after the show and slept through the points. I remember waking up to the fact that Bobbysocks had won and feeling that I had not experienced the victory.

– I was very, very sad. Because it is when the points are handed out that the victory happens, he adds.

Tense atmosphere

Many years later, he himself would stand on stage. KEiiNO won the MGP in 2019 and made it all the way to the ESC final. But this memory is also a bit vulnerable.

– In a way, it wasn’t a very good memory from the scoring in the ESC in 2019 either. We didn’t get that many points from the jury, but we got a lot from the audience, he says.

KEiiNO ended up in sixth place.

According to Tom Hugo, there is a special atmosphere in the hall when the points are read out.

– It becomes completely silent. The atmosphere that arises when the points start being awarded, is something that distinguishes the ESC from all other music competitions in the world, he believes.

– There is a solemn and tense atmosphere in the hall, he adds.

On tour with Kyle

Recently, Tom Hugo has been on tour with the rest of KEiiNO, and has sung at a number of ESC events, including in the UK and Italy. He has therefore been with Kyle Alessandro lately.

– Kyle is an absolutely fantastic artist. We have also sung a bit together. He is a fantastic guy and his song is “catchy”.

The 45-year-old has faith.

– I think Norway can do very well, he adds.

Avid ESC fan

Tom Hugo has already traveled to Basel, as he wanted to bring Kyle with him to the semi-final. He also follows many of the other entries.

– The Netherlands’ song is very good. Malta’s is fun and Austria has a very nice song, he says.

The artist also has a button on Sweden.

– Sweden is the big favorite this year. The song is cool and the people are cool. There are many people in Norway who love saunas, so I think we will give them a lot of points.

The band KAJ is representing Sweden this year with the song “Bara Bada badstu”.

– They also have elements that I think can work very well. The verse “Bara Bada Badstu” is also something that everyone can relate to – regardless of nationality, he says.

And he adds that there was something that many people liked about their song during the ESC as well.

– “He lå e loi la” is an easy verse to sing along to.