Tag: MGP

No More

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

(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.

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.
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”.

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

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.

– 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.

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Unstoppable

KEiiNO – Unstoppable

Hey girl, are you ready?
Do you have a hunger in your soul?
Are you holding steady?
You know that we’re gonna lose control
heyåla – heyåla – lelåla

I’m thirsty and ready
I’m not holding steady, no control
I feel it already
Tonight we can be unstoppable
heyåla – heyåla – lelåla

I heard them cry that a storm is gonna come
I need you by my side

We’re still unbreakable
We’re forty stories tall
And nothing can touch us
When you’re by my side
Can you feel it in your soul
We rise above them all
And we go so high, you and I never fall
We’re unstoppable
We’re unstoppable
We’re still unbreakable
We’re forty stories tall
And we are unstoppable

No angel of mercy
You’re more like Medusa in your soul
They want it my darling
Even if you turn them all to stone
heyåla – heyåla – lelåla

We’re born in the fire
Beside you I’m royal
Take the crown
I need you my darling
Together we bring the heavens down
heyåla – heyåla – lelåla

I heard them cry that a storm is gonna come
I need you by my side

We’re still unbreakable
We’re forty stories tall
And nothing can touch us
When you’re by my side
Can you feel it in your soul
We rise above them all
And we go so high, you and I never fall
We’re unstoppable
We’re unstoppable
We’re still unbreakable
We’re forty stories tall
And we are unstoppable

Heyånna heyå le le
Heyånna heyå le lå
Into the sky

We’re still unbreakable
We’re forty stories tall
And nothing can touch us
When you’re by my side
Can you feel it in your soul
We rise above them all
And we go so high, you and I never fall
We’re unstoppable
We’re unstoppable
We’re still unbreakable
We’re forty stories tall
And we are unstoppable

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KEiiNO profile shares happy news

KEiiNO profile shares happy news
Engaged under the Eiffel Tower, but the wedding will be even more spectacular.
Tv2.no February 21st, 2025 by Line Haus
Translated by Karina Brandt, KEiiNO NEWS, February 21st, 2025

TV 2 is chatting with Fred Buljo (37), who charmed Europe with his joik when he and KEiiNO won the Eurovision people’s vote and came away with an honorable sixth place.

Now he has another achievement to be proud of.

– I’m doing very, very well. I’m engaged, Fred Buljo proudly tells TV 2.
The proposal took place under the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris three weeks ago. There he received his “yes” from Oddveig Marie Brenno, with whom he also has a child.

– We had had some good red wine, and then it just occurred to me to propose there.

There is not much of the wedding planned yet, but he believes the wedding will take place in 2026.
Indsæt billed: ON THE RED CARPET: Fred Buljo and Oddveig Marie Brenno, here on the red carpet leading up to Princess Märtha Louise’s wedding in 2024. Photo: Frode Sunde / TV 2

Does not rule out Verrett appearance
Buljo was recently part of Princess Märtha Louise (53) and Durek Verrett (50)’s summer wedding in Geiranger.

Buljo joiked at the royal wedding as a guest performer, and now he jokingly says that Verrett must be tempted to return the favor.

– Yes, maybe I should invite Durek to my wedding. Maybe he can joik there or sing?

– Verrett also has his own band, “Jacketeers”, so maybe he can perform with them?

– I saw that on “Good Morning Norway”, that he was in a band. They are most welcome to play at the after-party, smiles Buljo.

Will surpass his fellow artist
Buljo, who started his career as a rapper, has many projects in the works, both with KEiiNO and on his own.

– KEiiNO is the main project. And we’re releasing an album very soon. We’re releasing a lot of new songs.

Even though he has many musical irons in the fire, he still has some time to arrange a huge wedding.

A wedding so huge that he even comes up with a joke for a Sami acquaintance.

Because it’s not just Verrett’s wedding that has been heard a lot about in the media in the past year.

Ella Marie Hætta Isaksen (27) made headlines when she said she would have over 1,200 guests at her upcoming wedding.

This is just child’s play compared to the wedding Buljo is having. At least that’s what he claims himself.

– A dream wedding for me is to bring together my entire large Sami family, with the entire Hallingdal family of Oddveig, who is my partner. The guests will have a magical three-day party. In Sami culture, we have weddings for three days.

Where Hætta hinted at 1200 guests, he says that there will be at least 2000 in his own.

– I would say that Fred Buljo’s wedding will be bigger than Ella’s wedding, he says, with a twinkle in his eye.

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KEiiNO profile engaged

KEiiNO profile engaged
Fred Buljo and his girlfriend are scheduled to get married next year.
By Oscar Strøm Korsnes, vg.no , February 21st 2025
Translated by Karina Brandt, KEiiNO NEWS, February 21st 2025

The proposal he made to his girlfriend, Oddveig Marie Brenno, took place under the Eiffel Tower in Paris three weeks ago, Buljo tells TV 2.
– I’m doing very, very well. I’m engaged, says the artist.
The couple, who already have a child together, are now planning a grand wedding in 2026.
Buljo is aiming high and wants to surpass his Sami artist colleague Ella Marie Hætta Isaksen, who recently announced plans for a wedding with 1,200 guests.
– A dream wedding for me is to bring together my entire large Sami family, with Oddveig’s entire Hallingdal family. The guests will have a magical three-day party. In Sami culture, we have weddings for three days, explains Buljo.r Sami artist colleague Ella Marie Hætta Isaksen, who recently announced plans for a wedding with 1,200 guests.
Buljo, who recently performed at Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett’s wedding, jokes that he might invite Verrett to perform at his own wedding.
– Maybe I should invite Durek to my wedding. Maybe he can joik there or sing? You are most welcome to play at the after-party, smiles Buljo.

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Halo

Early Sunday morning
Bodies moving to the beat
Temperature is rising
Saints are fighting in the street

Heard a premonition
Pain will follow ecstasy
Suddenly I’m moving
Something’s coming over me

If I should die for you
Show me your halo
(Hei-lonna-heilo)
Cause I believe in you
Give me your halo
(He-lonna-heilo)
Be my religion
Something to die for
Heartache and ecstasy
If I should die for you
Show me your halo
(He-lonna-heilo)

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The Born Christmas Star

The born Christmas Star

As Alexandra Rotan embarks on her first solo Christmas tour, her biggest Christmas wish is about to come true. Her childhood dream has become reality – and with her on the journey she has her great love, Markus.
ALEXANDRA ROTAN (28): singer in KEiiNO, solo artist and TV presenter. Currently on her first solo tour, “Alexandra’s Christmas”, in the run-up to Christmas. Lives in Oslo, where she shares a home with guitarist Markus Maaren Bastøe (30).
Photo spread (page 18): A home for Christmas: Alexandra and her musician boyfriend Markus moved into their first shared apartment in central Oslo during Advent last year. Blue sequin dress from Iben NOK 3499 – £245/$307/295 EUR).
Alexandra Rotan has the kind of smile that automatically lifts the mood in the room. It’s not a fake smile for the camera, but a spontaneous expression of the joy of life, making her curls dance cheerfully over her shoulders. Yes, like the very definition of “jolly”, for lack of a better word.
And it is with this smile that she energetically meets us at the door of her new home in Oslo. The place she and her boyfriend Markus Maaren Bastøe moved into during Advent last year. – where this year she is looking forward to creating new Christmas traditions.
“I have already started planning the small gifts that Markus and I will give each other in a joint Christmas calendar. It is not materialistically motivated, but preferably a compliment on a note or something else that shows that we appreciate each other. It is about what you want your person to wake up to in the run-up to Christmas”, smiles Alexandra, and puts down a coffee cup with powder pink lipstick marks.

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Northern Boy

(Joik)

When the days were so dark
And the night was a whisper
I was careless and strong
I was young

In the light from the moon
Where it shines on the river
With a heart void of doubt
I met you

Northern star
Northern boy
Promise forevermore
I felt so safe here
Was blind with forever

Now there’s tears in the night
And they glow in the moonlight
When I sing this for you
Northern boy

Cause you looked in my eyes
And you promised me life
There were tears on your face
And the violins playing 

Northern star
Northern boy
Promise forevermore
I felt so safe here
Was blind with forever

When the night got too dark
And you gave in to summer
Cause you needed the light
Northern boy

(Joik)

Northern star
Northern boy
Promise forevermore
I felt so safe here
Was blind with forever

Now the leaves start to fall
And I wait for your call
Cause you promised me once
You’d be back in the winter

Now there’s snow in the air
And there’s nothing to fear
You can come back tonight
If you stay for the winter

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MGP group takes over queer nightclub: “There will be a good atmosphere all evening”

The musician promises a good atmosphere all evening when the music group takes over the city’s queer nightclub.
“I think it will be a lot of fun!
This is what Tom Hugo Hermansen says to KRS. The Kristiansander, who is part of the music group, KEiiNO, is ready to take on two quite different stages this weekend.
First, KEiiNo will play a concert at Kilden with the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra in connection with “Barnas Superkildendag” on Saturday. Then they will move on to the Barrikaden nightclub in the evening.
“We think it’s very funny that a queer nightclub has been established in Kristiansand. Since we are in town this weekend, I contacted Skeive Sørlandsdagar and wondered if they were interested in making a kick-off party, says Hermansen before continuing:
“And they thought it was a good idea! So its a bit last minute, but it will be a nice evening.

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DISCO

DISCO

Night
Under another naughty moon
I’m just another naughty girl
Who wants to play with fire
Beats
I feel you beating in my chest
Together we will get no rest
You wanna play with fire?

All I wanna do
DISCO DISCO
All I want is you
DISCO DISCO
You have to spell it out for me
D – I – S – C – O
D – I – S – C – O
DISCO DISCO
D – I – S – C – O
DISCO DISCO

Lights
I see the blinding neon lights
I promise we can break the night
You wanna play with fire?
Girl
Give me another naughty girl
Together we can rule the world
And we can play with fire

All I wanna do
DISCO DISCO
All I want is you
DISCO DISCO
You have to spell it out for me
D – I – S – C – O
D – I – S – C – O
DISCO DISCO
D – I – S – C – O
DISCO DISCO

Joik

We just wanna go
D – I – S – C – O

All I want is you
DISCO DISCO
DISCO DISCO
All I want is you

All I wanna do
DISCO DISCO
All I want is you
DISCO DISCO
You have to spell it out for me
D – I – S – C – O
DISCO DISCO

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Hero, Baby

Hero, baby
La la la la la
la la la la
La la la la la
La la la la la
la la la la
La la la la la

I’m scared of monsters who are hungry in the night
Young evil sailors, zombie ravers want a bite

When the light is falling
And the night is dark for all
I need a hero, want a hero
Who can guide me through the night

La la la la la la
I need a
I need a hero, baby
La la la la la la
I need a
I need a hero, baby
La la la la la la
I need a
I need a hero, baby
Can’t see the light, it feels so right
I need a hero, baby

Da Da Dearpa
Getcha
Isen den slår sprækka
Når flamman står i taket e vi først i rekka
Ah, ah, superpow
Dugge tungt på ruta
Fyre ut av natta med et Damdam

La la la la la la
I need a
I need a hero, baby
La la la la la la
I need a
I need a hero, baby

When the night is dark and cold
Will you hear me when I call
I need a hero, want a hero
Who can save me when I fall

La la la la la la
I need a
I need a hero, baby
La la la la la la
I need a
I need a hero, baby
La la la la la la
I need a
I need a hero, baby
Can’t see the light, it feels so right
I need a hero, baby

All the monsters here
They can’t see your fear
Cause a hero won’t back down
All the monsters here
They can’t see your fear
La la la la la la
I need a
I need a hero, baby

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Round up of 23 with KEiiNO

The year of 2023 is over, and we have started 2024, with the wonderful news of KEiiNO participating in Norwegian MGP this year.
2023 was a busy year for them all, as a band and for each one of the members as individuals.
Fred became a dad for the first time, Alexandra moved in with KEiiNO-band’s amazing guitarist, Markus, and Tom released his first solo album in 11 years. But what do they each feel has been the biggest moments of 2023, and what do they expect from 2024, personally as well as professionally?

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