The Eurovision-artist’s “unknown” TV-past
Do you recognize the Eurovision artist from Norwegian talents?
By Marit Grøtte, TV2 Norge, 12.05.2019, translated by Karina Brandt / KEiiNO Fangroup Official
In a few days, KEiiNO is representing Norway in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv in Israel.
The group, KEiiNO, is a trio that was formed just before the Norwegian Grand Prix-finale, but the members are not new to the spotlight.
Alexandra Rotan (22) has previously been in both Idol, MGP, and MGP Junior, while it was the third time Tom Hugo (39) participated in a Norwegian MGP-finale.
And Fred Buljo (31) some might remember from Norwegian Talents on TV 2.
Watch the video of Fred Bujljo in Norwegian Talents in the top of the article
To the finale
In 2008 Buljo participated with the Sámi rap-group, Duolva Duottar from Kautokeino in the very first season of Norwegian Talents.
Judge Thomas Giertsen created controversy when he said he wouldn’t send the group on from the audition because he didn’t understand the Sámi language. The two other judges, Jan Fredrik Karlsen and Mia Gundersen, on the other hand, sent Duolva Duottar on.
The rap-group came all the way to the finale, but there in the end Erlend Bratland ran off with the victory.
Sámi music
When TV 2 met Fred Buljo just before he and KEiiNO left for Tel Aviv, he summarized that Norwegian Talents was a great experience
- It turned out you can go far with Sámi music too. We showed sides of Sámi music people probably didn’t know. It was something new, he tells TV2.
- Norwegian Talents was important to my career, but also for my motivation to continue making music. I noticed people liked Sámi music, so it fueled the fire for my part, he continues.
Great importance
Buljo was 20 years old when he stood on the Norske Talenter-scene. He thinks he learnt a lot there which he has taken with him onwards.
- This experience was indispensable. It absolutely was a springboard for the rest of my career. I have held onto Sámi rap for ten years after I was in Norwegian Talents, so it has had great importance, he tells.
After Norwegian Talents, he has worked as an artist and songwriter and he is also a kindergarten teacher in a Sámi kindergarten in Oslo.
Now he is ready for his career’s, so far, largest scene: Around 200 million viewers from entire Europe will be watching Eurovision.
Second semifinale
TV2 will be on the spot in Tel Aviv next week to cover this year’s Eurovision.
41 countries battles to win the music competition, which is held in Tel Aviv after Israeli Netta won the Eurovision last year.
Norway is competing in the second semi-finale Thursday the 16th of May. If KEiiNO continues, the finale is waiting Saturday, May 18th.
The bookmakers think that the Netherlands, Sweden, and France have the biggest chance of winning this year’s Eurovision. Currently, Norway is on a 15th place on the betting lists, according to Eurovision World.
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