The Norweigan final is over and NRK send Stella Mwangi to Düsseldorf to defend the country's honour with "Haba Haba".
Stella Mwangi - Haba Haba (Norway 2011)
In the end, a certain level of exotism was what Norway wanted and the song certainly sounds like nothing they have ever contributed before. The African flavour worked for France last year (admittedly better outside the contest than during the voting, but anyway) and somewhere deep inside of me I love it that people embrace an entry like this at a time where unpleasant political winds are blowing both here and there across Europe.
The drawback for me is that the song isn't strong enough. It is a most harmless little number that is unlikely to offend anyone. More like something from The Lion King rather than Waka Waka.
Thankfully, Stella Mwangi is there to spice up the package and sell the song to the masses. She is a real personality and a lovely presence.
If Norway does well in Düsseldorf it is all thanks to her and not so much to the song, I think.
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