For the last few years, ever since Alexander Rybak, I have said the same thing about the Norwegian entries: good performers with weak songs. But this year they got it all right.
Margaret Berger - I Feed You My Love (Norway 2013)
Margaret Berger became known through an early edition of Norway's Pop Idol and then made a sharp turn towards a more demanding, cold and polished sound. More electronica, less family entertainment, and her eurovision entry takes that direction even further.
Given Norway's usual taste and preferences, I'd classify it as a smaller miracle that a song like this could win. I'm most impressed.
This is the kind of daring and modern effort that almost never wins national finals and that could encounter problems in enthusing the televoters, but in my mind it stands out as close to perfect.
There is just one detail I'd like to tweak a little bit: Margaret should decide whether she wants to be arty and restrained or allow herself to dance along merrily to the track (as she does in the second verse). Either or would work better. But that's a tiny detail.
Qualifier:
Yes, I think so. It has sharp edges but should be captivating enough to make top ten in a semi. As far as I'm concerned, this should be a potential winner in a perfect world.
My grade: 4/5
