The progressive folk-rock group won the latest edition of Melodi Grand Prix. The national pre-selection of the Nordic country to determine the successor to Alessandra Mele took place last January, where nine entries reached the grand final after competing for a spot in one of three semifinals.
Gåte and their song “Ulveham” had to be rewritten just before the final, as the lyrics were taken entirely from an ancient medieval ballad. For NRK, this could be problematic in relation to regulations and the MGP itself. Nonetheless, the band managed to win the televote, and the second position granted by the international jury was enough to declare them winners of this edition of Melodi Grand Prix. After many years, Norway’s entry will be sung in Norwegian.
Who are Gåte?
Founded in Trondheim in 1999, Gåte is known for blending Norwegian folk music with elements of metal and electronics. The band uses classical instruments like violins, guitars, and drums that are enhanced by the powerful female voice of Gunnhild Sundli.
Many of their songs are written in Nynorsk and sung in the Trøndersk dialect from central Norway. They are rearranged versions of traditional Norwegian melodies or poems by poet Astrid Krog Halse, with additional music by Sveinung Sundli.
Originally, the band was formed by Sveinung Sundli (violin, keyboards), Gunnhild Sundli (vocals), Gjermund Landrø (bass, backing vocals), Kenneth Kapstade (drums), and Magnus Robot Børmark (guitar, keyboards). Of the original members, only Gunnhild and Magnus remain in the band, now joined by Jon Even Schärer (drums), Mats Paulsen (bass), and John Stenersen (harp and keyboards).
Gåte released their first EP, “Gåte EP,” in 2000 and quickly gained popularity. Their first album, “Jygri,” released in 2002, proved to be a commercial success both within and outside Norway, particularly in Scandinavia and Germany. After their second album, “Iselilja,” in 2004, the band announced a hiatus, returning in 2017 with the single “Attersyn,” followed by the album “Svevn” in 2018.
During the first part of their career, they toured extensively, playing at almost every major folk music festival in Norway, as well as at the Roskilde Festival, Denmark’s premier international music festival.
“Ulveham” the Norwegian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024
The song is inspired by a medieval ballad and, like other historical tales, conveys a moral lesson. It tells the story of a young maiden who faces numerous injustices. Despite the challenges, she stands firm in her commitment to justice and virtue. Through her unwavering dedication to these principles, she overcomes malevolent forces and breaks the curse that had been placed upon her.
The song “Ulveham” was written by Gunnhild Sundli, Jon Even Schärer, Magnus Børmark, Marit Jensen Lillebuen, Ronny Graff Janssen, and Sveinung Eklo Sundli.
Lyrics of «Ulveham»
Norwegian
Eg var meg så ven og fager ei møy
Med stimoder vond, mi moder ho døy
Ho skapte meg om til eit svær og ei nål
Og sende meg av ti kongens gård
Og vreida mi stimoder kjende mest
Når alle dei gillaste lika meg best
Ho gav meg ein ham som ulve grå
Ho svor meg einsam i skogjen gå
Og aldri blir eg heil og god
Før eg fær drukkje min broders blod
English
I was a very fine and beautiful maiden
With an evil stepmother. My mother had died.
She transformed me into a sword and a needle
And sent me off to the King’s estate.
The wrath of my stepmother grew
When all the fine people loved me most.
She gave me the hide of a grey wolf
And forced me to go into the woods alone.
And I would never be whole and good
Before I had drunk of my brother’s blood.
Norway’s participation in Eurovision
Norway made its debut at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1960 and has participated in every edition since then, except for 1970 and 2002. Since the introduction of the semi-finals in 2004, Norway has only been eliminated at this stage on three occasions: 2007, 2011, and 2016.
Across all its participations, Norway has achieved no fewer than three victories. In 1985, Bobbysocks with their song “La det Swinge” took first place. Ten years later, in 1995, Secret Garden triumphed with the song “Nocturne.” Norway’s most recent Eurovision victory was in 2009, thanks to the song “Fairytale” by Alexander Rybak.
Despite these successes, the country also holds the record for most times finishing with “zero points,” which has happened four times, and it also has the record for most times finishing in last place, a total of eleven times.
In the last decade, Norway has had varying results. The best came in Malmö in 2013, when Margaret Berger placed fourth with “I Feed You My Love.” Norway has successfully advanced from the semi-finals fifteen times.
In the most recent Eurovision edition, held in May 2023 in Liverpool, Norway finished in fifth place with a total of 268 points, represented by Alessandra Mele and her song “Queen of Kings.”