Two time Eurovision winners Norway, are probably
more famous for their string of "nil points" results, and
following a disappointing result in Athens, the Norwegians are back
in the semi-final in Helsinki.
Once again Norway decided to follow the example
of their Swedish neighbours and have a series of regional
semi-finals before the Norwegian public chose their entry in the
national final staged in Oslo's Spektrum Arena on February 10th.
The song that was chosen has a rather international flavour with a
Spanish title, English lyrics, a Swedish songwriter and a Norwegian
singer; Gui Schanke.
Guri Schanke was born December 14th 1961 and is
a well known Norwegian actress and singer. She is best known in
Norway for her acting career, and more recently was a contestant on
the 2005 round of the Norwegian version of "Dancing with the
Stars", where she came in second.
When she was young, Guri wanted to become an
interior designer, but she could not stay away from the stage for
very long. Her acting debut came in 1982 on Oslo Nye Teater. Since
then she has been part of a number of successful musicals, such as
"Les Misérables", "Summer in Tyrol" and
"Annie Get Your Gun". She has taken part in a number of
TV shows including the Norwegian TV series "Hotel
Cĉsar". Every year, between Christmas and New Year's Eve, the
Norwegian TV channel NRK airs the televised musical theatre comedy
"The Spanish Fly" which was released in 1990 which stars
Guri Schanke and her then future to be husband, Ĝivind Blunck.She
has been married to Ĝivind Blunck since 1991.
Guri has also provided the voice on the
Norwegian versions of several Disney movies, including
"Pocahontas", "The Little Mermaid", "101
Dalmations", "The Aristocrats" and "Oliver
& Company". Guri is also a dancer and a singer and over
the years she has become a cherished part of Norwegian
showbusiness. Being such a familiar face in Norway, it camre as no
surprise in 2006 at the age of 45, that Guri became the Norwegian
face of L'Oreal Garnier for their anti-wrinkle firming cream Ultra
Lift.
While Helsinki will be Guri's first Eurovision
experience, she has fmily ties which connect her to the contest.
Guri's uncle is Lollo Schanke, who is married to Elisabeth
Andreasson,who has participated in four Eurovision Song Contests,
winning in 1985 as a member of Bobbysocks.
While Guro may be a Eurovision newcomer, the
songwriter of the Norwegian entry is an old hand at the contest.
For Swede Thomas G;son, this will be his fouth participation.
Thomas was born in Skovde on February 25th 1968. He started his
career as a guitarist and composer in the hard-rock band Masquerade
who released for albums between 1992 and 2004.
However it's as a festival songwriter that
Thomas is best known. He has had 21 songs chosen for the Swedish
Eurovision selections and five for Norway's. He has also been in
the final of the Eurovision selections in Finland, Latvia, Romania
and Spain. He first qualified for Eurovision in 2001 when his song
"Listen To Your Heatbeat" finished fifth. However the
song was later discovered to be guilty of plagiarising the 1996
Belgian entry. Last year his song "Invincible" sung by
Carola, also finished 5th in Athens.
This year Thomas G;son is responsible for two of
the entries in the contest, as well as Norway's song, he is also
one of the composers of the Spanish entry "I Love You Mi
Vida".
Away from Eurovision Thomas G;son has had over
two hundred of his songs recorded by some of the most famous
singers in Scandinavia.
Guri Schanke has promoted he entry in several
European countries, but the song has made little impact
domestically. The song has not faired well in most internet polls
and is not among the favourites to qualify from the semi-finals. In
an effort to enhance its chances in Helsinki, the song is being
remixed by one of Scandinavia's best known dance producers and the
routine from the Norwegian final is being dropped in favour of a
younger and more strongly choregraphed routine.
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NORWAY @ EUROVISION