Oliver (song)
Encyclopedia
"Oliver" was the Norwegian
entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1979
, performed in Norwegian
by Anita Skorgan
. This was Skorgan's second participation in the Contest; in 1977
she had placed 14th out of 18 entries with "Casanova
".
The song is a moderately up-tempo number, with Skorgan addressing a former lover (with whom she sings she broke up four weeks ago) who she sees in a disco. She tells him that if she happens to walk past him, she will ask him for a dance, because she believes that he misses her and she is prepared to give him another chance. English ("Oliver"), German ("(Tanz mit mir) Oliver"), French ("Il faut danser") and Swedish ("Oliver") versions of the song were also released after the Contest.
The song was performed sixteenth on the night, following Sweden
's Ted Gärdestad
with "Satellit
" and preceding the United Kingdom
's Black Lace
with "Mary Ann
". At the close of voting, it had received 57 points, placing 11th in a field of 19.
It was succeeded as Norwegian representative
at the 1980 contest
by Sverre Kjelsberg
& Mattis Hætta
with "Sámiid Ædnan
". Anita Skorgan returned to the Contest in 1982
with her then husband Jahn Teigen
with the duet "Adieu".
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1979
Eurovision Song Contest 1979
The Eurovision Song Contest 1979 was the 24th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 31 March 1979 in Jerusalem, Israel. The presenters were Daniel Pe'er and Yardena Arazi, and the event was staged at the International Convention Center. Representing Israel, Gali Atari and Milk and Honey were the...
, performed in Norwegian
Norwegian language
Norwegian is a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is the official language. Together with Swedish and Danish, Norwegian forms a continuum of more or less mutually intelligible local and regional variants .These Scandinavian languages together with the Faroese language...
by Anita Skorgan
Anita Skorgan
Anita Skorgan is a Norwegian singer-songwriter. She was once married to Jahn Teigen, another successful Norwegian singer-songwriter...
. This was Skorgan's second participation in the Contest; in 1977
Eurovision Song Contest 1977
The Eurovision Song Contest 1977 was the 22nd edition series, and was held on 7 May 1977 in London. With Angela Rippon as the presenter, the contest was won by Marie Myriam who represented France, with her song "L'oiseau et l'enfant" . This was France's fifth victory, a record, which was equalled...
she had placed 14th out of 18 entries with "Casanova
Casanova (song)
"Casanova" was the Norwegian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1977, performed in Norwegian by Anita Skorgan.The song is an up-tempo number, with Skorgan describing her husband, who is absent at the time. She is uncomplimentary about this, singing that he sees himself as a Casanova or a Don Juan...
".
The song is a moderately up-tempo number, with Skorgan addressing a former lover (with whom she sings she broke up four weeks ago) who she sees in a disco. She tells him that if she happens to walk past him, she will ask him for a dance, because she believes that he misses her and she is prepared to give him another chance. English ("Oliver"), German ("(Tanz mit mir) Oliver"), French ("Il faut danser") and Swedish ("Oliver") versions of the song were also released after the Contest.
The song was performed sixteenth on the night, following Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
's Ted Gärdestad
Ted Gärdestad
Ted Gärdestad , internationally known as Ted Gardestad, Ted Gaerdestad or just Ted was a Swedish singer, songwriter and musician.-Early career:...
with "Satellit
Satellit
"Satellit" was the Swedish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1979, performed in Swedish by Ted Gärdestad.Gärdestad's first four albums were produced by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA, featured backing vocals by Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, and were released on the Polar...
" and preceding the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's Black Lace
Black Lace (band)
Black Lace is a British Euro pop band, best known for novelty party records, including their biggest hit, "Agadoo". The band first came to the public eye after being selected to represent the UK in the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest, in which they finished seventh with the song "Mary Ann"...
with "Mary Ann
Mary Ann (song)
"Mary Ann" was the British entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1979, performed in English by Black Lace.The song is about a man who loves a woman called Mary Ann, but can't express his sentiment to her....
". At the close of voting, it had received 57 points, placing 11th in a field of 19.
It was succeeded as Norwegian representative
Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest
Norway has been participating in the Eurovision Song Contest since 1960 and only been absent twice: in 1970, when they boycotted the contest over disagreements about the voting structure, and in 2002, when they did not qualify....
at the 1980 contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1980
The Eurovision Song Contest 1980 was the 25th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 19 April 1980 in The Hague. The presenter was Marlous Fluitsma, although each song was introduced by a presenter from the nation represented...
by Sverre Kjelsberg
Sverre Kjelsberg
Sverre Kjelsberg in Tromsø) is a Norwegian singer, musician , composer and lyricist. He was a member of the band The Pussycats from 1964...
& Mattis Hætta
Mattis Hætta
Mattis Hætta is a Norwegian singer of the region of Lapland and he is a Sami.In 1980, he and Sverre Kjelsberg won the Melodi Grand Prix 1980 with the entry Sámiid Ædnan and went on to represent Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980.He has worked in pantomimes and yoiks in Alta, Kautokeino and...
with "Sámiid Ædnan
Sámiid Ædnan
"Sámiid Ædnan" was the Norwegian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980, performed by Sverre Kjelsberg and Mattis Hætta. The song is sometimes described as being in the Sami language, however this is not correct...
". Anita Skorgan returned to the Contest in 1982
Eurovision Song Contest 1982
The Eurovision Song Contest 1982 was the 27th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 24 April 1982 in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom. The presenter was Jan Leeming. The opening of the contest showed a map of Europe, with the translation "Where is Harrogate?" popping up on-screen from...
with her then husband Jahn Teigen
Jahn Teigen
Jahn Teigen is a Norwegian singer and musician. Jahn received a knighthood from H.M. King Harald V. He represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest three times, in 1978, 1982 and 1983. His given name was Jan, he added the silent H later. Since October 2006 he has been living in Sweden...
with the duet "Adieu".