NORWAY
Stella Mwangi - Habba Habba
It was carnival time at the Norwegian National final this year as Stella Mwangi brought a little bit of the African beat to Scandinavia and powered her way into victory. The Kenyan-Norwegian singer, who has had her work featured in a variety of major films and tv series as well as being an active writer on the condition of her Kenyan homeland, defeated her rivals easily and will fly the flag for Norway in Dusseldorf.
From the very first listen this song has a upbeat, carnival esque vibe that make you want to dance and sing along. Mwangi delivers it with, perhaps not the best voice in the contest, but with passions and an alluring, relaxed yet vibrant stage presence. She will certainly figure to be one of the characters of this years contest, whether she will use it as a platform to raise further issues regarding her homeland only time will tell.
Noway has had a relatively successful run in the contest as of late, winning of course in 2009 with Alexander Rybak and gaining top ten finishes with Wig Wam and Marie Strong and since its debut in the contest in 1960 has missed only one final (in 2007 when Guri Schanke failed to progress).
This year though the bookmakers will be making Haba, Haba one of the favorites to fight its way into the top 5. It has everything that is needed to do well at the contest, an up-tempo number, a charismatic singer and if the staging at the Norwegian final is anything to go by, then the visuals will look good on the night.
So when Stella Mwangi brings a little bit of Africa to Dusseldorf will the voters and juries feel inclined to issue points? Surely the African population around Europe will support their own, particularly those of a Kenyan background and her mixed-nationality story will surely impress judges. The song will stand out, is memorable and has enough to impress at first listen so yet again Norway finds itself as a strong contender for the Eurovision crown.
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