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Norwegians didn't choose this song to go to ESC2012. Shame on you all!

I have been covering Norway's Melodi Grand Prix this year and watching in horror as songs that could win many points for Norway get left behind by the public vote. Then again - my criteria for a successful Eurovision song is usually weighed in how over the top it is, and this could be something the Norwegians just find simply revolting. Like the Swedes, they may want something they feel most comfortable with. But this song, "Shapeshifter", happens to be excellent and very well thought out. It's a travesty that this won't make it to Baku... or will it? Norway picks three songs in each of their 3 semi-finals, but the song with the best fourth-place ranking will make it into the MGP Final. So there is a small chance it could compete again, but what a waste of a good song in the meantime.

Here's the result of the 12points jury: did we find the song had shape, or was relatively shapeless?

Song/Lyrics - 12/12
This melody owes a lot to artists like David Guetta and Usher, which is a good thing. About time some modern dance songs made their way into Eurovision, sung by an artist who really knows how to handle the genre. The lyrics are very goofy - they sound like they were written after Rikke read all the "Twilight" novels. This song has a lot of what Eurovision semi-final songs seem to lack this year - fun. 

Performance - 12/12
Great. Confident and happy and seamlessly performed. Rikke is the strongest singer I've seen so far in MGP. The fact that she can hit those high notes and flip right back into her chest voice, a la Whitney Houston, is a skill that is lacking in a lot of Eurovision singers today.

Choreography (including Arm-ography and Hair-ography) - 10/12
Rikke's nerdy backing boys are hilarious and a-dork-able. This loses the top score because a few of them threaten to upstage her while she's singing. And also, the lyrics are more about wolves and primal desires and she has a bunch of nerds dancing with her. But I'm being picky. Watch the choreography carefully, especially what goes on in the background.  Very interesting.

Key Change Effectiveness - 0/12
A key change wasn't deemed necessary, but the song does well without it. Nul points though, according to the jury.

Camp Factor - 12/12
Totally OTT. And Rikke looks fantastic in what she is wearing.

TOTAL: 46/60.  Would have loved to have given this some more points, but the key change dragged it down. Let's hope this song still has a last minute chance in the final. If you like Rikke, check out this soul oddity from last year's Melodi Grand Prix.