Mozart Prepared Me For Lenge Leve Livet!

The years 1984 to 1986 are iconic Eurovision years for the Schlagerboys and we always get really excited when an artist from that era returns to a National Final, so the news that one of Dollie de Luxe was coming back to MGP this year was greeted with much schlager celebration at Schlager Towers. It was all about the head scarves, the white jump suits, the frantic arm waving dance routine, the one finger keyboard playing and that fab screechy note at the beginning that made "Lenge Leve Livet" a schlager anthem. Oh! My! God! She's back! Back! BACK!!! It's Benedicte Adrian!!

Schlagerboys: What is your song "Little Bobbi" like? Who are the two boys in United and what will they be doing while you’re singing?

Benedicte Adrian: United is Haji ("Barman" on YouTube,- for info), Kristian Rønning who uses the pseudo "Sirius" on stage (won Norske Talenter 2010 with his own rap) and me.

SBs: Why did you decide to make a comeback to MGP?

BA: The song is so cool. The fact that it is ESC doesn't matter. The song feels good to do.

SBs: What memories do you have of Eurovision 1984? Do you remember The Herreys and did you get to try on their golden boots?

BA: The Herreys were charming and we got along fine! Never tried their boots though...

SBs: Wasted schlager opportunity! Can you remember Belle & the Devotions from the UK ? Did you share make-up and costume ideas?

BA: Didn't really get to know the UK girls. They did their thing, we did ours.

SBs: Stop it! Our dreams of fabulous 1984 schlager parties where everyone sings along to great big gay hands-in-the-air-dance mixes of "Ein bißchen Frieden" while supping cocktails in some dody gay club in deepest darkest Luxembourg City are disappearing before our very eyes!  Do you still keep in touch with Ingrid from Dollie de Luxe? Will you ever perform together again?

BA: Ingrid is one of my closest friends and always will be. Who knows if we´ll ever perform together again.

SBs: Get her on for the interval act this Saturday! It worked for Wenche Myhre a couple of years ago (actually it didn't but don't let that put you off...) You've done a lot of classical singing. How did you get into doing that? Did singing the high notes in "Lenge Leve Livet" prepare you for the screeching in Mozart's "Queen of the Night"?

BA: From the age of 15 to 18 I went to music school with singing as main subject for me. Mozart prepared me for "Lenge Leve Livet"!

SBs: You were a judge in Norwegian Pop Idol in 2007. Were you the Simon Cowell nasty judge? And some of the contestants from your year (Åste Hunnes Sem, Bjørn Johan Muri) have gone on to compete in MGP. Did you encourage them to do it? Have you given them any advice?

BA: I was more like Paula Abdul without the dancing, he-he... I gave lots of advices but we never discussed the ESC. These people know what to do themselves I think. Talented and hard working as they are!

SBs: Obviously you are a total Norwegian Eurovision icon yourself, but do you have any Eurovision idols yourself?

BA: Alice from Italy 1984.

SBs: She certainly knew how to wear a pair of gloves. Shame about the funny bloke she had to put up with. Do you have a message for the readers of Schlagerblog?

BA: Hope to see you in Azerbaidjan! Have to practice on the spelling of that land... Did I get it right? Hope you like our song! It think it sounds "new" and surprising. Love, Benedicte


Don't worry about the spelling, love. No-one's going anyway this year- we're all watching it on telly! Good luck in MGP and see you for a photo in the Spektrum