Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980

Norway was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1980 with the song "Sámiid ædnan", composed by Sverre Kjelsberg, with lyrics by Ragnar Olsen, and performed by Sverre Kjelsberg and Mattis Hætta. The Norwegian participating broadcaster, NRK, selected its entry through the Melodi Grand Prix 1980.
The song’s chorus, consisting of traditional Sami yoik song, was first performed publicly by Mattis Hætta and was broadcast on NRK in October 1979, in connection with the hunger strike song by Sami activists in front of the Norwegian parliament building in connection with the Alta controversy. The verse of the song also refers to this with the line "framførr tinget der dem satt, hørtes joiken dag og natt". Only Kjelsberg was credited as composer of the entry, although Hætta wrote the chorus. The song remains one of the best-remembered Norwegian entries, particularly in Norway itself.

Before Eurovision

1980

NRK held the Melodi Grand Prix 1980 at its studios in Oslo, hosted by Åse Kleveland who represented. The Orchestra was Conducted by Egil Monn-Inversen. Ten songs took part in the final, with the winner chosen by a 9-member jury who awarded 10 points to their favourite song down to 1 point to the least-liked. Voting was very close with only 4 points separating the top five songs. The first vote resulted in a tie for first place, so each jury member was asked to nominate their preferred song of the two, and "Sámiid ædnan" won by 5 votes to 4.

Draw	Artist	Song	Points	Place
1	Anita Skorgan	"Stjerneskudd"	48	6
2	Jahn Teigen	"Ja"	32	9
3	Radka Toneff	"Parken"	43	8
4	Åge Aleksandersen and Sambandet	"Bjørnen sover"	61	1
5	Hilde Heltberg	"Maestro"	32	9
6	Henning Sommerro	"Auståvind"	45	7
7	Alex	"Univers"	58	3
8	Nina Askeland	"Rudi"	58	3
9	Inger Lise Rypdal	"Svart fortid"	57	5
10	Sverre Kjelsberg and Mattis Hætta	"Sámiid ædnan"	61	1

Draw

Artist

Song

scope="col"

Total

Place

Åge Aleksandersen and Sambandet

"Bjørnen sover"

Sverre Kjelsberg and Mattis Hætta

"Sámiid ædnan"

At Eurovision

On the night of the final Kjelsberg and Hætta performed 11th in the running order, following and preceding. At the close of voting "Sámiid ædnan" had received 15 points, placing Norway 16th of the 19 entries. The Norwegian jury awarded its 12 points to contest winners.

Voting

Score	Country
12 points
10 points
8 points
7 points
6 points
5 points
4 points
3 points
2 points
1 point

Score	Country
12 points
10 points
8 points
7 points
6 points
5 points
4 points
3 points
2 points
1 point