The 2023 Eurovision betting season kicks off in Nydalen, Norway with a revamped MGP selection underway. 7 acts will compete in tonight’s heat fighting for 3 spots in the grand final. Let’s take a look at the competitors.

1. Alessandra Mele – “Queen of Kings”

An uptempo Alan Walker like number to kick off the MGP 2023 season. This should be a great opener. It has many similarities to Klara Hammarstrom’s “Run to the Hills” but has a stronger Nordic identity. It should qualify but there are concerns about if Alessandra can pull off being able to sing with little experience. Moreover, there is potential for the staging to be too aggressive.

2. Erik Naess – “Wave”

Strong Avicii vibes from Erik’s entry. Uptempo and anthemic. However it will likely fail to stand out in this diverse 7 song lineup. It also competes with Ulrikke in the anthemic category.

3. Rasmus Thall – Tresko

A TikTok hit waiting to happen was my first thought after listening to Tresko. The new autotune rule will almost certainly aid this entry with all the vocal modulations in the studio track. There is also strong sob story potential with the song being based on Rasmus’s brother who had a life changing accident. Rasmus definitely has the potential to qualify especially as he can capture the youth vote, which is important with an online only vote.

4. Kate Gulbrandsen – Tårer i paradis

A surprisingly very pleasant listen. The vocals combined with violin production create a heavenly atmosphere. If there was a televote I would have thought this could sneak through as it likely to be a favourite with the older demographic. An online vote means this is less likely to happen.

5. Umami Tusanmi – Geronimo

Umami Tsunami are bringing back a late 00’s Justin Timberlake sound. This is an energetic entry but also very dated at the same time. The boys will likely put on a lively show and could capture the teen girl vote, which might be enough.

6. Ulrikke – Honestly

The 2020 champion is back hoping this time to actually make it all the way to ESC. This is a very solid entry in my opinion with stirring lyrics and emotion inducing production. Ulrikke is an excellent performer and should elevate this even more. There are some valid criticisms of this entry. It definitely is very calculated and at times overproduced. In terms of winning MGP, I think Ulrikke is more than likely on track to clinch the trophy again. When thinking about it’s placement at ESC at this point I could see it end up in the range of 10th-15th.

7. JOWST and Byron Williams Jr

The 2017 champion returns with a new vocalist combining techno with jazz. In studio format this seems to be quite a poor entry. However, JOWST is likely to bring good staging. Byron is an experienced charismatic performer who comes across as likeable too. There is definitely a path to the final for this number.

MGP’s new voting system means viewers can only cast 1 vote. This means there will likely be a big range in % of votes between entries at the top and bottom. Ulrikke is the clear standout in this heat and could be on track for 70%+ of the votes, meaning a small % is needed to sneak into the final. It is a difficult heat to call but in terms of value I see JOWST as underpriced. The placing of his entry in the closing slot suggests there will be good staging and Byron Williams’s charisma combined with the running order benefit could be enough for it to qualify.

Recommended bet:

Back JOWST and Byron Williams Jr to Qualify @5.0 (Unibet)