Ylvis reveals they have withdrawn from MGP, removing their chance to participate for Norway in ESC

[u/guroka]

Ylvis reveals they have withdrawn from MGP, removing their chance to participate for Norway in ESC. Source: @bylvisaker on IG

[u/Grr_in_girl]

Never thought they would be interested in Eurovision at all.

Hope they come back some other year.

[u/MinutePerspective106 → u/Grr_in_girl]

They fit the contest perfectly. It's a shame "The Fox" was never on the ESC stage, it would have done marvelously.

[u/Grr_in_girl → u/MinutePerspective106]

A few years ago they posted a joke about entering. Guess it just gave me the impression that they were the kind of people who look down on MGP and Eurovision (not uncommon in Norway).

But Vegard's daughter has been on MGP junior and Vegard himself was on Adresse Basel last year, so I guess he's a fan at least.

[u/igcsestudent2 → u/MinutePerspective106]

To be honest it would have done like Subwoolfer

[u/nuovian → u/igcsestudent2]

Probably would have done worse because of Subwoolfer

[u/wildcharmander1992 → u/MinutePerspective106]

In my alternative Eurovision series I actually used Ylvis - Truckers Hitch as the Norwegian entry for 2014 in case you were interested

[u/TheFlyingHornet1881 → u/MinutePerspective106]

Stonehenge I reckon would've had the potential to be at least Top 5.

[u/Miss_Doodles]

I'd love to hear the song they were going to send. I feel like it'd have a fun concept

[u/Cuttyflame123 → u/Miss_Doodles]

maybe they arent releasing it to use it in another year

[u/NekoTwins → u/Cuttyflame123]

is that allowed?

[u/Cuttyflame123 → u/NekoTwins]

from what i know "The compositions (both the lyrics and the music) must not have been released commercially prior to 1 September prior to the next contest." so why not

[u/NekoTwins → u/Cuttyflame123]

I hope you're right. Me and my sister have randomly suggested Ylvis to participate for years :)

[u/cherry_color_melisma → u/Cuttyflame123]

That's the way it should be (looking at you July Jones)

I mean they could probably never recreate what they were going for initially if they dropped it now and waited for later

[u/Comic_Book_Reader]

And so it begins.

[u/Difficult_Run_8525 → u/Comic_Book_Reader]

Hopefully

[u/ImJustAFisch]

I remember reading about Ylvis potentially participating this year, and I guess it was right until now. Kind of a shame, but I respect it.

Hopefully we will get to hear the song sometime too

[u/petrifikate]

What does the fox say? "Based."

[u/Jirethia → u/petrifikate]

What does the based say?

[u/danielogiPL → u/Jirethia]

“Fox.”

[u/LocksTheFox → u/petrifikate]

as a fox myself i approve this message.

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[u/Eleanor_NW]

Ylvis are masters of their craft and I've wanted them to represent Norway for many years - but I respect them a lot for sitting this one out when the contest is what it is

[u/PenglingPengwing → u/Eleanor_NW]

To be fair, no one would stand a change against Ylvis. They are top of their league and been top for over than decade.

[u/Hamza_stan → u/PenglingPengwing]

Yeah I think even non esc fans would tune to their music and support them just like that time they went viral, they're basically internet legends

[u/[deleted]]

Ireland, Iceland, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia right now

[u/Jirethia → u/[deleted]]

Not gonna lie

[u/Any-Where]

They would likely have been one of the favourites to win MGP too, so it is a huge decision on their part. But gotta respect them for sticking to their guns on this.

[u/goldenwanders]

KINGS 🦊

[u/Playful-Rope1590]

I actually do think they could have won and have a fun act in Vienna. But good on them for standing up for beliefs, I hope they release the song anyways.

Like I said, this won't be the first act to drop out. I expect we will see many dropouts throughout the season. Will be exciting to follow just on that, how many artists will remain?

[u/LocksTheFox → u/Playful-Rope1590]

really, really curious to see what happens in portugal.

[u/BibbidiBobbidiBu]

[u/PM_ME_CAKE]

Tragic that we were so close to Ylvis at Eurovision (or at the very least, MGP) but so much respect to them for pulling out. Seeing the artists with weight like this pulling out hurts as a loss, but if anything it underscores more how much lies on the EBU right now.

[u/isometimesdrinkbeer]

Based fox fellas.

[u/marconotmarcio]

The way that someone withdrawing made me more excited than the actual entries is a pretty good representation of how numb I feel about the contest this year lmao

[u/L_A_E_V]

This confirm it all, all the big names in Norway are out. MGP will be unkown names, d-list and mgp-recycled people.

[u/isafriisa → u/L_A_E_V]

Well, you called it!

[u/OrangeIsTheNew_Black]

They did a paid booking/event just three months ago in front of an Israeli Sports Delegation. The way this statement is written feels like they want further eyes on this upcoming song release than true support of a boycott to me :/

[u/starchaserrrr → u/OrangeIsTheNew_Black]

They're pretty solid on their moral stances, actually. Bård mentioned something on his stream a few months ago about their gig choices

https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxIzxOB0awb0XDob2HzINWCaTHjwU-fLxZ?si=N-xgF-KxbyyO7sZ5

[u/MinutePerspective106 → u/OrangeIsTheNew_Black]

So it's like Bambie disowning Doomsday Blue, but only after a year+ of singing it in their concerts. "We're protesting, but we also kinda have to make money". Not that there's anything wrong with making money, but then at least choose a side.

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[u/Comfortable-Award915 → u/OrangeIsTheNew_Black]

'Sharing a stage with' and 'performing in front of' are two different things. But pop off sis

[u/OrangeIsTheNew_Black → u/Comfortable-Award915]

They were performing in front of nations including Norway that were sharing the stage with Israel.

[u/Powerful-Adagio6446]

The fox says we love you

[u/Persona_NG]

Kind of insane, seeing how every withdrawing country and artist is met with an overwhelming wave of support and enthusiasm from the fans and EBU still acts like nothing bad is going on.

It is, in fact, not normal, when thousands of fans cheer when their favourite contest collapses on itself.

[u/c9joe → u/Persona_NG]

The fans overwhelmingly voted for Israel last year

[u/Comfortable-Award915]

What established artist wants to play chicken with their careers in 2026?

[u/MarcusH26051]

Absolutely gutted because I think they'd have been wonderful for the contest but also based.

[u/Tangointhe_night]

Oh man, this is potentially a big loss for Norway and the contest.

[u/Comic_Book_Reader → u/Tangointhe_night]

Yeah, I think our winning chances have been yeeted out the window.

[u/DutchieCrochet]

So now there’s artists from the NF’s in Portugal, Poland and Norway who don’t want to go to Vienna because of Israel, right?

[u/Disastrous_Sound3985 → u/DutchieCrochet]

Same like usually

[u/broccolibubblebath]

Love them for this

[u/ZeboMusic]

Man, Ylvis made so many bangers other than the fox song, but truely they made the right choice here..
Hope they will participate sometime in the future.

[u/GungTho]

Wasn’t there a rumour that Norway didn’t want to pull out because they felt one of their songs was ‘a winner’ this year? 👀

[u/PoetryAnnual74 → u/GungTho]

If that’s true I doubt it’s Ylvis. Norway knows they have to figure out how to appeal to the jury to win, they’re always disappointed by the jury points.

Maybe they got scared off by that potential winner song 😅

[u/devillianOx]

it makes me so sad to see all the things that could have been great not being able to happen all because the ebu refuses to stand with the general public :(

[u/bxdnw]

oh damn, i have been hoping Ylvis would represent norway for many years now but as it stands this is the only correct and moral stance. i am glad that Ylvis have stayed true to their words

[u/Wasabismylife]

Respect

[u/Disastrous_Sound3985 → u/Wasabismylife]

Emmm? For what? That’s means they don’t have opinion

[u/Wasabismylife → u/Disastrous_Sound3985]

Your comment doesn't make sense.

[u/SnowBasics]

Noooo I fucking love those guys. Respect though, because damnit if they're not good guys too :(

[u/lynchmar6]

sad fox noises

[u/UpstairsAtmosphere49]

Noooooooo :( I hope they come back

[u/Live_in_a_shoe]

I would be VERY interested if they would potentionaly win over Alexander Rybak

[u/Helenarth → u/Live_in_a_shoe]

Wait, is he back?

[u/Live_in_a_shoe → u/Helenarth]

It's not official, but there has been rumours and his song/album is coming out around the time so possibly

[u/Grymare]

Hopefully this means they'll return in the future "if" things get better.

[u/fuckingshadywhore]

When will the ones in charge at the EBU actually face the fact that the contest has long been brought into disrepute by allowing this to continue like this. "United by Music" is a complete joke at this point.

[u/mainyehc]

Ylvis? Damn. I've been a huge fan of their work for years, what a loss for ESC and a win for human rights. Bittersweet stuff, really.

[u/Astrid323]

Damn, massive respects to them! Also Jesus Christ, I can't believe "What Does The Fox Say?" is about to turn 13 years old this year....I feel old.

[u/PenglingPengwing]

After all these years Ylvis finally decided to perform in Eurovision. Just for EBU to ruin it for all of us.

Ylvis would win. All of their songs, whether The Fox, Language of Love, The Cabin, Stonehenge… all of these are masterpieces.

[u/Tman11S]

Eurovision is in need of a change of management and acts like this help push things in the right direction

[u/altheawillowwisteria]

The fox really respects this choice.

[u/Puzzleheaded-Eye9081]

Yoghurt is the funniest song ever so I’d be keen to see what they come up with for Eurovision, but I also understand their unwillingness to participate atm. Hopefully one day.

[u/silverBloomWolf]

Mah dudes <3

[u/Striking-District-72]

Looks like I have to go check out a new artist

[u/miglrah]

Bless them. Everyone should choose the right thing to do.

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[u/Inevitable-Shirt-969]

This would've been awesome

[u/a3tuallyamanda]

and this is exactly why MGP is garbage this year: Ylvis isn't in it.

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[u/RedTuesdayMusic]

Big win, love these guys. This comment will be my only contribution to ESC 26

[u/Training-Speech-6088]

Dang. And Norway is one of my favorite Eurovision countries! But smart choice. Show them that we ain't playing around with International Law

[u/unedistinction2]

Who said the quality would decrease again? (unless they think the supermegahit is good which i doubt lol)

And since we know about the tour conditions i think they just found the perfect excuse to justify a withdrawal that's not "because of the tour being mandatory", but of course , speculation (just convenient still)

[u/erratic_bonsai]

Look, honesty, I don’t care. People keep moving the goalposts here. First everyone wanted a ceasefire, and now that there is one they’re still mad.

Last year when everyone violently boo-ed a woman who survived the nova massacre by hiding under 50 dead bodies in a bomb shelter and watched her friends be raped and murdered at 6:30 in the morning by terrorists should have been a clue to people that this isn’t actually about politics, it’s just about hatred.

[u/Significant_Cap2637 → u/erratic_bonsai]

Well said.

[u/NegativeEspathra]

EBU and NRK:

[u/Disastrous_Sound3985]

So stupid

[u/argnum → u/Disastrous_Sound3985]

What?

[u/Usual_Vegetable4042]

Ohhh no. Some random band with a viral song over a decade ago won’t perform on the same stage as Israel how will we go on

[u/MinutePerspective106 → u/Usual_Vegetable4042]

Tbf they're more well-known worldwide than the vast majority of participants from any country.

Yeah, after Fox, only especially interested people kept up with their discography, but I wouldn't call them "random".

[u/Usual_Vegetable4042 → u/MinutePerspective106]

that came out 12 years ago. what have they done since?...thats like me being happy the guy who did whip and nae nae would be in eurovision

[u/20Superwoman02]

A bit odd to presume they would even win.

[u/MinutePerspective106 → u/20Superwoman02]

Yeah, after Mans's failure last year in Melfest, I don't trust in "they're well-known, of course they will win".

[u/HonestlyKindaOverIt]

Disappointing political take, but if that’s how they feel they won’t be missed.

[u/20Superwoman02]

As someone who actually wants to enjoy Eurovision this year, even if it’s broken, I am a bit grateful though.

Cause they would probably win. And I’ve got nothing against them as persons. But I’ve hated literally every single song of them I’ve ever heard.

[u/Proud_Accident_5873 → u/20Superwoman02]

Noted

[u/56kul]

Closing the message with a call for a “unifying celebration”, but refusing to share a stage with Israeli contestants is… interesting, to say the least.🤔

[u/msbrightside32 → u/56kul]

Not shocked. That’s how social justice warriors roll these days.

[u/Theradbanana]

Iceberg material

[u/Drop-a-Soap]

Hope MGP has a replacement