1978 - Norway
Performed by: Jahn Teigen
Music and lyrics by: Kai Eide
Conductor: Carsten Klouman
Language: Norwegian
Placing: 20th (0 points)
Other versions: English

Jahn Teigen represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest three times, in 1978, 1982 and 1983, and became known throughout Europe as a result of his 1978 performance in the contest, which won "nul points" (a zero score) for Norway. His given name was Jan; he added the silent H later. Since October 2006, he has resided in Sweden.

He started his career in the late 1960s when he released a few singles and one album with Enemies. However, his commercial breakthrough did not come until the early 1970s as the lead singer of the 6-member rock band Popol Vuh. They released three successful albums. Jahn Teigen was a member of the Norwegian humour trio Prima Vera, with Herodes Falsk and Tom Mathisen, who released seven albums between 1977 and 1984. Most of their repertoire consists of popular hits with the most ridiculous lyrics.Teigen decided to leave Prima Vera in 1984, and did not speak with his former bandmates for 15 years, until they reconciled in 1999 at the funeral of their mutual friend Marius Müller. Prima Vera then had a brief reunion in the early 2000s.

In 1978 in Paris Jahn Teigen made his first appearance on the Eurovision stage, performing the song Mil etter mil (Mile after mile), which became famous for not receiving a single point from any of the participating nations. This was the first occurrence of zero points with the new, and current, voting system of the Eurovision Song Contest. Despite the obvious lack of international recognition, the song gained a huge audience back in Norway where his countrymen embraced it. The single dominated the national singles chart for more than four months, being among the 10 most-bought singles for no less than 19 consecutive weeks, for five of those also topping the chart for the nation's most popular international hit. After 30 years in the nation's spotlight, this remains his most successful hit. Teigen's runner-up single was called Jeg gi'kke opp, meaning I don't give up, and his first album release the same year was just as self-ironic: This Year's Loser.

Jahn Teigen returned to the Eurovision stage in 1982 in Harrogate, United Kingdom, where he sang Adieu in duet with Anita Skorgan (to whom he was married 1984-1988 and with whom he has a daughter) ending up at 12th place. In 1983, in Munich, he went solo again, with Anita Skorgan and three other women as backing vocalists, with the melody Do re mi, composed together with Anita Skorgan, which gave him his best position, a respectable 9th place. Teigen took part in the Norwegian national Eurovision final, called the Melodi Grand Prix, a record fourteen times between 1974 and 2005 with a total of 16 songs. Besides winning the Melodi Grand Prix four times, Teigen also finished as the runner-up on four occasions. In addition to this, Teigen was the host of Melodi Grand Prix and provided the interval act of the Melodi Grand Prix on a number of occasions. He also acted as commentator for Norwegian television in 1991 in Rome, together with John Andreassen.

Jahn Teigen died on 24 February 2020 (aged 70).

LYRICS:
Mil etter mil

Hvil deg nå, du er sliten
Hvil din kropp før din kraft ebber ut
Vann pipler inn i dine sko
Du vandrer i regn

Mil etter mil etter mil
Etter mil etter mil etter mil

Søk mot meg hvis du lengter
Rett ditt sinn mot et annet sted
Komm hit hvor jeg er, hvor solen er nær
Du må ikke gå

Mil etter mil etter mil
Etter mil etter mil etter mil

Og det er langt å gå
Det er lengselen som driver deg
Mot et lys som du kan se
Men ikke jeg

Tenk deg om nå
Hvor farer du hen
Du har vandret altfor lenge

Mil etter mil etter mil
Etter mil etter mil etter mil

Tenk deg om nå
Hvor farer du hen
Du har vandret altfor lenge

Mil etter mil etter mil
Etter mil etter mil etter mil
Etter mil etter mil etter mil
Etter mil etter mil etter mil
Etter mil


TRANSLATION:

Mile after mile

Rest now, you are worn out
Rest your body, before your power ebbs out
Water is trickling into your shoes
You are walking in the rain

Mile after mile after mile
After mile after mile after mile

Search me if you're longing
Think in a different direction
Come here, where I am, where the sun is near
You can't go

Mile after mile after mile
After mile after mile after mile

And it's far to go
It is your longing that drives you
Towards a light that you see
But I can't

Just think
Where will you end
You have walked too long

Mile after mile after mile
After mile after mile after mile

Just think now
Where are you going
You have walked too long

Mile after mile after mile
After mile after mile after mile
After mile after mile after mile
After mile after mile after mile
After mile

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