Bobbysocks

Bobbysocks is a Norwegian pop duo formed in 1983, consisting of Norwegian singer Hanne Krogh and Swedish-Norwegian vocalist Elisabeth Andreassen. The duo gained international acclaim by winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1985 with their energetic performance of “La det swinge,” marking Norway’s first victory in the competition.

Prior to forming Bobbysocks, both artists had established careers. Hanne Krogh began her musical journey at the age of nine and represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1971 as a soloist. Elisabeth Andreassen, active in various musical genres including country and schlager, represented Sweden in Eurovision 1982 as part of the duo Chips.

The concept behind Bobbysocks was to modernize songs from the 1950s, infusing them with a contemporary 1980s sound. Their self-titled debut album, released in 1984, exemplified this approach by blending classic covers with original compositions. Following their Eurovision triumph, the album was reissued in 1985, achieving significant popularity and selling approximately 75,000 copies in Norway by early 1986.

In 1986, Bobbysocks released their second album, “Waiting for the Morning,” which topped the Norwegian charts. The following year, they recorded “Walkin’ on Air” in Los Angeles, produced by Bill Maxwell; the album attained gold status in Norway within four days of its release. Despite their success, the duo disbanded in 1988 to pursue individual projects.

Over the years, Krogh and Andreassen have occasionally reunited for special performances. They appeared together at the 50th anniversary Eurovision concert in Copenhagen in 2005 and the 60th anniversary concert in London. In 2010, commemorating the 25th anniversary of their Eurovision win, Bobbysocks released a compilation album titled “Let It Swing – The Best of Bobbysocks!”

In January 2025, Bobbysocks was announced as one of the nine finalists in Melodi Grand Prix 2025, Norway’s national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, with their new song “Joyful.” This participation marks a significant return to the Eurovision stage, 40 years after their historic victory.