OMSC 18

Online Music Song Contest 18, often referred to as OMSC 18, was the eighteenth edition of Online Music Song Contest, held in Oslo, after Norway won the previous edition of the contest.

The Pre-Qualification Round of OMSC 18 occured on the 12ᵗʰ September 2021, the Semi-Finals on the 19ᵗʰ September 2021 while the Final occured on the 26ᵗʰ September 2021. Forty-one* countries participated in the eighteenth contest, under the slogan “Equal As One!”.

Location
After it's victory in the previous edition, the broadcaster NRK chose to host the contest in in the capital and most populous city of Norway, Oslo, which has a population of 673,000 inhabitants. It occupies an arc of land at the northernmost end of the Oslofjord. In all other directions Oslo is surrounded by green hills and mountains. There are 40 islands within the city limits, the largest being Malmøya. Oslo has 343 lakes, the largest being Maridalsvannet. This is also a main source of drinking water for large parts of Oslo. Although Eastern Norway has a number of rivers, none of these flow into the ocean at Oslo. Instead Oslo has two smaller rivers: Akerselva and Alna. The highest point is Kirkeberget, at 629 metres. Although the city's population is small compared to most European capitals, it occupies an unusually large land area, of which two-thirds are protected areas of forests, hills and lakes. Its boundaries encompass many parks and open areas, giving it an airy and green appearance.

During the Viking Age the area that includes modern Oslo was located in Viken, the northernmost province of Denmark. Control over the area shifted between Danish and Norwegian kings in the Middle Ages, and Denmark continued to claim the area until 1241. Under the reign of Olaf III of Norway, Oslo became a cultural centre for Eastern Norway. During the Middle Ages, Oslo reached its heights in the reign of Haakon V of Norway. He started building Akershus Fortress and was also the first king to reside permanently in the city, which helped to make Oslo the capital of Norway. The Black Death came to Norway in 1349 and, like other cities in Europe, the city suffered greatly.

Over the years, fire destroyed major parts of the city many times, as many of the city's buildings were built entirely of wood. After the last fire in 1624, Christian IV of Denmark decided that the old city should not be rebuilt again. Outside the city, near Vaterland and Grønland near Old Town, Oslo, a new, unmanaged part of the city grew up filled with citizens of low class status. In 1814 the former provincial town of Christiania became the capital of the independent Kingdom of Norway, in a personal union with Sweden. Several state institutions were established and the city's role as a capital initiated a period of rapidly increasing population. The population increased rapidly and Christiania expanded its industry from 1840, most importantly around Akerselva.

In 1948, Oslo merged with Aker, a municipality which surrounded the capital and which was 27 times larger, thus creating the modern, vastly enlarged Oslo municipality. The municipality of Aker was incorporated into Oslo in 1948, and suburbs were developed. The city and municipality used the name Kristiania until the 1ˢᵗ January 1925 when the name changed to Oslo. Oslo was the name of an eastern suburb, site of the city centre until the devastating 1624 fire. At the beginning of WWII Norway declared itself a neutral state. However, despite their neutral status Germany invaded Norway, assisted by a small pro-Nazi socialist party. Oslo was quickly occupied and remained so until the Nazi retreat in 1944.

Nowadays Oslo is the economic and governmental centre of Norway as well as a hub of Norwegian trade, banking, industry and shipping. It is an important centre for maritime industries and maritime trade in Europe. The city is home to many companies within the maritime sector, some of which are among the world's largest shipping companies, shipbrokers and maritime insurance brokers. Oslo is a pilot city of the Council of Europe and the European Commission intercultural cities programme.

Participants
Fifty countries participated in the eighteenth edition of the contest: fifteen European countries (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Liechtenstein, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Sweden, Wales), fifteen Asian countries (Bangladesh, British Indian Ocean Territories, China, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, North Korea, Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Turkey, Vietnam), seven American countries (Argentina, Canada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Peru, United States of America, United States' Virgin Islands), six Oceanian countries (Australia, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Vanuatu) and seven African countries (Mauritius, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Saint Helena, South Africa, Tunisia, Zimbabwe).

In this edition the British Indian Ocean Territories, Myanmar, Saint Helena, Tunisia, Vanuatu and Wales participated for the first time.

Returning Artists
This edition featured seven representatives who had performed previously as lead vocalists for a country in the contest.

Minelli represented Romania at its debut in the third edition of the contest with her song "Mariola" sung both in English and Spanish, which placed 16ᵗʰ out of 27 participating countries with 37 points. In this occasion, she represented Romania again, with her song "RamPamPam", sung in English, placing 2ⁿᵈ with 137 points.

Denise Rosenthal represented Chile at its debut in the ninth edition of the contest, together with Danna Paola and Lola Índigo, also returning this edition. She performed the song "Santería", sung in Spanish, which made it to the final and placed 19ᵗʰ out of 46 participating countries with 68 points. In this occasion, she represented Chile with Lola Índigo again, with the song "Demente", again in Spanish, placing 32ⁿᵈ with 75 points, without unfortunately making it to the final.

Irina Rimes represented the Moldova at its debut in the fifth edition of the contest, with the song "Nu Știi Tu Să Fii Bărbat" which placed 8ᵗʰ out of 29 participating countries with 52 points. In this occasion she was selected to represent Moldova again, this time with Cris Cab and the song "Your Love", sung in English, placing 39ᵗʰ with 61 points, without unfortunately making it to the final.

Lola Índigo represented Chile at its debut in the ninth edition of the contest, together with Danna Paola and Denise Rosenthal, also returning this edition. She performed the song "Santería", sung in Spanish, which made it to the final and placed 19ᵗʰ out of 46 participating countries with 68 points. In this occasion, she represented Chile with Denise Rosenthal again, with the song "Demente", again in Spanish, placing 32ⁿᵈ with 75 points, without unfortunately making it to the final.

Upsahl represented Palau at its debut in the fourth edition of the contest. She performed the song "Money On My Mind" together with Absofacto, which placed 26ᵗʰ out of 38 participating countries with 59 points without unfortunately qualifying for the final. In this occasion, she represented the Marshall Islands, with the song "Drugs", again in English, placing 13ᵗʰ with 73 points.

BLACKPINK represented South Korea in the fourth edition of the contest with the song "Lovesick Girls" sung in English and Korean, which won the contest with 118 points and brought the contest to Busan. In this occasion, the girl group represented North Korea with their song "Forever Young", again in English and Korean, placing 25ᵗʰ with 41 points.

Rina Sawayama represented Japan at its third appearence in the fifth edition of the contest. She performed her song "XS" which placed 28ᵗʰ out of 29 participating countries with 42 points without unfortunately qualifying for the final. In this occasion, she represented Japan again with the song "Dynasty", again in English, placing 28ᵗʰ with 83 points, without unfortunately making it to the final.

Withdrawing Countries
These countries confirmed their non-participation in the eighteenth edition of the contest:

Other Countries
• Costa Rica – On the 29ᵗʰ August 2021, Costa Rica's broadcaster Sistema Nacional de Radio y Televisión de Costa Rica (SINART) announced that they were planning a debut again in OMSC 18, after their attempt in OMSC 12. However, it was later confirmed on the following day that the country would not debut in this edition of the contest either.

• Solomon Islands – On the 29ᵗʰ August 2021, the Solomon Islands' broadcaster Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) announced that they were planning a debut in OMSC 18. However, it was later confirmed on the 30ᵗʰ August 2021 that the country would not debut in this edition of the contest.