The Norwegian participating broadcaster, Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK), organised the national final Melodi Grand Prix 1976 in order to select its entry for the contest.

"Mata Hari" was an uptempo song which had been given a very contemporary disco arrangement, and prior to the contest had attracted more attention than was the norm for Norwegian entries at the time.

It was not expected to challenge for the win as the consensus was that the title would be fought out between France and the United Kingdom, but was widely predicted as likely to give Norway one of its better placements to date.

However things did not go to plan, and at the close of voting "Mata Hari" had picked up only 7 points, placing Norway last of the 18 entries, the fourth time the country had finished the evening at the foot of the scoreboard.

In the wake of the poor result, it was widely suggested that Strøm's odd presentation – in which she appeared on stage in a very unflattering pair of sunglasses, which she proceeded at apparently random intervals to remove and wave around and then put back on again – may have been puzzling and distracting for viewers and juries.