The Norwegian participating broadcaster, Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK), organised the national final Melodi Grand Prix 1985 in order to select its entry for the contest.

It was admitted that the lyrics of "La det swinge" had been written with the specific intention of avoiding those Norwegian consonant combinations which had been said to sound harsh in song to non-Scandinavian ears.

The Melodi Grand Prix 1985 was held on 30 March at the Chateau Neuf in Oslo, hosted by Rita Westvik.

Ten songs took part in the final, with the winner chosen by voting from five regional juries and a panel of "experts" consisting of Tony Visconti, Anne Marie David, Stikkan Andersson and Ronnie Hazlehurst.

after the victory are fondly remembered for the infamously double-edged remark by Swedish host Lill Lindfors "I must say I'm honestly very happy that this happened, because Norway has been last song so many times that you really deserve it!