Norway was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1981 with the song "", written and performed by Finn Kalvik. The Norwegian participating broadcaster, (NRK), selected its entry through the 1981.
(NRK) held the 1981 at its studios in Oslo, hosted by Sverre Kjelsberg who represented . Ten songs took part in the final, with the winner chosen by a 9-member jury who awarded 10 points to their favourite song down to 1 point to the least-like; two members of the jury were Ellen Nikolaysen, who represented (as a member of the Bendik Singers) and , and Anita Skorgan, who represented .
On the night of the final Kalvik performed 13th in the running order, following and preceding the – in one of Eurovision's stranger coincidences, this was to be the first of six consecutive contests in which Norway was drawn to perform immediately before the United Kingdom. At the close of voting "Aldri i livet" had failed register any score, giving Norway a second nul-points in four contests and a sixth time at the foot of the scoreboard. The Norwegian jury awarded its 12 points to .
Norway did not receive any points at the Eurovision Song Contest 1981.