Yesterday, the Danish public broadcaster DR released the artists and the songs for Dansk Melodi Grand Prix.
This year’s field of participation offers both artists who have already made their name on the Danish and international music scene, as well as brand new talents who are ready to show the Danes what they can do on Saturday March 6th, when Dansk Melodi Grand Prix will be broadcast live.
This year 8 artists and songs were selected by a professional jury, which among other things chose the songs based on the criteria that they must have the potential to do well in Eurovision. However, unlike previous years, there will be no professional jury in the Grand Prix Final, meaning all the power lies with the viewers.
Gustav Lützhøft, spokesperson for Danish Melodi Grand Prix says:
We are working with a theme for the show which we call “our song”. Dansk Melody Grand Prix is about us Danes finding “our song”, the song that will represent Denmark at Eurovision. Therefore, we think it is natural that this year we give all the power back to the Danes and let them make the final choice about which song they think should represent us.
So, let’s meet the artists:
1. Chief 1 & Thomas Buttenschøn – Højt over skyerne
Both artists have success on their own in Denmark. It is not the first time the artists have collaborated together. Before Melodi Grand Prix, the artists released Alt er godt/Everything is Good in the summer of 2019 and to some extent proved that they are explosive when they put the pieces together. The song was clicked more than million times in Spotify.
Chief 1 – Lars Pedersen is the more experienced one in Grand Final. He has previously won the competition three times as a writer or producer: in 1997 with Kølig Kaj – Stemmen i mit liv, in 2012 with Soluna Samay – Should’ve Known Better and most recently in 2015 with the group Anti Social Media – The Way You Are.
The duo will sing Højt over skyerne/High Above the Clouds at Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, which reminds us sweet 90s ad music. The song is written by the duo together with Nermin Harambasic.
Thomas Buttenschøn, who makes his debut in Grand Prix says this about the song:
We want to remind people that they have to love each other. The song is a friendly reminder that people need to remember those they are close to and how much they really mean to them.
2. Claudia Campagnol – Abracadabra
On the Danish jazz scene, singer Claudia Campagnol is already a recognized name, but she is also making her debut in Grand Prix this year with the powerful ballad Abracadabra.
The song is written by Louis Jarto, Melanie Wehbe and Emil Adler Lei. While Louis Jarto is also making his debut in Grand Prix context, Emil Adler Lei has won the Danish Melody Grand Prix for the past two years with Yes, and Love is Forever. Melanie Wehbe also co-wrote Love is Forever, and she was behind last year’s Swedish Melodifestivalen winner Move by The Mamas.
Abracadabra takes us to another world, it can be a soundtrack for a movie or perhaps for a Disney. The harmony between the musical instruments and artist is amazing, her sensitive voice touches all of our hearts.
34-years-old, Hungarian born singer says this about the song:
The song is about the things and people you will always love, even when they are gone. It can be family and friends, but also a dream or a passion you have had. Even if you have lost someone or something, you never stop loving. It’s a song about eternal love.
3. The Cosmic Twins – Silver Bullet
Growing up, the brothers were always able to find joy in their special ‘twin-universe’. Their special bond often fascinated and intrigued outsiders.
The song is written by Gisli Gislason, Rasmus Duelund, August Emil and Lise Cabble, who has won the Danish Melody Grand Prix as a songwriter four times, including with Only Teardrops, which won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2013.
Unhappy love and saxophone? It may not sound like the most obvious combination, but it is precisely the main ingredients in the track ‘Silver Bullet’, which are performed by the duo The Cosmic Twins. The song gives us 80s vibes, and the saxophone reminds us Kenny G is back :).
Chris Andreev, who along with his twin brother, Alec Andreev, make up The Cosmic Twins explains:
You get the urge to party, but also a little urge to cry. It’s a song that can put one in a good mood, but it also hurts a little inside.
4. Emma Nicoline РSt̴r lige her
When 24-year-old Emma Nicoline takes the stage Saturday, March 6, it will be her very first TV appearance. The song that Emma Nicoline will sing is her debut single Står lige her/Standing Right Here, which she cowrote herself.
In addition to Emma Nicoline, the number is written by Jeppe Pilgaard, Jacob Jørgensen, Adam Kalwa and Patricia Namakula Mbabazi. The song has some futuristic vibes, again with mix of 80s elements and sung in Danish.
The song is written for a friend who had problems but could not figure out how to accept Emma Nicoline’s offer of help. The young artist explains her entry:
Sometimes the problems can become so all-consuming that you become blind to the people around you who want to help. With ‘StÃ¥r lige her’ I try to say: “Hey, you are good enough as you are. Lower your guards, because I am standing right here and I want to help you”.
5. Fyr & Flamme – Øve os pÃ¥ hinanden
The band is already famous for their songs, such as Menneskeforbruger/Human Consumer (more than 2 million listens in Spotify) and Kamæleon/Chameleon.
The duo, which consists of musician Laurits Emanuel and singer and actor Jesper Groth, who has been nominated for a Robert (a Danish film prize awarded each year by the Danish Film Academy) for his roles in the series ‘Sygeplejeskolen’ and ‘Klaphat’, loves the traditional singing competition, which has also been a great source of inspiration for the group’s 80’s-catchy sound.
Laurits Emanuel explains about their song, which he wrote himself:
The song takes place on a dance floor, where a man and a woman have to try themselves to see which steps work. This can also be used as a picture of how we, for example, behave when we court someone, or how you sometimes down the road have to make changes in our life when things do not go as planned.
6. Jean Michel – Beautiful
The 33-years-old artist Jean Michel brings an uplifting message in the song ‘Beautiful’. With the entry, he hopes to be able to make a difference in people who feel they are having a hard time fitting in.
‘Beautiful’ is written by Clara Sofie Fabricius, Johannes Nymark, Andreas Jensen and Jesper Hjersing Sidelmann.
Jean Michel says:
I know many of us tend to doubt ourselves, and with this song I try to establish that everyone is good, exactly as they are. I know myself the feeling of being different. But it does not have to be negative to be different – on the contrary. We must celebrate diversity.
7. Mike Tramp – Everything Is Alright
Mike Tramp has melted hearts as a teenage idol, lived the rock star life in 80s New York and toured the world both on his own and as lead singer in several bands and last year celebrated 25 year anniversary as a solo artist.
And then he has actually won the Danish Melody Grand Prix once before, namely as part of the group Mabel, who took the victory back in 1978 with the classic ‘Boom boom‘.
Now the 60-year-old rock legend is returning to the Grand Prix stage with the track ‘Everything Is Alright’, which he himself has written. The song has country vibe!
Mike Tramp has this to say about his song:
My song is not written particularly for Melodi Grand Prix. It’s a song I wrote because I had something on my mind. So when I go on stage in the Danish Melody Grand Prix, I go on stage 100 percent as Mike Tramp.
8. Nanna Olivia – Hvileløse hjerter
22-year-old Nanna Olivia describes the song Hvileløse hjerter/Restless Hearts as ‘a mental peptalk’, which she will sing in this year’s Grand Prix final. According to her, the song is about reconciling with a love affair that did not go as one hoped.
The number is written by Anna David, Nicolai Levring and Casper Sørensen.
Nanna Olivia tells this about her song:
The song is about getting over a breakup, even though the one that got away is still haunting in the background. You tell yourself, “Now I just have to go out in the city and let loose and do whatever I want,” but it just doesn’t feel quite right because there are still a lot of unresolved emotions.
What do you guys think? Which song Denmark has to choose to go to the top in Rotterdam 2021?
No Comments