Taking place almost every year since Denmark’s debut in 1957, Dansk Melodi Grand Prix is one of the longest-running national finals in existence. It also makes Denmark one of the very few Eurovision countries to never select internally, for the better or for worse.
And as such, the competition has seen multiple highs and lows. For example, the 1980s were a high-point, filled with high-profile singers and hits amongst the competing songs. The winners would define Denmark at Eurovision, with their light-hearted sound and usage of synths. Recently, Dansk Melodi Grand Prix’s output slowed in quality, retreating towards more accessible songs, but it still has traces of what makes the Danish music scene special.
Format:
For most of its history, Dansk Melodi Grand Prix took place on only one night, a trend which still goes on today. The exceptions took place in 2007 and 2008, where there were two semi-finals and a grand final.
That being said, voting still takes multiple rounds to crown a champion. Originally just involving juries, there was as many as three rounds of voting to choose the Danish representative at Eurovision. For example, in 2010, the first round would have juries and televoting decide, then a second round involving duels, before a televoting-only final round.
This year, eight songs would compete in a one-night show, with votes from a jury and a televote determining who would would make into the superfinal. One major change is how the jury would include an international segment, made up with representatives from the most recent Eurovision winners, along with the Danish panel. The same jury/televote split would be used to determine a winner amongst the final three.
Voting aside, another eccentricity is how Dansk Melodi Grand Prix still uses an orchestra, should they desire!
Notable Entries:
Tommy Seebach — Disco Tango (1979)
One common name you’ll find amongst Dansk Melodi Grand Prix entrants is the late Tommy Seebach. He not only competed in Eurovision three times (1979, 1981, and 1993), but he was part of Dansk Melodi Grand Prix in five other occasions!
His first appearance with “Disco Tango” strays from the norm, to say the least. Combining the titular genres together, it tells the story of a woman dancing in the night after a rough day, name dropping John Travolta (of Saturday Night Fever fame) in the process.
It came in sixth in Eurovision 1979, and became a #1 hit in Denmark itself!
Trine Dyrholm and the Moonlighters — Danse i Måneskin (1987)
Like with Denmark’s 1980s output, “Danse i Måneskin” is a lighthearted pop tune, talking about memories in a romantic relationship. Dancing in the moonlight, they would overcome their awkwardness and enjoy the moment together.
At the time of Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, Trine was fourteen years old, and ended up placing third in the final. However, “Danse i Måneskin” became a certified hit in Denmark, Trine would go on to become a famous actress, and it would ultimately enter the Danish national canon in 2006.
Me and My — Two Are Stronger Than One (2007)
Me and My is a Danish sister act, made up of Susanne and Pernille Georgi. Working together since the 1990s, their 1995 hit “Dub i Dub” became a major staple of the game Dance Dance Revolution.
While they attempted to go on Dansk Melodi Grand Prix in 1991, they only managed to appear in 2007 with “Two is Stronger Than One”. The song itself has the same electronic elements of their early hits, while grounding itself in 2000s pop. It made it into the final, where it only placed sixth despite being a contender for the win.
However, it wasn’t the end for Susanne Georgi–she would end up representing Andorra in 2009 with “La Teva Decisio / Get A Life“!
Julie and Nina — League of Light (2019)
While “League of Light” might not have anything interesting sonically on the surface, one special addition to the mix was the Greenlandic language interspersed throughout. An Inuit language, it’s known for being highly descriptive and adding suffixes to a root word to create new meanings out of it. While Greenlandic is the official language of the island, there’s still a rift between the local citizenry and the Danish government, as the latter prioritizes teaching Danish.
Both Julia and Nina have switched between the Greenlandic and Danish music industries, and have become good friends. “League of Light”, co-written by them, celebrates unity and a desire to create a group of peace. With its dark atmosphere and their harmonious voices, they won the televote in the super-final, but their 12% share in the jury vote pushed them down to second, behind Leonora’s “Love is Forever“.
Søren Torpegaard Lund – Lige her (2023)
Dansk Melodi Grand Prix is known for is dwindling number of Danish-language songs and how safe their pop numbers end up. Recently, the national final also has seen a number of acoustic based-songs, such as “Starlight” and “Yes“, which add to that cute feel.
“Lige her” throws itself in the mix, with its dainty, vintage song about being there for the one you love. Søren, who studied musical theater and has done a number of plays, acted the part beautifully, with an innocent charm and an androgynous aesthetic.
It ultimately didn’t make it through the superfinal, but showcases how Denmark could evolve in their potential entries. Will we see something special for the future?
Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2024 will take place on 17 February.