Last year, Anja Nissen took Denmark back to the final for the first time since 2014 with “Where I Am”. Now, the Danish want to go even further and break in to the top ten. With that goal in mind, DR this morning have announced the ten acts in this year’s Dansk Melodi Grand Prix!
It’s a group full of some familiar names and newcomers. You can find all the acts below, with a link to their artist page on the DR website:
Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2018: Participants
- Ditte Marie — “Riot”
- Anna Ritsmar — “Starlight”
- Rasmussen — “Higher Ground”
- Sannie — “Boys on Girls”
- Sandra — “Angels to My Battlefield”
- Lasse Meling — “Unfound”
- CARLSEN — “Standing Up for Love”
- KARUI — “Signals”
- Rikke Ganer-Tolsøe — “Holder fast i ingenting”
- Albin Fredy — “Music for the Road”
Amongst the familiar names is Ditte Marie. The singer last participated in DMGP in 2012, singing “Overflow”. Ditte was also part of Le Freak in 2011. She didn’t make the Superfinal on either occasion, but returns for another go this year.
She’ll be singing “Riot” this year. The song’s writers include Lise Cabble, who co-wrote Emmelie de Forest’s “Only Teadrops”. Lise also wrote debutant Anna Ritsmar’s entry, “Starlight”.
DMGP 2018 will take place on February 10 — which just happens to be a Saturday night. Sannie will be singing “Boys on Girls” in the contest, but she’s likely best known by her previous moniker: Whigfield.
The 90s dance pop star had her breakout hit in 1994 with “Saturday Night”. A classic of cheesy pop compilations ever since, she’s since branched out. She’s been releasing songs under her real name (Sannie Carlson) since 2016.
In the debutants, Lasse Meling has flirted with Eurovision in the past. He released a music video for his own take on Lucie Jones’ “Never Give Up On You” in 2017. He’ll sing “Unfound” in this year’s DMGP.
And it’s not just the mainland getting involved this year. Faroese sisters Vanja, Laila and Barbara make up the group CARLSEN. They enter with “Standing Up For Love”.
We’ll have to wait a little longer for songs, unfortunately. They’ll be released the week of the show in full, on February 5.
DMGP 2018: Changes to format
This year’s show will see a small change to the usual DMGP format. The short intro videos that precede entries have been scrapped altogether. This means the first time that viewers will see the acts is when they’re on stage performing.
Otherwise, the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix format remains the same as last year. Televoters and a jury of 5 Eurovision fans will have a 50/50 say on who makes it to the Superfinal, and then to Eurovision from there. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it y’all!
Which of the ten Danish acts are you most excited about? Do you know the “Saturday Night” dance? Let us know all your thoughts in the comments section below.
Whigfield without Ann Lee’s voice? It will be curious how it unfolds
Rasmussen favourite so so so far
because his beard, jk I’ll wait for songs
I love Whigfield. Why the name change, though?
Whigfield was her stage name so it makes sense to use her actual name professionally.
Very excited to see what Ditte Marie will bring! I loved Overflow.
I live amongst a Francophonic community, listening to all the songs, Mercy by Madame Monsieur is a beautiful song. Those who speak French can identify that the song has the most touching lyrics. Those who don’t speak French are touched by its melody. Will the French public go for this at their final?, I hope so. 41 year wait for a win is a long time. Time for France to win. This is the only one that can do it for them. Please France vote for Mercy. 🙂
My appologies wrong post 🙂
A jury of 5 eurofans? How on Earth you take 5 eurofans to be the jury on a NF? I mean, here in Spain the typical OGAE eurofans usually like dated and shabby songs, sung by any random diva. Moreover a typical eurofan will rarelly be objective. That sounds too risky to me.
I actually agree, last year they gave all their votes to Anja…meaning no one else (even if the public deemed so) would have surpassed her. I would have said to be less worrying
“The jury comprises of 5 different Eurofans and a further 5 music professionals, including xxx who represented Denmark and gave them (above 10th place) and a collection of European representatives”
I hope it’s not going to be 10 pop songs that all sound the same…
WHEN HAVE THEY EVER DONE THAT??
So we all know that DR can’t afford another win any time soon but they make it way too obvious.
Although I’m super excited for sannie.
DR are so stringent with their copyright rules, hopefully we can listen to the songs worldwide (as an Australian I couldn’t even view anja’s song last year in Australia)
Danmark seems to be missing the point every year. It is nice selection but just that. Safe selection of songs but uninteresting. Will be in final only to end up like 21th spot.
Sannie, Lassie Meling and Albin Fredy look promising at the moment.
Denmark is historically the country with the safest and least interesting entries. I hope they have something good this year, because last year it was a bunch of cheesy pop songs that sounded all the same.
I disagree! There songs are unique, I would have agreed in 2016 but 2017 was a big improvement for them Where I Am is far from cheesy!
Where I Am was the most basic and formulaic entry in the 2017 contest. The Zoey 101 soundtrack vibes and the performance both brought us back to 2005. That was a subpar song in every way, and the televote scores show it off. As for their other entries, they’ve been sending different versions of the same song every year except for 2007 and 2014, basically.
It was so lucky to even qualify, agreed.
Good quality this year.
OMG! Whigfield!
Just had my 90s socks blown off.
Whigfield is life!!!!
I hope her song is good enough to win DMGP and make it through the semis in Eurovision so she coudl finally perform on a….Saturday Night.
😀
You betcha! 😀