Denmark – Leonora

The Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — continues to rate and review the 41 competing entries of Eurovision 2019. Next we check out Denmark‘s Leonora with her multilingual song “Love Is Forever”. Were we feeling the love? Read on to find out!

Leonora – “Love is Forever”

“Love is Forever” reviews

Pablo: In the wake of some of this year’s Eurodrama, Leonora’s sweet song did not just grow on me, but also led me to believe that we needed this song. A cute French-inspired ditty in Zoe’s ballpark, “Love is Forever” feels like a big hug and a bowl of candy. May be too much for some, but it certainly delivers what it wants to transmit, and the language switching adds to the experience. If they elevate (literally) the staging and work around the big chair, this one may just punch a ticket to the final.

Score: 7.5/10

Antranig: Take every Eurovision trope you can think of and shove them into three minutes. Anyone partaking in a Eurovision drinking game will be maxing out their credit cards before this finishes playing. The French lyrics work really well but the other languages are unnecessary and add to the overall cheesiness. I am not a fan of this at all however my heart is open for Leonora to win me over. To do that, she needs to actually look like she is in love in her performance, and not like she is giving me death stares because of my score.

Score: 3.5/10

Florian: Lyrically, this is one of the strongest cuts. I love how Leonora is playing with several languages in her song. Her voice nicely fit the melody. Singing about difficult times isn’t always easy, but Leonora makes it seem effortless. Denmark sends what could be a dark horse in Tel Aviv. The last part of the song will give that final touch to stand out.

Score: 6/10

Renske: This is so cheesy, but I am totally buying it. Leonora sells it very well too, that has to be said. This has the simplicity and the classic Eurovision vibe that the casual viewer will be searching for between all the melancholy. Perhaps it was a bit too much of musical theatre in the performance that she gave in DMGP, but after all, who doesn’t stan a song that manages to squeeze through lyrics in four languages in three minutes?

Score: 8.5/10

Robyn: It’s halfway there. On one hand, “Love is Forever” is a really sweet, likeable song, performed with charm by the talented Leonora. But there are things that don’t quite work. The multilingual section feels like repetition to fill out the three minutes, Leonora’s aesthetic is reminiscent of failed Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes, and the one-shot staging feels confused and unfocused until Leonora reaches the top of the giant chair. But all that is fixable. And regardless — the song leaves listeners with a good feeling.

Score: 6/10

William: Love is forever — but Leonora’s song is only three minutes. And in that time she takes us on a jaunty, feel-good trip across Europe, skilfully weaving between English, French, German and Danish. The song has a distinct Parisian vibe — there is romance, insouciance and a great deal of heart — yet it somehow feels universal. She speaks in clichés, no doubt, but it’s a language we can all understand. And boy: never has mounting a chair been so magical! The second half of this song feels rather flat visually. But if producers can extend the wonder and intrigue of the opening 90 seconds she may just be a surprise qualifier.

Score: 5.5/10

In the Wiwi Jury we have 29 jurors but only have room for six reviews. The remaining scores are below:

Angus: 7.5/10

Anthony: 7.5/10

Antony: 6.5/10

Barnabas: 8.5/10

Bernardo: 5.5/10

Calvin: 5.5/10

Chris: 5/10

Deban: 4.5/10

Essi: 6/10

Izhar: 6/10

Jack: 8/10

Jonathan: 6/10

Josh: 7.5/10

Julian: 3/10

Kristin: 6/10

Lucy: 7/10

Luis: 7.5/10

Lukas: 7/10

Mikhail: 6.5/10

Oliver: 6.5/10

Ron: 6/10

Sebastian: 6.5/10

Tobias: 4/10

We have removed the highest and lowest scores prior to calculating the average. This is to remove outliers and potential bias. We have removed a low of 3 and a high of 8.5.

Wiwi Jury verdict: 6.28/10

What do you think of this song? Share your own score and review below!

See all our Eurovision 2019 reviews and rankings

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Marcelo
Marcelo
4 years ago

#DEN So this entry is basically the Danish version of “Love Love Peace Peace” and that’s not necesarily a bad thing if done well. With “Love is Forever” tho, that doesn’t seem to be the case that much. I agree that the instrumental is very nice and the message can be actually very sweet, but there isn’t that much “great” after that specially in the lyrics, which are full of clichés. Also the staging during DMGP wasn’t that stunning as it wanted to be. But gotta give it to Leonora for trying her best at selling this song and I’m… Read more »

ESC LOU
ESC LOU
4 years ago

Sorry but at first listen I thought this song was cute and not bad but after hearing it A LOT I am so tired of it’s cheesy lyrics and are the other languages necessary? All in all not the worst entry but I like Leonora and the staging but the song NOPE. 5/10

keith mawson
keith mawson
4 years ago

I like it but this would have been better at Junior Eurovision. say that i do like her rather unusual voice and the big chair.

Magpie
Magpie
4 years ago

This just feels like Switzerland 2011 with some extra cheese. It doesn’t provoke anything in me and the use of multiple languages feel like it’s just there and not creatively used like Bulgaria 2012. Quite possibly the least favourite entry of the year.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
4 years ago

This song gives me just so many things to dislike about it. Her John Lewis-ad style vocals, the cringe lyrics, the cheesy addition of different languages and a flowery instrumental.
It’s a deserved last place for me but still, I think some people will love this and juries will get this into the grand final.

MarioVision
MarioVision
4 years ago

I like this. Its nice & cute song.
Denmark would certainly qualify
if was competing on the 1st SF…
But since they are on the highly competitive 2nd SF, im not sure if they will manage to qualify…
My grade : 6/10

MarioVision
MarioVision
4 years ago
Reply to  MarioVision

My scores so far:
SER : 7/10
ARM : 7/10
DEN : 6/10
IRE : 4,5/10
LAT : 4,5/10
AUT : 4/10
POL : 4/10

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
4 years ago

It’s the most Eurovision-friendly song ever (apart from “Love love peace peace”). Leonora is the perfect choice for this song, and I’m so happy she is representing Denmark this year. 🙂 Musically this song is technically perfect throughout – even the number of bars per section are 100% consistent, just to be extra detailed. Lyrically all the interest comes in the different languages of the third verse, and with the Reprise being in French. The song is so perfect that it doesn’t even need a key change to be memorable, unlike some other songs this year. Overall, the success of… Read more »

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
4 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Thanks Tibor. I am still honestly very upset over this year’s sponsor, and particularly upset over William’s over-promotion of it. But it turns out that the music matters to me more. Maybe that means my principles don’t mean anything, and maybe, just maybe, William too has been going through the same trauma that I have. If so, then I owe him an apology.

Lisianthus
Lisianthus
4 years ago

Long story short: it’s a cute song 6/10
BUT she should really not stare in the camera the way she did in the national finals. It creeped me out.

Héctor
Héctor
4 years ago

I don’t like this tyoe of love songs. I have some exceptions, but this is not. “Love is forever” is too sweet for me. Thank god I’m not diabetic cause this could cause me some problems. Overall, the song sounds like a big cliché song following French love songs standards, it has French lyrics and they even staged it like that. Nope, not for me.

Denmark is in my 34th place.

13. Armenia (7)
24. Latvia (6)
32. Poland (5.75)
34. DENMARK (5)

Miss saHHara
4 years ago

It is okay, but not EuroVision-trashy enough for me. It is a bit too nice and boring! Yes, nice vocals, but the song and performance itself is meh! I want to see sex, madness, high upbeat rhythm, fun! MAKE ME FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU WOMAN!
So this is a Trois….. 3 from moi

Miss saHHaa
4 years ago

It is okay, but not Eurovisision-trashy enough for me. It is a bit too nice and boring! Yes, nice vocals, but the song and performance itself is meh! I want to see sex, madness, high upbeat rhythm, fun! MAKE ME FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU WOMAN!
So this is a Trois….. 3 from moi

Whisker
Whisker
4 years ago
Reply to  Miss saHHaa

I absolutely love your comment misaHHara.

Mari
Mari
4 years ago
Reply to  Whisker

This is something Jelena Karleusa would said 😛

Edu
Edu
4 years ago

I love it. Simple and fresh, catchy for me.
Don’t know why so much hate on it.

Frau Loch
Frau Loch
4 years ago

This will sail into the Grand Final and will get many sympathy votes so a job well done for Denmark

Tjh
Tjh
4 years ago

This is so UK 1970’s. In a nice way tho.

Phary
Phary
4 years ago

I usually like that kind of acoustic sound and it is done quite well here. The song progresses well throughout. However this is definitely one of the cheesiest songs in this year’s contest. The “love love peace peace” message is cute but Leonora doesn’t really comes across as sincere here. All in all it does pretty nothing for me. But I like the instrumentation, the melody is okay, and the different languages are a nice touch. An unconvinced 6/10 for me.

Peters
Peters
4 years ago

It’s like a Lenka song from 10 years ago. Meh.

Miguel
Miguel
4 years ago

One of the worst songs this year,
So cheeeeeeesy and 2000.

Best from Spain

Doris
Doris
4 years ago

Please, this has to stay on the semi final.

INAMOO
INAMOO
4 years ago

I give it an 8 out of 10 just because I personally love this song

Roger Rabbit
Roger Rabbit
4 years ago

The most irritating song together with Montenegro and Australia this year.i find San Marino more catchy than this three.:)

Darren
Darren
4 years ago

Call me an old fashioned traditionalist, but I hate when country’s sing in random languages. English, as the official language of translation/business etc and most countries second language…I can understand. But having Denmark singing partly in French feels weird. Much like Austria in 2016.
It just feels like cheap attempts to grab votes from other countries. Who can forget Bulgaria in 2012, it was in like 5 languages, most of which where voting/participating in their semi.
Nice song Denmark but feels quite random to me 4/10.

Marv
Marv
4 years ago

I hope she qualifies so that they can put her next to iceland in the final

Sabrina
Sabrina
4 years ago

Cute but clueless. As much as I approve its “Love, Love, Peace, Peace” intentions, it’s hard for me not to be a cynical about it. The “don’t get too political” rubs me in a wrong way. I’m exhausted of politics being used to spread hate and disinformation, but living in denial would be a way of letting bad things continue to happen. It also bothers me that it’s a “one-trick song”. It doesn’t go anywhere else and a proof of that is that they use its third act just to repeat the same structure, just using other languages. 5/10

Sabrina
Sabrina
4 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

Like some people say, being apolitical is also a political action. I believe the intentions behind the song are noble, but Hat ari’s approach is more like we need right now, even if this song goes so easy on the ears.

Sabrina
Sabrina
4 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

I feel the same. It’s a song from a different time, in terms of message. Like Ari’s from last year. Unfortunately, my heart is not as warm as Purple Mask’s towards lyrics like these!

Colin
Colin
4 years ago

DENMARK – It’s extremely sugary and cliched, but at the same time, it’s cute in a naive sort of way. The lyrics, no matter how cheesy on paper, are something people would be better off if they reflected on them. This would actually be a really good JESC song. As an ESC song it borders on too saccharine, but it does have a certain charm and warmth. Language mixing is a welcome surprise and it works rather well. Musically, it flows well with a pleasant, yet not static melody, which compliments the message behind it. – 7/10 My rating: 8… Read more »

Sabrina
Sabrina
4 years ago
Reply to  Colin

So your Denmark is my Latvia and your Latvia is my Denmark? 😀

Colin
Colin
4 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

A good comparison. I went back and forth between 6.5 and 7 for Denmark, but genuine cuteness pulled it into a 7. If they didn’t have French lyrics, it would be brought down to 6.5, maybe even 6. I decided to be generous on this one. Also, Wiwi glitch stopped me from possible editing. Oh, well, it’s cute enough for a 7. Spoiler – I think San Marino might get a similar treatment. 🙂

Sabrina
Sabrina
4 years ago
Reply to  Colin

San Marino remains one of the toughest entries for me to rate.

Erasmus
Erasmus
4 years ago

I just want Denmark to return to it’s golden ages(before their victory), the only entry I really liked from them since 2013 was Anja Nissen’s “Where I Am”. But we have Leonora this year, I usually really like these kind of acts, but I prefer Anna Ritsmar’s “Starlight” to “Love is Forever”, Leonora sings this song perfectly, but the staging is quite bland, this song with staging from Silvan Areg(French NF) would be perfect. It’s cute, but I liked more on the first listen. It may qualify, but it’s far from a sure qualifier. My score: 6 / 10 My… Read more »

EmmelieDarlineFrancesco Fan
EmmelieDarlineFrancesco Fan
4 years ago
Reply to  Erasmus

I reckon Denmark’s golden age was 2010-2014 – 2015-2017 were average and since last year they’ve been back on form.

EmmelieDarlineFrancesco Fan
EmmelieDarlineFrancesco Fan
4 years ago

This is my number 2 this year – I think it’s the most underrated song of the year. It’s warm, sweet and melodious and also builds in instrumentation throughout the song.

The staging definitely needs work though – looks very awkward at the moment.

EmmelieDarlineFrancesco Fan
EmmelieDarlineFrancesco Fan
4 years ago

Plus the harmony in this is so rich and warm!

impressiveinstants
impressiveinstants
4 years ago

Not memorable at all. Will fade into the shadows. Nice, that’s about it.

Denis
Denis
4 years ago

Hate to be that guy but feel like showing her pictures of dead puppies, war, children in need and stuff. Just to shake her world up a bit. The song is so sickenly sweet..

Whisker
Whisker
4 years ago
Reply to  Denis

Yes, Denmark AND Finland. If a song were all the world needed. I am tempted to ask people such as the Finnish guy, ok you had that experience in India and wrote the song, and then what?

Rimig
Rimig
4 years ago

Rimig
Rimig
4 years ago

I quite liked “Loin d’ici” and its charming innocent vibes, something that “Love is forever” is trying to transmit, but… it’s just not fully working. Leonora is sweet, the song is sweet, everything is sweet but, at the end, it’s just an overdose of cheese. The only part of the song I actually like is when she sings the chorus in French near the end. Still, even though it does not stand out in any way, it is not unpleasant to listen to, and Denmark managed to reach a respectable position (number 21) in my personal list. If they would… Read more »

Jo.
Jo.
4 years ago

“High quality”, “lyrical masterpiece”… you guys must be smoking something…
It’s 3/10 and that’s being generous.

Wai
Wai
4 years ago
Reply to  Jo.

Lyrics looks like randomly picked up instagram hashtags, lmao

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
4 years ago

i used to like it more before, now i’ve kinda gotten tired if it. denmark’s entries are always just there

Kris
Kris
4 years ago

This is more like an echo of the past
It don’t give a feeling that will last
Relying on juries on the night , oh yay yay yay

A 5/10. It’s got some neighbourly love , adding 0.5 but it’s between more impactful entries so deducting a point. 45% chance to qualify I’d reckon

Tom Ripley
Tom Ripley
4 years ago

People’s reaction: Yes it’s cheesy, but it’s very high- quality cheesy… cute, super cute, charming…
but above I love that has Paris vibe..
??????

Oh come on… have you seen Paris ever?

2/10

Nicky91
Nicky91
4 years ago

i got Lenka vibes all over with this song, also Leonora’s style is so similar too to Lenka’s own performing skills

its cute, maybe a bit forgettable though

7.0/10

Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
4 years ago

Yes it’s cheesy, but it’s very high- quality cheesy and it’s also French cheese! I adore this entry and the French part is really amazing. I also liked the concept of the performance, which could be great with some tweeks and changes. I think this does have a shot at qualifying, even if it is in a really difficult semi- final.
8.5/10

NickC
NickC
4 years ago

Completely agree with you!

Nguyet Huynh
Nguyet Huynh
4 years ago

I love this song so much. My no.4