Emmelie de Forest: “I’m the Happiest Girl in the World!”

Emmelie de Forest could be seen sending text messages as she walked from the green room to the stage to receive her winner’s trophy. As she explained to a room of around 200 journalists, she was getting a bit of advice from a friend back home. “I was so overwhelmed and I was really really nervous and I didn’t know if someone would ask me a question on stage,” she said, “so I texted a good friend and was like, ‘I don’t know what to say on stage.'” But the winner of Eurovision eventually found her words. Here’s what went down at the press conference.

You were the favourite and you’re only 20 years old. How did you handle the pressure? “Of course it has been a pressure and stressful sometimes, but it was also wonderful things that happened to me, so it has also given me energy. People believed in me and ‘Only Teardrops.’ Denmark believed in me and sent me.”

What was the craziest moment tonight? “The craziest thing tonight was when they told us that we won I didn’t understand it. I just saw th butterfly with the Danish flag. My teamed jumped up and I said what? And they said we won.”

Congratulations from Russia. When we don’t win we try to find Russian blood in the winner. Do you have Russian blood? “My blood? No, I don’t think I’m Russian unfortunately. You never know. I’m a European mix, so….”

The cheer for you was almost louder than for the Swedish act. What was it like to be close to home? “I think I didn’t…I mean it was overwhelming. Sorry I just got a black out. It was overwhelming and I could really feel the fans and the audience and the people in the arena. All the energy and they were backing us up. It just made me feel even better.”

You have family connections in Poland. What will you to do bring missing countries to Denmark next year? “My family live in Denmark but they are from Krakow…..the strings of my song were recorded in Poland and I’m pleased for that. They were amazing musicians.”

When you were walking to the stage you were texting. Who was the first to congratulate you? “I didn’t really text. I was so overwhelmed and I was realy really nervous and I didn’t know if someone would ask me a question on stage, so I texted a good friend and was like I don’t know what to say on stage. But then afterwards I found myself again and became calm. I was very nervous at that moment and I needed to get some good advice.”

For the first time in Eurovision history the host broadcaster embraced the gay fans of Eurovision instead of trying to hide them away. What do you think of Denmark next year? Will you embrace the gay fans or will you hide them away as previously? “I think it’s great. It’s music. All are welcome. That’s how it is.”

What will you be doing on Monday? “I don’t have the exact schedule. I don’t know what will happen but I imagine it will be quite busty. I think we’ll do some planning about what’s going to be happening in the next weeks. And rehearse with the new band.”

What was your friend’s reply in the text message? “Actually he came up with a different advice to thank my family and friends and Europe and Denmark for believing in me. Yeah.” I just talked to your family a minute ago. Your brother Edward is so proud of you. Do you have something to tell him back. “It’s wonderful. Family is everything. My mother and my brothers and sisters mean so much to me and the rest of my family. I’ve been thinking a lot of my brothers and sisters in Sweden. They gathered like 20 people to watch the show. They couldn’t get tickets.”

A few years ago when Lena won for Germany, the next year she represented Germany again. Will you? “I mean you never know what the future brings, but I don’t think so. I think it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It’s so overwhelming and I’m the happiest girl in the world.”

You went into this competition as the favourite. You must have known you would win. Also, millions are downloading your song. Would you like a #1 song? “Of course I believed in the song and I felt we had a great song. But that’s the exciting thing about Eurovision. You never know what’s going to happen. I was dying in the green room. It was so close, so I was excited and shocked when it happened.”

You’ve just won the biggest musical contest in the world and you’re only 20? Any advice for young artists? “Yes, I think it’s important to have great adults around you to back you up. I have my mom and great music teachers. I think it’s also important to be outgoing. I started singing when I was 14 years old. I just started calling and writing music festivals. Just call them and don’t be afraid.”

Now the show is over. Can you tell us who you feared the most? Who was the first artist who congratulated you? “I was of course very afraid of Sweden, Norway and Ukraine and Azerbaijan. The first who greeted me…that was Loreen I think on stage when she gave me the Eurovision trophy. So it was amazing meeting her again. She’s a wonderful person.”

Where will you put the trophy? “I have a shelf with a trophy I won in Denmark and two trophies I won for a competition and I’ll put it there next to my baby rabbit.”

Are you a happy winner? “Oh my god I’m so happy. I’m the happiest girl right now. I’m very happy and relieved. I’m grateful for Denmark sending me to this contest but also that it happened in Sweden since my father was Swedish and loved Eurovision. Unfortunatley he passed away 2.5 years ago. I’m so happy this happened in Sweden. I’m very happy.”

The motto “We Are One”—what does that mean to you? “I really love the slogan the first time I heard it. That’s what it’s about. Music and Europe. We can bring people together with music. I really hoped it would be a song that could unite all of Europe. I really hope that our song did that.”

Photo: Sander Hesterman

You can read our song reviews on the Wiwi Jury page. Then read the lyrics to this year’s entries on our contestants page. And then vote for your favourite contestants in our various polls.