Ben & Tan were due to represent Denmark at the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam with their song “Yes”.
The pair were selected through the long-running Dansk Melodi Grand Prix selection show. However, they didn’t win the easy way. First they had to take part in a pre-qualifying round which took place over radio. Five acts progressed from this stage and joined five automatic qualifiers in the live TV final. Ben & Tan ended up winning comfortably, taking 61% of the vote in the superfinal.
And now we’ve compiled 10 facts you need to know about Ben & Tan. Let’s do this!
Denmark at Eurovision 2020: Facts about Ben & Tan
1. They have international roots
Ben & Tan are a male-female duo, comprising of Benjamin “Ben” Tsimalona Rosenbohm and Tanne “Tan” Amanda Balcells. And while they both grew up in Denmark, their roots extend far beyond the Nordic country’s borders. Ben (17) was born in Berlin, Germany. His mother is German while his father hails from Madagascar. Tan (22) was born in Barcelona, Spain to a Danish mother and Spanish father.
2. Tan came fourth on X Factor
Tan entered the 12th season of X Factor Demark. She auditioned as an individual with LP’s “Lost On You”. But in a classic X Factor twist, producers incorporated her into a group with three other soloists — Freja Assenholt, Emma Funding and Mathilde Byder. Together they became Echo. Despite being in the bottom two twice, they managed to stick around until the penultimate episode and finished fourth.
3. And Ben came second in the same season
Ben also tried out for X Factor 2019. His first audition saw him strumming his guitar to VULFPECK’s “Wait for the Moment”. He impressed the judges to such an extent that two of them exclaimed “Yes” before they’d even offered any critique. From there, it was smooth sailing for Ben. Statistics released afterwards showed that he never once fell out of the top two with the public. And on three occasions he topped the overall vote. Alas, on the night of the final, he fell one short and had to make do with second place.
4. Echo are on an indefinite hiatus
Soon after the show ended in April 2019, Echo released one single — “I Got You”. However, they were on a “break” by June. An Instagram post from the time states that “we’re still alive and we’re not breaking up, don’t worry”. The group’s account has remained dormant ever since.
5. Ben also had one previous single
If Ben had won X Factor, his winner’s single would have been “Worth A Broken Heart”. But despite not winning the coveted trophy, he still got to release the track after performing it for the first time during the season finale.
6. They came together especially for Dansk Melodi Grand Prix
Ben and Tan knew each other from X Factor, of course. But they originally only joined forces for Dansk Melodi Grand Prix — Denmark’s Eurovision selection. In one interview, Ben explained how it all came about: “Initially, we got rung up by someone in December [2019]. They first sent us the song, and we were kinda like ‘this is one of the coolest Melodi Grand Prix songs we’ve heard in a while, actually’. And then they asked us if we were interested in working together. Because we already had a little bit of familiarity from working on X Factor, it was a very comfortable process”.
7. They bonded over Ed Sheeran
In another interview, Ben says that their friendship began to grow over a mutual love for a certain singer-songwriter — “We were both huge Ed Sheeran fans so there was instantly that kind of connect over that”.
8. They’re definitely not a couple
Some may interpret them to be a romantic couple for the purposes of “Yes”. But Ben & Tan are friends and nothing more. When asked if they were in a relationship, Ben responded that it would “be like trying to kiss my older sister, no thank you.”
9. They’re unsure if Ben & Tan will continue
Even before their DMGP victory, the duo wasn’t sure if the Ben & Tan project would continue beyond “Yes”. A pragmatic Tan told one interviewer that “it depends”. She continues, “there are some things that we both have to do separately. I have to figure out what the hell I’m going to do with my life and Benjamin has to figure out what he’s going to do with his career and education. And I’ve already had those choices to make”. Ben adds that “regardless of what happens. Tan will only be a phone call away”.
10. Their song was written by a team of very successful writers
“YES” was written by a powerhouse of talent – Emil Rosendal Lei, Jimmy Jannson and Linnea Deb. Emil also co-wrote last years Danish entry “Love is Forever” sung by Leonora. Jimmy Jannson set a new record for the number of competing entries by a composer at one contest in Melodifestivalen with six entries in 2020. And Linnea Deb has worked with artists such as Fifth Harmony, JoJo, MiC Lowry and Akon. She also co-wrote the Eurovision 2015 winning song “Heroes”.
Eurovision 2021 update
Ben & Tan will not sing for Denmark at Eurovision 2021. Broadcaster DR has confirmed that it will once again choose its act through Dansk Melodi Grand Prix. The duo were not offered an automatic spot in the final. Tan confirmed that they would not return, saying “I feel we would take the place from some others. After all, we have tried to be part of the show. It must be someone else’s trip next year. That is most fair.”
Would you like to hear more from Ben & Tan? Are you disappointed that they won’t return in 2021? Let us know in the comments.
A beautiful song of this both! They are the winners of my heart. The others look like clowns or artists of a circus. But it is the reality of today, with the masks we are foreigners.
I’m not sure they would have qualified tbh. I could see them high with the jury but they just lacked so much chemistry to connect to the televote
I feel sad for these guys. But for sure, they’ll return, right?
my winner this year. I really hope they both can still make songs together or come back DGP as an individual singer one day.
I’m so sad that they wont participate next year. It is so unfair.
They were my favorite this year.
fact 11. say NO say NO say NO! also say human actually won
As must as I like this Jasmin and roxxerloops were far and away better, WTF was with top 3 superfinal. ben and tean i expcected but the other two???? Really.
I have to admit individual broadcaster’s decision not allowing their artists to automatically represent them to the 2021 event & EBU not also allowing returning contestants to sing the same song, SUCKS! Not also fair to the Eurovision fans especialy for those top 10 songs.
It does they earned their place ffs