International betting agencies are not feeling Denmark’s chances at ESC 2021. They currently have Fyr & Flamme‘s song “Øve os på hinanden” as the ninth least likely to win Eurovision with odds as high as 499/1.
But foreign indifference is not stopping the party at home. As the official Eurovision blog from Danish broadcaster DR reports, the duo are riding a wave of momentum domestically. In fact, their song has become the first DMGP winner to top Denmark’s Hitlisten prior to Eurovision in nine years.
Its nostalgic schlager feel and endless burst of positivity has pushed it past the likes of “Save Your Tears” from The Weeknd” and “Drivers License” from Olivia Rodrigo.
In 2012, DMGP winner Soluna Samay spent one week at the top with her song “Should’ve Known Better” prior to ESC. Emmelie de Forest did manage to top the charts with her 2013 song. But that was only after “Only Teardrops” won Eurovision in Malmö.
So why all the success this year? Well the DR blog makes the point that Danes may be feeling isolated and sequestered during the pandemic, suggesting the song provides a sort of alternative dance floor.
As we point out in our reaction video below, the duo had buckets of charisma on the DMGP stage, and were bang on-trend when it came to the 80s inspired staging.
As for the bookies, lead singer Jesper isn’t so bothered about all that. He told DR:
“There are some who sit and design their number specifically to win Eurovision, and Laurits and I have not done that. Then we would not have won at home either. That way, it’s a fun competition.”
“The criterion for success is to get down there and surprise. We believe in [our act] and we will go down there to defend our song. We have received many positive responses, so I do not think we will be the number one shock.”
The DR blog has helpfully pulled out the placements of all recent winners, which we are reprinting below.
Dansk Melodi Grand Prix: Winners’ peak chart positions
- 2020: Ben & Tan, ‘Yes’ – Nr. 30 on the hit list / Eurovision canceled
- 2019: Leonora, ‘Love is Forever’ – Nr. 16 on the hit list / 12th place in Eurovision
- 2018: Rasmussen, ‘Higher Ground’ – Nr. 9 on the hit list / 9th place in Eurovision
- 2017: Anja, ‘Where I Am’ – Did not get in the top 40 on the hit list / 20th place in Eurovision
- 2016: Lighthouse X, ‘Soldiers of Love’ – Nr. 12 on the hit list / Did not make it to the Eurovision final
- 2015: Anti Social Media, ‘The Way You Are’ – Nr. 38 on the hit list / Did not make it to the Eurovision final
- 2014: Basim, ‘Cliché Love Song’ – Nr. 2 on the hit list / 9th place in Eurovision
- 2013: Emmelie de Forest, ‘Only Teardrops’ – Nr. 1 on the hit list / 1st place in Eurovision
- 2012: Soluna Samay, ‘Should’ve Known Better’ – Nr. 1 on the hit list / 23rd place in Eurovision
- 2011: A Friend in London, ‘New Tomorrow’ – Nr. 2 on the hit list / 5th place in Eurovision
We’d love to hear what you guys in Denmark think about the song’s success! Why do you think that it has performed so well on the charts, especially compared to former DMGP winners? Let us know down below!
Well… Since you have spoken, they’ve raised up…
wow can’t believe Anja’s song flopped even after the victory in the national final. I think Denmark has lost their interest in ESC or perhaps there is lack of inspiration the recent years. They used to do well between 2010-2014. Regarding this number 1 ESC entry, it’s great news. The song is in Danish and the duo is hugely successful as they had 1-2 previous hits as well. They are massive in streaming. It’s nice to see a hit going to ESC which shows the locals are supporting their entry. I don’t think it matters now whether it qualifies to… Read more »
typical case of a song with massive national appeal that’ll likely fail to translate to international success. at least they got their career in denmark, which is amazing for them.
I like Danish entry it reminds me on old Elton John’s songs. And I like that they sing in Danish.
this is a serious blog post?
even my 70+ old mother does not like it and she likes “schlagermusik” a lot. 😀
How do you explain the song at the top of the chart then?
We all know they wont win but also that they likely wont get to the left side of the scoreboard.
But entries like this is what I love about Eurovision. Its something that doesnt crack your tops but you still enjoy it because of the performers and their positivity on stage. And of course I wouldnt mind to see them qualifying as for such entries performing it twice is already a success.
it’s my favourite of the year tbh!! im a big fan of 70/80s fun european songs and i feel like this song just hits EVERY mark.. i am absolutely convinced this will come top 10!
I think they can be a dark horse this year
I LOVE their entry. It’s very Danish and represents well their country. I also love their other singles. Go check them out!
I’ve said from day one this is a great song. Love this for them!!
They won’t qualify. But they deserve a big “good luck” like every other contestant.
Good for them! I think it’s a fun, underrated entry.
What I have to appreciate is that the vast majority of NFS this year had pretty decisive victories. Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Croatia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, i’m pretty sure France as well: however you feel about the entries themselves, the people knew what they wanted and made it abundantly clear. When every year usually sees somebody unsatisfied, it means a lot that the people from those countries enjoy and believe in what they send, and fundamentally that’s what matters the most, no matter how we international fans may feel about the outcome. The internal selections are a little more split, I’d… Read more »
How many years have had this many landslide victories in the NFS? I’m racking my brain about the selections since I started following Eurovision, and I remember there being a couple last year (Estonia, Georgia in terms of artist selection, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland) but not a ton. Certainly I’ve never seen a win by the margin of an act like Blind Channel or The Roop before.
All true… only in Denmark’s case, they barely eeked out a victory.
It’s an amazing entry!
My favourite entry of the year.
This is my last place of the year BUT what matters the most is that Danish are happy with their entry. Let’s just hope they are not expecting too much in May.
If the staging is the same this is a real last placer
they really need to make an effort – i hope they won’t give up and just do a boring show
i swear, if denmark makes the final with mediocrity for the 4th time in a row, i’m gonna lose it
Higher Ground was anything but mediocrity
This is the best danish entry since 2013.
Exactly my words.
There are so many people sleeping on this entry. I have said all along that this one will definitely make the final. It will be a televote magnet, loads of fun, engaging performers, sing-a-long nostalgic tune. There is very little else like it in the competition and it will stand out a mile.
There is an argument to say the juries will trash it, but I don’t think significantly so as to knock this one out in the semis.
Wake up people!!
I am only judging this based on the feedback from this site and previous voting experience. A lot of people seem to suggest that it is kitsch (as opposed to sweet), old-fashioned (as opposed to retro) and comes across a little like a joke act (as opposed to a fun, uplifting entry). Juries have form for being pompous and judgmental about these sort of entries (there are far too many entries to list who have fallen foul of the artsy mafia) and my concern is that this is in their classic sweet spot – however, i believe there should be… Read more »
I hope you are right – very catchy chorus and love that they are sticking to their choice to sing in Danish.
While it isn’t mine (or most peoples) favourite song in this year’s contest, I really appreciate that Denmark sent a Danish language song. I certainly don’t dislike this song either. It makes for enjoyable, light listening. Good on you Denmark. 🙂
The Danish language is the only good thing in the whole song
Certainly it has more local and not international appeal.
Even though I doubt it’s chances for qualification, it’s nice to know that it is at least beloved in its home country.
Well, I personally have it as one of my worst entries, but in the second semifinal it has the ability to get enough votes for the final, if they bring a good performance and especially, if countries like Moldova flop in Rotterdam. Remember, in 2019, none expected that Lenora would reach the finals. But they did it!
And they were placed much higher than many people’s favourites Greece, Spain, Malta, France and Cyprus
I expected Leonora to do very well. I expect this one to fail miserably.
In my opinion it’s a massive downgrade after Ben & Tan, but there’s not only the youth voting. There are also older people that might appreciate that
I am old. I lived through 80s. Thats why i know it will fail. Because compared to what we enjoyed back in the day, this looks like a joke
Leonora was such a local/family bait entry. Her televote really improved on Saturday with locals.
UK, Germany or Italy went from giving nothing in that SF to give her points in the final.
Fans in my country really hated it and they didn’t understand how she was in the final yet she came 11th in our televote.
She was a clear qualifier to me even tho I didn’t like her song but this is so much outdated and being in Danish no one will understand them and their message(if the song has one). Love is forever had a really strong message that’s why it olaced that better
“Outdated”.
Making 80’s inspired songs is kinda the thing Fyr og Flamme does actually.
Didn’t she barely qualify though?
Actually this is my number 1 this year. Something that stands out and is fun. I can’t believe the bookies don’t believe in it. Mind my words, this might not be the surprise winner but will definitely do better than what people think.
I find it hard to believe that “Who I Am”, the most Top 40 radio-friendly of Denmark’s recent entries would not crack an actual Top 40 chart.
That song had 0 impact.
Who I am got 5 points with televote in its semifinal.
And was the 1st time Denmark didn’t get any single point from a Nordic country in a final with public. None voted. Anja was saved by Aussies to get 0.
In 2002, Denmark didn’t get any points from the Nordic countries either with public.
True, second time. Norway or Iceland weren’t voting in 2002 but they still might not have voted it.
Domestic market-wise is what we have to look at, not how well it did in Eurovision per se.
That is not a radio-friendly song. Even the results showed it
Compared to all the entries that came after it, this is the one closest to what can be considered “radio-friendly” outside the context of it being a Eurovision song, with its entire composition having CHR (contemporary hit radio format) written all over itself.
And given that Anja was already popular going into her second try in DMGP following “Never Alone”, a crack in the domestic radio charts in Denmark would have made sense and yet it didn’t.
2016 was more radio friendly as was 2020.
Who I am was dull , dull songs aren’t considered radio-friendly ! As explained by its televote and domestic performance even
Being “dull” is subjective. On objective terms, the song was made as if it was meant to be heard on the radio. That is what is meant as “radio-friendly” because “Who I Am” is a CHR-type track that was likely made for radio and not necessarily for ESC. For it to not chart in local charts is an anomaly. While I would agree that “Yes” also falls under the category of CHR/Top 40, “Soldiers of Love” clearly is not, format-wise, but managed to still gain traction in the domestic chart regardless. Songs written for Eurovision in general tend to be… Read more »
I’m prepared to be down voted for this, but Fyr og Flamme are in my top 10! It’s such a fun song, and really catchy even though I don’t know a word of danish. I feel like they need to improve their stage show, but if they do then they could get into the final 🙂
This is the Eurovision we want and not swedish melfest rejects like Malta.
This song is so awkward that even the singer’s mouth was moving uncontrollably at the end of the performance.
Lol this so true
I’m from Denmark and I’m not feeling the song either. I mean it isn’t bad, I just don’t think it’s a hit or an ESC winner. I’d be surprised if it get to the finals, BUT I’ll still cheer for them!
I like the fact that some songs are top in their countries, although they are not supported by esc fans
I remember when Deban interviewed people in the streets of Copehagen years after ESC 2013 and they recognized Emmelie de Forest as “the winner of Dansk Melodi Grand Prix” only. They didn’t even know she had won the whole thing. lol
I believe that this will do better than most Eurofans estimate. I think that it will qualify with the help of the televotes – potentially also with the juries, and even do better in the televoting than Sweden in the final.
It’s just a very fun song, especially the post-chorus with the brass section.
If Sweden have sent Clara instead of this standard piece of deja vu and heard then it would have regain the televote approval.
I think Sweden will get more points this year and probably be the jury winner. Honestly I’d be very dissapointed if a song like this with a staging like this will get more televoting points than a song like that with a voice like his amd with a staging like that
They did not hate you in 2012 and 2015..
yeah srry denmark but it’s gonna be a no
wtf is going on? ? it’s my last place..
Because it’s not everyone else’s last place, perhaps?