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What to expect from Denmark's 'Melodi Grand Prix'

15 February 2024 at 09:25 CET
Reiley from Denmark attending the Turquoise Carpet event at St. George’s Hall, Liverpool. Photo: Corinne Cumming / EBU
Denmark is all set to choose its entry to the 68th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night - so we've put together everything we can look forward to at the Danish 'Melodi Grand Prix'.

How To Watch: 'Melodi Grand Prix' takes place on Saturday 17 February with a start time of 20:00 CET. Danish broadcaster DR will be airing the show on DR1 nationally, and will also be streaming it live on their online player.

The 2024 Melodi Grand Prix lineup

As we look forward to Malmö in May, we can't forget how this time 10 years ago we were excited about touching down on the other side of the Øresund Bridge - as Copenhagen was preparing to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2014. 

Well, we head to Copenhagen again on Saturday night - DR Koncerthuset, to be precise. The Danish broadcaster DR is bringing us Melodi Grand Prix, the pre-selection to find Denmark's entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. And with it, it's also bringing us some bops!

Denmark's national final is one evening of entertainment, in which 8 songs will compete for votes. These will come from a combination of a public vote and a jury vote, with a 50% weighting given to both.

As has been tradition at Denmark's Melodi Grand Prix in recent years, this initial lineup of songs will have a Top 3 ranked once they've all been performed and a first set of votes has been totted up and given out. This trio of tunes will then form a 'superfinal', be performed again, and voting will be reset to zero and opened once more.

Melodi Grand Prix 2024 will then have its winner, and Denmark will have its entry to the Eurovision Song Contest in May. 

Fyr Og Flamme, Denmark, First Rehearsal, Rotterdam Ahoy, 11 May 2021 EBU / Thomas Hanses

DR has appointed two highly-qualified hosts to take viewers through the evening's events; Sara Bro and Stéphanie Surrugue will be coming to us live from Copenhagen to introduce audiences to our 8 acts and lay out the results; ultimately announcing the Melodi Grand Prix 2024 winner.

Stéphanie Surrugue and Sara Bro will host Melodi Grand Prix 2024 Agnete Schlichtkrull

Our two presenters will also be ramping up hopes for a reversal in Denmark's recent track record at the Eurovision Song Contest.

Between 2010 and 2018, the Nordic nation had a run of results to be envied, enjoying no less than 5 Top 10 placings at the Grand Final of the Contest. But since the '20s hit, Denmark has yet to be afforded the opportunity to compete in a Grand Final, with the country's entries in 2021, 2022 and 2023 all remaining in the Semi-Finals.

The 8 songs in the running to represent Denmark in May have already been released. So ahead of Saturday night's Melodi Grand Prix, you can dive in, have a listen and find out which one you'll be throwing all of your support behind!

Here are all of the songs - in the order they'll be performed on the night - plus a little background info on each of the artists behind them: 

Saba – Sand

Meet Saba Lykke Oehlenschlæger, who goes by the stage name of SABA. Last year, she had a large and demanding role in the musical HAIR. Now, she is looking forward to making her mark as an artist and singer at Denmark's Melodi Grand Prix. With her entry, she wants to inspire others to seize life and follow their dreams - whatever they might be and exactly as they are. 

SABA will perform the song Sand, which was written by some of the strongest songwriters out there. Behind the song is Melanie Wehbe - who has previously won Melodi Grand Prix as a songwriter, as well as Melodifestivalen in Sweden - alongside Jonas Thander, who has previously won the United Kingdom's pre-selection, and Pil Jeppesen.

SABA was adopted from Ethiopia when she was just eight months old and has roots in the West Jutland town of Ringkøbing. The artist wants to spread the message that life must be grasped, boundaries must be pushed and things must both be challenged and explored.

Stella – Sign Here

Stella grew up in Assens with a dream of making music. Since then, she has thrown a lot of energy into finding her own raw and direct expression as a songwriter and singer. Stella's talent has seamlessly translated into her own songs, as well as her collaborations with some of the industry's most talented producers and songwriters. 

Through all of this, Stella has worked to be a shy standard bearer for all the introverts who don't want to hold back in reaching for their dreams. Stella believes that her song will make a big difference to many.

CHU CHU – The Chase

Camilla Chu Xu Bjørner, who goes by the artist name of CHU CHU, grew up in Denmark and China. She is known for her explosive energy and unique musical style, which she is more than ready to bring to the big stage for Melodi Grand Prix in 2024.

CHU CHU has a unique, powerful sound and a rebellious energy and attitude that, according to the artist herself, should rub off on the audience and give them the strength to be precisely who they are. With The Chase (Zoom Zoom), CHU CHU is ready to deliver a show of pure power.

Basim – Johnny

Basim was just 15 years old when the public first got to know him - as a participant in the first season of the talent show The X Factor, back in 2008. The 31-year-old artist is today one of the most sought-after songwriters in Denmark, and he has written several hits for artists both at home and abroad. 

This year marks 10 years since Basim won Denmark's Melodi Grand Prix with the song Cliche Love Song. The rousing pop tune gave Denmark a Top 10 placing at the Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen. Now, 10 years after that success, Basim is back in Melodi Grand Prix with the song Johnny. It's a tribute to life, but also to the deep connections that arise with the people we meet along the way. The song is a story about a man whom Basim met at a hospice.

RoseeLu – Real Love

Behind the stage name RoseeLu is singer and songwriter Rosa Frydensbjerg. With her extraordinary vocals and songwriting, she has established herself as a significant name on the Danish music scene in recent years. RoseeLu had her acclaimed breakthrough in 2021, with the single Playing Alone.

Her Melodi Grand Prix song Real Love was written by the artist herself in collaboration with Alphabeat members Stine Bramsen, Anders S.G. and Anders Bønløkke, and produced by Jakob Groth Bastiansen and Joachim Ersgaard.

With her lyrics, RoseeLu wants to create a common point of view that many can recognise when it comes to love. On Real Love RoseeLu asks the eternal question: Is it just a spark, or is it true love?

UBLU – Planetary Hearts

UBLU is: the sound of a latex whip hitting the dance floor; the sound of a disco ball filled with cracks; the sound of a rebellion against anyone who says you don't belong. And now, it's the sound of a group that will perform at Denmark's Melodi Grand Prix 2024.

UBLU is made up of Adam Spanggaard Saarup, Andreas Darger, Marie Rørbæk and Martina Nielsen. The band has its roots in the world of rock, combining guitar riffs and pounding bass with the exciting pulse of club music. 

The idea for the song Planetary Hearts came one summer when many of the group's friends were faced with some drastic decisions. UBLU got together to make a song that gives the listener courage.

Janus Wiberg – I Need Your Love

Janus Wiberg is one of the most popular voices from the Faroe Islands, with his debut Mitt Vakra Føroya Land having been repeatedly described as an unofficial national anthem by several journalists there. Janus was born and raised in Tórshavn, and his distinctive, rustic, intense vocals have seen him be given regular rotation on Faroese radio.

Janus has written the song I Need Your Love in collaboration with songwriter, Carpark North bassist and producer Søren Balsner, as well as songwriter and producer Nick Tsang, who has toured and recorded with names such as Backstreet Boys, Ed Sheeran and Lewis Capaldi. 

Janus Wiberg aims to capture everyone's hearts with the song, which is about lost love. The song is the first in a series of releases from Janus this year.

Aura Dione – Mirrorball of Hope

Aura Dione, with Faroese, French and Spanish ancestry, grew up on the 7 seas before her family finally settled in Bornholm when she was 7 years old. 

In 2007, she debuted with her first single, and it didn't take her long before she had established herself as one of Denmark's most successful artists. Aura Dione's debut also made a big impression in Germany, where she hit No. 1 on the charts there. 

Her self-written song Mirrorball of Hope is an anthem about never losing hope and faith in the world, even though it may be difficult at the moment. With it, Aura Dione dreams of inspiring and bringing the world together.

Reiley rehearsing Breaking My Heart for Denmark at the Second Rehearsal of the Second Semi-Final at Liverpool Arena Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU

At the 67th Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool, Denmark was represented by Reiley, with the song that won Melodi Grand Prix in 2023 - Breaking My Heart.