🇩🇰 Blast from the past: Denmark 2013

We know a lot about Eurovision and we want to share this knowledge with you! Therefore we’d like to bring you a blast from the past. Today we talk about yet another winner: Denmark 2013.

Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest

Denmark made its debut in the contest in 1957. The country won its first Eurovision in 1963 with the song “Dansevise” performed by Grethe & Jørgen Ingmann. Denmark took a hiatus from the contest between 1966 and 1978 due to poor results and disagreement with the voting structure. After their return, it took a while but in 2000 the Olsen Brothers got to first place with “Fly On The Wings Of Love”. In 2013, the third Danish win was there: Emmelie De Forest sang “Only Teardrops”.

Photo credits: Robin Skjoldborg

National Final

To select its entries for Eurovision, Denmark holds an annual national selection called Dansk Melodi Grand Prix. In 2013, it was held in the Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning on 26 January. The show was hosted by Lise Rønne, Louise Wolff and Sofie Lassen-Kahlke. The 10 competing songs were:

  1. Jeg har hele tiden vidst det“, sung by Frederikke Vedel
  2. Human“, sung by Brinck
  3. I’m not alone“, sung by Kate Hall
  4. Rejs dig op“, sung by Louise Dubiel
  5. We own the universe“, sung by Daze
  6. Stay awake“, sung by Simone
  7. Invincible“, sung by Jack Rowan feat. Sam Gray
  8. Only teardrops“, sung by Emmelie De Forest
  9. Beautiful to me“, sung by Albin
  10. Unbreakable“, sung by Mohamed Ali


In a superfinal, 3 songs came out:

  1. “Stay awake”, sung by Simone (15 pts., 3rd)
  2. “Only teardrops”, sung by Emmelie De Forest (26 pts., 1st)
  3. “Unbreakable”, sung by Mohamed Ali (19 pts., 2nd)

 

Photo credits: Albin Olsson

Emmelie De Forest

Emmelie Charlotte-Victoria de Forest, born on 28 February 1993 in Randers, Denmark, has music in her blood, claiming descent from Queen Victoria of the UK. With a Swedish father and Danish mother, her multicultural roots have influenced her musical journey. Starting her singing career at a tender age, Emmelie found her passion in jazz classics from the 1930s and 1940s, performing in local festivals by the age of 14.

Her moment of international recognition came in 2013 when she represented Denmark at the Eurovision Song Contest with her song “Only Teardrops.” Winning the competition, Emmelie became a sensation not only in Denmark but throughout Europe. This triumph was followed by her debut album of the same name and numerous tours across the continent.

Further establishing her Eurovision legacy, Emmelie introduced “Rainmaker” in 2014, which became the official anthem for the Eurovision Song Contest the following year. Her commitment to music continued with her sophomore album and various singles. After parting ways with Universal Music Group in 2015, she joined Cosmos Music and shifted her focus to songwriting. Her lyrical contributions graced multiple Eurovision stages, including penning Lucie Jones’ “Never Give Up on You” in 2017.

By 2018, Emmelie released her second album “History.” Her most recent endeavors include launching “Typical Love Song” in 2021 and making an appearance in the short film “Text Me When You Get Home.” Emmelie’s journey from a local festival singer to an international sensation underscores her enduring impact in the music industry.

Only Teardrops

The song combines a pop melody with folky undertones, particularly noticeable with the inclusion of the flute. Its catchy chorus and emotive lyrics discuss the complexities of love and conflict, suggesting that both love and understanding can be the solution to disputes. 

At the Eurovision contest, “Only Teardrops” stood out both in terms of its melodic appeal and Emmelie’s spirited performance. Garnering a total of 281 points, the song allowed Denmark to clinch the Eurovision victory that year. Emmelie’s barefoot performance added a unique touch and became one of the memorable moments from the contest. After its Eurovision win, “Only Teardrops” became a hit across Europe, charting in multiple countries.

 

 

Share

Related news

News

Weekly update

weekly update of this week It’s time for another weekly Eurovision update. This week brings news on national selections for 2026, Austria’s preparations to host, and a change in Eurovision leadership. 🇪🇸 🇨🇭 Spain and Switzerland gear up for 2026 Spain is already planning its Eurovision 2026 entry. Broadcaster RTVE has named Sergio Jaén as the Artistic Director of Benidorm Fest 2026. At just 23, Jaén has a strong Eurovision résumé – he even staged Austria’s winning performance in 2025. He will design the staging for Spain’s song at Eurovision 2026. Benidorm Fest’s semi-finals are set for 10 and 12 February, with the Grand Final on 14 February 2026. source: RTVE Melody 📷 Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU Switzerland has kicked off its search for a 2026 act. Swiss broadcaster SRF will accept song submissions from 4 August to 25 August 2025. Artists, composers, and producers can send in entries during that period. Switzerland will once again choose its Eurovision entry through a multi-stage process with audience and expert juries. The Swiss representative and song will be revealed in early 2026. source: SRF 🇦🇹 Austria announces Eurovision 2026 core team Host broadcaster ORF has unveiled the core production team for Eurovision 2026. Michael Krön, ORF’s chief producer, will serve as Executive Producer – the overall project leader. Stefan Zechner will be the TV Show Producer, a role he also held when Austria hosted in 2015. The team features several experienced members from Vienna’s 2015 Eurovision, ensuring continuity. With this core team in place, ORF is gearing up to deliver another world-class contest. source: ORF Core Team, 📷 ORF 🇦🇹 Host city race: Graz out, Vienna pushes forward Graz has pulled out of the host city race for Eurovision 2026. The Styrian capital decided not to bid due to budget shortfalls and a projected €29.35 million hosting cost. City officials couldn’t secure enough financial support from the regional or federal government. Vienna, meanwhile, is moving full steam ahead with its bid. The Vienna City Council officially ratified a resolution to back the plan, proposing the Wiener Stadthalle as the venue. Vienna boasts around 82,000 hotel beds and excellent transport links to welcome Eurovision guests. Other cities like Innsbruck remain in the running, and ORF will announce the 2026 host city on 8 August 2025. Martin Österdahl to step down as Eurovision supervisor The Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, Martin Österdahl, will be leaving his post in summer 2025. The European Broadcasting Union announced on 27 June 2025 that Österdahl is stepping down, marking the end of his five-year tenure. He has overseen Eurovision since 2020, guiding the contest through five editions and various changes. The EBU is expected to appoint a new Executive Supervisor before the 2026 season begins. That was it for this week, see you next week with another weekly update! Share

Share
Read More »
News
Martijn

Weekly update

weekly update of this week It’s time for another weekly Eurovision update. This week brings news on national selections for 2026, Austria’s preparations to host, and a change in Eurovision leadership. 🇪🇸 🇨🇭 Spain and Switzerland gear up for 2026 Spain is already planning its Eurovision 2026 entry. Broadcaster RTVE has named Sergio Jaén as the Artistic Director of Benidorm Fest 2026. At just 23, Jaén has a strong Eurovision résumé – he even staged Austria’s winning performance in 2025. He will design the staging for Spain’s song at Eurovision 2026. Benidorm Fest’s semi-finals are set for 10 and 12 February, with the Grand Final on 14 February 2026. source: RTVE Melody 📷 Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU Switzerland has kicked off its search for a 2026 act. Swiss broadcaster SRF will accept song submissions from 4 August to 25 August 2025. Artists, composers, and producers can send in entries during that period. Switzerland will once again choose its Eurovision entry through a multi-stage process with audience and expert juries. The Swiss representative and song will be revealed in early 2026. source: SRF 🇦🇹 Austria announces Eurovision 2026 core team Host broadcaster ORF has unveiled the core production team for Eurovision 2026. Michael Krön, ORF’s chief producer, will serve as Executive Producer – the overall project leader. Stefan Zechner will be the TV Show Producer, a role he also held when Austria hosted in 2015. The team features several experienced members from Vienna’s 2015 Eurovision, ensuring continuity. With this core team in place, ORF is gearing up to deliver another world-class contest. source: ORF Core Team, 📷 ORF 🇦🇹 Host city race: Graz out, Vienna pushes forward Graz has pulled out of the host city race for Eurovision 2026. The Styrian capital decided not to bid due to budget shortfalls and a projected €29.35 million hosting cost. City officials couldn’t secure enough financial support from the regional or federal government. Vienna, meanwhile, is moving full steam ahead with its bid. The Vienna City Council officially ratified a resolution to back the plan, proposing the Wiener Stadthalle as the venue. Vienna boasts around 82,000 hotel beds and excellent transport links to welcome Eurovision guests. Other cities like Innsbruck remain in the running, and ORF will announce the 2026 host city on 8 August 2025. Martin Österdahl to step down as Eurovision supervisor The Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, Martin Österdahl, will be leaving his post in summer 2025. The European Broadcasting Union announced on 27 June 2025 that Österdahl is stepping down, marking the end of his five-year tenure. He has overseen Eurovision since 2020, guiding the contest through five editions and various changes. The EBU is expected to appoint a new Executive Supervisor before the 2026 season begins. That was it for this week, see you next week with another weekly update! Share

Share
Read More »