Biography
Raquel Rastenni was a Danish singer. She began her career as a dancer in 1936 and as a singer in 1938, when she also had her radio debut. In 1940, she formed her own swing trio. That same year, her first record was released. She also toured in Sweden at that time. Being Jewish, she had to move to Sweden in October 1943 with her family. She spent the rest of the worldwar II there, continuing her success. In 1945, Raquel Rastenni returned to Denmark, and became Denmark’s leading singer. Among her successes were “Vovsen i vinduet” (1953) And “Heksedansen” (1960). Her best-selling record was “Hele ugen alene” (1953), which sold over 120,000 copies.. In 1958, she represented Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Jeg rev et blad ud av min dagbog”. She participated in the national selection Melodi Grand Prix twice more: In 1961 where she sang duet with Grethe Sønck in the song “Hjemme hos os” and as a soloist in 1964 with the song “Vi taler samme sprog”.
In the 1970s, she expanded her repertoire with Jewish songs. During the 1973 Yom Kippur War in the Middle East, she made an album in support for Israel with Yiddish and Hebrew songs.
In the late 1980s, she retired from public life. She died in Skodsborg in North Zealand four days before her 83rd birthday on 17 august 1998.
