Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest 1957
Encyclopedia
Denmark took part in the Eurovision Song Contest
for the first time at the Eurovision Song Contest 1957, held in Frankfurt
, Germany
. The Danish entry was chosen during a national final called Dansk Melodi Grand Prix.
Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 1957 was held on February 17, 1957 at the Radiohouse in Copenhagen
. The host was Volmer Sørensen
The country was represented by Birthe Wilke
and Gustav Winckler
with the song "Skibet skal sejle i nat
", written by Erik Fiehn and Poul Sørensen. Denmark had wanted to take part in the first Eurovision Song Contest
in 1956 but was disqualified because no entry was submitted right in time.
The first Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 1957, was held in Copenhagen
on February 17, 1957. The show was hosted by Volmer Sørensen. 117 songs had been submitted to the broadcaster and six of them were chosen for the national final. Two singers were competing in the selection - Birthe Wilke
and Gustav Winckler
. Both performed two songs as soloists and they also performed two songs as a duo. A jury of ten people selected the winner and only the top two were announced, which turned out to be the two duets. "Skibet skal sejle i nat" was the overall winner and would become Denmark's first entry in the Eurovision Song Contest.
, the Danish entry was visually one of the most impressive ones that year: to illustrate the content of the song, which is about a sailor who has to say goodbye to a woman he met and fell in love with during a shore leave, Winkler was dressed up as a sailor and Wilke as a woman standing at the harbour wearing a coat with a purse in her hand. Furthermore, a tar vat was brought on stage to create a harbour atmosphere. The Danish entry was performed ninth (2nd last) on the night following France
and preceding Switzerland
. At the close of voting, Denmark had received ten points in total placing the country third among the ten participants. Denmark would remain the most successful debuting country in the Eurovision Song Contest until Poland finished second on its debut in 1994
. However, Denmark has only received points from three of the other nine countries, most notably five points from the Netherlands.
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
for the first time at the Eurovision Song Contest 1957, held in Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The Danish entry was chosen during a national final called Dansk Melodi Grand Prix.
Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 1957 was held on February 17, 1957 at the Radiohouse in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. The host was Volmer Sørensen
The country was represented by Birthe Wilke
Birthe Wilke
Birthe Wilke is a popular Danish singer. She grew up in a musical family in Copenhagen's Vesterbro area.When she was in her teens, she won a talent competition at the National Scala Theatre in Copenhagen, sang as soloist with Bruno Henriksen's Orchestra at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, made her...
and Gustav Winckler
Gustav Winckler
Gustav Frands Wilzeck Winckler was a popular Danish singer, composer and music publisher. He grew up in the Nørrebro district of Copenhagen and started his career as a decorator....
with the song "Skibet skal sejle i nat
Skibet Skal Sejle I Nat
"Skibet skal sejle i nat" was the Danish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1957, performed in Danish by Birthe Wilke and Gustav Winckler and consequently the first time Danish was heard in the Eurovision....
", written by Erik Fiehn and Poul Sørensen. Denmark had wanted to take part in the first Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1956
The Eurovision Song Contest 1956 was the first edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, held at the Teatro Kursaal in Lugano, Switzerland on 24 May 1956...
in 1956 but was disqualified because no entry was submitted right in time.
Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 1957
| Date: | 17 February 1957 |
|---|---|
| Presenter: | Volmer Sørensen |
| Venue: | Radiohouse, Copenhagen Copenhagen Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region... |
| Voting: | 10-person jury |
| Winner: | Skibet skal sejle i nat performed by Birthe Wilke Birthe Wilke Birthe Wilke is a popular Danish singer. She grew up in a musical family in Copenhagen's Vesterbro area.When she was in her teens, she won a talent competition at the National Scala Theatre in Copenhagen, sang as soloist with Bruno Henriksen's Orchestra at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, made her... and Gustav Winckler Gustav Winckler Gustav Frands Wilzeck Winckler was a popular Danish singer, composer and music publisher. He grew up in the Nørrebro district of Copenhagen and started his career as a decorator.... |
The first Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 1957, was held in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
on February 17, 1957. The show was hosted by Volmer Sørensen. 117 songs had been submitted to the broadcaster and six of them were chosen for the national final. Two singers were competing in the selection - Birthe Wilke
Birthe Wilke
Birthe Wilke is a popular Danish singer. She grew up in a musical family in Copenhagen's Vesterbro area.When she was in her teens, she won a talent competition at the National Scala Theatre in Copenhagen, sang as soloist with Bruno Henriksen's Orchestra at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, made her...
and Gustav Winckler
Gustav Winckler
Gustav Frands Wilzeck Winckler was a popular Danish singer, composer and music publisher. He grew up in the Nørrebro district of Copenhagen and started his career as a decorator....
. Both performed two songs as soloists and they also performed two songs as a duo. A jury of ten people selected the winner and only the top two were announced, which turned out to be the two duets. "Skibet skal sejle i nat" was the overall winner and would become Denmark's first entry in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Participants
| # | Artist | Song | Translation | Songwriters | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birthe Wilke Birthe Wilke Birthe Wilke is a popular Danish singer. She grew up in a musical family in Copenhagen's Vesterbro area.When she was in her teens, she won a talent competition at the National Scala Theatre in Copenhagen, sang as soloist with Bruno Henriksen's Orchestra at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, made her... |
Chanson Ordinaire | Ordinary Song | Otto Francker | - |
| 2 | Gustav Winckler Gustav Winckler Gustav Frands Wilzeck Winckler was a popular Danish singer, composer and music publisher. He grew up in the Nørrebro district of Copenhagen and started his career as a decorator.... |
Fata Morgana | Mirage | Sophus Brandeholt, Poul Christoffersen | - |
| 3 | Birthe Wilke Birthe Wilke Birthe Wilke is a popular Danish singer. She grew up in a musical family in Copenhagen's Vesterbro area.When she was in her teens, she won a talent competition at the National Scala Theatre in Copenhagen, sang as soloist with Bruno Henriksen's Orchestra at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, made her... |
Hele Verden Venter På Vår | The Whole World Is Waiting For Spring | Eric Christiansen, Anni Weimar | - |
| 4 | Birthe Wilke Birthe Wilke Birthe Wilke is a popular Danish singer. She grew up in a musical family in Copenhagen's Vesterbro area.When she was in her teens, she won a talent competition at the National Scala Theatre in Copenhagen, sang as soloist with Bruno Henriksen's Orchestra at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, made her... and Gustav Winckler Gustav Winckler Gustav Frands Wilzeck Winckler was a popular Danish singer, composer and music publisher. He grew up in the Nørrebro district of Copenhagen and started his career as a decorator.... |
Kærlighedens Cocktail | The Cocktail of Love | Otto Ligton, Carl Andersen | 2nd |
| 5 | Gustav Winckler Gustav Winckler Gustav Frands Wilzeck Winckler was a popular Danish singer, composer and music publisher. He grew up in the Nørrebro district of Copenhagen and started his career as a decorator.... |
Længslernes Veje | The Roads of Longing | Eric Christiansen, Carl Andersen | - |
| 6 | Birthe Wilke Birthe Wilke Birthe Wilke is a popular Danish singer. She grew up in a musical family in Copenhagen's Vesterbro area.When she was in her teens, she won a talent competition at the National Scala Theatre in Copenhagen, sang as soloist with Bruno Henriksen's Orchestra at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, made her... and Gustav Winckler Gustav Winckler Gustav Frands Wilzeck Winckler was a popular Danish singer, composer and music publisher. He grew up in the Nørrebro district of Copenhagen and started his career as a decorator.... |
Skibet skal sejle i nat Skibet Skal Sejle I Nat "Skibet skal sejle i nat" was the Danish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1957, performed in Danish by Birthe Wilke and Gustav Winckler and consequently the first time Danish was heard in the Eurovision.... |
The Ship Leaves Tonight | Erik Fiehn, Poul Sørensen | 1st |
Releases
"Skibet skal sejle i nat" was recorded and released on a EP of the same title. The runner-up entry "Kærlighedens Cocktail" was included on this record too. After the contest, Gustav Winkler has recorded a German version of the song ("Das Schiff Geht in See Heute Nacht") with Bibi Johns. Winkler himself appeared as Gunnar Winkler on this record, the name under which he was popular in Germany in these days.At Eurovision
Denmark was the first Scandinavian country in the competition. At the Eurovision Song Contest in FrankfurtFrankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, the Danish entry was visually one of the most impressive ones that year: to illustrate the content of the song, which is about a sailor who has to say goodbye to a woman he met and fell in love with during a shore leave, Winkler was dressed up as a sailor and Wilke as a woman standing at the harbour wearing a coat with a purse in her hand. Furthermore, a tar vat was brought on stage to create a harbour atmosphere. The Danish entry was performed ninth (2nd last) on the night following France
France in the Eurovision Song Contest 1957
France took part in the Eurovision Song Contest for the second time in 1957. The country was represented by Paul Desjardins with the song “La belle amour”. Paule Desjardins was a rather unknown singer at the time of the contest...
and preceding Switzerland
Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1957
After their win in 1956, Switzerland continued with their format of a national final to select their entry for the 1957 contest.Three artists competed to represent Switzerland: last year's winner Lys Assia; Jo Roland, who participated at the national final of 1956; and Gianni Ferraresi.-National...
. At the close of voting, Denmark had received ten points in total placing the country third among the ten participants. Denmark would remain the most successful debuting country in the Eurovision Song Contest until Poland finished second on its debut in 1994
Eurovision Song Contest 1994
The Eurovision Song Contest 1994 was the 39th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 30 April 1994 in the Point Theatre in Dublin, Ireland. The presenters were Cynthia Ní Mhurchú and Gerry Ryan. The pair hosted the evening in French, English and Irish...
. However, Denmark has only received points from three of the other nine countries, most notably five points from the Netherlands.
Voting
Every country had a jury of ten people. Every jury member could give one point to his or her favourite song.Points given
- 3 points to the Netherlands
- 2 points to BelgiumBelgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 1957Belgium was represented in the Eurovision Song Contest 1957 by Bobbejaan Schoepen with the song "Straatdeuntje", written by Harry Frekin and Eric Franssen and performed in Dutch. The song was chosen during a national final with Schoepen performing all entries.- The national final :In the national...
- 2 points to FranceFrance in the Eurovision Song Contest 1957France took part in the Eurovision Song Contest for the second time in 1957. The country was represented by Paul Desjardins with the song “La belle amour”. Paule Desjardins was a rather unknown singer at the time of the contest...
- 2 points to SwitzerlandSwitzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1957After their win in 1956, Switzerland continued with their format of a national final to select their entry for the 1957 contest.Three artists competed to represent Switzerland: last year's winner Lys Assia; Jo Roland, who participated at the national final of 1956; and Gianni Ferraresi.-National...
- 1 point to ItalyItaly in the Eurovision Song Contest 1957Italy used the Sanremo Music Festival to their entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 1957, held in Frankfurt, Germany.Their entry was Corde della mia chitarra, sung by Nunzio Gallo. At the contest, the song performed 4th on the night, and at the close of the voting had received 7 points, placing 6th...
Points received
- 5 points from the Netherlands
- 3 points from ItalyItaly in the Eurovision Song Contest 1957Italy used the Sanremo Music Festival to their entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 1957, held in Frankfurt, Germany.Their entry was Corde della mia chitarra, sung by Nunzio Gallo. At the contest, the song performed 4th on the night, and at the close of the voting had received 7 points, placing 6th...
- 2 points from the United KingdomUnited Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1957The United Kingdom took part in the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in 1957. The country was represented by Patricia Bredin with the song “All” written by Reynell Wreford and Alan Stranks. The entry was chosen during a national final called A song for Europe...