Eurovision Song Contest 1957
Country Denmark
National selection
Selection processDansk Melodi Grand Prix 1957
Selection date(s)17 February 1957
Selected entrantBirthe Wilke and Gustav Winckler
Selected song"Skibet skal sejle i nat"
Selected songwriter(s)
  • Erik Fiehn
  • Poul Sørensen
Finals performance
Final result3rd, 10 points
Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest
1957 • 1958►

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.

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 withdrew because no entry was submitted before the deadline.

Before Eurovision

Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 1957

Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 1957
Dates
Final17 February 1957
Host
VenueRadiohouse, Copenhagen
Presenter(s)Volmer Sørensen
Vote
Voting system10-person jury
Winning song"Skibet skal sejle i nat"

Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 1957 was held in Copenhagen on 17 February 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.

Draw Artist Song Songwriter(s) Place
1Birthe Wilke"Chanson ordinaire"Otto FranckerUn­known
2Gustav Winckler"Fatamorgana"Sophus Brandeholt, Poul ChristoffersenUn­known
3Gustav Winckler"Hele verden venter på vår"Eric Christiansen, Anni WeimarUn­known
4Birthe Wilke and Gustav Winckler"Kærlighedens cocktail"Otto Ligton, Carl Andersen2nd
5Birthe Wilke"Længslernes veje"Eric Christiansen, Carl AndersenUn­known
6Birthe Wilke and Gustav Winckler"Skibet skal sejle i nat"Erik Fiehn, Poul Sørensen1st

Releases

"Skibet skal sejle i nat" was recorded and released on an EP of the same title. The runner-up entry "Kærlighedens cocktail" was included on this record too.[1] After the contest, Gustav Winkler has recorded a German version of the song ("Das Schiff Geht in See Heute Nacht") with Bibi Johns.[2] 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 Frankfurt, 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,[3] 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. Additionally, the song is famous for the kiss the duo exchanged at the end of the performance – the longest stage kiss in contest history, made so by a stagehand omitting to signal for it to end.

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.

Voting

Every country had a jury of ten people. Every jury member could give one point to his or her favourite song.

Sources

References

  1. ↑ Album covers of Eurovision 1957
  2. ↑ Diggiloo Thrush - Das Schiff Geht in See Heute Nacht
  3. ↑ Skibet skal sejle i nat - Lyrics from Diggiloo Thrush
  4. 1 2 "Results of the Final of Frankfurt 1957". Eurovision Song Contest. Archived from the original on 27 March 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
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