Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008

{{main|Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

Prior to the 2008 contest, {{lang|da|Danmarks Radio|i=no}} (DR) had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest representing Denmark thirty-six times since its first entry in 1957.{{cite web |title=Denmark Country Profile |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-country/country?country=8 |access-date=17 August 2014 |publisher=EBU}} It had won the contest, to this point, on two occasions: in {{Esccnty|Denmark|y=1963|t=1963}} with the song "{{lang|da|Dansevise|i=no}}" performed by Grethe and Jørgen Ingmann, and in {{Esccnty|Denmark|y=2000|t=2000}} with the song "Fly on the Wings of Love" performed by Olsen Brothers. In {{Esccnty|Denmark|y=2007|t=2007}}, "Drama Queen" performed by DQ failed to qualify to the final.

As part of its duties as participating broadcaster, DR organises the selection of its entry in the Eurovision Song Contest and broadcasts the event in the country. The broadcaster confirmed its intentions to participate at the 2008 contest on 4 February 2007.{{Cite web |last=Jensen |first=Charlotte |date=4 February 2007 |title=Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2008 |url=https://esctoday.com/7537/dansk_melodi_grand_prix_2008/ |access-date=15 November 2022 |website=Esctoday}} DR has selected all of its Eurovision entries through the national final {{lang|da|Dansk Melodi Grand Prix|i=no}}. Along with its participation confirmation, the broadcaster announced that {{lang|da|Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2008|i=no}} would be organised in order to select its entry for the 2008 contest.

{{lang|da|Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2008|i=no}} was the 38th edition of {{lang|da|Dansk Melodi Grand Prix|i=no}}, the music competition organised by DR to select its entries for the Eurovision Song Contest. The event included two semi-finals held on 12 and 19 January 2008, a radio wildcard selection between 21 and 25 February 2008 followed by a final held on 2 February 2008. All shows in the competition were hosted by Camilla Ottesen and Adam Duvå Hall and televised on DR1 as well as streamed online at the official DR website.{{Cite web |last=Klier |first=Marcus |date=2 February 2008 |title=Tonight: Denmark decides for Belgrade |url=https://esctoday.com/10361/tonight_denmark_decides_for_belgrade/ |access-date=15 November 2022 |website=Esctoday}}

Sixteen songs competed in the competition which consisted of two semi-finals and a final. Eight songs competed in each semi-final and the top four as determined exclusively by a public televote qualified to the final. The remaining non-qualifying songs proceeded to a wildcard selection where they were split into two groups. A public vote by listeners of DR P3 and DR P4 each selected two wildcards for the final from four songs competing in their groups.{{Cite web |last=Royston |first=Benny |date=20 January 2008 |title=Denmark: The wildcard selection process |url=https://esctoday.com/10195/denmark_the_wildcard_selection_process/ |access-date=15 November 2022 |website=Esctoday}} The winner in the final was determined again exclusively by a public vote. Viewers were able to vote via SMS during all shows.{{Cite web |date=4 December 2007 |title=Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2008 |url=https://www.dr.dk/presse/dansk-melodi-grand-prix-2008 |access-date=15 November 2022 |website=dr.dk |language=da}}

DR opened a submission period between 24 August 2007 and 10 October 2007 for composers to submit their entries. All composers and lyricists were required to be Danish citizens or have a strong connection to Denmark.{{Cite web |date=24 August 2007 |title=Regler for Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2008 |url=https://www.dr.dk/event/melodigrandprix/regler-dansk-melodi-grand-prix-2008 |access-date=15 November 2022 |website=dr.dk |language=da}} The broadcaster received 443 entries during the submission period.{{Cite web |date=10 October 2007 |title=443 bud på et Grand Prix-hit |url=https://www.dr.dk/event/melodigrandprix/443-bud-paa-et-grand-prix-hit |access-date=15 November 2022 |website=dr.dk |language=da}} A selection committee selected sixteen songs from the entries submitted to the broadcaster, while the artists of the selected entries were chosen by DR in consultation with their composers. DR held a press meet and greet at the DR Byen in Copenhagen on 7 December 2007 where the competing artists and songs were announced and officially presented.{{Cite web |last=Jensen |first=Karsten |date=7 December 2007 |title=Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2008 |url=https://danskradio.dk/tvnytarkiv/artikel/default9157.html?id=15774 |access-date=15 November 2022 |website=danskradio.dk |language=da}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=6 December 2007 |title=Grand Prix uden stjernedrys |url=https://www.bt.dk/underholdning/grand-prix-uden-stjernedrys |access-date=15 November 2022 |website=bt.dk |language=da}}

The two semi-finals took place on 12 and 19 January 2008 at the DR Studio 5 in Copenhagen. The top four of each semi-final advanced to the final based on a public televote. In addition to the performances of the competing entries, Aura and The Loft performed as the interval acts during the first semi-final, while Hej Matematik and Juanes performed as the interval acts during the second semi-final.{{Cite web |last=Dynesen |first=Astrid Kirstine |date=7 January 2008 |title=Gæstestjerner i semifinale 1: Aura og The Loft |url=https://www.dr.dk/event/melodigrandprix/gaestestjerner-i-semifinale-1-aura-og-loft |access-date=15 November 2022 |website=dr.dk |language=da}}{{Cite web |last=Klier |first=Marcus |date=19 January 2008 |title=Live: second semi final in Denmark |url=https://esctoday.com/10183/live_second_semi_final_in_denmark/ |access-date=15 November 2022 |website=Esctoday}}

Listeners of DR P3 and DR P4 were able to vote for the songs competing in their respective groups via televoting between 21 and 25 January 2008. The song with the most votes in each group that advanced to the final were announced on 25 January 2008.{{Cite web |last=Bygbjerg |first=Søren |date=25 January 2008 |title=Kendra Lou i finalen |url=https://www.dr.dk/event/melodigrandprix/kendra-lou-i-finalen |access-date=15 November 2022 |website=dr.dk |language=da}}{{Cite web |last=Bygbjerg |first=Søren |date=25 January 2008 |title=P4 sender Lasse Lindorff i finalen |url=https://www.dr.dk/event/melodigrandprix/p4-sender-lasse-lindorff-i-finalen |access-date=15 November 2022 |website=dr.dk |language=da}}

The final took place on 2 February 2008 at the Forum Horsens in Horsens. The running order was determined by DR and announced on 24 January 2008.{{Cite web |last=Floras |first=Stella |date=24 January 2008 |title=Denmark: Melodi Grand Prix final running order |url=https://esctoday.com/10241/denmark_melodi_grand_prix_final_running_order/ |access-date=15 November 2022 |website=Esctoday}} The winner, "All Night Long" performed by Simon Mathew, was selected solely by a public televote. The voting results of each of Denmark's five regions were converted to points which were distributed as follows: 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 points.{{cite web |title=Simon Mathew vinder Grand Prix'et! |url=http://www.dr.dk/melodigrandprix/Artikler/2008/vinder2008.htm |access-date=2008-03-02 |publisher=dr.dk |language=da}} In addition to the performances of the competing entries, Anna David as well as Jamie Scott and the Town performed as the interval acts.{{Cite web |last=Klier |first=Marcus |date=2 February 2008 |title=Live: Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2008 |url=https://esctoday.com/10367/live_dansk_melodi__grand_prix_2008/ |access-date=15 November 2022 |website=Esctoday}}

It was announced in September 2007 that the competition's format would be expanded to two semi-finals in 2008.{{cite web |last=Viniker |first=Barry |date=2007-09-28 |title=Eurovision: 2 semi finals confirmed! |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/9327 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070625184326/http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/9327 |archive-date=2007-06-25 |access-date=2008-08-13 |publisher=ESCToday}} According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big Four" (France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top nine songs from each semi-final as determined by televoting progress to the final, and a tenth was determined by back-up juries. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot. On 28 January 2008, a special allocation draw was held which placed each country into one of the two semi-finals.{{cite web |author=Bakker, Sietse |date=2008-01-24 |title=All you need to know for Monday's draw! |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news/belgrade-2008?id=416 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127142041/http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news/belgrade-2008?id=416 |archive-date=2008-01-27 |access-date=2008-01-28 |publisher=Eurovision.TV}} Denmark was placed into the second semi-final, to be held on 22 May 2008.{{cite web |last=Viniker |first=Barry |date=2008-01-28 |title=The Eurovision Song Contest semi final draw |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/10310 |access-date=2008-09-25 |publisher=ESCToday}} The running order for the semi-finals was decided through another draw on 17 March 2008 and as one of the six wildcard countries, Denmark chose to perform in position 13, following the entry from {{Esccnty|Bulgaria|y=2008}} and before the entry from {{Esccnty|Georgia|y=2008}}.{{cite web |last=Klier |first=Marcus |date=2008-03-17 |title=Eurovision 2008 — Draw of the running order |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/10890 |access-date=2008-11-08 |publisher=ESCToday}}

The two semi-finals and final were broadcast on DR1 with commentary by Nikolaj Molbech. DR appointed Lise Rønne as its spokesperson to announce the Danish votes during the final.

File:Simon Mathew, Denmark, Eurovision 2008, 2nd semifinal.jpg

Simon Mathew took part in technical rehearsals on 14 and 18 May, followed by dress rehearsals on 21 and 22 May.{{Cite web |last=Floras |first=Stella |date=3 May 2008 |title=Eurovision 2008: Rehearsal schedule |url=https://esctoday.com/11272/eurovision_2008_rehearsal_schedule/ |access-date=21 July 2022 |website=Esctoday}} The Danish performance featured Simon Mathew dressed in a white shirt, braces and a vintage hat and performing with two guitar players, a keyboard player, a drummer and a backing vocalist. The LED screens displayed fireworks in blue, white and purple colours.{{Cite web |date=14 May 2008 |title=Danish charmer sparkling in first rehearsal |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/danish-charmer-sparkling-in-first-rehearsal |access-date=15 November 2022 |website=eurovision.tv}}{{Cite web |date=17 May 2008 |title=From charming Croatians to relaxed Danes! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/from-charming-croatians-to-relaxed-danes |access-date=15 November 2022 |website=eurovision.tv}} The musicians that joined Simon Mathew were: Anders Øhrstrøm, Kim Nowak-Zorde, Morten Hellmann and Oliver McEwan, while the backing vocalist was Mette Dahl Trudslev.{{Cite web |title=Denmark |url=https://sixonstage.com/country/denmark |access-date=15 November 2022 |website=Six on Stage}}

At the end of the show, Denmark was announced as having finished in the top 10 and subsequently qualifying for the grand final. It was later revealed that Denmark placed third in the semi-final, receiving a total of 112 points.{{cite web |title=Second Semi-Final of Belgrade 2008 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/belgrade-2008/second-semi-final |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423172208/https://eurovision.tv/event/belgrade-2008/second-semi-final |archive-date=23 April 2021 |access-date=23 April 2021 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}

Shortly after the second semi-final, a winners' press conference was held for the ten qualifying countries. As part of this press conference, the qualifying artists took part in a draw to determine the running order of the final. This draw was done in the order the countries appeared in the semi-final running order. Denmark was drawn to perform in position 16, following the entry from {{Esccnty|Sweden|y=2008}} and before the entry from Georgia.{{Cite web |date=23 May 2008 |title=The winners speak! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/second-semi-final-the-winners-speak |access-date=5 September 2022 |website=eurovision.tv}}

Simon Mathew once again took part in dress rehearsals on 23 and 24 May before the final. Simon Mathew performed a repeat of his semi-final performance during the final on 24 May. At the conclusion of the voting, Denmark finished in fifteenth place with 60 points.{{cite web |title=Grand Final of Belgrade 2008 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/belgrade-2008/grand-final |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423172152/https://eurovision.tv/event/belgrade-2008/grand-final |archive-date=23 April 2021 |access-date=23 April 2021 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}} The final of the contest was watched by a total of 965 thousand viewers in Denmark.{{cite web | url=http://tvm.tns-gallup.dk/tvm/pm/2008/pm0821.htm | title=Ugens TV-tal|website=tvm.tns-gallup.dk }}

Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Denmark and awarded by Denmark in the second semi-final and grand final of the contest. The nation awarded its 12 points to Sweden in the semi-final and to {{Esccnty|Iceland|y=2008}} in the final of the contest.

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{{Reflist}}

{{Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest 2008}}

2008

Category:Countries in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008

Eurovision

Eurovision