Emmelie de Forest

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Emmelie de Forest

| image = Portrait of Emmelie de Forest in 2013 (01).jpg

| caption = De Forest in 2013

| birth_name = Emmelie Charlotte-Victoria de Forest

| alias =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|2|28|df=y}}

| birth_place = Randers, Denmark

| origin = Mariager, Denmark

| genre = {{Hlist|Pop|folk}}

| label = {{Hlist|UMG|Cosmos Music}}

| occupation = {{Hlist|Singer|songwriter}}

| instruments = Vocals

| years_active = 2013–present

| associated_acts =

| website =

| current_members =

| past_members =

}}

Emmelie Charlotte-Victoria de Forest (born 28 February 1993) is a Danish-Swedish singer and songwriter. She represented Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 with the song "Only Teardrops" and went on to win the competition.

Personal life

De Forest was born in Randers, Denmark, to a Danish mother, Marianna Birgitte Gudnitz and a Swedish father, Ingvar de Forest (1938–2010). Following her parents' divorce when she was young, she grew up with her mother in Mariager, Denmark,{{cite news|url=http://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/artikel/510193:Bagsiden--Danske-Emmelie-kan-vinde-aftenens-Melodi-Grand-Prix|title=Danske Emmelie kan vinde aftenens Melodi Grand Prix|last=Washuus|first=Dorte|date=18 May 2013|work=Kristeligt Dagblad|language=da|access-date=20 May 2013}}{{cite news | url=http://www.b.dk/nationalt/saadan-haenger-emmelies-royale-aner-sammen | title=Sådan hænger Emmelies royale aner sammen | language=da | newspaper=Berlingske Tidende | first=Keenan | last=Seeberg | date=21 January 2013 | access-date=21 May 2013 }} and in Stockholm, Sweden.http://www.svt.se/melodifestivalen/danmark-i-eurovision-2013-emmelie-de-forest-only-teardrops read 2015-05-28 She had previously claimed that she was a great granddaughter of Edward VII of the United Kingdom (and thus a great-great-granddaughter of Victoria of the United Kingdom and Albert, Prince Consort). DR used the story of her claim to royal ancestry in its promotion of the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, although the claim has been discredited by researchers.{{cite web | first=Charlotte | last=Jensen | url=http://www.eurovisionary.com/eurovision-news/emmelie-de-forest-royal-or-not-researchers-disagree | title=Is Emmelie de Forest royal or not? Researchers disagree | work=Eurovisionary | publisher=eurovisionary.com | date=16 April 2013 | access-date=21 May 2013}}{{cite news |last=Blyberg |first=Søren |date=16 April 2013 |title=Blåt blod skal ikke markedsføre Emmelie |url=http://www.dr.dk/melodigrandprix/Artikler/2013/0415134407.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130419004809/https://www.dr.dk/melodigrandprix/Artikler/2013/0415134407.htm |archive-date=19 April 2013 |access-date=21 May 2013 |publisher=Danmarks Radio |language=da}}

Music career

=Early career=

De Forest began singing at the age of nine and sang with her mother in the Steve Cameron Gospel Choir for several years.{{cite web|url=http://www.dr.dk/P4/Ugens_album/2013/emmelie-de-forest-only-teardrops.htm |title=Emmelie De Forest: Only teardrops |work=Ugens album |publisher=DR |language=da |date=6 May 2013 |access-date=23 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508175620/http://www.dr.dk/P4/Ugens_album/2013/emmelie-de-forest-only-teardrops.htm |archive-date=8 May 2013 |df=dmy }} From the age of 14, she began performing at music festivals and small venues with Scottish folk musician Fraser Neill.{{cite news|url=http://www.b.dk/kultur/det-jeg-elsker-mest-er-at-synge-og-spille|title=Det, jeg elsker mest, er at synge og spille|last=Munk-Petersen|first=Trine|date=19 May 2013|work=Berlingske Tidende|language=da|access-date=20 May 2013}} According to Neill, they made an album together titled Emmelié de Forest and Fraser Neill that sold only 100 copies.{{cite news | url=http://www.spectator.co.uk/arts/arts-feature/8914181/the-man-behind-the-eurovision-winner/ | title=Meet Fraser Neill, the Scots folk musician behind Eurovision winner Emmelie de Forest | first=Emma | last=Hartley | newspaper=The Spectator | date=23 May 2013 | access-date=23 May 2013}} When de Forest was 18 years old, she ended her collaboration with Neill and moved to Copenhagen to study at the Complete Vocal Institute.

=2013: Eurovision Song Contest and ''Only Teardrops''=

File:ESC2013 winner's press conference 06 (crop).jpg

File:ESC2013 - Denmark 03.jpg

De Forest was one of ten acts that performed in the 2013 Dansk Melodi Grand Prix for a chance to represent Denmark at the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö, Sweden.{{cite web |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/multimedia/videos?id=78723 |title=Meet Emmelie de Forest from Denmark - Eurovision Song Contest – Malmö 2013 |publisher=Eurovision.tv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516061935/http://www.eurovision.tv/page/multimedia/videos?id=78723 |archive-date=16 May 2013 |df=dmy-all }} On 26 January 2013, she performed the song "Only Teardrops" (written by Lise Cabble, Julia Fabrin Jakobsen and Thomas Stengaard) and won the national selection.

Her debut album, Only Teardrops, was released on 6 May, a week before her performance in the Eurovision contest. The album has twelve tracks, including the original and symphonic versions of "Only Teardrops."{{cite web|author=Søren Bygbjerg |url=http://www.dr.dk/melodigrandprix/Artikler/2013/emmelie-udsender-album.htm |title=Emmelie udsender album: Min drøm går i opfyldelse - |language=da | date=14 April 2013 | work=DR1 |publisher=Dr.dk | access-date=23 May 2013 }}

On 14 May, de Forest reached the final of the Eurovision, being one of the ten finalists that qualified from the first semi-final.{{cite news | first=Carl | last=Cato | agency=TT Spektra | url=http://www.gp.se/kulturnoje/1.1670422-danska-favoriten-till-final-i-esc | title=Danska favoriten till final i ESC – Kultur & Nöje | language=sv | newspaper=Göteborgs-Posten | date=16 May 2013 | access-date=23 May 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619151319/http://www.gp.se/kulturnoje/1.1670422-danska-favoriten-till-final-i-esc | archive-date=19 June 2013 | url-status=dead }} According to British bookmakers, de Forest was the odds on favourite to win the contest.{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/eurovision-2013-denmarks-emmelie-de-forest-is-bookies-favourite-to-win-8621377.html | title=Eurovision 2013: Denmark's Emmelie de Forest is bookies' favourite to win | newspaper=The Independent | date=17 May 2013 | access-date=23 May 2013}} De Forest won the 2013 Eurovision final on 18 May with a total of 281 points, 47 points more than second-place finisher Farid Mammadov of Azerbaijan.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-22566260 | title=Eurovision Song Contest won by Denmark | work=BBC News | date=18 May 2013 | access-date=23 May 2013}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/eurovision-song-contest-sees-bizarre-opera-pop-flutes-drums-and-the-return-of-european-stars/2013/05/18/27bb801e-bf8f-11e2-b537-ab47f0325f7c_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130519110301/http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/eurovision-song-contest-sees-bizarre-opera-pop-flutes-drums-and-the-return-of-european-stars/2013/05/18/27bb801e-bf8f-11e2-b537-ab47f0325f7c_story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 May 2013|title=Denmark's Emmelie de Forest wins Eurovision song contest ahead of Azerbaijan, Ukraine|last=McDougall|first=David|author2=Jan Olsen|date=18 May 2013|newspaper=The Washington Post| agency=Associated Press|access-date=20 May 2013}}

She performed her Eurovision winning entry at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Kyiv, Ukraine on 30 November.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=emmelie_de_forest_to_perform_at_junior_2013 |title=Emmelie de Forest to perform at Junior 2013 - News - Eurovision Song Contest – Copenhagen 2014 |publisher=Eurovision.tv |date=15 November 2013 |access-date=2014-01-11}} In December it was revealed that de Forest had been awarded the European of the Year Award ({{langx|da|Årets Europæer Award}}) by the Danish European Movement.{{cite web|url=http://www.esctoday.com/72435/denmark-emmelie-de-forest-wins-european-year-award/ |title=Eurovision Denmark: Emmelie de Forest wins European of the Year award |date=17 December 2013 |access-date=2014-01-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220061920/http://www.esctoday.com/72435/denmark-emmelie-de-forest-wins-european-year-award/|archive-date=20 December 2013}}

=2014–present: Label change and ''History''=

File:Unser Song für Dänemark - Sendung - Emmelie de Forest-2792.jpg]]

On 7 February 2014, de Forest uploaded a video that spoke about her third single "Rainmaker", explained the meaning of the song, and previewed it. It was the official #JoinUs song for the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 and she performed the song live during the final at the B&W Hallerne, in Copenhagen. Talking about the song, de Forest said "It is about a tribe joining together to call upon the rainmaker to make their land blossom again. But on a more general level the rainmaker can be anything or anyone – it is about coming together and helping each other out". She also talked about enjoying success after winning Eurovision last year, "I've been performing my music around Europe, released my debut album and written a lot of new songs – to be honest, I'm living my dream!".[http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=official_joinus_song_launched_penned_by_emmelie Official #JoinUs song launched, penned by Emmelie | News | Eurovision Song Contest – Copenhagen 2014]

In a Wiwibloggs interview in September 2014, de Forest said she was recording her second studio album, which was originally due to be released in February 2015.{{cite web|last=Adams|first=William Lee|title=Exclusive: Emmelie de Forest tells Wiwibloggs about her "acoustic session" EP and second album|url=http://wiwibloggs.com/2014/09/01/emmelie-de-forest-acoustic-session-ep/59687/|publisher=wiwibloggs|date=1 September 2014}} On 14 July, de Forest announced that "Rainmaker" was certified Gold.{{Cite web|url=http://snapwidget.com/v/764640387320641036#.U894JPmSySo|title = A LITTLE BREAK IN MEXICO ????????⁣ ⁣ as you know, my normal trips usually involve me solo with a camera but this time I'm changing things up.⁣ ⁣ I'm in}} On 3 August 2014, de Forest announced via Facebook that she would perform the first single of her yet untitled album, "Drunk Tonight" at Amsterdam Pride 2014. Via Instagram, de Forest unveiled the cover and snippets of "Drunk Tonight", as well as its music video preview. The single was later released on 18 August, while the music video for the song was released on 25 August.[https://twitter.com/emmeliedeforest/status/501034972040687616 @emmeliedeforest, Twitter.com, 17 August 2014], accessed 23 August 2014 De Forest, who appears nude in the video, has said in interviews that she wanted it to be "elegant and sexy" at the same time.

In December 2015, she left her record label Universal Music Group, and later signed with Swedish record company Cosmos Music.{{cite web|url=http://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/cosmosmusic/pressreleases/esc-vinnaren-emmelie-de-forest-finner-fristad-paa-ny-singel-2280547|title=ESC-vinnaren Emmelie de Forest finner fristad på ny singel|date=17 November 2017|publisher=My News Desk|language=sv}} De Forest participated in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2016 as a songwriter of the song "Never Alone" performed by Anja Nissen. However, it risked disqualification as de Forest had performed the song several times prior to it competing in the competition. It was ultimately approved by the European Broadcasting Union, which organises the Eurovision Song Contest.{{Cite web|url=https://www.good-evening-europe.dk/2016/01/21/8269|title=Regelbrud? Emmelie de Forest har tidligere optrådt med Anja Nissen "Never Alone"|language=da|last=Christensen|first=Mette|date=21 January 2016|work=Good Evening Europe}}{{Cite web|url=https://eurovisionworld.com/esc/denmark-emmelie-song-for-mgp-2016-approved-by-ebu|title=Denmark: Emmelie-song for MGP 2016 approved by EBU|author=Rasmus|date=26 January 2016|work=Eurovision World}} The song competed in the final on 13 February 2016, where it advanced to the super final and ended in second place.{{Cite web|url=https://eurovoix.com/2016/02/13/denmark-lighthouse-x-wins-dansk-melodi-grand-prix-2016/|title=Denmark: Lighthouse X Wins Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2016|last=Granger|first=Anthony|date=13 February 2022|work=Eurovoix}}

De Forest later participated in the British national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 as a songwriter for the song "Never Give Up on You" performed by Lucie Jones. The song went on to win the competition, and later placed 15th at the Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv.{{cite web|title=2017 Grand Final Scoreboard|url=https://eurovision.tv/event/kyiv-2017/grand-final/scoreboard|website=Eurovision.tv|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=14 May 2016|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327152129/https://eurovision.tv/event/kyiv-2017/grand-final/scoreboard|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.eurovisionary.com/lucie-jones-will-represent-united-kingdom-eurovision-2017/|title=Lucie Jones will represent the United Kingdom at Eurovision 2017|publisher=EuroVisionary|date=27 January 2017|last=Robichaud|first=David}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/uk-world/358722/x-factor-finalist-lucie-jones-chosen-eurovision-2017/|title=X Factor finalist Lucie Jones chosen for Eurovision 2017|last=Peebles|first=Cheryl|date=27 January 2017|publisher=The Courier}} De Forest went on to release the single "Sanctuary" in November 2017, her first release since her split from Universal. Her second studio album History was released on 9 February 2018.{{cite web|url=http://esctoday.com/158884/denmark-emmelie-de-forest-returns-new-album-history/|title=Denmark: Emmelie de Forest returns with new album History|date=11 February 2018|publisher=ESCToday|last=Agadellis|first=Stratos}} Under the independent label Day In Day Out Records, a division of Cosmos Music, De Forest released the single "Typical Love Song" on 8 October 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.dayindayoutrecords.com/releases/emmelie-de-forest|title=Emmelie de Forest - Typical Love Song — Day in Day out - DIDO|date=8 October 2021}}