| Sidsel Ben Semmane
The youngest participant that Denmark has ever sent
Artist: Sidsel Ben Semmane
Music and lyrics: Niels Drevsholt
17-year-old Sidsel Ben Semmane is the youngest participant that Denmark has ever sent to the Eurovision Song Contest. Despite her age, she gained a convincing victory in the Danish National Song Contest performing the song ‘Twist of Love’ - scoring maximum points in all regions at the voting.
Sidsel is currently taking her A-levels at Aarhus Cathedral School. As well as going to school, she attends classes at the MGK – to prepare for the Danish Music Academy. In her spare time, she sings with several bands at a lot of different events.
As luck would have it, Niels Drevsholt, the composer of ‘Twist of Love’, was in the audience one night when Sidsel was performing with her band. He was immediately taken by the fantastic voice of the young singer. And when, shortly afterwards, he was looking for someone to perform his song ‘Twist of Love’, he contacted Sidsel who didn’t take long to decide whether or not to participate.
“For me, the Eurovision Song Contest has always been a fun event,” she says. “It’s the perfect occasion to spend an evening in front of the television with family and friends. But I never dreamt that I would be one of the artists performing on stage.”
She’s unperturbed by all the fuss that has come her way since her winning the Danish National Contest. Sidsel has met the challenge with both calmness and professionalism.
Songwriter Niels Drevsholt has always had a special gift when it comes to finding new, talented singers and introducing them at the Danish National Song Contest. This song is his fifth entry to the Danish National Song Contest, but ‘Twist of Love’ is his first victory.
Although you won’t necessarily find typical Eurovision Song Contest songs on the stereo of the Drevsholt family, these pop songs are extremely close to Niels’ heart.
“I am absolutely crazy about the Eurovision Song Contest,” he says. “To write a smooth, harmonious pop song which, in only three minutes, tells a story – that’s just me.” When not writing songs, Niels is creative manager in an advertising agency.
On stage in Athens, Sidsel Ben Semmane will be accompanied by dancers Nini Bagger, Mynte Lagoni and Daniel ‘Sonic’ Rojas as well as backing singers Christina Boelskifte and Susanne Palsbøll. |
