Bookmakers’ favourite Emmelie de Forest thinks her song Only Teardrops can unite the continent when she represents Denmark at the Eurovision Song Contest later this month.
Since winning the national selection back in January, a host of gambling sites in various countries have installed her as the hot favourite to win.
Despite the good reception the song has received and the tag of favourite, Emmelie insists her only focus for now is qualifying from the first semi final on May 14.
She said: “It’s great that the fans and bookmakers have appreciated the song and received it well. My goal is to get to the final and I believe my song can do that.
The winner of the contest needs to be a song that can unite all of Europe. I believe Only Teardrops can do that, and I think Europe needs this song.
In my opinion it’s a song with a great message and melody.”
Denmark have won the contest twice before, most recently in 2000 when the Olsen Brothers picked up the win with Fly on the Wings of Love. The track will be more familiar to UK listeners as a dance hit, thanks to a cover by XTM which stayed in the top ten for two months in 2003.
Emmelie, 20, has been in the studio recording her debut album since winning the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix at the turn of the year, a world away from her job just months ago.
She said: “My life has totally changed. I used to work in a bakery, with the cakes and confectionery. I’ve quit my job since then and I am now doing music full time.
We’ve just gone over the choreography and performance for Malmo. There’s a lot to organise but I am ready.”
Only Teardrops, a track with a strong chorus, distinctive use of flute and dramatic drum beats, has already been a hit in Denmark and has recently charted in Romania.
“It’s a great honour to represent Denmark, but I never thought I would win. It was a great surprise to win the national selection; I thought we did well to get that far,” said the singer.
In recent years, the Scandinavian counties have done well – Finland won in 2006, Norway in 2009 and Loreen last year for Sweden.
“Scandinavia’s songs are really strong again this year, I like that! Norway, Finland and Sweden have all sent good artists.
There are also great singers like Anouk from the Netherlands and of course Bonnie Tyler from the UK. I never ever thought I would share a stage with her!” said Emmelie.
Despite her admiration for her fellow entrants, you will not find them among her most played songs.
She said: “I try not to listen to the other countries too much. If I do that I will get too nervous. I prefer to wait until we are in Malmo, and then I will listen to the soundchecks and rehearsals.”
Only Teardrops is available to download on iTunes here. You can watch the preview video at the bottom of this article.
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Photo courtesy of Michael Sondergaard and Eurovision, with thanks
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