🇩🇰 DR comment on not selecting Ben & Tan for DMGP 2021

With DMGP taking place this weekend, DR have commented on their decision to reject Ben & Tan for this year’s selection.

Hoped to return

Ben & Tan won last year’s Dansk Melodi Grand Prix with the song “Yes”. However, shortly after, it was announced that Eurovision 2020 was cancelled.

“It must be said that this year has been a bit uphill. We were really sad that we did not go to Eurovision and get the chance to meet all the international fans who have backed us. We had been insanely looking forward to experiencing that.”

Benjamin Rosenbohm of Ben & Tan

Refusing to give up on their dream, the duo submitted another entry to DR titled “Iron Heart”. Much to the disappointment of fans, it was rejected by the Danish broadcaster. Commenting on the song, Tan explained the meaning behind it:

“We could have written a lot of sad songs about our strange year with Corona. But instead, we have made a song that is about every time we are beaten down, we get up again. We fight for our dream, so we keep going, no matter what life has to offer.

Everyone knows what happened to us, and we are even super annoyed that the Grand Prix adventure almost ended before it had started. But this song is also a way for us to say: “It’s okay, it has happened and we get up again””

Tanne Balcells of Ben & Tan

“Iron Heart” will be available to listen to this Friday.

Responding to criticism

Gustav Lützhøft, the spokesperson for DR, answered people’s complaints about not selecting Ben & Tan for DMGP:

“Our basic position is that the Danish Melody Grand Prix must be a fair competition on equal terms between all participants. Where the Danes are presented with new Danish music. Based on that logic, we have chosen not to give an automatic participation to Ben & Tan. But that they, like everyone else, have been able to submit their song and be judged on an equal footing with the other songs in terms of musical qualities. 

We understand very well that it is a pity for them that they did not go to the Eurovision Song Contest last year. Many of us are really annoyed about this, but it was now once again due to circumstances that no one could control or predict.”

Gustav Lützhøft on not selecting Ben & Tan for DMGP 2021

This year’s DMGP will take place on 6 March. The line-up (and running order) is as follows:

1. Chief 1 & Thomas Buttenschøn – Højt Over Skyerne
2. Nanna Olivia – Hvileløse Hjerter
3. Cosmic Twins – Silver Bullet
4. Claudia Campagnol – Abracadabra
5. Mike Tramp – Everything Is Alright
6. Fyr & Flamme – Øve Os På Hinanden
7. Emma Nicoline – Står Lige Her
8. Jean Michel – Beautiful

You can listen to the competing entries here.

Denmark in Eurovision 2020

Ben & Tan were set to represent Denmark after winning DMGP with the song “Yes”. They won with 61% of the televote and the song became one of the biggest Danish-produced hits in Sweden in recent years. Unfortunately, the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The duo intended to return to the selection with their entry “Iron Heart” but it was rejected by DR. Nonetheless, it will be released this Friday.

What are your thoughts on DR’s decision to reject Ben & Tan? Let us know in the comments!

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