Olsen Brothers
Brødrene Olsen as they are called in Denmark is a household name in their native country – also well before they won the Eurovision Song Contest. As a matter of fact, that victory, sort of gave new life to a long career that had been slightly falling in the years before.
The two brothers with the last name Olsen are born in 1950 and 1954 with Jørgen being the oldest of the two. Though they have been a duo for many years, Jørgen has always been a kind of front man. Niels, often just called by the nickname Noller, has as it appears been quite happy to stand a bit in the shadow of his older brother. Together they have however achieved a career many musicians in Denmark envy them.
In 1965, the two brothers aged 11 and 15 years old formed their first band The Kids. They became an instant succes and already in the first year, the two young boys played as warm-up band for British rockband The Kinks at a concert in the Danish capital, Copenhagen. Through the years, the brothers have almost always sticked together. In 1971, they both starred in the musical Hair, and in 1972, the Olsen Brothers were formed. The first album just titled Olsen became the best selling album in Denmark of that time. Since that album, the duo has been a household name in Denmark.
Over the years, the duo has participated six times in the Danish national final, Dansk Melodi Grand Prix – and aside from that, Jørgen has solo taken part three times.
In December 2019, it was announced that the younger brother Niels ‘Noller’ Olsen sadly was diagnosed with cancer in the brain. In order to spend his time with family and friends, the two brothers will no longer perform together. Jørgen will continue solo.
9 national final appearances by Olsen Brothers or Jørgen Olsen solo:
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- 1978: San Francisco finished second in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix
- 1979: Dans Dans Dans finished 8th in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix
- 1980: Laila finished 5th in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix
- 1986: Fællessang I Parken finished outside top 5 in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix. 6-10th places not announced
- 1989: Fugle (Jørgen solo) finished 3rd in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix
- 1990: Berlin (Jørgen solo) finished 3rd in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix
- 2000: Smuk Som Et Stjerneskud won Dansk Melodi Grand Prix and few months later also Eurovision Song Contest under the English title Fly On The Wings Of Love
- 2005: Little Yellow Radio finished 2nd in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix
- 2007: Vi Elsker Bare Danske Piger (Jørgen solo) finished 7th in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix