"To write a smooth, harmonious pop song which, in only three minutes, tells a story - that's just me."
17-year-old Sidsel Ben Semmane is the youngest participant that Denmark has ever sent to the Eurovision Song Contest. 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.
It is songwriter Niels Drevsholt 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."
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.
Sidsel
scares me. She's a popette with a maladjusted face, who shouts into a
mop. "Ben"'s smile reminds me of a corn on the cob too. This
is one of those "be happy or you'll be sorry" songs, where forced
gaiety is the order of the day, and retro-cool is absent. This reminds
me of "Happy Days" with a cast full of Potsey's, a type of manic,
bad trip into the mind of a 1950's high school conservative.
It's a peculiar world when a bizarre American dance last performed on
a mass scale during the Korean War becomes a song Danes believe can wow
audiences who currently don't hold too much affection for the American
ideal. It's up 9th in between some strong contenders which won't help
either. I don't feel the groove, and I'm quite sure that Europe won't
either. A spattering of dogs eggs.
"I would find a way on insisting she shut up"
Pob
"I was entranced from the start by the little creature's spitting, and not only that but spitting on glass" Sidsel explains..."Pob was a strange puppet creation from Anne Wood. Celebrity guests aplenty, including Roy Castle, and then Pob the little tyke spat again and wrote his name in it! What was that all about?" Sidsel exhorts, as she maybe would if she'd said anything of the sort in the first place. "And he looks like me" Sidsel didn't add.
Twist of Love
Once upon a time
There was this guy called Johnny.
He was kinda shy
And so in love with Connie.
But so was O-smarty
Who played it cool,
The king of the party,
But oh what a fool.
He didn’t know how to twist.
He didn’t know how to make a girl insist.
He didn’t know to move,
He didn’t feel the groove.
He didn’t know how to twist.
Twist
He didn’t know to move,
He didn’t feel the groove.
He didn’t know how to twist.
Once upon a night
There was a guy called Johnny.
He was kinda high
And dancing with his honey.
The Queen of the party
Proclaimed him king while poor ol´O Smarty.
Was left in the ring.
He didn’t know how to twist.
He didn’t know how to make a girl insist.
He didn’t know to move,
He didn’t feel the groove.
He didn’t know how to twist.
Twist
He didn’t know how to twist
He didn’t know how to move.
He didn’t feel the groove.
He didn’t know how to twist.
A twist of love.
A twist of pain.
A twist of me and you.
A twist of things
You can’t explain
Will make your
Dream come true.
Be sure you know
How to twist.
Be sure you know
How to make a girl insist.
Be sure you know how to move,
Be sure you feel the groove.
Be sure you know how to twist.
Twist
Be sure you know how to twist
Be sure you know how to move.
Be sure you feel the groove.
Be sure you know how to twist.
Be sure you know how to move.
Be sure you feel the groove.
Be sure you know how to twist.
