TWIST OF LOVE

Artist: Sidsel Ben Semmane

Music and lyrics: Niels Drevsholt

17-year-old Sidsel Ben Semmane is the youngest participant 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. Besides the regular school attendance she attends classes at the MGK – a preparation for the Danish Music Academy. In her spare time she sings with several bands at a lot of different events.

As fate would have it, Niels Drevsholt, the composer of "Twist of Love", was in the audience one night when Sidsel was performing with her band. Immediately, he was captured 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 did not have much time to decide whether to participate or not.

"For me, the Eurovision Song Contest has always been a fun event. 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", Sidsel Ben Semmane says.

However, all the fuss about her winning the Danish National Contest has left her unperturbed and Sidsel has met the challenge with both calm and professionalism.

Composer and 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 5th entry to the Danish National Song Contest, but "Twist of Love" is his first victory. Although typical Eurovision Song Contest songs are not necessarily what you'll find on the stereo of the Drevsholt family, these types of pop songs are extremely close to Niels' heart.

"I am absolutely crazy about the Eurovision Song Contest. To write a smooth, harmonious pop song which, in only three minutes, tells a story –  that’s just me", Niels Drevsholt says. When not writing songs in his spare time, he is creative manager in an advertising agency.

On stage in Athens, Sidsel Ben Semmane is accompanied by dancers Nini Bagger, Mynte Lagoni and Daniel "Sonic" Rojas as well as back-up singers Christina Boelskifte and Susanne Palsbøll.