We know a lot about Eurovision and we want to share this knowledge with you! Therefore we’d like to bring you a blast from the past. Today, we go back to 1980, when Bamses Venner represented Denmark with their song “Tænker altid på dig”.
Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest
Denmark debuted at Eurovision in 1957 and has won three times: in 1963 with Grethe and Jørgen Ingmann’s “Dansevise”, in 2000 with the Olsen Brothers’ “Fly on the Wings of Love”, and in 2013 with Emmelie de Forest’s “Only Teardrops”. After mixed fortunes in recent years, Reiley failed to qualify in 2023 with “Breaking My Heart”. In 2024, SABA’s “Sand” also missed the final. In 2025, DR sent Faroese singer Sissal with “Hallucination”, ending Denmark’s non-qualification streak by reaching the final and finishing 23rd. Denmark selects via Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, a cherished fixture of the country’s popular music calendar.
Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 1980
Melodi grand prix is the annual national final for the Eurovision Song Contest, already since the beginning. In those years, Jørgen de Mylius hosted the show. 1980 was no exception for that. On 29 March, the contest was held in the Falkonér Theatre in Copenhagen. 12 songs competed:
- Bamses Venner, “Tænker alltid på dig“, 39 pts
- Birthe Kjær & Hennig Villen, “Du og jeg“, 77 pts
- Grethe Ingmann, “Hej, hej, det swinger“, 69 pts
- Hans Mosters Vovse, “Swingtime igen“, 65 pts
- The Lollipops, “Nu er det morgen“, 61 pts
- The Olsen Brothers, “Laila“, 61 pts
- Lecia & Lucienne, Bye-bye“, 59 pts
- Tommy P., “Syng en sang om evig fred“, 57 pts
- The McKinleys, “Robin Hood“, 47 pts
- Daimi, “Fri mig“, 43 pts
- Susanne Breuning, “Mozart Jensen“, 39 pts
- Vivian Johansen, “Jeg er fængslet af dig“, 39 pts
Note that former winner Grethe Ingmann took part, but later winner The Olsen Brothers as well. Also Birthe Kjær, who represented Denmark in 1989, was among the participants. Vivian Johansen never reached the Eurovision stage, but her daughter Gry did, in 1983.
Bamses Venner
Bamses Venner formed in Aarhus in 1973, led by singer-bassist Flemming “Bamse” Jørgensen. The group built an audience with Danish-language pop-rock. Early favourites included “Vimmersvej” in 1975 and “I en lille båd der gynger” in 1978, songs heard on national radio and TV. By the late 1970s they were a fixture.
In 1980 the band won Dansk Melodi Grand Prix with “Tænker altid på dig.” At the Eurovision Song Contest in The Hague they finished 14th with 25 points. The 1980 lineup included Mogens Balle, Bjarne Green and Arne Østergaard in the band. The entry, music by Bjarne Gren‑Jensen and lyrics by Jørgensen, reflected their style.
Flemming “Bamse” Jørgensen
Born in Randers in 1947, Jørgensen fronted the band throughout its career while releasing solo albums alongside it. He also acted and received the Robert Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1986. His warm baritone made him a familiar figure. He released the album Tæt på in 2010. Jørgensen died of cardiac arrest on 1 January 2011 at his home in Egå, aged 63.
After his death, the band ended after memorial concerts. The songs remain part of Danish repertoire, and the 1980 Eurovision entry is still associated with the band’s story. Streets and events have commemorated Jørgensen; in 2018 a road in Thisted was renamed “Vimmersvej.”
Tænker Altid På Dig
“Tænker altid på dig” represented Denmark at Eurovision 1980 in The Hague, performed by Bamses Venner. The song placed 14th, earning 25 points. Musically it’s a mellow, guitar‑led pop song with soft‑rock colour, carried by Flemming “Bamse” Jørgensen’s warm baritone and an easy, singable chorus. Staging was understated: the four‑piece appeared as a live band on a clean stage with minimal movement, focusing on vocals and tight ensemble playing; camera work stayed close, and warm lighting reinforced the relaxed mood. Written by Jørgensen (lyrics) and Bjarne Gren‑Jensen (music), it remains a distinctive snapshot of Denmark’s late‑1970s to early‑1980s national pop.
