About
Biography
Formation and Early Success
Rollo & King were a Danish pop duo formed in 2000 by Søren Poppe and Stefan Nielsen. They named the act after two dog names, reflecting their playful approach. Both Poppe and Nielsen were former school teachers who turned to music. The duo experienced instant success. Their debut single, “Ved du hvad hun sagde?” (meaning “Do you know what she said?”), became the biggest hit of 2000 in Denmark, topping the singles chart for 10 weeks. In November 2000, they released their first album Midt i en løbetid, which shot to number one and stayed at the top for 13 consecutive weeks. This upbeat pop/rock style and relatable lyrics quickly made Rollo & King household names in Denmark.
Dansk Melodi Grand Prix and Eurovision 2001
By 2001, Rollo & King set their sights on a bigger stage. They entered Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2001, Denmark’s national song contest, with the song “Der står et billede af dig på mit bord”. That literally means “There’s a picture of you on my table”. The track featured additional vocals by singer Signe Svendsen, who joined them for the contest performance. Rollo & King won DMGP 2001 decisively with 58 out of 60 possible points, thanks largely to overwhelming public votes. This victory earned them the ticket to represent Denmark at the Eurovision Song Contest 2001.
In the Eurovision final held in Copenhagen, the duo performed an English version of their song, retitled “Never Ever Let You Go”. Signe Svendsen accompanied them on stage to provide the female vocals. Their catchy performance as the closing act of the night charmed the audience across Europe. Denmark finished as the runner-up out of 23 countries, scoring 177 points. This strong second-place finish made Rollo & King internationally known, if briefly. “Never Ever Let You Go” also became a hit single, reaching number 3 on the Danish charts. The Danish original, “Der står et billede af dig på mit bord,” remained hugely popular at home, remembered as a classic pop song that is still loved in Denmark.
Second Album and Break-Up
Following their Eurovision success, Rollo & King capitalized on the momentum with a second album. In late 2001 they released Det nye kuld (“The new brood”). However, this sophomore album achieved only a fraction of the success of their debut. Its singles did not make the same impact, indicating that the duo’s peak had passed. After two whirlwind years at the top of the Danish pop scene, the duo decided to call it quits. Rollo & King disbanded in 2002. In their short career, they had sold roughly 200,000 albums and 60,000 singles in Denmark, an impressive feat for a local act.
Although the group split up, they did reunite occasionally for nostalgia. Rollo & King have given a few one-off reunion performances over the years. Notably, they came together in 2014 as part of the interval act during the Danish National Song Contest (DMGP) that year.
After the Duo: Solo Careers
After Rollo & King ended, the members and their collaborator each went on to new paths. Søren Poppe continued in music as a solo artist. He released his first solo album Hvert minut in 2002, and followed up with more albums mid-decade. Poppe even returned to the Danish Eurovision scene in 2006, competing in DMGP with a new song. He remained active in music for several years before later stepping back to focus on personal life and other pursuits.
Stefan Nielsen, in contrast, stepped out of the spotlight after the duo’s break-up. Nielsen did not pursue a public music career following Rollo & King’s dissolution. Given his background as a teacher, he largely returned to a quieter life outside the pop industry.
Meanwhile, Signe Svendsen, the female vocalist who had accompanied Rollo & King, blossomed as a solo singer-songwriter. She built a successful solo career in the ensuing years. Svendsen toured with comedian Niels Hausgaard and honed her songwriting. She released her debut solo album Ny passager in 2010, writing many of its songs herself. The album and its follow-ups, such as Kun de faldne rejser sig igen in 2013, earned critical praise and solid chart positions in Denmark. Svendsen continues to record music and perform, establishing herself as a respected artist in the Danish music scene.
