While Denmark might not have quite as much internationally iconic music as its neighbor to the north, Sweden, it’s still got plenty of great songs from legendary artists. Danish pop music found its heyday in the 1970s with breakout acts such as Gasolin’, TV-2 and Anne Linnet, who remained popular largely only in Denmark.
In 2005, Music Export Denmark (MXD) launched. A non-profit aimed at promoting Danish music around the world, MXD has been successful in helping a long line of Danish acts reach international audiences.
Every country has their list of pop songs that are ubiquitous, playing in the background at family gatherings and being hummed gently in the shower. Knowing those songs brings you a bit closer to the culture and, hopefully, introduces you to a few artists you didn’t know before.
These are the Danish songs that (almost) everyone at the party will know:
Otto Brandenburg – To lys på et bord….
Gasolin’ – Kvinde Min
C.V. Jørgensen – Costa del Sol
Kim Larsen – Midt Om Natten
Lars Hug – Elsker Dig For Evigt
Anne Linnet – Tusind Stykker
Laid Back – Baker Man
Thomas Helmig – Stupid Man
Olsen Brothers – Fly On The Wings Of Love
Aqua – Barbie Girl
Whigfield – Sexy Eyes
Malk De Koijn – Vi Tager Fuglen På Dig
Tv-2 – De Første Kærester På Månen
Nik & Jay – Lækker
Alphabeat – Fascination
Rasmus Seebach – Engel
Medina – Velkommen Til Medina
Oh Land – White Nights
MØ – Don’t Wanna Dance
Fallulah – Perfect Tense