Passion! Passion! Passion! More energy! Denmark at Eurovision 2026

This episode we look at Denmark’s pick, Soren Torpegaard Lund, and a Danish-language club track with a very specific plot: hooking up with your ex when you know you shouldn’t. We dig into his musical theatre polish, the “box” staging that can mean glory or failure, and the missing spark that might be holding the performance back. We also address the homophobic backlash and Eurovision’s queer history often turns hate into fuel for even louder support.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Um don't dash off just yet as we are dashing towards darling Denmark. As we lock in tight and ready yourselves to take a look at Denmark for 2027 on the Eurovision stage, we need to take a deep dive into Denmark. Ooh, has anything been happening in Denmark over the last 12 months? Ooh, I don't know. A little bit of this, a little bit of that. There was also that moment where we all thought it was about to become the starting point of World War II. That's right, we are talking about Greenland. Now, for some of our American listeners who don't quite understand Denmark, Greenland, look, yes, Greenland is an autonomous territory and it's self-governing territory, part of Denmark, and it oversees all of its domestic matters, including education, healthcare, and natural resources. Denmark retains control over foreign affairs, defense, and monetary policy. Greenlandic citizens are also Danish citizens. So I know some of, especially our American listeners, are not quite sure how that works. Look, it's Europe. Everything is complicated. Which bit is what and who is managed by who? The best way that I can explain it is like trying to explain a family relationship in days of our lives. Yes, she was married to the son, but she was cheating on the husband, the husband's father, and now she's married to the father, and the husband's wife had an affair with the son's son, and then their nephew married the cousin of the first wife, and Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. See, it's exactly the same thing. America and well, let's not say America, let's say Donald Trump, to be more specifically, suddenly for some reason decided that he had to have Greenland. I was gonna say for some unknown reason, but all of its natural oil resolves and natural resources could probably be that unknown reason why. Obviously, this came as shocking news to the people who actually live in Greenland because it is very much a habitat area and has been since before the United States was overrun by white people. Donald Trump even tried to buy Greenland because that's how he thinks, that's how he rolls, and the people of Greenland said, eh, you know what? Money, not our thing, not interested. The other reason that he could be after Greenland, there is a game, I believe it's called pandemic, where it's up to you. You have to create like a new virus plague, and then you have to develop the symptoms, and then you have to work in trying to effectively spread it around the world and slowly kill the world with your plague. FYI, it always comes down to Greenland. If you can't get into Greenland and get a strong hold, humanity kicks your ass every time. Damn you, Greenland, with your will to live. So, of course, it has created some security tension through Greenland and all of Denmark. Not that the people of Greenland seem very worried, they all seem pretty unanimous with their decision of but just in case Denmark has said military reinforcements to Greenland. No reason in particular, you know, just to hang out, chill, just in case. They also decided that they should have a snap election. Now I did a little bit of research on Greenland politics in the last 12 months, and I looked up the 2025 Greenlandic general election. And the title said that the center-right Democrats win a plurality. And then I had to go look up what a plurality in politics meant. Feeling like an idiot, I went and looked up plurality. P-L-U-R-A-L-I-T-Y. It means the factor state of being plural or a large number of people of things. Why couldn't you just say they won and they won a lot? The other big news in Denmark, of course, their queen, Queen Marguerite II abdicated her throne. What? Now this is a big deal, that this is the first time that somebody has abdicated in 900 years. Traditionally, it's always been a job that you have had right until the end. You clutched onto that crown. And they had to pry it from your cold, dead hands. She, of course, abdicated, which meant that her son, Frederick, became the new king of Denmark, along with his wife now Mary, of course, born and bred in Australia. She's no dummy, she used to be a lawyer, which means everybody has their flaws. Denmark has also been looking towards the future and creating a better energy and climate. They have so far converted 400,000 hectares of farmland into natural forests and wetlands. And we say change them into, but I think a more likely description is we're returning it back to its natural state, i.e. the forests and wetlands. The Denmark government also stepped forward and made a formal apology as well as a monetary payment of 300,000 krona, or about$46,000 Australian, as individual compensation to Greenlandic women who were given contraception against their knowledge or consent in a period from 1960 to 1991. Starting in the 1960s, an estimated 4,500 indigenous women, the Inuits of the area, many of them teenagers, were fitted with IUD internal contraceptives or coils, or they were given a hormonal birth control injection either without being provided the full details of what the injections or the IUDs were doing, or without giving their consent. The government described this as a very dark chapter of Denmark's history. Prime example of why a woman's reproductive health and all of the decisions related to should be made by no one but the woman herself. Of course, one of the biggest stories for Denmark in the last 12 months, I think this headline sums it up from the ABC. Quote, facing threats of war, Denmark turns to a new weapon. Now, Denmark has a military service requirement for men, but that has now been ex but that has now been expanded to also include females. So everyone, male or female, once they are 18, they must register for conscription. Now, men in Denmark have been doing this since 1849. Women have always been able to volunteer since 1998, so for the last 20 years. And in 2024, women actually made up 24% of conscripts. Now, not everyone is required to go to military service. What the armed services does is it actually takes volunteers first. So once you turn 18, you go on the list. Everyone who is willing to go for their 11-month service puts up their hand. Then if the armed services find that they still need the numbers to meet their quota, then they will go into a lottery draw system, much as much like Australia employed for combat in Vietnam. It's one of the many reasons Dad said that 17 is his lucky number because his month was up for men to be conscripted to Vietnam and the dates 16 and 18 came up. Every 18-year-old, once they register, will go undergo physical examinations for eyesight, hearing, as well as test, well, look to test their logic and problem-solving skills just to see if they're likely to blow themselves and everybody else up. Well, when these new recruits go off to training, they do have mixed dorm rooms. As we move closer and closer to that beautiful Starship Trooper's future. Men and women showering together without a care in the world. Now, if you're thinking, eh, you know what? Just don't show up, don't do the assessment. You can't be drafted. Well, haha. Think again, because the Danish authorities take conscription very seriously. If you don't show up for your assessments, not only can you be fined, but you can be arrested and then escorted to the recruitment centres by police. But Denmark now joins the ranks with Norway and Sweden as the only European countries with compulsory national service for both men and women. Equality! And to be honest, it is depressing as a lot of the European countries seem to be taking, well, I guess, preparation for war. I believe from the middle of this year, all 18-year-old German men have to start reporting for a medical examination to see if they're fit for military service. France has introduced 10 months of voluntary military training for 18 and 19-year-olds, and Italy is debating whether they should do something similar. Whether it's to keep Putin or Trump at bay. What we all know prevention is better than prevention is better than the cure, and let's hope this stays as nothing but preparation. So Denmark struggling with the threat of incursion, even by a member of its own NATO union. What the hell is this world we're living in? That aside, Denmark's economy is strong and it continues to grow. So that's Denmark. It's having a very interesting time. So it only makes sense that they would pick a very interesting artist. They are sending Soren Toppigard Lund, who is sending a song fully in Danish, Vovigarhim. Soren Toppigard Lund performing Vovigarhiem for Denmark. So what do we know about Soren? He was born on the 23rd of December 1998. My lord, he is 28. He doesn't look a day over 18. He's a Danish actor and singer. Now, apparently they say he found his calling at the age of 10 in the world of musical theatre. Oh my lord, we have another overachiever to make you feel like a lazy piece of shit. Everybody, just stop exceeding and finding yourself at a young age and leave some history making for the rest of us. By 17, he'd applied to the Danish National School of Performing Arts, making history as the youngest person ever to be accepted. Of course, overachiever, singer, dancer, actor. He went on to star in some of the biggest productions in Denmark. He has played the part of Tony in West Side Story, Angel in Kinky Boots, and Romeo in Romeo and Juliet. Has anyone done a production of Romeo and Romeo or Juliet and Juliet yet? Surely there has to be someone in the world who has done that. Tag me if you've been in or seen a production. If not, tag me if you wanna do a production. In 2019, Soren, of course, graduated. Oh, an exceeding glory and glitter. Bachelor's degree in musical theatre. Ah, try getting a job with that one. This isn't actually his first attempt to try to be on the Eurovision stage. He actually first attempted in 2023, where he entered Dansk Melody Grand Prix with his song Liege Air, but he did not even place in the top three. But nothing to be sad about. It was also the year that he released his first self-penned single Dor Kunst. And then in October 2024, he released his debut EP Ostischesh. Sorin went away and had a good hard look at himself and went, you know what I need? I need more jazz hands. And brought those jazz hands to Dance Melody Grand Prix 2026 with his song Orgiha Hiem, where he jazz handed his way to first place and Vrictory. Now everybody, don't fall too hard and in love with Soren. He's actually been in a relationship with his partner for nine years and they have been engaged for the last three. Although, dare I say it, three-year engagement? Is it actually gonna happen? Well, considering he's going to Eurovisional with a song that is all about having sex with your ex. Is there something you need to tell usin? And sorry if I just gave away a huge plot point. But yes, this song pretty much it's all about sex with the ex, hooking up with the ex. You know you shouldn't. You're in the club, you're a little bit tipsy. It's like whoop whoop whoop, they still turn your motorboat. You know they're bad for you. You have nothing in common, but ooh! No one takes you for a better boat ride than a bad boy, and that's exactly what Soren is getting up to. Now, looking at the national performance video of this song, you can certainly see his musical theatre history. He has everything down to a T. He knows every move, every twerky body thrust. And of course, everybody get excited. We are returning the big clear perspective box to Eurovision.

SPEAKER_00 15:33

Ah let's put a smile on that face.

unknown 15:58

Box.

SPEAKER_01 16:08

But this is the thing with the Purse box, it is guaranteed to either catapult you directly to that first place win, or you will be an unpopular, popular non-winner. It is either ultimate glory or ultimate failure. I have watched the film clip to this a few times and I'm not sure how I feel about the staging. Whilst everyone involved is a clear professional and it is flawless, it is faultless. I don't know. There's a part of me where I feel there is a bit of a disconnect from the audience. They are very clearly making it for the television and performance at home. And I don't know the irony of this statement. I feel the performance is somewhat trapped in a box. Literally, in a box. I'm not saying I don't like it. I also know that it's supposed to be it's a song about it's happening in the club, so everybody's wearing the club clothes, but I don't know, everybody just kinds of looks like they're just dressed for rehearsals. I like this song. I I can't say it absolutely blew me away the first time. I certainly like it more as it increases. Oh, that chorus in the second half of the song, I think it really kicks up a knot and betty y'all, betty y'all, betty y'all, dun dun dun dun dun. This is definitely a slow burn. I like this one. There's some chance for some big notes. We better hope that he seals them. Of course, he is a professional. I don't imagine he's not gonna hit them on the night. He is used to full two hour two, three hour stage productions. He's got the stamina, he's got the experience. But let's talk about. So the man has talent, the man has a great song, he has a great look. Where can there be problems? The problem came when he experienced, can you believe it? We're still having this same ridiculous bullshit in this day and age, homophobic backlash. Denmark, it's a progressive company, but they still managed to find the wormy little pieces of shit who somehow in this day and age, even though it has been happening longer than democracy, someone who is shocked that a gay man exists. And the irony is that Sorin actually points out one of his greatest memories growing up was Austrian drag artist Kinchita Wurst and the victory in 2014 when he was only 15 years old. Quote, it made a big impact on me just growing up as a queer kid, finding out about my identity and was just putting it out where that was a very cool moment. And I find it ironic because if we time travel back to 2014, Kinsheeta Worst, who of course went on to become one of the most iconic, one of the most perfect winners of Eurovision ever, with an absolutely faultless performance, received incredible backlash in her own country. Of course, there is a documentary, you know, old men coming up to in a cafe telling Kinsheeta that she is a disgrace, that she's disgusting. With some lonely people living in their mother's basement, sending messages on social media. Ugh. For a start, grow a backbone, and sending homophobing comments, including fag and fishnets and homo in a box and HIV spreader who Sorin and his media account. For a start, oh my lord, at least make it rhyme, at least make it witty, at least make it factual. Fag and fishnets. Well, aren't you an intellectual genius? Coming up with something that a fifth grader would be too embarrassed. Sorin says, quote, I hate to see it's still happening. We can be here, you can be here, everyone can be here at the same time. Seriously, if your biggest stress in life is that somebody out there is gay, please reach out to the podcast. And what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna send you some links, and what we are gonna do is we are gonna get you a life by getting you some hobbies. You know what? Have you ever tired crocheting, painting, dancing, anything other than sitting at home jerking off into a sock? Well, this fag in a fishnet does something more exciting and bigger than you will ever do in your life. Hiking, stamps, we'll explore some options. We'll find you something to do to help cultivate your personality and your view on the world. And of course, the irony whenever people start giving hate to performers, it usually ends up having the reverse effect as everyone at Eurovision rallies behind them. Look, I think so far with the songs that we've listened to, I think Sorin is definitely in there with a shot. Now, the other reason that I think he is definitely in there with a shot is because of this. Of course, the famous stage ready Eurovision song by you go back now and you listen to Soren's song, that is littered throughout the song. It's like that ding ding with dogs when they give them treats. It's just it's activating that serotonin part of our body where we're like woo! Well, we all Euro fans get that woo when we hear that. So this is appearing in semi final two. I say lock this one in. This one is. Is definitely going into the grand final. Although I'm gonna say it, I really do hope there is some work on the costume design. And I don't know, there is just a missing element that is missing from this performance. But all in all, this is an excellent song. And I think as the night goes on and the drinks flow, I am gonna like this one better and better. And I would like to end this episode, if I can, quoting European Parliament member Anders Vittenseo, as we address not just Donald Trump for trying to take Greenland, but also to anyone who has called Sorin a fag in a fishnet. Quote, let me get in my Member of Parliament voice. Let me put this in words you might understand, Mr. President. Fuck off.