One of the first gifts I received in Denmark was a CD by a singer called Carsten Lykke. “I think you’ll like this,” said one of my first Danish friends.
And I did – even though I didn’t speak much Danish at the time, Carsten Lykke’s lyrics made me laugh. A small, awkward guy, who was at that time best known as the leader of a Blur or Pulp-style band called the Ibens, Carsten’s solo work mostly involves him making fun of himself and his treacherous relationship with his mother.
His big hit involved a fantasy of being married to then-Crown Prince Frederik (“If Frederik was into men, I’d be Queen right now”) He’s willing to laugh at the Danish Jante Law, the unwritten rule against celebrating status or success, with songs like “I burde gi’ mig bank“, the chorus of which is, “I’m so successful, you ought to punch me.”
At any rate, I learned a great deal of colloquial Danish from that CD, so much I didn’t realize it until Carsten Lykke, now in his mid-50s, put out a new single earlier this year. I cued up all his old stuff again.
I still remembered almost every line.
Find a Danish lyricist you enjoy
That’s why one of the tips I give to newcomers in Denmark is learning Danish through song lyrics. Find a Danish lyricist who writes songs you enjoy listening to, again and again.
The repetition will give you a sense of how the Danish language fits together and give you something to dance to during the long dark winter months.
It’s hard to compare musical artists, but I’m going to give it shot just to give you something to start with. (I’ve put them all together in a Spotify Playlist and a YouTube Playlist.)
🎵 Hans Philip, a former rapper who now sings and sings well, is a good guy to try out if you like younger singer-songwriters like Dominic Fike. Listen.
🎵 If you’re into female dance artists like Lady Gaga or Chappell Roan, you might like Medina. She has a long string of dance hits and some interesting collaborations. Listen. (Incidentally, Lady Gaga’s “Born this Way” was co-written by a Danish guy, percussionist Jeppe Laursen.)
🎵 Swiftie? You might enjoy Marie Key, a singer-songwriter with witty, introspective lyrics and an emphasis on personal relationships. Listen.
🎵 The Minds of 99 are a very popular group that regularly sell out stadiums in Denmark. They have a vibe that’s a bit like The Killers or Arcade Fire, maybe Coldplay. Listen.
🎵 Classic rock fans should get to know the songs of the late Kim Larsen, a Danish icon with a place in the national consciousness that Bruce Springsteen might hold in the USA, or Elton John in the UK. Listen. (Sanne Salomonsen Listen and Anne Linnet Listen are female music icons from the same era; they have a sort of Joni Mitchell or Carole King vibe.)
🎵 Thomas Helmig is another Danish icon, with a bit more of a Motown sound. Listen.
🎵 If you like 60s groups like the Animals or the Small Faces, try out Gasolin´ , who have been called the Danish equivalent to the early Rolling Stones. Listen.
🎵 Fan of Ed Sheeran or Shawn Mendes? You might like Rasmus Seebach, who is extremely popular in Denmark. Danes have watched him grow from a confused young man when he first emerged on the scene to the family man and father he is now. Listen.
Choose artists who sing in Danish
Here, I’m limiting myself to Danish artists who sing in Danish. Plenty sing in English, that’s the way to get more international exposure, in particular in Asia. (A blond, muscular Danish singer called Christopher has made a huge career for himself in China and Korea, and frequently does collabs with K-pop stars. Listen).
And everyone knows the (mostly) Danish group Aqua and their unforgettable hit “Barbie Girl”, although that one’s in English too.
But to really get the full benefit of language learning, you need an entirely Danish song.
Something about music just sticks in your head. I’m sure you can remember advertising jingles back from the time you were very small.
Listen to the music, get lyrics online, and you’ll be on your way to better understanding Danish and Danish culture and values.