Olsen Brothers

Biography

Olsen Brothers (Danish: Brødrene Olsen) were a Danish rock/pop music duo, formed by brothers Jørgen (born 15 March 1950) and Niels "Noller" Olsen (born 13 April 1954), both from Odense, who won the Eurovision Song Contest 2000. They formed their first band, The Kids, in 1965. The Kids warmed up for The Kinks in the K.B. Hallen in 1965 and released their first single in 1967.

Career

Both Jørgen and Niels Olsen participated in the musical Hair at the Cirkusbygningen in Copenhagen in March 1971, and went on tour afterwards throughout Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
The Olsen Brothers' first album was released in 1972; in total they have released 13 albums. Some of the biggest hit singles include "Angelina×AngelinaAlbum · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 21 tracks1Angelina3:452Je ne regrette rien2:413The Vienna Express2:274Faces on the Bus4:135For What We Are3:216What Now Christine?3:007The Children of the World6:018Your Part of the System (Your One of Us)2:059Waiting3:4310My Sweet, Sweet Baby3:0711Another Revolution3:2412Bye Bye Baby2:1513Julie2:3314San Francisco3:5815Dans Dans Dans2:4816Marie, Marie3:3617Neon Madonna3:3518Wings of an Eagle5:4319Louise3:4120Fugle3:0121Flyvende sommer2:58" (1972), "For What We Are" (1973), "Julie" (1977), "San Francisco" (1978), "Dans Dans Dans" (1979), "Marie, Marie×Marie, Marie1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAMarie, Marie3:28BFeels Like I'm Crazy3:23" (1982), "Neon Madonna" (1985), "Wings Of Love×Wings of Love2000 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Fly on the Wings of Love3:032Sunday Morning3:503Dreamworld3:144I Have to Dance3:235San Francisco3:556Little Johnny2:507Neon Madonna3:338Angelina3:559Suzy4:1310One Woman Two Lovers3:1811Smuk som et stjerneskud (Danish version)3:02" (2000), "We Believe In Love" (2001), "Look Up Look Down" (performed with Cliff Richard) (2009) and "Brothers To Brothers×Brothers to Brothers2013 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Proud Mary3:552Heartbreaker4:363Have You Ever Seen the Rain3:114Ramona3:265Wake Up Little Susie2:336Let Your Love Flow3:267When You Walk in the Room3:088Help Me Rhonda3:129Massachusetts3:4810Victoria3:4711Bad Moon Rising3:1712Little Yellow Radio3:2513You Really Got Me2:3714Walk Right Back2:52" (2013).
The Olsen Brothers have sold approximately 3.2 million albums, 1.5 million singles and 2.7 million compilations.
They have a two-voice harmony, and among their “fans" are Cliff Richard and Björn Ulvaeus, who both call the Olsen Brothers the "European Everly Brothers".

Dansk Melodi Grand Prix and Eurovision participation

The Olsen Brothers, and, on occasion, Jørgen Olsen on his own, took part in a number of annual competitions known as Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, the winner of which would represent Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest.

DMGP 2000 and Eurovision Song Contest 2000

They won the annual Dansk Melodi Grand Prix song competition in 2000 in Copenhagen, and went on to represent Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest 2000 in Stockholm. where they won with the song "Fly on the Wings of Love×Fly on the Wings of Love2000 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Fly on the Wings of Love (album version)3:032Fly on the Wings of Love TA2's (radio mix)3:423Fly on the Wings of Love TA2's (extended mix)4:514Fly on the Wings of Love Mike B. Trunkin (radio mix)3:385Fly on the Wings of Love Mike B. Trunkin (extended mix)5:51" (translated from the Danish "Smuk som et Stjerneskud" (literally translated as "Beautiful as a Shooting Star"). At one stage, they sold 100,000 copies in one day in Denmark; they became the second Danish act to win the competition. On the day of their victory, Jørgen Olsen was 50 years and 61 days of age, making him the oldest artist to win the contest. However, he only held the record for one year, as Dave Benton triumphed in 2001 at the age of 50 years and 101 days. The combined ages of The Olsen Brothers make them the oldest aged act ever to win the contest.
They opened the Eurovision Song Contest 2001 in Copenhagen with a short reprise of their winning song from the previous year, followed by a full performance of their new release, "Walk Right Back×Walk Right Back2001 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Walk Right Back2:562Beautiful Angel3:313Forever3:104Do You Wanna Dance3:055True to Your Love3:306I Only Want to See You Again3:567Look Up Look Down3:268Marie Marie3:369Shine on Shine3:4910Go East Go West3:5211Music Is My Only Friend3:07".

Later years

In 2005 for the first time since their victory, they re-entered the Danish Melodi Grand Prix, the national pre-selection for the Eurovision contest, with the song "Little Yellow Radio". It was widely reported that they hoped to repeat their triumph; however, this time they had to settle for second place, finishing behind Jakob Sveistrup.
Their song "Fly on the Wings of Love×Fly on the Wings of Love2000 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Fly on the Wings of Love (album version)3:032Fly on the Wings of Love TA2's (radio mix)3:423Fly on the Wings of Love TA2's (extended mix)4:514Fly on the Wings of Love Mike B. Trunkin (radio mix)3:385Fly on the Wings of Love Mike B. Trunkin (extended mix)5:51" was nominated as one of the 14 finalists for Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest, held in Copenhagen, Denmark on 22 October 2005. They performed the song at the event, finishing 6th overall from 14 songs. The winner was "Waterloo" by ABBA.
In 2019, the brothers called a hiatus to their musical career after Niels was diagnosed with brain cancer. However, Niels was declared cancer-free by the end of 2020, in a development that was described as "against the odds". He has not ruled out returning to music in the future.
Jørgen performed "Fly on the Wings of Love" at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel as an interval act to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the triumph in Stockholm.

Albums

Olsen (1972)
For What We Are (1973)
For the Children of the World (1973)
Back on the Tracks (1976)
You're the One (1977)
San Francisco (1978)
Dans - Dans - Dans (1979)
Rockstalgi (1987)
Det Stille Ocean (1990)
Greatest and Latest (1994)
Angelina (1999)
Wings of Love (2000)
The Story of Brødrene Olsen (2000)
Rockstalgi (2001)
Neon Madonna (2001)
Walk Right Back (2001)
Songs (2002)
Weil Nur Die Liebe Zählt (2003)
More Songs (2003)
Our New Songs (2005)
Celebration (2005)
Respect (2008)
Wings of Eurovision (2010)
Brothers to Brothers (2013)