Saba "Sand": From winning the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix to Eurovision 2024
Music is often an intimate means of communication, allowing artists to express deep, universal emotions. This is what Danish singer and actress Saba (real name Anna Saba Lykke Oehlenschlæger) has achieved with her song "Sand ». She was the clear favourite to win her national selection from Denmark, the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, and carried through to the super-final, beating Basim by three points thanks to the jury's votes.
"Sand » was written by Jonas Thander, Melanie Wehbe and Pil Kalinka Nygaard Jeppesen. Melanie Wehbe is responsible for the song "Love is forever »" by Leonara, which was the song that represented Denmark in 2019, as well as successes at the Melodi Grand Prix and Melodifestivalen. "Sand » is a representation of the feeling of losing control. Saba herself describes the song as a metaphor for the way sand flows and slips through our fingers, symbolising that feeling of helplessness. A visual and sensory metaphor that resonates deeply with many listeners.
Its victory at the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2024 propelled Saba onto the European stage. After winning the national competition, she committed to taking part in various pre-Eurovision events, including the London Eurovision Party scheduled for 7 April 2024. This is another opportunity for her to showcase "Sand »" to an international audience and build excitement for her upcoming performance.
Saba's path to success has not been without its challenges. Born on 11 August 1997 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, she was adopted with her twin sister, Andrea Lykke Oehlenschlæger, when they were just eight months old. Their childhood in the Danish town of Ringkøbing was marked by personal struggles, including the bipolar disorder that affected Saba from adolescence onwards.
Despite these challenges, Saba persevered and embarked on a remarkable artistic and entrepreneurial career. After leaving school early, she moved to Copenhagen where she began a modelling career and even founded a company specialising in activated charcoal for teeth whitening.
Her determination and talent were recognised when she landed the role of Dionne in a production of the musical "Hair »". Her rise on the music scene was rapid and impressive, culminating in her selection to represent Denmark at Eurovision.
Beyond her musical career, Saba and her sister were the focus of a moving documentary that followed them on a journey to Ethiopia in search of their biological roots. This personal journey has also influenced her music, giving it added depth and authenticity. With her inspiring journey, Saba has captured the essence of the human experience through 'Sand »', transforming her struggle into a moving and personal musical work of art.
In an interview, Saba mentioned that she and her team plan to improve the staging, with even more lights and lasers, while retaining the original concept. Asked about the presence of dancers, she said they had no intention of having anyone other than her on stage. Saba's performance on stage stands on its own and the track doesn't really need anything else or any distractions. We do hope, however, that between now and Malmö, her production team will improve the stage on which she performed at the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix.
In the meantime, you can check out her live performance below.
