Hot Eyes
Encyclopedia
Hot Eyes was the name adopted for international acts by the Danish
singing duo known in their home country as Kirsten and Søren. It was formed by Kirsten Siggard (born 7 September 1954) and Søren Bundgaard (born 4 March 1956).
Kirsten was brought up in a traditional Christian
family who sang in a church choir when she was young and later pursued a career deemed appropriate and desirable, working in a bank, where she met her husband, Jorgen. Søren was a musician, singer and composer, at that time a member of the Danish band Sir Henry. Both Sir Henry and Kirsten entered the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, which serves as the Danish pre-selection for the Eurovision Song Contest
(ESC), in 1983. For some reason, Sir Henry's entry, "Og Livet går" with music composed by Søren and Leif Pedersen was disqualified and Kirsten took their place in the final, but in a somewhat consolation-prize style they sung as backing vocals for Kirsten.
Søren later decided to leave Sir Henry in favor of further cooperation with Kirsten, and the duo entered the Dansk MGP in 1984 as Hot Eyes with the song "Det' lige det" with music by Søren and lyrics by Keld Heick (who also penned lyrics to all other Hot Eyes' Dansk MGP entries). The song became known in Denmark as the "swimming pool song", as at the end of the Dansk MGP performance Kirsten threw Søren into a swimming pool by the stage. They won the contest and therefore represented Denmark at the Eurovision Song Contest 1984
, taking the fourth place, even though they were unable to replicate the swimming pool gimmick. This was Denmark's best placing since 1963
, when the country's entry won the contest. Kirsten was actually pregnant with her first son while singing at Eurovision.
Riding on their popularity, they went on to win the Dansk MGP again in 1985 with "Sku' du spørg' fra no'en?" - the only ever second win in a row. It was only then that Kirsten decided to give up her work in the bank and embark on a full-time career in entertainment with Hot Eyes. The song was notable for featuring Søren's nine year old daughter, Lea Bundgaard, who played a vital role in the performance. This time, however, they took only eleventh place at the ESC.
In 1986 and 1987 Kirsten & Søren entered the Dansk MGP as well, but did not win, coming fourth with "Sig det, som det er" and fifth with "Farvel og Tak" respectively. In the meantime, Kirsten began her theatrical career, appearing in a theatre play as well as musicals such as Chess
or Les Misérables
.
1988 brought though was lucky for Hot Eyes, when their entry, "Ka' du se, hva' jeg sa'?" won the Dansk MGP again, making them record three-time winners of the contest (Tommy Seebach
evened this record in 1993). At the Eurovision Song Contest 1988
(where they were actually billed as Kirsten & Søren), they also placed very favorably, coming third, which was Denmark's best placing in twenty five years. Kirsten was pregnant again (with her second son), but this time much more visibly - she gave birth only three weeks after the performance!
Even though the duo did not split officially until 1991, they did not record together after 1988. In 1989, Søren and Keld Heick wrote another song for the Dansk MGP together, but this time for Birthe Kjaer, winning the contest again. They both appeared on stage as backing singers for Birthe, along with Lei and Lupe Moe, who supported no less than ten Danish ESC entries from 1981 to 2002! "Vi maler byen rød" came third again at the Eurovision
. Søren also tried his luck as composer in the 1993 and 1999 Dansk MGP, but did not win, and currently runs a recording company called "SB Studio" in Aalborg
.
Kirsten entered the Dansk MGP again in 1990 with "Inden Længe" by another composer and different in style, but failed to secure another ticket to Eurovision. The phone number viewers were using to vote for this song was later revealed to have had technical problems, though it was too late to do anything about it. In 1992, she formed a trio named "Swing Sisters" with opera singer Kirsten Vaupel and actor Lise-Lotte Norup, with whom she toured Denmark and several other European countries. She also performed with Søren on several special occasions later, reprising some of the Hot Eyes hits.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
singing duo known in their home country as Kirsten and Søren. It was formed by Kirsten Siggard (born 7 September 1954) and Søren Bundgaard (born 4 March 1956).
Kirsten was brought up in a traditional Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
family who sang in a church choir when she was young and later pursued a career deemed appropriate and desirable, working in a bank, where she met her husband, Jorgen. Søren was a musician, singer and composer, at that time a member of the Danish band Sir Henry. Both Sir Henry and Kirsten entered the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, which serves as the Danish pre-selection for the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
(ESC), in 1983. For some reason, Sir Henry's entry, "Og Livet går" with music composed by Søren and Leif Pedersen was disqualified and Kirsten took their place in the final, but in a somewhat consolation-prize style they sung as backing vocals for Kirsten.
Søren later decided to leave Sir Henry in favor of further cooperation with Kirsten, and the duo entered the Dansk MGP in 1984 as Hot Eyes with the song "Det' lige det" with music by Søren and lyrics by Keld Heick (who also penned lyrics to all other Hot Eyes' Dansk MGP entries). The song became known in Denmark as the "swimming pool song", as at the end of the Dansk MGP performance Kirsten threw Søren into a swimming pool by the stage. They won the contest and therefore represented Denmark at the Eurovision Song Contest 1984
Eurovision Song Contest 1984
The Eurovision Song Contest 1984 was the 29th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 5 May 1984 in Luxembourg. The presenter was Désirée Nosbusch. Nosbusch, only 19 years old at the time, hosted the show in a lax manner, which was quite unusual for this show back then...
, taking the fourth place, even though they were unable to replicate the swimming pool gimmick. This was Denmark's best placing since 1963
Eurovision Song Contest 1963
The Eurovision Song Contest 1963 was the 8th Eurovision Song Contest. France had won the contest in 1962 but were incapable of hosting in 1963, as was their right, due to financial shortcomings. As was the case in 1960 - and as would become a tradition when smaller broadcasters could not afford to...
, when the country's entry won the contest. Kirsten was actually pregnant with her first son while singing at Eurovision.
Riding on their popularity, they went on to win the Dansk MGP again in 1985 with "Sku' du spørg' fra no'en?" - the only ever second win in a row. It was only then that Kirsten decided to give up her work in the bank and embark on a full-time career in entertainment with Hot Eyes. The song was notable for featuring Søren's nine year old daughter, Lea Bundgaard, who played a vital role in the performance. This time, however, they took only eleventh place at the ESC.
In 1986 and 1987 Kirsten & Søren entered the Dansk MGP as well, but did not win, coming fourth with "Sig det, som det er" and fifth with "Farvel og Tak" respectively. In the meantime, Kirsten began her theatrical career, appearing in a theatre play as well as musicals such as Chess
Chess (musical)
Chess is a musical with music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, formerly of ABBA, and with lyrics by Tim Rice. The story involves a romantic triangle between two top players, an American and a Russian, in a world chess championship, and a woman who manages one and falls in love with the other;...
or Les Misérables
Les Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
.
1988 brought though was lucky for Hot Eyes, when their entry, "Ka' du se, hva' jeg sa'?" won the Dansk MGP again, making them record three-time winners of the contest (Tommy Seebach
Tommy Seebach
Tommy Seebach , born Tommy Seebach Mortensen in Copenhagen, Denmark, was a popular Danish singer, composer, organist, pianist and producer. He is best known as front man of Sir Henry and his Butlers and for numerous contributions to the Danish version of the Eurovision Song contest, Dansk Melodi...
evened this record in 1993). At the Eurovision Song Contest 1988
Eurovision Song Contest 1988
The Eurovision Song Contest 1988 was the 33rd Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 30 April 1988 in Dublin. The presenters were Pat Kenny and Michelle Rocca...
(where they were actually billed as Kirsten & Søren), they also placed very favorably, coming third, which was Denmark's best placing in twenty five years. Kirsten was pregnant again (with her second son), but this time much more visibly - she gave birth only three weeks after the performance!
Even though the duo did not split officially until 1991, they did not record together after 1988. In 1989, Søren and Keld Heick wrote another song for the Dansk MGP together, but this time for Birthe Kjaer, winning the contest again. They both appeared on stage as backing singers for Birthe, along with Lei and Lupe Moe, who supported no less than ten Danish ESC entries from 1981 to 2002! "Vi maler byen rød" came third again at the Eurovision
Eurovision Song Contest 1989
The Eurovision Song Contest 1989 was the 34th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 6 May 1989 in Lausanne, Switzerland. Switzerland gained the hosting rights after Celine Dion's victory in Dublin the previous year. The presenters were Lolita Morena and Jacques Deschenaux. Riva was the winner of...
. Søren also tried his luck as composer in the 1993 and 1999 Dansk MGP, but did not win, and currently runs a recording company called "SB Studio" in Aalborg
Aalborg
-Transport:On the north side of the Limfjord is Nørresundby, which is connected to Aalborg by a road bridge Limfjordsbroen, an iron railway bridge Jernbanebroen over Limfjorden, as well as a motorway tunnel running under the Limfjord Limfjordstunnelen....
.
Kirsten entered the Dansk MGP again in 1990 with "Inden Længe" by another composer and different in style, but failed to secure another ticket to Eurovision. The phone number viewers were using to vote for this song was later revealed to have had technical problems, though it was too late to do anything about it. In 1992, she formed a trio named "Swing Sisters" with opera singer Kirsten Vaupel and actor Lise-Lotte Norup, with whom she toured Denmark and several other European countries. She also performed with Søren on several special occasions later, reprising some of the Hot Eyes hits.