🇩🇰 That Eurovision Review: Sand and smoke for SABA in her first rehearsal

Today the rehearsals for Eurovision 2024 continue in Malmö. Countries rehearsing on Day 3 include Malta, Albania, Greece, Switzerland, Czechia, Austria, Denmark, and Armenia. The seventh to rehearse today is Denmark’s Saba.

Saba’s first rehearsal

The next to take to the Eurovision 2024 stage at Malmö Arena in Malmö was Denmark’s Saba. Saba will be competing in this year’s competition with her entry “Sand” following her win at DMGP 2024.

Following Saba’s first rehearsal a clip of what went on was posted on the official TikTok account of the Eurovision Song Contest. The clip showed her before and after she took to the Eurovision stage for the first time, as well as giving us some insight into how well her first rehearsal went.

What did we learn about Saba’s staging?

Saba has taken the staging from DMGP and made it bigger and more epic, as per the official Eurovision live blog. She is wearing a white pant suit with sand-filled pockets. Saba’s movements are reflected on the LED wall behind her as she scatters the sand with some intricately choreographed arm movements. The staging also makes extensive use of floor smoke to add further drama to the performance.

What we thought of Saba’s first rehearsal

After Denmark’s first rehearsal, Jazzi gave her initial thoughts on the snippet that we saw.

Who is Saba

SABA, is the stage name for singer Anna Saba Lykke Oehlenschlæger. As well as a singer, SABA is also an actress and musical theatre performer in Denmark. SABA has lived in Denmark for the majority of her life, however her and her twin sister are both originally from Ethiopia. Music and performing isn’t SABA’s only passion, when she was younger, she also had a keen interest in football and has played association football at youth levels.

In 2023, SABA made her stage debut, in place of her sister Dionne. The debut was in a Danish production of the musical “Hair”. As well as acting, SABA has also had her go at modelling in Denmark. In terms of releasing music SABA is a fairly new artist. “Sand” is SABA’s debut single as singer.

SABA’s Eurovision 2024 entry, “Sand,” was written by Jonas Thander, Pil Kalinka Nygaard Jeppesen. Melodifestivalen singer Melanie Wehbe also had song-writing input. Jonas Thander was also responsible for the production of the song.

Denmark’s Eurovision Journey

Denmark first participated in the Eurovision Song Contest back in 1957 and notched up their first win in 1963 with Grethe and Jørgan Ingmann’s “Dansevise”. Denmark later earned two third-place finishes in 1988 and 1989 but was then relegated three times in 1994, 1996, and 1998. They finally achieved their second victory in 2000 with the Olsen Brothers’ “Fly on the Wings of Love”, and have missed the Grand Final seven times since the introduction of the semi-finals. A six-year qualification streak from 2008 culminated in its third win in 2013 with Emmelie de Forrest’s “Only Teardrops”.

Denmark’s most recent participation saw them being represented by Reiley with the song “Breaking My Heart”. After opening the second semi-final in Liverpool, Reiley finished in 14th place receiving just 6 points from the televote.

What do you think of “Sand”? Do you think Denmark will return to the Grand Final with Saba? Let us know your thoughts! Also, be sure to follow “That Eurovision Site” on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok as we prepare for Eurovision 2024!

News Source: That Eurovision Site / Eurovision.tv

Photo Credit: Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU