Birthe Kjaer

A Danish pop vocalist whose multi-decade trajectory has yielded numerous Top Ten albums and hit singles, Birthe Kjær has also built an acting résumé that includes appearances in the films Revykøbing Kalder (1973), The Jut-Nuts I (1988), and Max (2000). Born in Aarhus on September 1, 1948, she entered the recording industry in 1968 with the chart-topping single “Arriverderci Franz,” a breakthrough that confirmed her status as a major pop artist. Throughout the 1980s she regularly entered Dansk Melodi Grand Prix and Eurovision Song Contest competitions, securing the opportunity to represent Denmark in 1989 with the song “Vi Maler Byen Rød.” Remaining active after the millennium, she issued the chart-topping albums Længe Leve Livet (2001) and På en Fransk Altan (2003). In 2004 she partnered with the electro-percussion group Safri Duo to create the gold-certified football anthem “Hvor’ vi fra?” for the Denmark national team. She competed on the second season of Danish Dancing with the Stars in 2005 and hosted the 2009 final that selected Denmark’s Eurovision entry. Kjær has sustained her output of performances and recordings through the 2010s and beyond, releasing the country-leaning Lige fra Hjertet in 2015 and the Christmas album Juletid in 2022.