Danish broadcaster DR published the new rules for Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2005 last week. A remarkable change was the tolerance of lyrics in all languages, something that wasn't well received by the Danish association Modersmål-Selskabet.
Modersmål-Selskabet, a Danish association preserving the Danish language, is criticizing DR's decision to allow songs in other languages than Danish in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2005. According to the association's vice president, Kenn Hansen, DR is betraying the Danish language.
“It is total idiocy that we will now have to listen to songs in English in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix,” says Hansen. “It is already bad enough that DR translated the winning song the last few years to perform it in English at the Eurovision Song Contest. By allowing lyrics in another language in the Danish competition, DR is totally undermining the value of Melodi Grand Prix as a dynamo for pop music in Danish.”
Modersmål-Selskabet tries to preserve and develop the Danish language as a fundamental background for the Danish culture and democracy. Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2005 takes place on 12th February 2005.
