Thomas Helmig

Last updated
Thomas Helmig
Thomas Helmig (Musician).jpg
Helmig at Skovdalen in Aalborg, Denmark in 2009
Background information
Birth nameThomas Helmig
Born (1964-10-15) 15 October 1964 (age 58)
Egå, Denmark
Genres Pop rock, soul, blues
Years active1980–present
LabelsGenlyd, Sony Music
Website http://www.thomashelmig.dk

Thomas Helmig (born 15 October 1964) is a Danish rock singer and musician, and has been one of the most popular singers in Denmark since the middle of the 1980s. [1]

Contents

Biography

Thomas Helmig was born and grew up in Egå, a suburb of Aarhus, where his father was a doctor. His parents divorced when he was quite young. To escape from the feelings associated with his parents' divorce, Thomas took refuge in music, most notably he spent much time teaching himself to play the piano. At the age of 10, inspired by the Danish Band Gasolin, popular in the 70's, Thomas formed his first band and named it Heavy Oil. The following years he also learned to play the guitar and drums.

He entered the gymnasium but, with his parents' approval, he left during the first year to pursue his musical interests. To this end, he went to the United States as a high school exchange student. It was here that he first discovered Motown, playing with local soul musicians in Detroit.

Upon his return to Denmark in 1981, he joined an Aarhus-band called Kaksi Kuggas Band, with which he gigged in a number of local venues. He had become part of the rather narrow local music scene. By 1983 he became the lead singer for a band called Elevatordrengene (The Elevator Boys). They enjoyed a measure of success, touring the country for the next two years.

Breakthrough

In 1985 Helmig was invited to contribute to the Danish Africa Aid song Afrika, leading to his discovery by the record company Genlyd who subsequently produced his first self-titled solo album, Thomas, which became a huge Danish success and for which he also received considerable critical acclaim. He was especially praised for his empathic expression, notable because of his still tender age. He married another popular Danish singer, Søs Fenger, that same year.

In 1986 the album 2 was released. By now Helmig had formed his band, Thomas Helmig Band, which included some of the musicians from Elevatordrengene. The third album, Kære maskine ("Dear Machine"), was more rocking than the first two, while the following one Vejen væk (The Path Away), released in 1988, was much gloomier, reflecting his turbulent split from Fenger. The album became his greatest success to date, selling more than 160,000 copies. It features hits such as Nu hvor du har brændt mig af ("Now That You've Dumped Me") and Det er mig der står herude og banker på ("It's Me Out Here, Knocking"). Although divorced, he recorded a few duets with Søs Fenger, one of which, Den jeg elsker, elsker jeg ("The one I love, I love"), released in support of the Danish AIDS-foundation became a huge commercial success.

This period in his life also marked a turn in his musical style as he returned to his soul and Motown roots, inspired by Marvin Gaye. His next album "Say When" became the first he recorded in English. This change opened the prospect of promoting Helmig abroad. Singing in English in no way diminished his popularity in Denmark, and he had another huge hit with the song Stupid Man from the 1994-album of the same name, which also included the hit, Gotta Get Away From You. This album sold 250,000 copies.

Throughout the 1990s, Helmig attempted to make a name for himself abroad, but met with little success. However, he managed to maintain his position at the absolute top in Denmark for more than 20 years. He writes nearly all his own songs and he contributes prolifically as a songwriter to other artists like Søs Fenger, Hanne Boel, Sanne Salomonsen, TV-2, Malurt and many others. Additionally, he has produced many recordings for different artists.

He is the Danish pop musician with the largest collection of Danish Music Awards, including several "Singer of the Year", "Hit of the Year" and "Album of the Year". In 2012 he was awarded the Danish Music Awards Prize of Honor. [2]

Saint Hans square in Nørrebro, Copenhagen has been unofficially dubbed "Thomas Helmig's Square" in honor of the large population of young Aarhusian people residing in the vicinity.

Private life

Thomas Helmig has been married three times:

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

YearAlbumPeak positionsCertification
DEN
[4]
2001IsItYouIsItMe1
2004El Camino1
2006Helmig Herfra1
2006Tommy Boy1
2013KH Helmig1Gold
2018Takker2
[5]

Compilation albums

YearAlbumPeak positionsAlbum
DEN
[4]
1997Årene Går - De Største af de FørsteGreatest Hits
(Danish-language songs)
2001Wanted4Greatest Hits
(English-language songs)
2006Den danske boksGreatest Hits box
(Danish-language songs)
2009Den engelske boksGreatest Hits box
(English-language songs)
2010Past Forward1Ultimate Best of
released on a 3-CD set

Singles

YearSinglePeak positionsAlbum
DEN
[4]
2009"100 dage"
(featuring Medina)		1
2013"Så lover jeg"9
"Evigt?"18
2014"Hun kommer igen"20
"Når sneen falder"
(with Søs Fenger)		21
[6]
2018"Hele Danmark op at stå"20
[7]
2022"Stupid Man"
(Mike Lowrey featuring Gobs and Thomas Helmig)		5
[8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anne Linnet</span> Danish singer, composer، and writer

Anne Linnet is a Danish singer, musician composer، and writer. She has released a number of solo albums and has also been a member of several bands, such as Shit & Chanel, Anne Linnet Band, and Marquis de Sade. Anne Linnet is one of a small group of Danish musicians and songwriters consistently popular now for many years. She is, and has been for more than three and a half decades, a distinctive figure on the Danish music scene and is valued as a writer and composer. Anne Linnet is known for her well-written, honest lyrics, her explorations into a number of music styles, and a constant desire to try something new. In 2008 she received IFPI Denmark's prize of honour for her work of many years on the Danish music scene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nik & Jay</span> Danish hip-hop/pop duo

Nik & Jay is a Danish hip-hop/pop duo made of Niclas Genckel Petersen and Jannik Brandt Thomsen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rasmus Nøhr</span> Danish musician, composer, and guitarist (born 1972)

Rasmus Nøhr is a Danish musician, composer, and guitarist who had a breakthrough in Denmark with the song Det glade pizzabud, a duet with Ida Corr. In 2004 he released his debut album called Rasmus Nøhr. In 2006 he released his second album - "Lykkelig Smutning". He has now released his third album called "I stedet for en tatovering"

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kesi (rapper)</span> Musical artist

Oliver Chambuso, known professionally as Kesi, is a Danish rapper and songwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">L.O.C. (rapper)</span> Musical artist

Liam Nygaard O'Connor, better known as L.O.C., is a Danish rapper, songwriter and TV-host.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rasmus Seebach</span> Danish singer

Rasmus Seebach is a Danish singer-songwriter and record producer who had his solo-debut with the Danish-language single "Engel" in April 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burhan G</span> Danish singer

Burhan Genç Koç, known as Burhan G, is a Danish R&B and pop singer, songwriter and producer. He has released three albums including Burhan G in 2010 and Din for evigt, both certified platinum in Denmark. Hit singles include the five number one hits "Mest ondt" featuring Medina, "Tættere på himlen" featuring Nik & Jay, "Din for evigt", "Kalder mig hjem" and "Karma" featuring L.O.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basim (singer)</span> Danish singer

Anis Basim Moujahid, better known as Basim, is a Danish pop singer and songwriter. He is of Moroccan origin. He has released two albums, Alt det jeg ville have sagt in 2008 and Befri dig selv in 2009. Basim represented Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 on home ground in Copenhagen, Denmark with the song "Cliche Love Song". The following year he was the Danish spokesperson at Eurovision.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marie Key</span> Danish singer

Marie Key Kristiansen better known as Marie Key is a Danish pop singer and songwriter. Marie released a successful debut single "Se nu herhen" taken from her debut album I byen igen. With her second solo album De her dage, Marie became an even bigger commercial success, reaching No. 1 on the Danish Album Charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Søren Huss</span> Danish singer and musician

Søren Huss is a Danish singer, songwriter and musician. Prior to a solo career, he is best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band Saybia, which was formed in Nyborg in January 1993. After a hiatus of 7 years, Saybia announced in June 2015 their new album will come out in October.

Jimilian Ismaili is a Danish singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbara Moleko</span> Danish singer

Barbara Boitumelo Aersoe better known as Barbara Moleko is a Danish singer and songwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TopGunn</span> Danish rapper

Oliver Gammelgaard Nielsen better known by his stage name TopGunn is a Danish rapper and music producer from Nørrebro, Copenhagen, born in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen. He has also established his own label CHEFF Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Falch</span> Danish singer, guitarist, author, actor

Michael Ehlert Falch is a Danish singer, guitarist, author and actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poul Krebs</span> Danish singer and musician

Poul Krebs is a Danish pop/rock singer, songwriter and musician. He has released 23 albums and compilations, several topping the Danish Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Belli</span> Danish singer and actor (1943–2023)

Peter Belli was a Danish singer and actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nephew discography</span> Discography of Danish rock band Nephew

The discography of the Danish rock band Nephew consists of six studio albums, three live albums, nine EPs, one compilation album, and one box set. The band was formed in 1996 by Simon Kvamm, Kristian Riis, Jonas Juul Jeppesen, and Søren Arnholt. In 1998, bassist Jeppesen left the band and was replaced by the current bassist Kasper Toustrup.

Malte Fynboe Manniche Ebert, better known by his former nickname Gulddreng, is a Danish musician. His identity was unknown until the father of his host family from an exchange trip announced his name on Facebook. His name translates to "gold boy" or "golden boy" in English. As Gulddreng, Ebert was known for always wearing sunglasses, which helped to obscure his identity. His first seven singles, "Model", "Se mig nu", "Hva' så", "Drikker for lidt", "Nemt", "Guld jul" and "Ked af det", all peaked at number 1 in Denmark, with "Se mig nu", "Drikker for lidt", "Guld jul", and "Ked af det" debuting at the top spot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Søs Fenger</span> Musical artist

Charlotte Fenger, known by the stage name Søs Fenger, is a Danish vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter. Since the mid 1980s she has been one of the most successful names in Danish music. She has released numerous albums, both as a solo artist and in collaboration with other groups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nordstrøm (band)</span> Danish electronic-pop band

Nordstrøm is a Danish electronic-pop duo formed in 2004 in Copenhagen. The group consists of Troels Holdt and Lars Malm, who had been friends for more than 10 years before starting the group.

References

  1. ↑ Thomas Helmig Den Store Danske. Gyldendals åbne encyclopædi
  2. ↑ DR.dk Hæder til Thomas Helmig
  3. ↑ Jan Körner (10 August 2000). "Thomas og Renée skal giftes". BT .
  4. 1 2 3 "Thomas Helmig discography". swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  5. ↑ "Album Top-40 Uge 10, 2018". Hitlisten . Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  6. ↑ "Track Top-40 Uge 52, 2017". Hitlisten . Retrieved January 3, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Track Top-40 Uge 24, 2018". Hitlisten . Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Track Top-40 Uge 25, 2022". Hitlisten . Retrieved June 29, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.