| "Skibet skal sejle i nat" | |
|---|---|
| Eurovision Song Contest 1957 entry | |
| Country | Denmark |
| Artist(s) | Birthe Wilke and Gustav Winckler |
| Language | Danish |
| Composer(s) | Erik Fiehn |
| Lyricist(s) | Poul Sørensen |
| Conductor | Kai Mortensen |
| Finals performance | |
| Final result | 3rd |
| Final points | 10 |
| Appearance chronology | |
| Jeg rev et blad ud af min dagbog (1958) ► | |
"Skibet skal sejle i nat" ("The ship is leaving tonight") was the Danish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1957, performed in Danish by Birthe Wilke and Gustav Winckler and consequently the first time Danish was heard in the Eurovision.
The song was performed ninth on the night, following France's Paule Desjardins with "La belle amour" and preceding Switzerland's Lys Assia with "L'enfant que j'étais". At the close of voting, it had received 10 points, placing 3rd in a field of 10.
The song is a love duet, with the singers parting before one of them takes a sea voyage on the ship of the title. Additionally, the song is famous for the kiss the duo exchanged at the end of the performance - the longest stage kiss in Contest history, made so by a stagehand omitting to signal for it to end.
While the Contest was still predominantly a radio show at the time, the conservative social mores ensured that this event has entered Eurovision folklore. Indeed, at the late 2005 Congratulations special, hosts Katrina Leskanich and Renars Kaupers pretended to re-enact it, only to have Wilke herself appear between them.
It was succeeded as Danish representative at the 1958 Contest by Raquel Rastenni with "Jeg rev et blad ud af min dagbog".
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