Tommy was born in Copenhagen. He started his musical career as an organist in his own group "The Colours" at 14 years of age, and in the years to follow he played in many pop and beat groups. He played piano with various orchestras and groups, sometimes going under the name of "Boogie-Woogie-Tommy". He broke through when in 1965 he became a member of the group Sir Henry And His Butlers, writing many of their most popular hits. In 1976 he also began performing solo, and with great success. His hit album "Tommygun" was released in 1977. At the same time he was in high demand as a producer at his record company EMI, and was involved in projects for among others Lecia & Lucienne.
He really hit his stride in 1979 when he won the Danish Melodi Grand Prix with Disco Tango (Danish lyrics) (English lyrics) which he coauthored with Keld Heick. It became a megahit both in Denmark and in other European countries. He represented Denmark at the Eurovision Song Contest 1979 with the song, and ranked number 6.
He participated in the Danish Melodi Grand Prix again in 1980 with "Bye-Bye", and once again he won the competition in 1981, singing Krøller eller ej (Danish lyrics) (literally "Curls or not", but translated as "Straight or Curly Hair") with Debbie Cameron. It ranked number 11 at Eurovision Song Contest 1981. This song was also coauthored with Keld Heick.
He participated in the Danish Melodi Grand Prix a number of other times during the 1980s (1982, 1984, 1985 and 1987) without winning the competition. He had a big hit in 1989 with the duet Du skælder mig hele tiden ud (translated, "You're Always Yelling at Me"), sung with Annette Heick, Keld Heick's daughter. They followed up this success with two more singles and a Christmas album.
Top success was once again his in 1993 at the Danish Melodi Grand Prix when he performed Under stjernerne på himlen (Under the stars of the sky), another song coauthored with Keld Heick. However, the success was fleeting, and the tides turned for him at the Eurovision Song Contest 1993 when the song received only 9 points, giving him a ranking of 22 out of 25. The poor ranking caused Denmark to be disqualified from the following year's contest. Tommy was blamed for Denmark's defeat, and he suffered greatly as a result.
The 1990s were lean years for him as a performer and recording artist. He had a comeback of sorts on account of a disco-version of Krøller eller ej released in 1999, as well as the release of a compilation album. He toured the country's discotheques at that time and found cult interest in his old hits among a new, younger public.
Tommy lived life in the wild and fast lane as "King of the Grand Prix". He had great success and great failures. He had a problem with alcoholism. It took its toll on him and he died at the age of 53 from a heart attack at amusement park Bakken, where he was head of musical entertainment during the past several years.
Tommy competed eight times in the Danish Melodi Grand Prix. He and the musical group Hot Eyes were the only two acts ever to win the competition three times.
A tribute show to Tommy— The Tommy Seebach Show— tours Denmark and continues to bring his music to old and new fans.
Snorkel Og Gummitæer
Tommy Seebach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
En ka' li' at sy
En ka' rende og hoppe
En af to som bly
En er let til bens
Der aldrig to der ens
Nogen vil stå på scene
Nogen er født på grenen
Nogen i Åbenrå
Men næsten alle har,
Som jeg et ønske klar
Hvis du en tretten og ga'
En god gevinst en dag
Så stak jeg af
For jeg vil ha'!
Snorkel og gummitæer
(Snorkel og gummitæer)
Udland og palmetræer
(Udland og palmetræer)
Solskin og måneskær
Solskin og måneskær)
Under Vor herres hvide bro
The first verse of the song talks about how one can never stop or sew, but they can run and jump. The second and third line are a play on words where the singer says "En af to som bly", which means "one out of two is lead", but he is referring to how one of the two people is light on their feet. The next two lines talk about how everyone has a dream or a wish, and then the singer says that if he were to win a good prize, he would leave and follow his own desires.
The chorus then comes in and talks about the things that the singer wishes for, which are snorkels and rubber boots, foreign countries with palm trees, sunshine, and moonlight. The last line of the chorus talks about being under "Vor herres hvide bro", which translates to "Our Lord's white bridge". This is a reference to the rainbow bridge that connects heaven and earth in Norse mythology.
Overall, the song is about dreaming of escaping from everyday life and going on an adventure.
Line by Line Meaning
En ka' li' at stoppe
One can't stop
En ka' li' at sy
One can't sew
En ka' rende og hoppe
One can run and jump
En af to som bly
One of two as shy
En er let til bens
One is light on their feet
Der aldrig to der ens
There are never two that are the same
Nogen vil stå på scene
Some will stand on stage
Nogen vil kigge på
Some will watch
Nogen er født på grenen
Some are born on the branch
Nogen i Åbenrå
Some in Åbenrå
Men næsten alle har, Som jeg et ønske klar
But almost all have, like me, a clear wish
Hvis du en tretten og ga', En god gevinst en dag
If you get thirteen and go, a good win someday
Så stak jeg af
Then I'd run away
Snorkel og gummitæer (Snorkel og gummitæer)
Snorkel and flippers (Snorkel and flippers)
Udland og palmetræer (Udland og palmetræer)
Abroad and palm trees (Abroad and palm trees)
Solskin og måneskær
Sunshine and moonlight
Under Vor herres hvide bro
Under our Lord's white bridge
Contributed by Ella B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@marklrc
I never learned Danish but I've listened to this song countless times over the last 15 years.
@ArchieM
Even if you knew Danish, you wouldn't make much sense of this song ;D
It's lovely.
@75peterolsen
Tommy var genial. Han endte desværre som kitsch, men han skrev nogle skidegode melodier!! Manden var genial!!!!
@christiandal4968
Enig. Fik aldrig den respons han fortjente!
@barzame
TOMMY SEEBACH ALWAYS HAD MY BIGGEST SIMPATY ,HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A BIG FAN OF U R.I.P TOMMY -LOVE THAT HIS SON ARE DOING SOO FANTASTIC -DADDY MOST BEE PROUD !! XXXXX FROM A BIG FAN IN PERU
@johnnyweden9540
Tommy when he was best. Tommy RIP. your biggest fan in England. You where the best in Denmark, my best to the family.
@christinafrch904
Ved ikke om danskere bare har en forfærdelig musiksmag?????? -Jeg synes i hvert fald Tommy havde fortjent mere annerkendelse :-(<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3
@kingkonut
Tommy was too pure for this world
@christiandal4968
Fra en svunden tid. Du er savnet Tommy!
@tuffuffe100
Finns det en bättre låt och något man verkligen blir gladare av att se på? Detta är 10 poäng! Synd han inte tävlande för Danmark i ESC med denna sång!