Gitte Henning: The Danish Pop and Schlager Star

Gitte Hænning, known professionally as Gitte Henning, is a Danish-born singer and entertainer who became a major star in the German-speaking schlager and pop scene. Her career, spanning over six decades, is marked by sustained popularity, numerous hit singles, and successful album sales across Europe.

Early career

Born Gitte Hænning in 1946 in Århus, Denmark, she began performing as a child. Her professional breakthrough came early when she represented Denmark at the 1963 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Dansevise," which she performed alongside husband-and-wife duo Grethe and Jørgen Ingmann, securing a second-place finish.

Breakthrough

Gitte Henning's true commercial breakthrough arrived in the 1970s after she shifted her focus to the German market. Her 1973 single "Ich will 'nen Cowboy als Mann" became a massive schlager hit, establishing her as a household name in Germany and Austria and leading to a prolific recording period with labels like BASF and later Polydor.

Key tracks

Dansevise — This 1963 Eurovision entry launched her international career and remains a classic in Danish music history.

Ich will 'nen Cowboy als Mann — The definitive schlager hit that cemented her status in Germany and became her signature song.

So schön kann doch kein Mann sein — A major chart success in the mid-1970s that showcased her powerful vocal delivery in the pop-schlager genre.

Junge, komm bald wieder — This 1975 hit demonstrated her ability to deliver emotive ballads, further expanding her fanbase.

Jetzt ist die Zeit — A later-career highlight from 1992, proving her enduring relevance in the German music landscape.

Throughout the 1980s and beyond, Gitte Henning maintained a consistent presence with album releases and television appearances. She successfully navigated musical trends, occasionally incorporating disco and pop elements into her schlager foundation, and performed in major musical theater productions in Germany.

Artists with a similar trajectory in the German-language pop and schlager sphere include Wencke Myhre, a Norwegian singer who also found lasting fame in the German schlager scene. Howard Carpendale shares her longevity and success in blending pop melodies with schlager sensibilities. Udo Jürgens, though often in a more chanson style, was a fellow Eurovision alum who achieved monumental chart success in German-speaking countries. Siw Malmkvist is another Scandinavian artist who, like Henning, built a prolific career centered on the German market.

Gitte Henning's extensive catalog of hits ensures her music remains in regular rotation on classic schlager FM stations and dedicated European pop channels. Her songs are staples on radio streams that celebrate the iconic sounds of 1970s and 80s German-language popular music.

The music of Gitte Henning, the Danish-German schlager and pop artist, can be heard on radio stations featured on our website. Listeners can discover her classic hits and enduring legacy through the various radio stations available on onairium.com.