Eurovision Song Contest Fuss Intensifies: Controversy Surrounding Israel’s Participation

Of course, it is now a tradition that there is a fuss around the Eurovision Song Contest, but rarely has the fuss broke out as early as this year and never before has it been so intense. In recent weeks, a real signature war took place over Israel’s participation. Artists like Robyn and First Aid Kit were against, Helen Mirren and Boy George were in favor (see the internet for more information) and in the meantime the festival organization tried to explain that Eurovision is apolitical because no governments but broadcasters participate in it and that Israel is therefore fine could participate.

That was of course very easy. Last May we actually saw Mia and Dion waving the Dutch flag instead of that of AVROTROS during the opening ceremony. And when Belgium handed out its jury points, the Atomium was visible in the background instead of the VRT facade.

Rarely has the fuss surrounding the Eurovision Song Contest erupted as early as this year, and never before so intensely

At Eurovision, artist and broadcaster have been identified with their country of origin from the start, creating a totum pro parte. Resulting in all kinds of other fuss: who gives points to whom (nepotism!), does the tractor that is being sung about stand for a vehicle or for Belarusian President Lukashenko (as in last year’s Croatian entry) and so on. Through. Whether the organization wants it or not, the festival is political to the core.

It has now been announced that Russian-Israeli singer Eden Golan will represent Israel. On Monday evening it was leaked that the possible song she will participate with is the title October Rain wears. There was unrest again, because the terrorist act that kicked off the war took place in October. Little else was revealed about the content, except that the song will be sung in both English and Hebrew, but the title alone was enough to start the discussion about whether the song would politicize the attack. It went wild again online and the relevant broadcaster, Keshet 12, hastily said that it was anything but certain that this song would be selected.

That was not due to the text, but simply to money. The producers could not agree on royalties.

And so one clog after another breaks and you think back to the good old days when the world wasn’t such a mess. You could still pretend that the Eurovision Song Contest was not about politics or capital, but, I don’t know, about something like unity, or connection or, if necessary, music. Or something.

Ellen Deckwitz writes an exchange column here with Marcel van Roosmalen.

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2024-02-21 20:56:53


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