Eurovision is supposed to be a celebration. Those lucky enough to bag tickets to the live shows are usually seen on TV dancing around the arena, cheering and having a fabulous time.
But during the jury show at this year’s song contest in Sweden, the atmosphere was anything but jubilant. Instead, the scenes inside the Malmö Arena were tense, and it’s not hard to guess why.
Clips shared online show how the usual cheers and applause were replaced by hostility, all of it directed at Eden Golan, Israel’s entry in this year’s competition. As she launched into her performance for the night, footage shows Golan being drowned out by booing and chants of “Free Palestine” from the audience. According to one attendee in the crowd, who shared their experience online, the “atmosphere inside the arena was horrible”.
I guess some anti-boowing tech will be deployed this year as well.
The Dutch News Podcast talked about this a few years ago when there was apparent controversy about a member of a band appearing to snort coke. He was found not to have done so. That’s about the most I know about this event.
I hoped for much more jeering. The video did not match the article, in my opinion.
Israelis are not European, and neither am I. Australians are not European either. Maybe it is how we think of ourselves that determine our identity. Calling Australians European seems like a shade of racism.
Except for Australia, all participating countries are a member of the EBU, which is why they can enter.
Indirectly so is Australia since they have the BBC as well.
And Australia got invited to join (officially as a guest, I think) because the competition was super popular in Australia already.
While the ACTUAL reason is TV revenue for EBU, I prefer to see it as them being allowed to join because of the enthusiasm of the people 😁❤️
To be fair, Israelis are extremely European. In fact 75 years ago they mostly lived in Europe. They should consider going back.
The problem here is that Putin was banned two years ago for war crimes and israel is not while it is committing a massive Genocide.
I think today, around 40% of Israeli’s is of European descent. In Australia, that’ll be closer to 90%
How is this one lady who’s got amazing talent being held responsible for the wrong doings of her countries government?
Like that’s not how blame works, but I suppose this is their outlet?
A big shame none the less.
She’s going to enroll in the IDF to murder some innocent people. She said so herself.
They also had to change the title from October Rain to Hurricane and some of the lyrics because the song was originally about what happened on October 7th.
Dude, have you actually heard the song? She’s not a bad singer, but “amazing talent” goes way too far. We’re not talking about Madonna here.
Also, the choreography in the music video is fucking hilarious.
Because she is a representative of a certain non European country committing crimes against humanity and genocide while she sings?
Last I checked Israel is not in Europe.
Eurovision participants are sent to eurovision by the public broadcaster of their country. Often the government takes part in making the choice of who goes and what the song is. She also publicly supports the actions of her government, and in previous songs that got rejected she wrote about supporting the war.
and in previous songs that got rejected she wrote about supporting the war.
Slightly off- This same song was originally written as an October 7th memorial song, but the title (October Rain) had to be changed, along with some of the lyrics.
Either way, it won’t win.
I wouldn’t be so sure. At least for Italy, whose votes were leaked, 40% of the votes were for Israel.
The runner up were The Netherlands, who got 7% of the votes. They are also disqualified now for “threats” against a member of the program. Coincidentally, also the only singer that publicly criticized Israël. Take that as you want.
Wrong month. If she was doing a bangin cover of September Rain by Guns N’ Roses, I’d give it a listen. That’s a great song.
*November rain
Whoops. I’m a doofus. Thanks!
She’s a wailing pop singer. I don’t think you’d want to hear her cover.
Ugh. You’re right. No wailing, please.
Setting aside what others have said here. I think the article does a lot of framing by suggesting the protests and criticism are entirely directed at Israel’s entry. From what I’ve seen, the whole event itself is in the midst of a crossfire of criticism for letting Israel participate as well as being heavily biased in favor of the Israeli contestant. The Q&A with the contestants yesterday seemed to be very politicized in general. But once Golan was asked something, the organizers felt the need to clarify that she does not have to answer anything she felt uncomfortable with. That rubbed the (now probably former) contestant of the Netherlands the wrong way, asking “Why not?”. Well, the Joost situation certainly doesn’t help the organizers either. Whether they had anything to do with it or not, it puts the spotlight on them even more.
Whether they had anything to do with it or not, it puts the spotlight on them even more.
They’re continuously making fun of Joost on social media. Basically behaving like jackasses. They seem to like getting special treatment while behaving like a bully.
Was it ever not? This stupid competition has been around forever but hasn’t been trendy till a few years ago. It’s crap. If any of this music was good we’d be hearing it on Spotify
You do! Duncan Lawrence (Netherlands - Arcade) Rosa Lynn (Ireland - Snap) and Måneskin (Italy - cover of Beggin’) are in regular play in the US.
Those are from the last two or three years. Remember that many songs are in their native language, so they’re not likely to hit over in the Anglophone world.
Historically you can’t ignore Celine Dion and Abba.
There was also that banger Wild Dances that I believe was one of the radio songs in GTA IV
And The Netherlands has just been disqualified 🤷♂️
noo, windows95man :(
Windows95Man is Finland. Netherlands sent Joost Klein - Europapa.
It seems the Målmo police are involved, rumors of an incident between Klein and the production staff?
Yesterday they said he assaulted an israeli journalist physically, now they changed it into “verbal threats”.
The Israeli victim special
Israel’s contestant was asked a hard question and she was told she didn’t have to answer it. I read that someone from the Dutch team shouted “why not?” But I’m not clear if that was Klein or someone else. If that what you’re referring to? The reporting has been all over the place.
Klein was asked a hard question and was told to answer, so when Israel’s contestant was told she didn’t need to answer he loudly asked why not. I think this context is pretty important but always left out.
He supposedly intimidatsd a female production staff.
I have seen this too, but there’s not much detail. (I’m not saying he didn’t do it, I’m saying I don’t know what he is accused of having done!)
There is also a source who says it has been blown out of proportion. We’ll have to wait and see what happened exactly.
Dutch TV just released a statement that he made a ‘threatening gesture’ towards a camerawoman that was filming him when he came off stage after he asked not to be filmed
Whether or not it’s out of proportion would depend on which gesture I guess. But the organisation is claiming a zero tolerance policy so there’s that
Wrong country. How do you even mistake Finland and the Netherlands?
I mean they sent someone called “Eden Golan”.
That would be like the English fielding a contestant called, “Paradise Belfast”.
I am going to use this opportunity to show this year’s ‘fuck it, we aren’t winning, so let’s just have fun’ entry. This time, it’s Croatia’s entry- Rim Tim Tagi Dim by a dude who calls himself Baby Lasagna and it’s really funny.
this year’s ‘fuck it, we aren’t winning, so let’s just have fun’ entry
Croatia is like the number one favorite this year.
It’s got Kärjää energy and I love it.
I’ve seen a few places that they’re up there with a solid chance to win!
Instead, empty gestures, performative victimhood and self-preservation from the EBU, broadcasters and those competing have left a stain on Eurovision. It’s one that’s unlikely to wash out. When next year’s competition comes around, the camp spectacle and joyfulness that give the song contest its enticing colour will remain dirtied. No lessons will be learned, no accountability will be taken, and the lives of countless Palestinians will still be lost.
Seems to be a lot of the ‘no accountability’ going around
