the idea of Eurovision like a festival living somewhere absurd parallel reality is squeaking this year due to the impact of his song Israel (and for their participation) in the tragic context of war Loop. This represents an unprecedented escalation of the political dimension of the contest, although there have been many in its history. non-music venture this just short-circuits its reputation as entertainment. In the Eurovision annals there is this banner, ‘Boycott Franco and Salazar’A spontaneous demonstration was shown in 1964, after which Franco’s TVE decided to implement a loop that delayed the broadcast when covering international events.
Israeli song ‘Hurricane’ (defended by) Eden Golan), made it to the final this Thursday, thanks to European television voting. Surprise? Although the general consensus seems to be to castigate Israel’s role in Gaza (protests are spreading to university campuses in many countries), the wave of accusations may well have led to this situation. A reaction that the Eurovision machinery allows itself to benefit from. As has been seen over the years, a highly motivated minority (whether in the LGTBI key or championing music like rock or heavy metal) can have the power to promote a song and make it a success.
scenario twist
Regarding Israel, the booing on Thursday (toned down in the television production), the occasional official boycott (Belgium cut off the broadcast during his performance) and the treatment Eden Golan received in Malmö these days (political questions at the press conference, Condescending yawns from Greece’s Marina Satti when he speaks) can transform this 20-year-old singer victim In the eyes of some voters. This Friday, ‘Hurricane’ has skyrocketed up the bookmakers’ rankings and is currently in second place behind the Croatian song (‘Rim tim tagi dim’ by Baby Lasagna). Although the exact proportions of televised votes are unknown, RAI’s incompetence revealed that at least 38% of Italy’s votes this Thursday were for ‘Hurricane’.
A sign that there’s something going on under the radar? What looks like a very negative scenario for this year IsraelShe appeared to be moving towards him gracefully. ’empty point’, has made a comeback and anything looks possible for the finale this Saturday. We’re talking about a song that had to change its lyrics: the first song, along with its title ‘October rain’, It vaguely contained a melancholy reference to some “good boys” who were sacrificed and could be identified with the victims of terrorism. 7 October attack Hamas To Israel. In the background, there is a debate about why this country is allowed to participate in the festival even though Russia has been excluded from the festival in 2022.
Troubled east wing
This incident once again placed Israel at the center of the debate about the politicization of Eurovision (a classic); It has been mostly Eastern countries that have recently stepped up such observations. There is the victory two years ago. Ukraine suddenly became a country perceived as a source of moral support. And in the past he has associated his songs with political messages: 2007’s ‘Lasha tumbai’ (which sounded like ‘Farewell to Russia’) or the story of Crimean Tatars deported by Stalin, evoked in the song ‘1944’, won the 2016 edition.
This year, Ukraine once again reminds us of its bitter reality with a staging. flare bath This reminds one of a missile rain. Other countries that emerged from the USSR expressed a certain resentment towards old mother Russia, to put it mildly: ‘We don’t want to go in’ title played on the tenant’s surname Kremlin and when Georgia was disqualified in 2009 (festival held at Wolf’s Den in Moscow).
Israel’s Eurovision CV is full of politically charged events, starting with the unprecedented security measures taken at the festival’s first opening. 1973Just six months after Palestinian terrorist group Black September He killed two Israeli athletes (and took nine hostage). Munich Olympic Games. It has been said that singer Ilanit (her song “O sham” poetically speaks of “a meeting place”, a “garden of love”, inviting us to think about the “promised land” realized in the State of Israel. ), Dressed bulletproof vest under the dress during her performance in Luxembourg, although she denied it years later.
But Eurovision also mirrored the internal tensions between conservative and progressive factions in Israel. 1998 victory ‘Diva’, the disco-pop anthem championed by trans singer Dana International, It gave the image of an open-minded country and was described as a “devil” by the ultra-Orthodox. In 2000, the talkative young Ping Pong contingent caused a storm in the country with the song ‘Sameach (Be Happy)’ sung by an Israeli girl. “A friend of mine in Damascus”At the end, he opened the flags of his country and Syria and shouted “peace, peace”. And in 2009 the tandem of Noa (Jew) and Mira Awad (Arab Christian) in the conciliatory article ‘Another way must be found’ It encouraged criticism of the latter for giving an image of the country as too friendly towards coexistence.
Israeli participation has traditionally been vetoed by Arab television stations affiliated with the EBU. Morocco agreed to participate in Eurovision once, in 1980, but Israel withdrew from the competition that year (this was a national day of mourning, Yom Hazikaron). In a 2019 crackdown in Tel Aviv (amid calls for a boycott by BDS activists), Icelandic band Hatari was fined for holding a demonstration. Palestinian flag on television Madonna also shines (along with the Israeli) with her out-of-competition performance.
international order
this is still EBU insists it is an “apolitical” festival but we are faced with the showcase of a multimillion-dollar audience that stirs emotions and interests. A competition created in 1956 within the framework of overcoming conflicts in Europe, initially limited to the western half of the continent and free market countries, which inspired the creation of a similar event on the eastern wing in 1965, Intervision (converted in 1977) in Sopot, Poland to the Festival). And with that the disappearance of socialist regimesIt celebrates the triumph of Western parameters. It does not seem too far-fetched to see an actor at Eurovision who is positive about the preservation of a certain international order.
This year may well be a turning point: Never has a song with a clear chance of victory fueled such visible and opposing positions, and it is difficult to predict what consequences the triumph of a song they celebrate might have on the festival. protest attended by thousands of people. Not bad, by the way, for a festival that is often labeled as mundane, irrelevant and out of touch with reality.
Source: Informacion
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.