The growing controversy over Israel’s Eurovision song entry
The growing controversy over Israel’s Eurovision song entry
Israel has threatened to withdraw from the contest if the lyrics of its entry, currently under review, are rejected for being too political.
They couldn't resist breaking the rules lmao, but face no consequences, besides being mad about it
Israel has threatened to withdraw from this year’s Eurovision Song Contest if organizers decide to reject its entry amid wider calls for the country’s exclusion over its military campaign in Gaza.
The European Broadcasting Union is currently reviewing the lyrics of Israel’s entry, a song called “October Rain” by Russian-Israeli singer Eden Golan, which is thought to reference the victims of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks. If the EBU decides Israel has breached its rules by submitting content deemed political, the body will allow it to submit new lyrics or a new song.
Israel’s Public Broadcasting Corporation earlier said it has “no intention to replace the song” if it is not approved, warning that it will pull out of the contest scheduled for May in Malmö, Sweden. Israel’s culture minister has stated that while the song reflects “the current public sentiment in Israel these days,” that doesn’t make it “a political song.”
Israel became the first non-European nation to compete in Eurovision in 1973, and has since won the competition four times.
read more: https://www.semafor.com/article/02/27/2024/israels-controversial-eurovision-song-entry
Israel’s Public Broadcasting Corporation earlier said it has “no intention to replace the song” if it is not approved, warning that it will pull out of the contest scheduled for May in Malmö, Sweden.
Narcissistic nation think their presence is such a blessing that pulling out of the contest is deemed a "threat" 🤦
if it is not approved, warning that it will pull out of the contest scheduled for May in Malmö, Sweden.
you can't
fire megive me a second chance, I quit (this contest)!Russian-Israeli singer Eden Golan
not a good time for this person to be political. Triple whammy (Golan heights is a controversial location)
I feel like she might have been chosen specifically because of the triple whammy. Allows them to cause more outrage and then cry about being a victim.
Russia was banned from Eurovision for much less. Truly a hypocritical and racist world.
Russia did invade another member state, which is a bit of a no-no
Oh no Israel... Don't threaten us with a good time.
Israel is not even in Europe
Honorary colonists.
Most Israelis are just immigrants from Europe/US. Even the singer in this article is actually Russian. Netanyahu's real name is Mileikowsky. He graduated from Cheltenham High School outside of Philadelphia.
Their current president Isaac Herzog is the first Israeli President actually born in Israel. His mother is from Egypt and his Father is from Ireland.
Given the nature of Israel's foundings this should be not terribly surprising. Israelis are just whites from Europe and The US.
It only has to do with being an ebu/sister org member which many arab states are eligible to compete, but refuse to do so since Israel is in it/ in some cases having laws preventing the broadcasting of anything Israel was involved in making.
Sounds like they think Israel's inclusion is make or break for the competition.
Call me cynical, but I reckon they fully expect to get booted from the show and are intentionally milking the situation for propaganda purposes back home.
This is a pretty common take in Eurovision discussion boards atm.
EBU doesn't want the controversy of taking a stance on the I/P conflict, but most Eurovision fans are pro-Palestine and a lot are threatening to boycott if Israel does compete. And KAN (which is in charge of Israel's entry) obv doesn't want the humiliation of a guaranteed last place and potential harassment/security issues for the musician they send. Giving Israel the boot over the song (which, if you read the lyrics, is actually pretty subtle on what it's referencing) is a win-win for everyone involved.
To many, even valid criticism on reality itself can be labeled as anti-semetic if it can quiet any valid criticism on anything they want.
I agree. It is a win-win. They stay, they get what they what, plus free victimhood PR... if they get kicked out, is not because they broke the rules, it is just because blatant antisemitism. They will twist it into victimhood PR, anyways. Prove me wrong.
Staying withing guidelines was never an option.
IDK nothing indicated they would be booted, they pretty prominently announced they wouldn't be restricting Israel from competing, to much controversy at that
Wasn't like 3 songs last year "political".
Reject them cause they're genocidal ghouls, christ
No, political is things that make me personally uncomfortable
What's is "political" or not tends to be a political matter.
Don't threaten me with a good time
Just fucking do it already. Man they sure like to make bad publicity lately.
Israel became the first non-European nation to compete in Eurovision in 1973
To be fair to the euros they tried to both sides it and let arab/north african countries in, but those countries refused for obvious reasons.
It would be pretty fuckin excellent if Palestine also had an entry also titled "October Rain". Just the Zionist complaining would be worth it.
Guns and Roses gonna sue for song title plaigarism
TIL October=November
Yes
I was thinking the Prince estate, but yeah GnR too.
Wow, thanks for kicking yourself out, guys. Now we don't have to worry about the weird vibes when you're up and get booed.
"You're not breaking up with me, I'm breaking up with you" vibes, it's pathetic
Why do they care? Eurovision voting is heavily politicised, which is clear to see when you look at the UK getting continuously pounded during times where it did things Europe disliked (war in Iraq, Brexit), and Ukraine winning during the war, with the UK suddenly doing well again. If Israel send someone, they're going to spend several hours waiting around while they receive nil point.
While Brexit definitely didn't help, the UK entry was objectively really bad that year.
How lazy must the song writing be for the Eurovision people to think it's too political? You can absolutely hide political messages in the lyrics, in a song about love, sex partying, etc, and the vast majority of people will not notice. Quite a few bands have made careers out of doing exactly that. I mean just from the song title, you know that they are going to be very heavy handed with it.
Eurovision is a pantomime. D list celebs and cheesy songs.
Why is Israel considered part of Europe?
It's not. Even Australia is in Eurovision
The source itself makes me angry for purposely misspelling ‘semaphore’.
What if... Imagine one second... That semaphore.com was taken? Just a wild though I know
It’s my personal bugbear when perfectly good words are misspelled purposely.