Eurovision 2024: Uniting Music and Controversy Amid Political Protests and Historic Win

Eurovision 2024

Eurovision Song Contest becomes political due to Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Israeli singer takes fifth place amid protests

The 2024 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, Sweden, was marked by controversy surrounding the participation of Israeli singer Eden Golan, with protests and calls for her exclusion due to her ties to the Israeli military. Despite changing the title of her song, Golan faced criticism and boos during her performance, but ultimately finished in fifth place.

The event highlighted the ongoing political tensions surrounding Israel and Palestine on the global stage, overshadowing Swiss rapper Nemo’s victory with the song “The Code”.

Key Concepts

• Pro-Palestinian demonstrators protested the inclusion of Israeli singer Eden Golan in the Eurovision Song Contest.
• The EBU requested Golan to change the title of her song from “October Rain” to “Hurricane” due to its association with the October attacks in Israel.
• The event highlighted the political tensions surrounding Israel and Palestine on the global stage.
• The controversy surrounding Golan’s participation in Eurovision sparked protests and calls for her to be banned.
• The European Broadcasting Union confirmed Golan’s eligibility, leading to accusations of double standards.
• Protesters gathered in Malmö to denounce Golan’s participation, with some accusing Eurovision of supporting genocide.
• The Eurovision Song Contest finals saw contestants from 25 countries and regions compete, with audience votes and a jury determining the winner.
• Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz showed support for contestant Eden Golan, who faced hatred and anti-Semitism.
• The championship was won by Swiss rapper Nemo with the song “The Code”, exploring self-exploration as a non-binary person.
• Nemo expressed hope for the competition to promote peace and dignity worldwide.

The 2024 Eurovision Song Contest (Eurovision) entered the finals on Saturday (May 11) in Malmö, Sweden, and was ultimately won by Swiss rapper Nemo. However, on the eve of the final, the organizers allowed Israeli singers to participate, triggering pro-Palestinian demonstrators to take to the streets to protest, adding a strong political color to this event.

Since the war in Gaza began in October last year, Israel has been criticized for its violent counterattack against the Palestinian armed group Hamas. Affected by the global anti-Israel outcry, 20-year-old Israeli player Eden Golan was also involved in political controversy. In the atmosphere of boycott, she finally reversed the situation with the votes of the audience and won fifth place in the competition. name.

According to a Reuters photographer at the competition, when Golan sang, the audience sometimes booed her, but others applauded her. These noises were broadcast to tens of millions in Europe and around the world. audience can hear it. In addition, when the Israeli judges were scoring, the audience also burst into boos.

Golan’s entry song “Hurricane” was originally called “October Rain”, but the organizer, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), said “October Rain” was too reminiscent of Hamas’s attack in October last year. The attack on southern Israel on the 7th required a change in the title of the song, so Golan changed the title to “Hurricane”.

Although Golan changed the title of her song, a large number of netizens and demonstrators still asked the organizers to ban her from participating, and even thousands of music creators from around the world launched a boycott.

After the organizer, the European Broadcasting Union, confirmed Golan’s eligibility in March this year, it refused to suspend her, prompting protesters to criticize the Eurovision Song Contest for “double standards” because Russia, which invaded Ukraine, will be involved in the 2022 competition. Banned.

Thousands of protesters gathered in the center of Malmö ahead of Saturday’s final, waving Palestinian flags and shouting “Eurovision united by genocide”, a reference to the event’s official slogan “United by music”; Hundreds of people protested outside the competition, chanting “Eurovision, you have nowhere to hide, you are supporting genocide”.

Although some Israeli fans are excited about Golan’s participation, they still feel a sense of disappointment because they believe that Golan is involved in “political factors” and has been excluded by judges from various countries.

Before Golan stepped onto the final stage, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz posted a message of support on the social media platform X. He wrote: “Eden (Golan) stands proudly in front of tremendous hatred and anti-Semitism. Tonight, let us show all the haters who are leading the way!”

Before the finals, Dutch contestant Joost Klein was disqualified from the competition due to complaints from the production team. In the end, contestants from 25 countries and regions entered the finals.

Audience votes account for 50% of the results of the Eurovision Song Contest finals, while a jury composed of five music professionals from each participating country accounts for the other 50%.

This year’s championship was won by 24-year-old Nemo with “The Code”, a song that combines drum and bass, opera, rap and rock, and tells the story of Nemo’s self-exploration as a non-binary person. journey of.

“I hope this competition will live up to its promise and continue to protect peace and dignity for all people around the world,” Nimmo said while accepting the trophy on stage.