"United by music." A touching sentiment, perhaps, yet it seems far from the truth as we tuned in for the 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Since 1956, Eurovision has graced screens across Europe and beyond. Although it has had its share of controversies over the years, many are calling 2024 the contest's most controversial year yet, with boycotts, disqualifications, and protests tainting the event's atmosphere and overall reputation.
Held this year in Malmö, Sweden, much of the unrest centred around Israel’s participation in the contest given its role in the current war in Gaza, which has been ongoing since October 2023.
Photography: CORINNE CUMMING/EBU
In the run up to this year’s contest, many were calling for Israel to be barred from participating, particularly as Russia was excluded from the contest in 2022 after their invasion of Ukraine in February that year.
People have been quick to argue that Israel’s actions in Gaza do not align with the contest’s long-held message of joy, unity, and prosperity, and the fact that Israel was granted participation as normal divided fans, contestants, and broadcasters alike. The country’s partaking in the event triggered thousands of protestors to rally in Malmö, leading to growing safety concerns.
Trouble in Malmö
A country long considered among the safest in the world, the scale of the pro-Palestinian protests has brought about one of the largest ever police operations in Sweden - with reinforcement coming from across Sweden, as well as neighbouring countries Denmark and Norway.
Many are worried about the safety of the local Jewish population, fearing that they may be targeted should the unrest on the streets begin to escalate. Mr Fredrik Sieradzki, a representative of Malmö’s Jewish community, has observed rising anti-semitism in the area since the outbreak of war last October.
Amid the controversies of the upcoming song contest, Mr Sieradzki describes the growing fear among his community, with some leaving Malmö altogether. He also states that “they won't be at the venues where there will be celebrations and for sure not where there is a big demonstration." Such sentiments fail to mirror the contest jovial atmosphere we are usually familiar with.
The Grand Final
Despite the protests, petitions, and widespread unrest, Israel went on to enter the competition nonetheless, represented by 20 year old singer, Eden Golan. And not only did they participate, but they also made it to Saturday night’s grand final.
Her twice revised song “Hurricane” was performed after the removal of any initial political undertones and the original title “October Rain”, a reference to the October Hamas attacks. While her performance went smoothly, the unsettled audience reaction could be heard on the live broadcast - with many in the crowd filming the audience’s response on social media, where the booing was all the more audible.
And as if the Israel dilemma wasn’t enough, the revelry of the night was further tainted by the last-minute disqualification of the Netherlands entry, Joost Klein.
A popular contender for the winning spot this year, the singer was disqualified just hours before the live final due to “threatening behaviour directed at a female member of the production crew”, and only added to the bumpy broadcast on Saturday night.
Israel’s Golan performing at Eurovision’s live final. Photography: SARAH LOUISE BENNETT/EBU
For many, Israel’s continued participation in the event was seen as a great act of hypocrisy and inconsistency on behalf of the organisers, who had been quick to ban Russia from the contest in 2022 after their invasion of Ukraine months earlier, circumstances that seem so similar to the ongoing events in Gaza.
Noel Curran, director general of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), released a statement, maintaining that the Eurovision song contest remains a non-political event, and that “comparisons between wars and conflicts are complex and difficult and [...] not ours to make.”
The EBU also stated that Russia’s eviction from the contest was also due to the suspension of Russian broadcasters after “consistent breaches of membership obligations and the violation of public service media values,” and not simply due to the country’s actions in Ukraine.
Aftermath
Protests, disqualifications, and controversy aside, the final went relatively smoothly, with Israel surprising many by placing 2nd in the public televote, beaten only by Croatia’s Baby Lasagna. At the end of the night, Switzerland was ultimately crowned the 2024 champion with their entry, Nemo, being the first non-binary artist to win. At least there was something to celebrate there.
Switzerland will therefore be due to host the contest in 2025 for the first time in over 30 years, after winning in 1988 when represented by a young Celine Dion.
Harbouring a famously neutral history regarding politics and international disputes, Switzerland’s hosting of the event next year may help set the tone for a more harmonious and settled atmosphere around the contest.
However, this year’s controversies and divided response has truly shed light on the growing dissatisfaction of fans, with many questioning the contest’s capacity to uphold their image as a non-political event, and the integrity of the organisers behind the song contest.
Edited by Charlotte Lewis
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