Taking part in the Eurovision Song Contest is nerve-racking, even when the audience welcomes you to the stage.
For one singer at this year’s contest, it will likely be a particularly anxious experience.
When Eden Golan, 20, performs representing Israel at the second semifinal on Thursday, a significant portion of the audience will not be cheering for her.
In fact, many people don’t want her country to be at Eurovision at all.
For months, pro-Palestinian groups and some Eurovision fans have been trying in vain to get the contest’s organizers, the European Broadcasting Union, to ban Golan from taking part at this year’s event in Malmo, Sweden, because of Israel’s war in Gaza.
The European Broadcasting Union objected that the title and some of the song’s lyrics were overly political, and asked Israel to change them.
Bambie Thug, representing Ireland, said at a news conference on Tuesday that, after a dress rehearsal, officials had demanded that the singer remove pro-Palestinian slogans from an outfit.
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Even when the crowd cheers you on, participating in the Eurovision Song Contest can be nerve-wracking.
There will probably be one singer competing this year who will find it especially nerve-wracking. Many people in the audience on Thursday won’t be supporting Eden Golan, 20, when she performs for Israel in the second semifinal. Many people actually oppose her nation participating in Eurovision at all.
Pro-Palestinian organizations and a few Eurovision viewers have been attempting in vain for months to get the European Broadcasting Union, the contest’s organizer, to prohibit Golan from competing at this year’s event in Malmo, Sweden, on the grounds of Israel’s conflict in Gaza.
These demonstrations became especially loud when Golan’s entry was named “October Rain” in February. This title seemed to allude to the Hamas attacks of the previous year, which claimed 1,200 lives according to Israeli officials, and kidnapped 240 more. The European Broadcasting Union requested that Israel alter the song’s title and some of its lyrics, citing them as unduly political. After Golan made changes, the song is now known as “Hurricane.”. “.
As per their consistent stance, politics have no place in the Eurovision contest. This year, they are strictly limiting the use of slogans and symbols that have the potential to incite conflict. During a press conference on Tuesday, Irish representative Bambie Thug stated that following a dress rehearsal, the singer was asked to take off any pro-Palestinian slogans from her attire.
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