The Eurovision song contest

[MenInG]

The Netherlands' Duncan Laurence has won the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest with his song Arcade.

He had been the bookmakers' favourite to win, and came through to the top of the leaderboard with 492 points after the public vote.

The UK's Michael Rice came bottom, after getting just three points from the public vote, and a total of 16 points for Bigger Than Us.

Laurence said: "Here's to dreaming big, this is to music first, always."

The last time The Netherlands won was 1975. The audience joined in as Laurence performed the track again at the end of the show.

Italy finished second with 465 and Russia third with 369 points.

The ceremony also saw last year's winner Netta perform, while singers from previous contests also sang each other's songs.

Madonna also performed just before the voting results were announced. She kicked off her set with a version of Like A Prayer, with backing dancers dressed as monks.

She went on to sing Future, her new single featuring the rapper Quavo.

"A slightly muted response to Madonna there," said BBC One's commentator Graham Norton.

Capital Breakfast presenter Roman Kemp was also unimpressed, calling for autotune to come to the rescue.

A section of her performance in which her backing dancers displayed Israeli and Palestinian flags was not an approved part of the act, organisers said.

Eurovision said: "In the live broadcast of the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final, two of Madonna's dancers briefly displayed the Israeli and Palestinian flags on the back of their outfits.

"This element of the performance was not part of the rehearsals which had been cleared with the EBU and the host broadcaster, KAN. The Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political event and Madonna had been made aware of this."

It wasn't just the Queen of Pop who was apparently breaking the rules either.

The organisers said Iceland's Eurovision act could face punishment after displaying Palestinian flags during the live broadcast.

During the final, the band members held up Palestinian flags while their public vote was being announced.

In a statement, Eurovision said the "consequences of this action" will be discussed by the contest's executive board".

Alongside the contest, there were clashes in central Jerusalem as ultra-orthodox Jews protested against Eurovision.

They objected to the scheduling of the Eurovision Song Contest on the Jewish Sabbath, resulting in angry scenes as demonstrators clashed with police.

At one point, a small number of women held a counter protest, showing their bras.

There were other protests in Tel Aviv over Israel's occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights.

The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) has been using social media to oppose holding the contest in Israel because of its treatment of Palestinians.

It accuses Israel of trying to whitewash ("artwash") discrimination, which it likens to apartheid, the system of racial segregation once used in South Africa.

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-48324831

 

[MenInG]

Eurovision said: "In the live broadcast of the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final, two of Madonna's dancers briefly displayed the Israeli and Palestinian flags on the back of their outfits.

"This element of the performance was not part of the rehearsals which had been cleared with the EBU and the host broadcaster, KAN. The Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political event and Madonna had been made aware of this."

===

Good on them!

 

[Robert]

Royamme-Uni: nul points!

 

[Madplayer]

Apartheid Israel hosting Eurovision. The racists in South Africa and Nazis in Germany must be feeling jealous.

 

[good guy]

Apartheid Israel hosting Eurovision. The racists in South Africa and Nazis in Germany must be feeling jealous.

why would nazis be jealous when they hosting Olympics in 1936

 

[Madplayer]

why would nazis be jealous when they hosting Olympics in 1936

Because they cant host it now. Their place has been taken by an even more dangerous ideology.

 

[good guy]

Because they cant host it now. Their place has been taken by an even more dangerous ideology.

but everyone wants to do business with them because they are pretty good with it

 

[KingKhanWC]

Zionists are not happy

 

[Madplayer]

but everyone wants to do business with them because they are pretty good with it

Thats why i said Nazis would be jealous that they cant do it but apartheid Israelis can.

 

[MenInG]

AMSTERDAM, March 21 (Reuters) - The organisers of the Eurovision song contest are looking to stage an alternative to their cancelled event sometime this year, in the form of a television show or through its online platforms.

The European Broadcasting Union, which decided on Wednesday to scrap the event due to the coronavirus crisis, said it was “exploring alternative programming, but not a competition”.

The Eurovision song contest is one of the world’s largest television events and had been scheduled to take place in the Dutch city of Rotterdam in May.

The contest has been held annually since 1956, and was expected to draw up to 200 million viewers and a live audience of tens of thousands for the final on May 16.

“The EBU is very aware of how much the Eurovision song contest will be missed this year”, the organisers said.

“It is our intention to honour the songs that have been elected for 2020”, they said. “To help unite and entertain audiences around Europe during these challenging times.”

Eurovision features live musical numbers from each participating country - more than 50 in recent editions - reaching beyond Europe to Israel and Australia.

Countries could decide to send the same artists as they would have this year when the competition returns in 2021, organisers said.

But they will have to put forward new songs, as the ones chosen for the 2020 edition will no longer be allowed to run in the competition.

https://www.reuters.com/article/hea...ives-for-cancelled-song-contest-idUSL8N2BE0C1

 

[MenInG]

The Eurovision Song Contest may have been cancelled but an alternative event will be held later to celebrate the acts that were due to take part, and the best songs from past years.

A show to find the UK's favourite Eurovision song of all time will be broadcast on BBC One in the UK at 18:30 BST (17:30 GMT), before viewers join a Europe-wide programme showcasing this year's contestants - although there'll be no voting.

The acts who were due to perform - some of whom will not get the chance to appear at Eurovision again - put together a video message for a BBC Newsbeat documentary to thank fans for their support.

Rotterdam's Ahoy concert venue was supposed to host the event, but instead has been converted into an emergency hospital to help the Netherlands battle its coronavirus outbreak.

 

[OMB]

Can TIX and his Tourette's win Eurovision for Norway?

This year's Eurovision entry from Norway, TIX, has arrived with more than just music on his agenda.

"To me Eurovision is not much about the contest, especially this year. It's the biggest arena to talk about diversity, acceptance and inclusion."

TIX - real name Andreas Haukeland - takes his name from the tics he has due to his Tourette's Syndrome.

During the semi-final on Tuesday, TIX showed his tics live on stage by removing his sunglasses.

He describes that moment as "one of the most difficult things I could ever do" as his tics "just go bananas".

These tics usually present as twitching in his facial muscles, and blinking.

He adds: "The song is about feeling inadequate. It's about feeling out of place in this world.

"But the point of that moment is to show people this angel. What is he hiding? What's his weakness? Why is he being held back by these demons? What is he afraid of?"

TIX got to the final by winning a public vote in Norway, and then qualifying in the top ten of the semi-final in Rotterdam on Tuesday.

The themes behind the song, Fallen Angel, come from TIX's personal experience with bullying and mental health, themes which he shared in an interview with NRK ahead of his selection for Norway.

"I think this year more than ever, it's important to talk about it because of the current situation in the world.

"People have been having a miserable year, and a lot of people are suffering right now from mental illness and loneliness."

Ewan Spence, Editor of Eurovision website ESC Insight, says TIX isn't the first disabled artist to feature prominently at Eurovision.

"In 2015 you have the Finnish punk band PKN, who won through their national final and went on stage in Austria.

"There have been a number of blind performers and a couple of wheelchair users, such as Monika Kuszyńska for Poland in 2015.

"There's also Bianca Nicholas, who sang for the UK with Electro Velvet in 2015. She is not visibly disabled, but has cystic fibrosis."

TIX is hoping his music will have an impact across Europe, and for one fan in the UK, his position in the contest means a lot.

Jess Short also has Tourette's and thinks TIX being at Eurovision is "brilliant"
Jess Short, 24, from Cornwall, has Tourette's and volunteers with the charity Tourette's Action. She has been a Eurovision fan for more than a decade.

She says it's "brilliant" to have someone like TIX on stage at Eurovision.

'Embrace yourself'
"It shows that despite having something like Tourette's, which can be so debilitating, you can live your dream and you could do anything that you put your mind to."

TIX's message to people like Jess across Europe is: "Don't just be yourself, embrace yourself."

He adds: "Once you embrace yourself, that's when the happiness starts. Tourette's is both a blessing and a curse, but try to focus on the blessing".

https://www.bbc.com/news/disability-57187712

 

[MenInG]

Eurovision Song Contest 2021 - Grand Final - Live from 18:30 – 02:30(ish) CEST.

 

[Saj]

Dear me, the UK entry was bad.

 

[MenInG]

Italy's act Maneskin has won the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam with the rock track Zitti E Buoni.

It means next year's contest will head to Italy, as is Eurovision tradition, after Maneskin scored a mammoth 524 points.

The UK came last for the second year running, with act James Newman, who performed his self-penned dance track Embers, scoring the dreaded nil points.

Newman, 35, who is the older brother of pop star John Newman, took the defeat in good humour, drinking a beer and standing up to applause from the live audience in the arena.

COVID-19 had threatened to overshadow the event this year, which was held in the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam, forcing some acts to miss key rehearsals or even live shows after positive COVID-19 tests.

Self-isolating Iceland act Dadi Freyr, who had to watch from his hotel room as his rehearsal performance was played out, came in fourth.

Eurovision was set against an unescapable backdrop of the pandemic, meaning the Ahoy Arena only had 3,500 fans inside.

The contest had to be scrapped completely last year, owing to the emergence of the pandemic on the continent, meaning 2019's winner Duncan Laurence had a two-year reign as champion.

Laurence, who was due to perform and hand over the trophy to the winner, ended up self-isolating after testing positive for COVID-19.

There were some delightfully typical Eurovision acts this year, including Norway's Tix being chained to the stage while strapped to angel wings, and Ukraine's Go A, which included throat singing over a rapidly increasing tempo.

Elsewhere, the interval entertainment was provided by a number of previous winners performing on rooftops, including the 2015 winner from Sweden, Mans Zelmerlow, and 2006 winner from Finland, Lordi.

The UK's voting statistics were revealed at the end of the four-hour extravaganza, with Lithuania getting our 12 points and early favourites Malta and Iceland also scoring high with Britons.

Meanwhile, the UK's jury, which is made of industry professionals, awarded France its 12 points - with Amanda Holden revealing the news to the continent.

SKY

 

[Robert]

Called it. Italy’s catchy rap-rock number and energetic performance won the popular vote by miles.

That poor Englishman. Nul points from everyone. He wasn’t a good singer and the song wasn’t great but he seemed popular in the Green Room at least.

It’s almost as though behaving horribly to our neighbours, negotiating in bad faith, insulting their leaders, risking peace in NI, sending gunboats to a fishing demonstration might have repercussions from European voters.

But how telling that the land of The Beatles, Stones, Who, Kinks, Bowie, Led Zep, Elton John, Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, Genesis, Fleetwood Mac, Radiohead, Coldplay, Adele, Stormzy etc. - this furnace of musical creativity - can’t send a decent song to Eurovision.

 

[Saj]

That poor Englishman. Nul points from everyone. He wasn’t a good singer and the song wasn’t great but he seemed popular in the Green Room at least.

Yes it was a poor song, sung by a pretty bad singer.

Felt a bit sorry for him though as the only one with 0 points.

 

[Robert]

Dear me, the UK entry was bad.

Not in terms of recent years - but the overall standard around the competition has risen. Better visual presentation and better choreography.

 

[Itachi]

the Albanian singer was one of the best.

excluding her looks which was gorgeous, her voice range, vocal, intonation was amazing. Not to mention, she was alone but was dominating the stage like a queen.

Just have one question though. What was Russia doing in eurovision?

 

[Robert]

the Albanian singer was one of the best.

excluding her looks which was gorgeous, her voice range, vocal, intonation was amazing. Not to mention, she was alone but was dominating the stage like a queen.

Just have one question though. What was Russia doing in eurovision?

They are members of the European Broadcast Union, as are Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Algeria and Israel.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57234821.amp

The lead singer of the Italian glam rock band which won the Eurovision Song Contest has been cleared of drug use.

It follows an investigation and negative drug test, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) says.

Damiano David denied taking cocaine following online speculation after footage showed him leaning over a table during the grand final on Saturday.

"No drug use took place in the Green Room and we consider the matter closed," the EBU said in a statement.

Måneskin, who had been among the favourites to win the contest, took the top prize with their song Zitti e buoni.

Viewers watching the contest during a live broadcast started asking questions as to what the singer was doing when he appeared to bend his face towards a table as the band celebrated their victory.

At a press conference, David said he had been looking down because guitarist Thomas Raggi had broken a glass. EBU confirmed broken glass was found on the floor, and it can be seen in the live broadcast footage.

"I don't use drugs. Please, guys. Don't say that really, no cocaine," David said on Saturday.

The EBU said it was "alarmed that inaccurate speculation leading to fake news has overshadowed the spirit and the outcome of the event and unfairly affected the band".

"We wish to congratulate Måneskin once again and wish them huge success," it added. "We look forward to working with our Italian member Rai on producing a spectacular Eurovision Song Contest in Italy next year."

The band robustly denied any drug use, and reacted to the allegation in an Instagram story: "We really are AGAINST drugs and we never used cocaine. We are ready to get tasted [tested], cause we have nothing to hide."

French singer Barbara Pravi came second, and defended the band on her Instagram page as speculation grew online, and some called for the Italians to be disqualified before EBU gave its verdict.

"Måneskin were AWESOME on Saturday night, they were voted in by viewers, this is their place, their victory, their moment," she wrote.

Måneskin are the first group to win the competition since 2006. They also gave Italy its first victory since 1990, despite their rock number not being typical Eurovision fare.

 

[MenInG]

Ukraine and the UK are the favourites as the final countdown begins to tonight's annual Eurovision extravaganza, taking place in Italy.

Hundreds of millions are set to tune in for one of the world's most-watched TV events, with a song about Meghan Markle and a track called Give That Wolf a Banana among the 25 finalists.

TikTok star Sam Ryder is representing the UK and should be assured of avoiding the unfair nil-points debacle of James Newman's entry last year.

His song, Space Man, has put him among the frontrunners and he's going fourth from last - which is normally a good thing.

Ryder will also be hoping some of his 12 million followers get on board with the public vote.

The Essex singer-songwriter - who's 6/1 second-favourite at Ladbrokes - said the song was written 18 months ago and he never intended it to be used in the contest.

He's also not worried about his rank on the Eurovision leaderboard.

"I get to sing in a room and connect with people and not think about where I come on a scoreboard," he told Sky News.

"It's for the love and the joy of singing. This is something that celebrates inclusivity, expression, love, peace, joy, togetherness..." added the singer.

Ryder is up against a Ukraine entry that could well surge to victory in a show of support for the war-torn country - with the odds tipping them to hoover up the big points.

Hip hop outfit Kalush Orchestra perform Stefania, a track that mixes traditional Ukrainian folk instruments with modern sounds, and is a tribute to the mother of one of its members.

Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra reach Eurovision final

Speaking ahead of the big day, lead singer Oleg Psyuk told Sky News the group felt "a big responsibility" and was "talking on behalf of our country and being heard on behalf of our country".

The Ukrainian TV commentator for the contest, Timur Miroshnychenko, was even forced to broadcast from a bomb shelter during the semi-final.

If the country does win, the suggestion is the UK would be the preferred candidate to host next year - if the war is still going on.

Other notable hopefuls include Serbian artist Konstrakta, whose peculiar song references Meghan Markle and begins with the lyrics (translated to English): "What could be the secret of Meghan Markle's healthy hair?

"What could it be? I think it's all about the deep hydration."

Eurovision fans seeking more weird and wonderful Europop should also look out for the yellow "alien" heads of Norway's Subwoolfer and their song Give That Wolf A Banana.

Others tipped to do well include Sweden's Cornelia Jakobs and defending Eurovision champions Italy.

The home nation is pinning its hopes on two of its most popular young stars, Mahmood and Blanco.

Mahmood, from Italy's X Factor, was second at Eurovision three years ago, while singer and rapper Blanco topped the charts for eight weeks last year.

Spain could also finish high in the rankings courtesy of Chanel Terrero, a Cuban-born dancer and actress, who performs up-tempo Shakira-esque dance track SloMo.

Italy's northern city of Turin is hosting the show after Italian rockers Maneskin stole the show in Rotterdam last year.

Eurovision's grand final is hosted by Graham Norton and starts on BBC One on Saturday at 8pm.

SKY

 

[James]

Essentially is a fix so Ukraine are the winners.

Hoping for a few points for the UK entry. Or more than zero points at least.

 

[Robert]

Norway for the win!

Before the wolf eats my Grandma /
Give that wolf a banana

 

[James]

Ukraine song was really poor.

I enjoyed Germany.

 

[Robert]

Ukraine song was really poor.

I enjoyed Germany.

I like the Spanish Beyoncé routine. My word that girl can dance.

 

[James]

The guy from the UK did really well!

Hope he gets some points.

 

[Robert]

Good greif.

Four lots of Royaumme-Uni douze ponts….

 

[Robert]

Incredibly, UK still winning….

 

[Robert]

Second place for U.K. as Ukraine predictably monstered the popular vote. Any other year and Sam Ryder would have won that.

Now Ukraine has to host it next year, how will they do that?

 

[KingKhanWC]

Typical European trash music but mainly propaganda.

Ukraine song would have killed birds flying in the air but won. Im surprised the Neo Nazis werent the band leaders. Pathetic nation .

 

[James]

Fantastic stuff from the UK’s Sam Ryder! That was a really catchy song and a soaring pop hit. Won the judges’ vote and second overall. He is the true winner.

UK might host Eurovision next year. Leeds or Birmingham would be great venues.

 

[Gilly]

Typical European trash music but mainly propaganda.

Ukraine song would have killed birds flying in the air but won. Im surprised the Neo Nazis werent the band leaders. Pathetic nation .

Its a music competition and you have to bring your hate speech.

 

[MenInG]

Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra have won the Eurovision Song Contest, in a symbolic show of public support following the country's invasion by Russia.

The rap-folk band, who were given special permission to leave the war-torn country, soared to first place with 631 points.

They ended their performance in Turin with a plea: "Please help Ukraine, help Mariupol, help Azovstal right now."

Sam Ryder came second for the UK, the country's best result since 1998.

A former construction worker, he had been keenly favoured ahead of the competition thanks to his soaring power ballad, Space Man, which evoked the classic British pop of Queen and Elton John.

It topped the jury vote, amassing 283 points, but was pipped at the post when public votes were added to the total. (The UK came fifth with the public, with Ukraine receiving the most points).

Eurovision 2022: Song contest in pictures
How Sam Ryder turned things around for the UK
However, his second place position reverses a long decline in the UK's Eurovision fortunes. The country hasn't been in the top 10 since Jade Ewen came fifth in 2009. In both 2019 and 2021, the UK came last.

"This is the tip of an iceberg," he told the BBC afterwards. "The UK is going to be a force next year. It's gonna be mad."

"This is a red letter moment," added Graham Norton, who presented the contest on BBC One. "I am so happy for [Sam], for the UK and for the BBC who have worked so hard to turn our fortunes."

Sam Ryder backstage
IMAGE SOURCE,EBU
Image caption,
Sam Ryder's boundless positivity was warmly embraced by Eurovision fans
Spain also enjoyed a dramatic recovery in its fortunes, coming third with the slickly-choreographed SloMo.

Performed flawlessly by Cuban-Spanish singer Chanel Terrero, it was the country's first top 10 placing since 2014.

The top five looked like this:

Ukraine - Kalush Orchestra: Stefania
UK - Sam Ryder: Space Man
Spain - Chanel: SloMo
Sweden - Cordelia Jakobs; Hold Me Closer
Serbia - Konstrakta: In Corpore Sano

But nobody could compete with Ukraine's act, who had been favourites to win for weeks.

Their winning song, Stefania, was originally written as a tribute to frontman Oleh Psiuk's mother, but it has been re-purposed as a rallying cry for Ukraine amidst the Russian invasion.

A unique combination of old Ukranian folk melodies and traditional flute with contemporary rap and hip-hop beats, its lyrics about "broken roads" and fields "turning grey" seemed oddly prescient given the devastation facing the country's citizens.

"After it all started with the war and the hostilities, it took on additional meaning, and many people started seeing it as their mother, Ukraine, in the meaning of the country," Psiuk said last week. "It has become really close to the hearts of so many people in Ukraine."

Receiving the coveted trophy, Psiuk declared: "Thank you for supporting Ukraine. This victory is for every Ukrainian. Slava Ukraini."

Speaking backstage, the singer said he hoped Ukraine could stage the contest in 2023.

"I'm sure that next year Ukraine will be happy to host Europe in a new, integrated and happy Ukraine."

Russia, meanwhile, was banned from this year's contest, with organisers saying the country's participation could "bring the competition into disrepute"

Several artists expressed solidarity with Ukraine, waving flags and making brief statements on the stage. "Peace for Ukraine! We love you!" announced Iceland's Systur after their performance.

"Don't lose your hope for a better tomorrow," added Estonian singer Stefan, as he finished playing his country-tinged ballad, Hope.

The show even opened with a rendition of John Lennon's Give Peace A Chance, performed by 1,000 musicians on the streets of Turin, driving home the night's message of unity.

Elsewhere the competition was its usual mix of crazy, kitsch pop and overwrought ballads.

Norway's Subwoolfer dressed in yellow wolf costumes for their surreal retelling of Red Riding Hood, titled Give That Wolf a Banana.

Konstrakta, representing Serbia, sat at a hand basin obsessively washing her hands, as she sang In Corpore Sano - a song that critiqued the lack of healthcare for artists in her homeland, which ended up in fifth place.

Sweden's Cordelia Jakobs earned fourth place with her aching end-of-the-night pop anthem Hold Me Closer.

Other highlights included Finland's The Rasmus, whose visuals drew inspiration from the horror film It; and Portugal's Saro, whose low-key ballad Saudade, Saudade was a tribute to her late grandfather.

Italy's Mahmood and Blanco, meanwhile, were almost drowned out by fans as they sang Brividi, a tender song about the need for vulnerability.

Last year's winners Maneskin also returned to the stage to perform their new single Supermodel - despite missing all the dress rehearsals after frontman Damiano David tore a ligament in his ankle shooting a music video.

The singer was seen hobbling around on crutches backstage, but managed to get through his performance unaided... if largely immobile.

He also got one of the night's biggest laughs, after being asked to give advice to this year's contestants.

"Have fun and don't get close to the table," he deadpanned, referencing the controversy that arose last year when he was falsely accused of snorting cocaine in the green room.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that President Macron of France had tried to get Maneskin disqualified from the contest as a result of the incident.

The singer denied the claims and subsequently passed a voluntary drug test.

Hosts Laura Pausini and Mika also performed medleys of their hits; and Italy's first Eurovision winner Gigliola Cinquetti gave a moving rendition of her winning song from 1964, No Ho L'Eta.

During the competition, the European Broadcasting Union made an announcement that there had been irregular voting from six countries during the second Eurovision semi-final on Thursday night.

As a result, votes from countries including Azerbaijan and Georgia were read out by the EBU's executive supervisor of the contest, Martin Österdahl, instead of their jury.

The EBU did not say whether the voting irregularities had affected the outcome of the semi-final, which saw Ireland eliminated from the competition.

Ukraine's win raises a question over who will host next year's Eurovision ceremony.

The winning country usually stages the show, but Ukraine is unlikely to have that capability, after its state broadcaster, UABC, was targeted in the opening days of the war.

When a country is unwilling or unable to run the show, another broadcaster usually steps in... most recently in 1980, when the Netherlands took over from Israel, who declined to host the contest after winning for two years in a row.

In a statement on Saturday night, organisers the EBU said no decision had been made for 2023.

"Obviously, there are unique challenges involved in hosting next year's competition. However, as in any other year, we look forward to discussing all the requirements and responsibilities involved in hosting the competition with UABC and all other stakeholders to ensure we have the most suitable setup for the 67th Eurovision Song Contest."

But Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed he would stage the contest if at all possible: "We will do our best to one day host the participants and guests of Eurovision in Ukrainian Mariupol. Free, peaceful, rebuilt!"

BBC

 

[Technics 1210]

Sympathy votes.

 

[Hextro]

I personally thought Italy should've won.

 

[MenInG]

Ukraine's Eurovision winners, Kalush Orchestra, have raised $900,000 (£713,000) for the country's military by auctioning their trophy.

During the contest, the band's song Stefania received a huge show of support from the rest of the continent following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

 

[MenInG]

John Lydon, the former Sex Pistols frontman, has failed in his bid to represent Ireland at Eurovision.

The 67-year-old had hoped his song Hawaii, about his wife Nora who lives with Alzheimer's, would be chosen "to bring awareness" to the disease.

Instead the band Wild Youth was chosen to fly the Irish flag at the song contest in Liverpool in May.

They're up against 14 other countries who'll be cut down to 10 in a semi-final.

Despite its record seven wins, Ireland has only qualified for the grand final twice since 2013.

Speaking after their victory was announced, Wild Youth's singer Conor O'Donohoe said: "I'm shaking, we hope we can do the best job".

 

[MenInG]

Sixteen countries' acts are performing tonight, and the public will decide which 10 progress to Saturday's final
Tuesday's semi-final saw other countries including Finland, Sweden and Israel make it through
And the big five (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK) and last year's winners Ukraine are also already in the Grand Final
Viewers from the countries competing can vote tonight - along with fans from the UK, Ukraine and Spain
Liverpool is hosting this year, as the war in Ukraine means last year's winners are not able to

 

[MenInG]

A year after Ukraine's victory and the UK's Sam Ryder rocketing to second, we'll find out who will hit the right notes in Liverpool
There's a packed evening of music ahead, with 26 countries vying to to claim this year's crown in the Eurovision 2023 Grand Final
Last year's winners Ukraine are being represented this time by duo Tvorchi, while Mae Muller is singing for the UK
The contest is being held in Liverpool this year, because the war in Ukraine prevents them hosting
The show kicks off at 20:00 BST, and fans are already teeming into the fan zones in the city

 

[MenInG]

Sweden's Loreen has won the Eurovision Song Contest for the second time, with her soaring pop anthem Tattoo.

The star, who last won the competition in 2012, saw off competition from Finland's Käärijä in a nail-biting vote.

The UK's Mae Muller failed to replicate Sam Ryder's success last year, coming in 25th place - one above bottom.

And the Princess of Wales made a surprise cameo, playing the piano with last year's winners Kalush Orchestra.

Loreen is the only the second person - and the first woman - to win Eurovision twice, following Ireland's Johnny Logan.

"This is so overwhelming," she said as she collected the trophy. "I'm so grateful. I'm so thankful."

"In my wildest dreams, I didn't think this would happen."

Sweden's victory means it will host next year's competition - on what will be the 50th anniversary of Abba's historic victory with Waterloo in 1974.

But Ireland crashed out of this year's contest at the semi-final stage for the fifth year in a row - a result their head of delegation described as "devastating".

This year's top three acts were:

Sweden: Loreen - Tattoo (583 points)
Finland: Käärijä - Cha Cha Cha (526 points)
Israel: Noa Kirel - Unicorn (362 points)

 

[BouncerGuy]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1788709400602935787

 

[BouncerGuy]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1788710968903582075

 

[The Bald Eagle]

The Netherlands’ contestant in the Eurovision Song Contest was expelled from competition hours before Saturday’s final of the pan-continental pop competition, which has been rattled by protests over the participation of Israel.

Competition organizer the European Broadcasting Union said Swedish police were investigating “a complaint made by a female member of the production crew” against Dutch performer Joost Klein. The organizer said it wouldn’t be appropriate for Klein to participate at the event while the legal process was underway.

Though Eurovision’s motto is “united by music,” this year’s event has proven divisive. Israel’s participation has attracted large pro-Palestinian demonstrations, with protesters saying the country should be excluded because of its conduct in the war in the Gaza Strip.

Source: AP News

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Greta Thunberg Arrested At Eurovision Finals Where Israel’s Eden Golan Competes

Israeli singer Eden Golan advanced to the final round of the Eurovision song competition and will sing later Saturday, as thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators continue to protest in the event’s host city of Malmo, Sweden, calling for Israel’s exclusion from the competition over the Israel-Hamas war.

Sweden Eurovision Song Contest Semi-Final

Protesters, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, have been gathering in Malmo for days with large crowds gathering Saturday ahead of the finals amid as calls for Israel’s expulsion—and Thunberg was arrested by Swedish police amid a standoff with officers Saturday afternoon, the BBC reported.

Boycotts of the competition began before it even started.

Israeli singer Eden Golan has been thrust into the center of the international controversy surrounding Israel’s war in Gaza, receiving heavy security and reportedly ordered by security to stay in her hotel room when not performing due to safety concerns.

The 20-year-old Golan has been repeatedly booed on stage during dress rehearsals and formal performances, but still earned enough votes after her Thursday semi-final performance to advance into Saturday’s finals.

Dutch performer Joost Klein was expelled Saturday morning after Swedish police investigated a “complaint made by a female member of the production crew,” and while no charges have been filed, “it would not be appropriate for him to continue in the contest,” according to Eurovision organizer the European Broadcasting Union.

In the U.S., the Eurovision finals start at 3 p.m. EDT. It’ll stream live on Peacock, and in some areas it will be livestreamed on the Eurovision YouTube channel. A full list of broadcasters for every participating country can be found here.

Source: Forbes

 

[BouncerGuy]

Israel's Eurovision Contestant Booed and Jeered Amid Cheers

Israeli solo artist Eden Golan was booed and jeered loudly as well as cheered on Saturday during her performance of "Hurricane" at the Eurovision Song Contest grand final in Malmo, Sweden.

Numerous videos posted to X, formerly Twitter, from inside the arena showed a cascade of boos and chants of "Free Palestine" during and after Golan's song as the Israeli military campaign in Gaza has also led to protests during the annual event.

Another video of the audience in Malmö Arena booing Eden Golan and Israel as she performed in the Eurovision final 30 minutes ago.
Some where shouting “Palestine” and “Genocide”
She didn’t lose composure for a second

In addition, media outlets reported from inside the arena that Golan also received scores of cheers and some fans waved the Israeli flag during the 20-year-old's performance. The boos and pro-Palestinian chants could not be heard on the live broadcast.

Tensions have risen around the world after Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, led its deadliest attack on Israel in history on October 7, 2023. In response, Israel subsequently launched its heaviest airstrikes against Gaza. At least 1,200 Israelis were killed in the attack, while more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, per the Gaza Health Ministry, according to the Associated Press.

A video posted to X by The Times of Israel reporter Amy Spiro shows an emotional Golan surrounded by supporters after her grand final performance. The performer paraded with the Israeli flag as she took the stage.

Golan, who finished in fifth place, also received a host of support on social media on Saturday afternoon.

Golan also received a call from Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot, who is Israeli, before her Eurovision grand final.

"You know I faced so many haters and my movies being boycotted in some countries who didn't want the movies because of me. It doesn't matter at all. The haters are the ones losing," Gadot is heard telling her.

There was an ongoing campaign to bar Israel from the competition over its military campaign in the Gaza Strip.

Before the contest, Israel agreed to change the name of Golan's song from "October Rain" to "Hurricane" as Eurovision organizers felt the original title was a clear reference to Hamas' attack on October 7, per Reuters.

The original lyrics included "There's no air left to breathe," which seemed to reference people forced to take shelter in cramped conditions during Hamas' attack, and "They were all good children, each one of them," potentially alluding to children killed in the attack, and also partygoers at the Supernova festival where Hamas killed 256 people.

The updated lyrics include: "Every day I'm losing my mind" and "I'm still broken from this hurricane."

Golan continued to defend the song's content.

"I think the message is clear," she said in March. "It's about a woman who is going through a personal crisis—a hurricane."

On Saturday, thousands of people protested in Malmo against Israel's participation in the competition, which is viewed annually by 180 million people worldwide.

As reported by Reuters, a large crowd marched towards the contest venue, waving Palestinian flags and shouting "Eurovision united by genocide," which is a play on the contest's official slogan "United by music."

Israel, meanwhile, has rejected the allegation that its actions in Gaza are genocidal.

Police estimated that between 6,000 and 8,000 people joined Saturday's demonstration.

More than 10,000 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered before Thursday's semifinal in Sweden, according to Reuters. A smaller group of pro-Israeli supporters staged a peaceful demonstration on Thursday, defending Golan's right to perform.

The protests didn't seem to have negatively affected Golan's chances in the competition as Israel's Eurovision 2024 odds were slashed from 50/1 to 3/1 after the semifinal. This has seen the country jump from eighth place to second favorite to win Saturday's grand finale.

Popular bookmakers Ladbrokes and Paddy Power had Israel among the favorites to win the competition. The winner of the grand final was decided by a combination of a popular vote from viewers and the Eurovision jury.

In the end, Swiss singer Nemo won the contest with a performance of "The Code," an operatic pop-rap ode to the singer's journey toward embracing a nongender identity.

SOURCE: https://www.newsweek.com/israel-eur...olan-booed-cheered-loudly-videos-show-1899600

 

[BouncerGuy]

Céline Dion sends message to Eurovision as favourites Sweden qualify

Céline Dion made a rare appearance during the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest with a brief, pre-recorded message.

The star won the contest for Switzerland in 1988, and it had been rumoured she would take the stage as the ceremony returns to the country this year.

"I'd love nothing more than to be with you," she said in a video, apparently ruling out that possibility. "Switzerland will forever hold a special place in my heart. It's the country that believed in me and gave me the chance to be part of something so extraordinary."

The semi-final saw 10 acts qualify for Saturday's grand finale, including Swedish entrants KAJ, whose song Bara Bada Bastu is the runaway favourite.

Their song, an accordion-led comedy number whose title translates to "let's take a sauna", has a 40% chance of winning, according to bookmakers.

If the prediction comes true, it would be Sweden's eighth Eurovision title - making them the most victorious country in the contest's history (they are currently tied with Ireland, on seven wins each).

Fifteen acts performed at Tuesday's semi-final in Basel's St Jakobshalle. These are the ones who made the cut.

• Norway: Kyle Alessandro – Lighter
• Albania: Shkodra Elektronike – Zjerm
• Sweden: KAJ – Bara Bada Bastu
• Iceland: VÆB – RÓA
• Netherlands: Claude – C'est La Vie
• Poland: Justyna Steczkowska – GAJA
• San Marino: Gabry Ponte – Tutta L'Italia
• Estonia: Tommy Cash – Espresso Macchiato
• Portugal: NAPA – Deslocado
• Ukraine: Ziferblat – Bird of Pray

That means that the Eurovision dreams of Azerbaijan, Belgium, Cyprus, Croatia and Slovenia have all ended for 2025.

Of those, the biggest surprise was Belgium's Red Sebastian, whose rave anthem Strobe Lights had been predicted to finish among the top five.

His disqualification came on the day of his 26th birthday.

Ten more acts will progress to the main competition after Thursday's second semi-final.

The "Big Five" countries, who contribute the most financially to the competition (France, Germany, Spain, the UK and Italy) qualify automatically, as do last year's winners, Switzerland.

Dion's video message came during the ceremony's interval, as votes were being cast.

Although she was unable to be there in person, it was a coup for organisers. The singer has stepped away from the limelight in recent years due to health issues related to stiff-person syndrome (SPS), a neurological condition that causes muscle spasms and makes it difficult for her to walk.

After a four-year break, she made an emotional comeback at last summer's Paris Olympics, singing Edith Piaf's classic Hymne à l'Amour from the Eiffel Tower.

Speculation over a potential Eurovision appearance has been mounting since Swiss singer Nemo won the 2024 contest.

In her video, Dion said it was "beautiful and emotional" to see the young singer lift the trophy, and recalled that her victory in 1988 "was a life-changing moment for me".

"To the people of Switzerland, thank you for your love," she continued. "This night is yours and I hope you feel as proud as I do."

After repeating her message in French, several former Eurovision contestants appeared on stage to cover Dion's winning song from 1988, Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi (Don't Leave Without Me).

However, organisers said they had not given up hope of the star appearing at the final this weekend.

"We are still in close contact with her," they said in a statement.

Tuesday's semi-final opened with Icelandic group VÆB, two brothers with the unregulated energy of former Irish entrants Jedward.

They were followed by Polish star Justyna Steczkowska, who hung precariously above the stage on two ropes, as she sang her witchy hymn to mother earth, Gaja.

The acrobatics continued with Slovenian musician Klemen, who was suspended upside down during his ballad How Much Time Do We Have Left?

The song was a tribute to his wife, who has recently recovered from cancer, but the emotional performance wasn't enough to clinch him a position in the final.

Taking a lighter note was Estonia's Tommy Cash, whose quirky anthem Espresso Macchiato was interrupted by a "stage invader" - actually a dancer who replicated his noodle-limbed dance moves.

The arena was awash with Ukranian flags for Ziferblat, whose prog-pop anthem Bird Of Pray is a message of hope and resilience to families separated by the country's ongoing war with Russia.

Italy's Lucio Corsi brought 70s glam rock vibes with his track Volevo Esse Un Duro, which even featured a visual call-back to David Bowie and Mick Ronson's iconic 1972 performance of Starman on Top Of The Pops.

Bosnian singer Marko Bošnjak was all black eyeliner and sinister energy for his kill-your-enemies anthem Poison Cake, while Dutch singer Claude took the opposite approach, brimming with positivity throughout his upbeat performance of C'est La Vie.

And Swiss singer Zoë Më was bathed in a sea of mobile phone lights as she performed Voyage , an understated and rather beautiful plea for kindness and understanding.

However, KAJ were the artists to beat - with the entire audience stomping along to their goofy sauna anthem ("Damn it, turn up the heat!")

The song, performed in the Vörå dialect, is a radical departure from Sweden's tried and tested formula of slick pop anthems.

It was the surprise winner at the Melodifestivalen, the hotly-contested show that selects the country's Eurovision entry, and has gone on to top the Swedish pop charts for 11 weeks.

Speaking to the BBC, the band - who are actually from the Swedish-speaking part of Finland - said it was strange to enter the contest as the presumed favourite.

"We are feeling the pressure a bit," they admitted, "but we're gonna go out there, have fun, bring the steam, bring the sauna culture, and we'll see how far it goes."

BBC

 

[BouncerGuy]

Israel qualifies for Eurovision final amid protests

Israel has qualified for Eurovision's grand final on Saturday, hours after protesters tried to disrupt the country's dress rehearsal.

Yuval Raphael, 24, was performing New Day Will Rise during a preview show on Thursday afternoon when six people with whistles and "oversized" Palestinian flags obstructed her act. Under the arena rules, all flags are allowed but there are limits on size.

Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR, which is organising the event, said the audience members were quickly ejected from the St Jakobshalle arena.

Israel's participation in Eurovision has been a source of controversy, as its military intensifies its bombardment of Gaza, and enforces blockades of all food and other humanitarian supplies.

In recent weeks, broadcasters in Spain, Ireland and Slovenia have called for a debate on Israel's involvement, and there have been small protests in the streets of Basel, Switzerland where this year's contest is taking place.

The incident during Thursday's dress rehearsal did not disrupt Raphael's performance, and her appearance in the televised semi-final passed without further demonstrations.

Speaking to the BBC earlier this week, Raphael said her team had played audience noises over her rehearsals, "so I can practice when there is distractions in the background."

The singer clasped her hands together, then blew a kiss towards the sky when it was announced she would progress to the final.

Despite the ongoing tension, her song is currently among the favourites to win, according to bookmakers.

Who qualified from the second semi-final?

The 10 acts who succeeded in Thursday's public vote were:

• Armenia: PARG – SURVIVOR
• Austria: JJ – Wasted Love
• Denmark: Sissal – Hallucination
• Finland: Erika Vikman – ICH KOMME
• Greece: Klavdia – Asteromáta
• Israel: Yuval Raphael – New Day Will Rise
• Latvia: Tautumeitas – Bur Man Laimi
• Lithuania: Katarsis – Tavo Akys
• Luxembourg: Laura Thorn – La Poupée Monte Le Son (pictured)
• Malta: Miriana Conte – SERVING

Which means the six countries eliminated were Australia, Czechia, Georgia, Ireland, Montenegro and Serbia.

Australia's elimination was the biggest shock. Their innuendo-laden pop anthem Milkshake Man had received a warm reception ahead of the contest but, on the night, viewers proved to be lactose intolerant.

Ireland also crashed out, a year after Bambie Thug earned the country a sixth-place finish.

The country has now failed to qualify on eight of their last 10 attempts. The continuation of that losing streak will cause much soul-searching in the nation that's tied with Sweden for the most Eurovision victories of all time: Seven in total.

The second semi-final also gave viewers their first chance to see the UK's act, Remember Monday.

The girl band delivered a whimsical staging of their song, What The Hell Just Happened? - dancing around a fallen chandelier in Bridgerton-inspired outfits, as they sang about a messy night on the tiles.

With effortless three-part harmonies, they put to rest the dodgy vocal performances that plagued Olly Alexander and Mae Muller in 2024 and 2023.

And they were spared the public vote, for now. The UK automatically qualifies for the final as one of the "Big Five" countries who make outsized financial contributions to Eurovision.

Swedish entry KAJ are currently favourites to win the 2025 contest, with their sweaty sauna anthem Bara Bada Bastu.

Austrian counter-tenor JJ, whose operatic pop song Wasted Love is the second favourite, was one of the 10 acts voted through after Thursday's show.

In an eye-catching performance, the 24-year-old was tossed around the stage in a rickety sailing boat, reflecting the turbulent emotional waters of his lyrics.

Elsewhere, the contest had all the traditional Eurovision trappings: Spandex, sequins, gale-force wind machines, and no fewer than 10 on-stage costume changes.

Among the more novel elements were a "sand tornado" during France's performance, and Maltese contestant Miriana Conte bouncing on a bright red medicine ball for her self-empowerment anthem, Serving.

Latvian folk band Tautumeitas took a more ethereal approach with their close-harmony incantation Bur Man Laimi, which literally translates as "a chant for happiness".

Dressed in gold bodysuits with branch and vine detailing, they transported the audience to an enchanted forest for a song that emphasised the connection between humanity and nature.

The band were considered an outlier for the final, but leapfrogged over higher profile songs from Ireland and Czechia - precisely because they stood out.

Also making a mark was Finnish singer Erika Vikman, who ended the show with a bang.

Her track Ich Komme is a sex-positive club anthem that saw with the singer rising above the audience astride a giant, fire-spouting golden microphone.

Like her, it soared into Saturday's grand final - where the song's predicted to land in the top 10.

Saturday's show will take place in Basel's St Jackobshalle from 20:00 BST / 21:00 Swiss time.

BBC

 

[BouncerGuy]

Eurovision 2025: Austria wins with last-minute vote, as the UK comes 19th

Austrian singer JJ has won the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, after a nail-biting finish that saw him topple Israel from pole position at the very last minute.

The 24-year-old, who is a counter-tenor at the Vienna State Opera, took the title with the song Wasted Love, a tempestuous electro-ballad about unrequited love.

"Thank you so much for making my dreams come true," he said as he accepted the coveted glass microphone trophy. "Love is the strongest force in the world, let's spread more love."

The singer scored 436 points, with Israel in second place on 357 and Estonia third on 356. The UK's act, Remember Monday, placed 19th with 88 points.

For the second year in a row, the UK received zero from the public.

Eurovision 2025: The top five contestants

1. Austria: JJ - Wasted Love
2. Israel: Yuval Raphael: New Day Will Rise
3. Estonia: Tommy Cash - Espresso Macchiato
4. Sweden: KAJ - Bara Bada Bastu
5. Italy: Lucio Corsi - Volevo Essere Un Duro

KAJ's song has been number one in Sweden for the last 12 weeks (L-R: Jakob Norrgård, Kevin Holmström and Axel Åhman)

JJ's younger sister broke through security guards to hug him after his victory was announced.

The Austrian said his whole family had arrived to support him at the contest, including his 85-year-old grandfather, and a four-month-old niece, who watched outside with his brother.

It is the third time Austria has won the contest, with previous victories going to Udo Jürgens' Merci, Cherie in 1966; and Conchita Wurst with Rise Like a Phoenix in 2014. JJ was inspired to take part in Eurovision by Conchita.

The singer had always been one of the favourites to win, but the most hotly-tipped contestants were Sweden's KAJ - whose tongue-in-cheek ode to sauna culture, Bara Bada Bastu, ultimately took fourth place.

Speaking after the show, JJ said he was "so pleased" that viewers had connected with his story of heartache.

"I wanted to let them have an insight on my deepest soul [and] how I felt when we wrote the song."

"What I'm trying to commit [to] is that there's no wasted love. There's so much love that we can spread around. It's the strongest force on planet earth."

Asked how he would celebrate, he replied: "Honestly, I need to sleep now. I'm tired."

For the second year in a row, there was controversy over Israel's participation, with protestors arguing for the country's dismissal over its military action in Gaza.

Pro-Palestinian protests took place on the streets of Basel in the hours before the contest.

Later, a man and a woman were prevented from invading the stage during Israel's performance.

"One of the two agitators threw paint and a crew member was hit," said Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR in a statement to the BBC.

"The crew member is fine and nobody was injured.

"The man and the woman were taken out of the venue and handed over to the police."

The performance, by young singer Yuval Raphael, was unaffected.

The 25-year-old is a survivor of the Hamas attacks of 7 October, 2023, an experience which coloured her delicate ballad, New Day Will Rise.

The Israeli delegation said Raphael was left "shaken and upset" by the incident, but that it was "extremely proud" of her performance "which represented Israel in a respectful manner".

Malta's Mariana Conte was forced to rewrite her disco anthem Serving Kant to remove what sounded like a swear word - but performed the censored version with a knowing wink, safe in the knowledge the audience would fill in the blanks.

Although it was a fan favourite, Conte could only manage 17th.

Estonia's Tommy Cash, who came third, also kept the innuendo train running, with Espresso Macchiato, a caffeinated disco anthem featuring the unforgettable phrase: "Life is like spaghetti, it's hard until you make it."

Another highlight was Finland's Erika Vikman, who dispensed with double entendres entirely on Ich Komme, a vibrant hymn to sexual pleasure.

The singer ended her performance by taking flight on a giant phallic microphone that shot sparks into the air.

It thrust her into 11th position, and a permanent place in the Eurovision pantheon.

The contest also dealt with more weighty subjects like economic migration (Portuguese rock band Napa) and environmental catastrophe (Latvia's Tautumeitas, who scored 12 points from the UK jury).

Dutch singer Claude delivered a heartfelt tribute to his mother in C'est La Vie - an upbeat anthem that reflected on her positivity as she uprooted the family from their home country of the Democratic Republic of Congo as a child.

In a touching climax, the 21-year-old danced with an image of his childhood self in a mirror on the stage.

Also reflecting on their childhood was French singer Louane, whose tearjerking ballad was dedicated to her mother, who died of cancer when she was 17.

In one of the night's most striking performances, she was surrounded by a whirlwind of sand as she hollered the word "mother" over and over again.

One of the favourites to win, it ended the night in seventh place, after receiving a disappointing 50 points from the public.

JJ's performance was similarly dramatic. Shot entirely in black and white, it saw him being tossed around on a rickety boat, as waves (of emotion) threatened to consume him.

An honourable mention also goes to Italy's Lucio Corsi, whose harmonica solo in Volevo Essere Un Duro marked the first time a live instrument has been played at Eurovision since 1998.

The UK spent a third year in the bottom half of the leaderboard, despite a spirited performance from girl group Remember Monday.

A group of friends who met at high school, their inventive pop song What The Hell Just Happened? drew on their many years of experience in West End theatre.

The girls pulled off their tricky three-part harmonies while dancing around a fallen chandelier, but the performance didn't connect with voters.

Despite earning a healthy 88 points from juries - including 12 from Italy - it bombed with viewers.

They ended in 19th place, one below last year's entrant Olly Alexander.

The group laughed off their "nul points" score from the public, holding up peace signs and hugging each other as the score was announced.

The voting was utter chaos.

Thirteen of the 26 finalists received the maximum of 12 points from at least one jury, leaving the competition completely open before the public vote was counted.

Israel, who had been languishing in the bottom half of the table, then received 297 points from the public (out of a possible maximum of 444). Twelve of those points came from the UK.

For a while, it looked like Yuval Raphael's lead might be unassailable - but Austria's tally of 178 was the last to be announced, leaving the singer empty-handed.

And spare a thought for Switzerland.

Their contestant, Zoë Më, was in second place after the jury vote, with 214 points. Then the public gave her the night's only other zero-point score.

To gasps in the arena, her song Voyage was demoted to 10th place.

There was disappointment, too, for fans of Canadian singer Céline Dion, who had been rumoured to appear at the contest.

The singer won Eurovision for Switzerland in 1988, and had appeared in a video wishing the contestants good luck at Tuesday's semi-final.

Despite hopes from Eurovision organisers that she might turn up, the moment never came to pass.

BBC

 

[BouncerGuy]

Israel's Eurovision result prompts questions over voting

Israel's success in the public vote at last weekend's Eurovision Song Contest has prompted calls from a string of countries to examine the results and voting system.

Singer Yuval Raphael came top of the viewer vote on Saturday with her ballad New Day Will Rise, but finished second overall to Austria when jury scores were also taken into account.

Broadcasters in Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Iceland and Finland have since raised concerns or questions about the public vote, with some requesting an audit.

Eurovision organisers the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said the vote had been independently checked and verified, that they took any concerns seriously.

Israel was ranked joint 14th by the national juries, but shot up the leaderboard thanks to the results of the phone and online vote.

Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom were among the countries whose viewers awarded Israel the maximum 12 points, with Ireland and Finland giving 10.

Irish broadcaster RTE has asked for a full breakdown of the voting from organisers.

That came after Spanish broadcaster RTVE said it would request an investigation of the results and a review of the televoting system.

Viewers can currently vote up to 20 times each by phone, text or app.

Katia Segers, a Flemish MP, said: "A system in which everyone can cast up to 20 votes is a system that encourages manipulation.

"Whether this manipulation occurred in our country and all other participating and non-participating countries must be investigated."

Political tensions

A spokesperson for Flemish public broadcaster VRT said: "We have no indication that the counting of the televotes wasn't carried out correctly, but we are asking for complete transparency on the part of the EBU.

"The question is above all whether the current system guarantees a fair reflection of the opinion of viewers and listeners."

Finland's YLE said: "We will definitely ask the EBU whether it is time to update these rules or at least examine whether the current rules allow for abuses."

On Tuesday, Dutch public broadcasters Avrotros and NPO issued a statement saying the contest was "increasingly influenced by societal and geopolitical tensions".

Israel's involvement "raises the question of whether Eurovision still truly functions as an apolitical, unifying, and cultural event", they said.

In response, the contest's director Martin Green said organisers were "in constant contact with all participating broadcasters" and "take their concerns seriously".

"We can confirm that we have been in touch with several broadcasters since Saturday's Grand Final regarding voting in the competition," he continued.

There will now be a "broad discussion" with participating broadcasters "to reflect and obtain feedback on all aspects of this year's event", he said.

"It is important to emphasise that the voting operation for the Eurovision Song Contest is the most advanced in the world and each country's result is checked and verified by a huge team of people to exclude any suspicious or irregular voting patterns.

"An independent compliance monitor reviews both jury and public vote data to ensure we have a valid result.

"Our voting partner Once has confirmed that a valid vote was recorded in all countries participating in this year's Grand Final and in the Rest of the World."

Eurovision News, which is operated by the EBU, said an agency of the Israeli government paid for adverts and used state social media accounts to encourage people to vote for the Israeli entry.

Mr Green said that did not break the rules.

BBC

 

[BouncerGuy]

Eurovision winner wants Israel excluded from 2026 contest over Gaza war

Austrian singer JJ, who won this year's Eurovision Song Contest, called in an interview published on Thursday for Israel to be excluded from the 2026 edition in Vienna due to the war in Gaza.

Eurovision, which stresses its political neutrality, faced controversy again this year linked to the war. An Israeli military campaign has killed over 53,000 Palestinians in Gaza, the enclave's health authorities say, since Hamas militants' cross-border attack on October 7, 2023 that killed around 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies.

Pro-Palestinian groups had urged the European Broadcasting Union to exclude Israel from the 2025 contest, yet Israel's Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the October 7 attack, came second.

"It is very disappointing to see Israel still participating in the contest. I would like the next Eurovision to be held in Vienna and without Israel," 24-year-old JJ was quoted as saying by Spanish newspaper El Pais.

The Israeli embassies in Madrid and Vienna did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

JJ's management company Manifester Music issued a statement later on Thursday, distributed by his label, Warner Music, quoting him as saying: "I am sorry if my words were misunderstood.

"Although I am critical of the Israeli government, I condemn all forms of violence against civilians anywhere in the world - be it against Israelis or Palestinians. I will not comment further on this issue."

Oskar Deutsch, president of the Jewish Religious Community (IKG), the body that officially represents Austria's Jews, criticised JJ's comments.

"He is joining the chorus of Israel-haters, turning Israeli victims into aggressors and sowing division. This is disappointing but, above all, dangerous," he said on X.

Though El Pais did not mention the war, JJ's remarks chimed with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's call on Monday for the exclusion of Israel from cultural events such as Eurovision over the conflict in Gaza.

With his song "Wasted Love", the operatic singer - whose real name is Johannes Pietsch - won the contest held in Basel, Switzerland.

JJ also said the vote-counting system should be revised to improve transparency.

He was the third Austrian winner of what has become the world's biggest music competition, watched by more than 160 million people.

Israel's entrant, Raphael, was at the Nova music festival near the Gaza border during the Hamas attack.

REUTERS