Eurovision is supposed to be fun and silly. This year is different.

The Eurovision is a global singing competition that is used for categorizing different genres. It was initially established in 1956 by the European Broadcast Union (EBU) with the aim of promoting unity among European nations after World War II. The competition has evolved beyond Europe and its primary function since it now includes countries like Australia and Israel. The American Idol is the closest equivalent for Americans, a reality television singing competition that awarded Kelly Clarkson the title of national treasure.

Imagine: opposing and diverse musical acts from each country will be featured, the audience will be able to cast their votes, and a live event will take place. However, there will also be unexpected surprises, such as eerie Austrian comedy and rumors of sneaky Swedish interference.

Can you think of a more symbolic way to portray peace than putting on a costume and singing a playful pop tune in a lighthearted music competition? Did you know that the victorious country's band does not receive any monetary prize - just bragging rights, a trophy, and the honor of hosting the next Eurovision competition?

Eurovision is completely unique and incomparable.

Eurovision is a major global event that rivals even the Olympics. It's an exciting show that challenges our perceptions about Europe and the music industry. However, this year's competition in Malmo, Sweden has been overshadowed by controversy. Many people are protesting Israel's involvement in the event due to their military actions in Gaza, which have resulted in the deaths of many innocent people. Despite the tension, the music acts will still take the stage and sing their hearts out for a chance at victory.

Politics and war have often influenced Eurovision in the past, but now the competition is facing a major existential crisis. There is a significant debate about its purpose, its past, and the eligibility criteria for contestants. After all, Eurovision is supposed to be a platform for celebrating European creativity and innovation.

No Recreating Eurovision!

In general, Eurovision has a tendency to favor winners who are more traditional and impactful. Some recent examples include Loreen, who won twice in the past, Jamala in 2016, and Måneskin in 2021. Notably, ABBA and Celine Dion have also emerged victorious and are perhaps the most well-known Eurovision champions. This year, it appears that Olly Alexander from the highly popular pop group Years & Years is a strong contender for the title.

The triumphant individuals are not the only aspect of Eurovision that is worth mentioning. Eurovision has a somewhat strange vibe that is very enjoyable to watch. And when the competition embraces unfiltered craziness and unpredictability, that's when it truly shines.

Let's consider Austria's upcoming participation in the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. Teya and Salena, who first crossed paths on the Starmania reality TV show in their home country, created a track called "Who the Hell is Edgar?" in response to being undervalued and overlooked in the music industry as women. This information was obtained from the official Eurovision website.

How did Teya and Salena utilize their skills to talk about an industry that disregards the perspective of women?

The article "Who the Heck is Edgar?" tells the tale of Teya and Salena, who have been taken over by the ghost of Edgar Allan Poe, the famous author. Instead of crafting a classic piece of literature like "The Raven" or "The Tell-Tale Heart," Poe has decided to write a catchy pop tune, which he believes will turn the women into wealthy rockstars. During the course of the song, a creepy polka, the two vocalists proclaim that they wish they could enlist Shakespeare's help in crafting an even bigger hit. Unfortunately, the music industry is notoriously difficult to succeed in, with the performers singing that they will only earn "0.003 dollars" per play. Even with the aid of these literary ghosts, Teya and Salena remain un- famous.

In current times, most pop music does not include the type of exaggerated storytelling that is found in "Who the hell is Edgar?" Nevertheless, this style is accepted during Eurovision. The competition is known for celebrating unusual and playful performances. Some past entries include Switzerland's DJ BoBo’s "Vampires Are Alive" and Ukraine's Verka Serduchka’s "Dancing Lasha Tumbai" - a mix of techno and folk with performers dressed like a sparkly Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz.

Crowning Eurovision Champions

As stated by my coworker Zack Beauchamp earlier, the voting for this event is divided into two parts: a public voting system where people can call in to vote and a jury consisting of professionals in the music industry from each nation involved. In total, there will be 37 contestants competing in the semifinals, which will take place on May 7th. Their aim is to make it through to the grand final on May 11th where only 26 participants will win a spot.

The jury votes in a way that's similar to how the Olympics are judged. Each country has the ability to award a maximum of 12 points to their favorite performances of the night. Additionally, they can score as low as one point for those who didn't quite measure up. This is done for the twelve best acts in the grand finale.

Occasionally, the decision from music experts, commonly known as the jury vote, doesn't match up with the decision from viewers at home. In the previous year's competition, the judges chose Loreen's "Tattoo" from Sweden as the ultimate winner, but the public voted for Käärijä's "Cha Cha Cha" from Finland instead. The jury ended up ranking Finland fourth in the competition, leading people to speculate that Sweden's win was pre-arranged to enable the country to host the event in 2024, which would mark the 50th anniversary of ABBA's win.

The slightly lower stakes of the competition create an enjoyable dose of excitement, yet the separation between the jury decision and the audience's preference has sparked inquiries regarding why the jury's vote holds the same influence as the millions of viewers voting. Maybe this should be reconsidered, as the victor would possibly be more unique if the traditional jury votes did not bear as much significance.

The supposed cheating by Sweden is comparable to some past incidents that happened in Eurovision. One of these occurrences was when Switzerland selected the well-known Canadian singer Celine Dion to represent them in 1988. At the time, the regulations didn't state that the performer had to be born in the nation they represented. Dion was already a popular artist globally, and she emerged victorious in the event.

However, even though Eurovision is classified as a "competition" and declares a winner, it's rare for contestants to achieve the same level of success as mega-stars like ABBA and Dion. Typically, Eurovision victors aren't well-known outside of the event. You can see this by looking at past winners such as 1982's Nicole, 2002's Marie N, and 2006's Lordi, whose Wikipedia pages may not be well-recognized by the general public. This highlights the fact that Eurovision is more focused on providing explosive entertainment, outlandish performances, and thrilling moments rather than the final score.

"Can Eurovision Be Fun Amidst Israel-Palestine Story?"

Before the competition in Malmo, there have been many demonstrations and suggested refusals against Israel joining Eurovision this year. The main reason being that Israel has been carrying out assaults in Gaza, so they do not deserve to be a part of an event that aims to unite and bring peace while their country is still at war.

There have been objections to allowing Israel to participate in Eurovision, despite the fact that they've taken part since 1973. This opposition isn't new. Those who don't agree with Israel's inclusion have highlighted that Eurovision prevented Russia from participating under comparable circumstances only two years ago.

In February 25, 2022, Russia got banned from Eurovision after invading Ukraine. Broadcasters from countries like Iceland, Finland, Norway, and The Netherlands urged Eurovision to ban Russia, and eventually, the EBU granted it. They did this to protect the values of Eurovision which promote international exchange and understanding. They also wanted to unite Europe on the big stage.

In December 2022, Martin Österdahl, the executive supervisor of Eurovision, commented on Russia's ban, stating that it was implemented to maintain the essential principles of democracy and human rights, which are fundamental to the event's nature. He emphasized that Eurovision is non-political, but is committed to safeguarding the fundamental concepts of democracy. He added that everyone should be free to be themselves.

Following this incident, Russia decided to halt its membership with the EBU and has yet to make a comeback to the competition.

This year, over 1,000 artists from Sweden have requested that Israel be banned from participating in Eurovision. Icelandic and Finnish musicians have also called for the same, arguing that a country engaging in war crimes and a military occupation shouldn't be given the chance to improve their image through the musical stage. Fans are urging Eurovision participants to opt-out of the competition this year due to Israel's involvement, which has led Sweden to increase security measures in preparation for possible protests.

Despite the ongoing demonstrations and appeals for action, the EBU and Eurovision planners remain unconvinced. Israel has chosen a youthful vocalist named Eden Golan to perform "Hurricane." The track was originally named "October Rain," which hinted at the October 7 Hamas assaults, but the EBU refused the title and asked the song to be changed prior to re-entering.

Israel's president, Isaac Herzog, expressed the significance of Israel's participation in Eurovision and how it showcases a strong statement against those who hold animosity towards them. In February, Israel had considered pulling out of the competition due to issues with their lyrics.

As per the statement of EBU Director General Noel Curran, the Eurovision contest is a competition facilitated by global broadcasters and not the nations themselves. He clarified that it is not a clash between governments. Although the EBU and Eurovision made a choice regarding Russia, they won't be deciding the same for Israel.

He stated that drawing parallels between different wars and disputes is a complicated and challenging task, and as a media outlet that is neutral on political matters, it is not our position to do so.

Despite Curran's assurance that the event won't involve politics, some may perceive the competition's decisions as political. The use of Palestinian flags, pro-Palestine symbols and any references to the Israel-Hamas conflict will be prohibited during the event. However, as Israel is a member state, their flag is allowed. The only exceptions to the participant-only flag rule are rainbow and LGBTQ flags.

The guidelines on what can be showcased and who can endorse who are causing confusion. While it's clear that the Eurovision cannot resolve the turmoil in the Middle East, the organizers have made the situation harder to overlook and the experience less enjoyable by trying to seem impartial and deliberately avoiding mentioning the violence.

Sure, I'm willing to donate $5 on a monthly basis.

Sure, I am willing to contribute $5 every month.

debit card or bank transfer. Our platform offers multiple payment options for your convenience. You can easily make your contribution using any of these methods.