MALMO, Sweden – It’s time for many people to don sequins and sequins – and for others to pick up protest signs and Palestinian flags – for Saturday’s final of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest.
The competition that pits nations against each other for pop music glory is coming to an end in the Swedish city of Malmo, with Croatia and Switzerland among the contenders to take the trophy, and Israel at the center of a political storm.
Although the contest’s motto is “united by music,” this year’s event has drawn large protests from Palestinians and their supporters, who say Israel should be excluded due to its conduct of the war against Hamas.
Thousands of people are expected to march for a second time this week through Sweden’s third-largest city, which has a large Muslim population, to demand a boycott of Israel and a ceasefire in the 7-month war.
Several miles away, at the Malmo Arena, 26 artists – whittled down from 37 entrants by two semi-finals – are expected to perform three-minute songs in front of a live audience of thousands and around 180 million viewers worldwide. .
Dutchman Joost Klein’s participation was in doubt, however, after he failed to show up at two dress rehearsals on Friday. The contest’s organizer, the European Broadcasting Union, said it was investigating an “incident” involving the singer, whose song “Europapa” is a favorite with bookies.
It all makes for a confusing climax to an event that draws adoration and derision with its campy, kitschy spirit and passion for pop.
Dean Vuletic, an expert on the history of the contest, says that despite this year’s divisions, “there is no other cultural event that brings Europeans together like Eurovision”.
“Exactly this moment when everyone is watching the same television program, which is being broadcast live in 37 countries – that is something very special.”
This year’s entries range from emotional to eccentric. They include the silly 1990s nostalgia of Finland’s Windows95man, who emerges from a giant egg on stage wearing very little clothing. Irish Bambie Thug summons witchy spirits on stage and brought a scream coach to Malmo, while Spanish Nebulossa bravely reclaims a term used as an insult to women in “Zorra”.
Favorites include Swiss singer Nemo – who would be the first non-binary Eurovision winner if his operatic song “The Code” topped the voting – and Croatian Baby Lasagna. Their song “Rim Tim Tagi Dim” is a fun rock number that addresses the issue of young Croatians leaving the country in search of a better life.
Vuletic says that despite the contest’s reputation for disposable bubblegum pop, Eurovision frequently addresses “political and social issues such as feminism, European integration, gender identity”.
“And I think they are very interesting songs to watch, especially as they are the highest rated by bookies,” he said.
Sometimes, however, the songs conflict with the contest’s ban on overtly “political” statements. Eurovision organizers told Israel to change the original title of its song, “October Rain” – an apparent reference to the Hamas attack on October 7 that killed around 1,200 Israelis and triggered the war in Gaza.
Israeli singer Eden Golan has increased the odds since performing the powerful ballad, now titled “Hurricane,” in Thursday’s semi-final. Golan faced some booing at dress rehearsals, but was voted through to the final by viewers around the world.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised 20-year-old Golan for his performance despite “battling an ugly wave of anti-Semitism.”
Protesters argue that Israel should not be allowed to participate in a war that has killed nearly 35,000 Palestinians.
“I don’t think they should be part of this because they are committing crimes against humanity,” said local resident Lorenzo Mayr, who took part in a demonstration on Thursday.
Competing musicians are feeling the pressure, inundated with messages and abuse on social media and unable to speak out because of competition rules. Italian contestant Angelina Mango made a statement when she entered the Eurovision media center on Friday and sang John Lennon’s “Imagine” as dozens of journalists gathered around her.
Swedish singer Loreen, last year’s Eurovision champion – and one of only two artists to win the contest twice – has appealed to people not to shut down the “community of love” that is Eurovision.
“What is happening in the world today and in different places is distorting and traumatizing us all,” she told the Associated Press.
“What heals trauma…. Does trauma cure trauma? Does negativity cure negativity? It doesn’t work like that. The only thing that truly heals trauma – that’s science – is love.”
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Associated Press writers Hilary Fox in Malmo and Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed to this story.
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