L’Eurovision 2024 is a candidate to be one of the most criticized and discussed of the entire history of the event (here our “passes and fails”). The hours that preceded the semi-final, in fact, were – as we reported live from Malmö – absolutely frenetic and outside of any Eurovisual logic, with disagreements between delegations, disqualifications and bans on flags.
But not only that: in these hours the replacement of videos and photos to hide symbols of various artists, including the Portuguese’s nails, is causing a lot of discussion Yolandapainted with Palestinian motifs, just as the interpretation of “Imagine” by has caused a lot of talk Angelina Mango in the press room, as a sign of peace, or the words of the Frenchman Slimanewho interrupted his performance during the dress rehearsal.
However, statements continue to emerge from the artists competing in Eurovision 2024, with particular reference to the last days preceding last Saturday’s final, won by Nemo with “The Code” representing Switzerland.
In fact, the climate of tension experienced at the Malmö Arena was also described by the Gaterepresentatives of Norway who arrived last in the final, according to the band’s guitarist Magnus Bormark. Speaking to Aftenposten, you declared that “retreat“has been taken into consideration”until the last second“.
A more moderate line then prevailed, even after they occurred.constructive conversations with the EBU“. In fact, as explained, events have evolved quite well.”for the option of withdrawal to materialize concretely“.
Despite this, the guitarist remembered how the presence of Israel among the artists not only competing, but also qualified for the final, despite the open conflict with Gaza, led to several discontent and protests of considerable importance, requests for exclusion, as well as having forced artists to hire a political position.
Børmark also seems to confirm what – until now – had remained only a rumor, that is, that on the eve of the Eurovision 2024 final a emergency meeting with the EBU. In fact, she stated:
It seemed as if there was one set of rules for Israel, and another for everyone else. There’s something wrong when you experience this. The artists should not have had a crisis meeting with the EBU.
A situation made even worse by the crossfire of those who, instead, criticized the singers competing at theEurovision 2024accusing them of being in favor of Israel and against the Palestinian cause precisely for the mere fact of being part of the European event:
We are not in favor of the infanticide that is taking place in the Gaza Strip just because we participate in Eurovision. Just as you are not simply watching a singing competition.
Eurovision 2024, Silvester Belt: “traumatic experience”
An extremely tense situation, also experienced badly by other artists. Among these stands out the singer of “Luktelk”, the Lithuanian Silvester Belt. In a tweet published on Sunday, a few hours after the end of the final, he explains thetraumatic experience for him of having to perform after Israel at the Eurovision 2024 final:
Coming after that country, with such a strong and heated audience, was one of the worst things I had to face, I really did my best in this situation… traumatic experience, I wish it was all over after the first semi-final.
In fact, the reactions before and after Israel’s performance in the second semi-final and final of Eurovision 2024 are known: the representative Eden Golanin competition with “Hurricane”, was in fact covered in whistles and screams of displeasure during all his appearances at the Malmö Arena.
The screams, partially muffled in the live television, were instead very clear live. Having to go on stage after such a delicate moment couldn’t have been easy at all for Silvester Belt.
Eurovision 2024, Bambie Thug: “EBU does not represent Eurovision”
However, he doesn’t mince his words Bambie Thug for theIreland, which finished sixth in the rankings. Interviewed by a newspaper from her town, the interpreter of “Doomsday Blue” identifies the leaders of theEBUthe body that supervises the organization of the European event, the reason for the heavy atmosphere around Eurovision 2024. Summits to which it does not send any word:
I’m so proud for Nemo. I’m so proud that all of us in the top 10 fought against this rot behind the scenes, because it was truly difficult and horrible for us. I’m proud of us.
I just want to say, that we are what Eurovision really is. The EBU does not represent Eurovision… fuck you EBU. I do not care anymore. What makes Eurovision what it is are the contestants, the community behind it. The love, strength, and support of all of us is what is making the change happen.
A few hours away from the final, Bambie Thug he had decided not to show up at the last dress rehearsals for Eurovision 2024, skipping the flag parade and his own performance, which was replaced by a simple clip shown on the screen.
The reason was the criticism of commentators on Israeli television KANwho had defined his performance as “the scariest” and inviting the public to “prepare the curses“.
