Analysis: Eurovision's Motto 'Harmony through Music' Faces Harsh Realities

Louis Staples, a culture writer and editor based in London, has had his work featured in various publications such as Slate, Vogue, The Guardian, Rolling Stone, and Wired. The opinions expressed in this article are his own. For more viewpoints, visit CNN's opinion section.

The Eurovision Song Contest is a vibrant and quirky event that captures the attention of audiences, often likened to the Super Bowl. It serves as a platform for showcasing the diverse and sometimes unusual music talents from across Europe. Notable past winners include renowned artists like ABBA and Celine Dion. However, this year's competition, held in Malmö, Sweden, and won by Switzerland, stirred up controversy due to the deep political tensions surrounding Israel's participation amidst the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

Louis Staples

Louis Staples

Leading up to the competition, many fans participated in boycott campaigns and protested in Malmö, with even Greta Thunberg joining in. Security was increased, helicopters patrolled the skies, and there was a noticeable security presence around the hotel where the Israeli delegation stayed.

During Saturday's grand final, there was a mix of cheers and loud boos when Israel's Eden Golan performed an emotional ballad. Some fans even turned their backs on the performance. Despite the mixed reactions, Israel ended up coming second in the public vote with 323 points, just behind Croatia's entrant, Baby Lasagna.

When the jury vote was added to the public vote, Israel's impressive tally helped Golan secure a fifth-place finish overall. The strong divisions among viewers and the response from the European Broadcasting Union, which organizes the contest, have brought into question Eurovision's claim of being a non-political event.

The Eurovision 2024 story highlights a Europe that is divided. Many fans no longer believe in the contest's claim of political neutrality, comparing it to Switzerland.

If the EBU does not address this issue, more crises could arise. The chaotic moment when Switzerland's winner, Nemo, dropped the trophy symbolized the political tensions that have affected the contest.

The first Eurovision Song Contest took place in 1956 in Switzerland and has been held annually, except for 2020 due to COVID-19. The original idea was to unite Europe after World War II under a common European identity. Over time, countries like Turkey, Israel, and Russia joined the competition, expanding its reach beyond Europe.

Politics have always played a role in the Eurovision Song Contest. For example, in 1974, Portugal's entry "E Depois do Adeus" became a symbol of the country's political revolution, leading to democracy. In 1975, Greece withdrew from the contest when Turkey joined due to tensions following Turkey's invasion of Cyprus the previous year. In 2009, the voting system was changed to include both public and jury votes to address concerns about political bias favoring certain regions.

The EBU has consistently maintained that Eurovision is a music competition for broadcasters, not a political contest between governments. They closely review lyrics and performances to ensure that political messages are limited.

Nemo, representing Switzerland with the song "The Code," performs during the final of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest at the Malmo Arena in Malmo, Sweden on May 11, 2024.

Nemo, from Switzerland, sings "The Code" at the 68th Eurovision Song Contest final in Malmo, Sweden on May 11, 2024. The performance took place at the Malmo Arena.

Tobias Schwarz/AFP/Getty Images

Related article

Switzerland wins Eurovision after politically charged song contest overshadowed by Israel controversy

This year, Israel was asked by the EBU to change the lyrics of Golan's song "Hurricane," which was originally called "October Rain." The original lyrics were believed to be a subtle reference to Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7. In February, Israel's president, Isaac Herzog, stepped in publicly to emphasize the importance of accepting the lyric change in order for Israel to participate in this year's competition.

The involvement of high-ranking politicians highlights the political nature of Eurovision. This was particularly evident in 2022 when Russia was excluded from the competition due to their invasion of Ukraine. The following year, the contest took place in Liverpool, United Kingdom, in support of Ukraine, who was unable to host due to security concerns. The 2023 contest in Liverpool showcased unity, leading Eurovision to adopt Liverpool's slogan, "United By Music," for all future competitions.

In Malmö's streets, there is a clear division between protesters and Eurovision attendees. At a demonstration on Thursday, almost every protester I talked to mentioned the "hypocrisy" of banning Russia but allowing Israel to participate. Palestinian flags can be seen hanging from windows and displayed on lampposts and storefronts. Some Eurovision posters have been vandalized, and makeshift posters calling it the "genocide song contest" have popped up around the city.

On Saturday, there was little feeling of unity through music at Eurovision. Some fans chose to boycott the event, while others organized online to support Israel. The strong Israeli support through phone votes was evident, receiving more votes than Ukraine with 307 votes, including the maximum from 14 countries like Italy, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. This stood in stark contrast to the loud boycott demands and protests leading up to the competition.

The voting discrepancy between Ukraine and Israel, with Ukraine receiving a significant 52 points more, hints at potential political influences on the voting process. This is reminiscent of the 2022 competition, where Ukraine won by a large margin with a record-breaking 439 televote points.

During this year's contest, many fans expressed dissatisfaction with the European Broadcasting Union's (EBU) handling of the situation, particularly regarding the differing treatment of Russia and Israel. The EBU acknowledged the concerns raised by some fans but emphasized the complexity of comparing conflicts and wars. This led to discontent among participants, with Ireland's act, Bambie Thug, revealing that they were emotional when Israel advanced to the grand final, feeling overshadowed by the political discussions.

Get our free weekly newsletter

Sign up for CNN Opinion’s newsletter.

Join us on Twitter and Facebook

On Saturday morning, the Netherlands' representative Joost Klein was disqualified due to an incident backstage with a female EBU photographer. Swedish police are currently investigating the matter. Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS criticized the decision, calling it "disproportionate." Prior to the announcement, there were rumors circulating that the incident, which took place after Thursday night's second semi-final, involved another delegation. This highlighted the heightened tension in the atmosphere.

During the final on Saturday, there were loud boos from the audience whenever EBU's executive supervisor, Martin Österdahl, appeared on the screens. This showed the displeasure towards his handling of the contest's controversies.

The ban of Russia from Eurovision set a precedent that has had a lasting impact on the contest. This year, the EBU is facing the consequences of that decision. Despite their claims otherwise, the decision to include a country amidst boycott calls and allegations of war crimes, which Israel denies, is inherently a political move.

Editor's P/S:

The Eurovision Song Contest, once celebrated for its unifying spirit, has become a battleground of political tensions, as evidenced by the recent controversy surrounding Israel's participation. The deep divisions among viewers and the mixed reactions to Israel's performance highlight the contest's inability to remain apolitical. The EBU's decision to ban Russia while allowing Israel to participate has raised questions about the organization's impartiality and consistency.

The strong support for Israel during the public vote, despite the boycott calls and protests, further exposes the political influences at play. The discrepancy between the public vote and the jury vote suggests that political factors may have influenced the final outcome. The EBU's handling of the situation, including the disqualification of the Netherlands' representative, has also been met with criticism. The chaotic atmosphere and the heightened security measures underscore the political divisions that have overshadowed this year's contest, casting doubt on Eurovision's claim of being a purely musical event.