Everything is political, even a song contest
By Rabbi Lana Zilberman Soloway
Eurovision is an International song contest organized annually by the European Broadcasting Union. It has been held annually since 1956, making it the longest-running international music competition on television. Up until now, fifty-two countries have participated at least once. Each participating country sends an original song of three minutes or less to be performed live by a singer or group of up to six people.
Israel has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 45 times since its debut in 1973. Israel won the contest four times, and hosted Eurovision in Jerusalem in 1979 and 1999, and in Tel Aviv in 2019.
Israel won first place two years in a row, in 1978 and 1979, with wins for Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta with the song A-Ba-Ni-Bi Abanibi – א-ב-ני-בי – Israel 1978 – Eurovision songs with live orchestra, and Milk and Honey with Hallelujah Eurovision 1979 – Israel – Milk and Honey – Hallelujah. Israel achieved its third victory in 1998, with Dana International, who sang the song Diva Dana International – Diva (LIVE) Eurovision Song Contest’s Greatest Hits. Israel has the record for most participation and most wins in the contest without ever coming last. In 2018, Israel won the contest for a fourth time with the song Toy Netta -TOY – LIVE – Eurovision 2018 | HD, sung by Netta Barzilai.
Earlier this year, a group of three talented Israeli songwriters, Keren Peles, Avi Ohayon, and Stav Beger, wrote the music and the lyrics for October Rain. Most of the words were originally written in English. A young, promising singer, Eden Golan, was chosen to perform the song and represent Israel at the 2024 competition in Malmo, Sweden. After Israel submitted the song to the European Broadcasting Union, it received the following response:
The lyrics of the song might be interpreted in several ways. The EBU is wondering about the linkage of the lyrics to the horrible events that occurred in Israel last October. Although the EBU has previously approved other songs, where some of them carry a significant political message, this time, we want to make sure the song doesn’t carry any political messages. The result was that the original song was banned by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for breaking rules on political neutrality.
These were the original words:
Writers of the history
Stand with me
Look into my eyes and see
People go away but never say goodbye
Someone stole the moon tonight
Took my light
Everything is black and white
Who’s the fool who told you boys don’t cry?
Hours and hours and flowers
Life is no game for the cowards
Why does time go wild
Every day I’m losing my mind
Holding on in this mysterious ride
Dancing in the storm
We got nothing to hide
Take me home
And leave the world behind
And I promise you that never again
I’m still wet from this October rain
October rain
Living in a fantasy
Ecstasy
Everything’s meant to be
We shall pass but love will never die
Hours and hours and flowers
Life is no game for the cowards
Why does time go wild
Everyday I’m losing my mind
Holding on in this mysterious ride
Dancing in the storm
We got nothing to hide
Take me home
And leave the world behind
And I promise you that never again
I’m still wet from this October rain
October Rain
October Rain
There’s no air left to breathe
There’s no space
I’m gone day by day
Everyone are good kids one by one
Israel did not want to give up its participation, and so the lyrics were reworked, and the song renamed Hurricane.
The original lyrics in question: and I promise you that never again / I’m still wet from this October rain were changed to: Baby, promise me you’ll hold me again / I’m still broken from this hurricane. Another controversial lyric: They were all good children, each one of them, also was changed.
The competition took place on Saturday night, May 11, 2024. During that day, thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters walked across the streets of Malmö, to show their support for Gaza and condemn Israel taking part in Eurovision amid the war in the Gaza Strip. An open letter was sent to the EBU, calling for Israel’s withdrawal from the contest. It was signed by more than 1,000 Swedish artists, as well as European Parliament members and politicians.
Eden remained strong and performed the song over and over again, during rehearsals, the semi final and the grand finale, while the protesters surrounded the auditorium and others were disturbing and yelling inside, as she was singing. Eden gave one of the most powerful performances the Eurovision has ever seen. Despite the fact that the words of the song and its title were changed, everything in that performance screamed October 7th: Eden’s dress, the dance choreography, the colors of the lights, and the lyrics. With everything that was going on inside and outside the auditorium, Eden nevertheless achieved an amazing result, winning fifth place. She owned the stage at the end of the night, while walking around wrapped with the Israeli flag. A moment of victory, resilience, and hope. EDEN GOLAN – HURRICANE | ISRAEL at the grand final | Eurovision 2024 #edengolan
Last Saturday night, on May 18th, 2024, Eden sang the original song, October Rain, at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv. It was not a performance, but a prayer.