Hours before the Eurovision Song Contest final, Dutch contestant Joost Klein was removed by organizers due to a backstage incident after missing two dress rehearsals. The European Broadcasting Union is investigating the incident, causing Klein's performance to be canceled with Israel following him in the lineup.
The Netherlands contestant in the Eurovision Song Contest was expelled over a backstage incident that led to a police investigation, causing the Dutch public broadcaster to express shock and discontent. Joost Klein failed to perform at rehearsals in Malmo, Sweden, and the incident involved a female production crew member. The disqualification, unprecedented in Eurovision history, did not involve Israel despite rumors. Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS criticized the decision as disproportionate. Klein, a fan favorite, had a techno song dedicated to Europe. The competition's inclusion of Israel led to protests by Palestinians and supporters.
The Dutch Eurovision entry Joost Klein is under investigation by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for an unexplained incident and will not be rehearsing until further notice. It is unclear if he will perform in the grand final.
EUROVISION has been plunged into crisis ahead of tomorrow nights final, with more than 20,000 pro-Palestine protesters expected. Swedish police are braced for trouble in Malmo amid anger at the inclusion of Israeli singer Eden Golan. UK venues have also been warned not to screen the event or face a backlash. PM Rishi Sunak slammed Gaza protests in Sweden . He said they were outrageous and calls to boycott the 68-year-old competition are unfair.
Organisers of the Eurovision Song Contest have condemned abuse and harassment of artists amid calls for Israel's participation to be banned over the war in Gaza. Israel's Eden Golan received death threats, prompting increased security measures for her. The European Broadcasting Union emphasized support for freedom of speech but denounced online abuse towards artists, stating that the decision on Israel's participation is the responsibility of the EBU, not the artists. Israel was required to change the lyrics of Eden Golan's song to comply with Eurovision rules. Several contestants rejected calls to boycott the show.
The Eurovision Song Contest is facing controversy as performers like Bambie Thug of Ireland criticize organisers for censoring pro-Palestinian messages and wearing a keffiyeh. The European Broadcasting Union expressed regret over this political involvement. Despite being a non-political event, protests against Israel-Hamas war are planned. Bookmakers favor Israel's Eden Golan to win. Security is heightened in Malmo, Sweden, the host city. Bambie Thug had to alter messages in Ogham script on their body from 'ceasefire and freedom' to 'crown the witch' on EBU's orders.
The Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden is at the center of controversy as Israel's participation amidst protests and calls for boycott due to the war on Gaza. More than 30 entries, including 'Falastinvision' as an alternative, are vying for votes online. Artists, like Ukraine's Jamala, resist calls for boycott, highlighting the need to remind Europe of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Security concerns prompt Swedish police, along with Danish and Norwegian officers, to be on alert. Participants, like Olly Alexander and Bambie Thug, face backlash over their decision to compete despite concerns over Israel's inclusion and ongoing conflicts.
Israel's revised Eurovision entry, 'Hurricane,' replaces the original song 'October Rain' which was rejected for perceived political references to the Hamas attacks in Israel. The new song by singer Eden Golan features more personal and general lyrics to comply with the non-political spirit of the competition. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) insisted on the change, emphasizing Eurovision's apolitical nature. The controversy arose from lyrics like 'There's no air left to breathe' and 'They were all good children,' which were seen as alluding to the Hamas attack and Israel's subsequent military actions in Gaza.
Israel's entry Hurricane, sung by Eden Golan, has made it to the Eurovision grand final despite protests and calls for a ban due to the Gaza conflict. The European Broadcasting Union reworked the song after deeming the original version too political. Golan faced boos and cries during rehearsals, and there were demonstrations in Malmo against Israel's participation. Greta Thunberg joined pro-Palestinian protests, while security measures were heightened. Organizers have warned against political gestures and symbols, with tensions surrounding Israel's involvement.
Olly Alexander was seen departing his hotel alongside fellow Eurovision finalists in Malmo, Sweden ahead of Saturday's final. The singer, 33, who has 'incredibly low odds' at winning the competition, is representing the United Kingdom with his hit Dizzy in the final tonight. This year's competition has been thrown into chaos just hours before the finale air after Dutch contender Joost Klein, 26, was axed from the contest. But remaining in positive spirts, UK act Olly couldn't wipe the smile off his face as he headed to the final dress rehearsal before the real thing. Hoping to take home tonight's win, Finland 's act Windows95Man, real name Teemu Keisteri, turned heads in his multi-coloured fur coat as he departed his hotel.
The 68th Eurovision Song Contest begins in Sweden, with performances from 37 nations aiming to qualify for the final amidst heightened security due to the war in Gaza. Favorites include Croatian singer Baby Lasagna, Ukrainian duo alyona alyona and Jerry Heil, Swiss singer Nemo, Irish singer Bambi Thug, Italian TikTok star Angelina Mango, and Dutch artist Joost Klein. Security concerns are prominent, with 100,000 Eurovision fans expected in Malmo, alongside pro-Palestinian protests. Israel's participation faces tensions, with demonstrations planned over the Israel-Hamas conflict and adjustments made to the Israeli entry's lyrics.
Israelis have been warned by their National Security Council to avoid travelling to the host city of Malmo for the Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden due to well-founded concerns of terrorist attacks during planned protests against Israel's participation. The European Broadcasting Union has specified that only flags representing participating countries and the rainbow flag are allowed at the event, with a ban on Palestinian flags and pro-Palestinian symbols. Security measures have been heightened, with fears of protests escalating into violence, heightened terror threats, and tensions with Russia, as Sweden faces the risk of potential terror attacks.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2021 was the 65th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Rotterdam, Netherlands, following the country's win at the 2019 contest with the song "Arcade" by Duncan Laurence. The Netherlands was set to host the 2020 contest, before it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcasters Nederlandse Publieke Omroep (NPO), Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS) and AVROTROS, the contest was held at Rotterdam Ahoy, and consisted of two semi-finals on 18 and 20 May, and a final on 22 May 2021. The three live shows were presented by Dutch television presenters and singers Chantal Janzen, Edsilia Rombley and Jan Smit, and Dutch YouTuber and make-up artist Nikkie de Jager.Thirty-nine countries participated in the contest, of which twenty-six re-entered the artists chosen for 2020 (albeit with different songs, as per the contest's rules). Bulgaria and Ukraine returned after their absence from the 2019 contest, while Hungary and Montenegro did not return after their participation in the 2019 edition. Armenia and Belarus had originally planned to participate, but Armenia withdrew due to its social and political crises following the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, and Belarus was disqualified after submitting entries in violation of the rules twice, and not providing an eligible entry before the deadline.The winner was Italy with the song "Zitti e buoni", performed by Måneskin and written by the band's members Damiano David, Ethan Torchio, Thomas Raggi and Victoria De Angelis. France, Switzerland, Iceland and Ukraine rounded out the top five, with France and Switzerland achieving their best results since 1991 and 1993 respectively. Italy won the combined vote and televote, but placed fourth in the jury vote after Switzerland, France, and Malta. Italy was the second member of the "Big Five" since its introduction to win the contest after Germany in 2010. For the first time since 1995, none of the top three entries were performed in English, with France and Switzerland performing in French, and Italy in Italian.Also, for the first time since the current voting system was implemented in 2016, more than one country received no points from the televote in the final; these countries were Germany, Spain, the host country the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, the last of those becoming the first country to receive no points from both the jury and televote. It was the second time that the United Kingdom had received no points in the contest, the last time having been in 2003. For the first time since its debut in 2015, Australia failed to qualify for the final, making Ukraine the only country that has never failed to qualify from the semi-finals since their introduction in 2004.The EBU reported that the contest had an audience of 183 million viewers in 36 European markets, an increase of a million viewers from the previous edition, with an increase of seven percent in the 15–24 year old age range.
Scores of musicians, journalists, and music fans gather in Malmo, Sweden for the Eurovision Song Contest, amidst pro-Palestinian protests urging a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Eurovision, likened to the Olympics of pop music, features 37 countries competing with live performances of up to three minutes, blending music, partying, and politics. The event showcases elaborate staging and this year's edition includes topless male dancers. The contest culminates in a glittery final in Malmo Arena with an estimated global TV audience of 180 million viewers.
Joost Klein (Dutch pronunciation: [joːst klɛin]; born 10 November 1997), known mononymously as Joost, is a Dutch musician, rapper, singer and former YouTuber. Mainly a hip hop artist, his songs and performances often include influences of electronic music, such as drum and bass, hardstyle and gabber. He has released eight studio albums, two of which reached the top ten of the Dutch Album Top 100. He has amassed four chart entries on the Dutch Top 40, and is best known for "Scandinavian Boy", "Wachtmuziek" and "Friesenjung". He is set to represent the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with the song "Europapa", which became his first song to top the Dutch Single Top 100.
Thousands of demonstrators are expected to protest Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, with calls to ban Israel over its war in Gaza. The event, watched by over 150 million people, is described as the most politically charged edition in its 68-year history. Around 100,000 visitors from 89 countries are anticipated in Malmo, providing a significant economic boost to the city, while police presence is heightened to ensure security.
The 68th Eurovision Song Contest features performers from 26 countries competing in the grand final after two semi-finals in Malmo, Sweden. Front-runners include Croatia's Baby Lasagna, Switzerland's Nemo, and Ireland's Bambie Thug. Olly Alexander represents Britain with the song 'Dizzy', aiming to be the UK's first winner since 1997. Despite controversy over remarks about Israel and the Union Jack, Alexander, a chart-topping pop star, hopes for success.
The Netherlands is set to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö, Sweden, with "Europapa" performed by Joost Klein. The Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS internally selected the Dutch entry for the 2024 contest.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 was the 67th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Liverpool, United Kingdom, as Ukraine—the winner of the 2022 contest with the song "Stefania" by Kalush Orchestra—was unable to host the event due to the Russian invasion of the country. It was organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) acting as host broadcaster on behalf of the Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine (UA:PBC). The contest was held at Liverpool Arena, and consisted of two semi-finals on 9 and 11 May and a final on 13 May 2023. The three live shows were presented by British singer Alesha Dixon, British actress Hannah Waddingham, and Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina, with Irish television presenter Graham Norton joining for the final.Thirty-seven countries participated in the contest, with Bulgaria, Montenegro, and North Macedonia ceasing their participation, mainly due to the economic impact of the global energy crisis.The winner was Sweden with the song "Tattoo", performed by Loreen and written by her along with Jimmy Thörnfeldt, Jimmy Jansson, Moa Carlebecker, Peter Boström, and Thomas G:son. Finland, Israel, Italy, and Norway rounded out the top five. Sweden won the combined vote and jury vote, and came second to Finland in the televote. Loreen became the second performer to win the contest twice, after Irish singer Johnny Logan; it was also the seventh win for Sweden, tying Ireland's record for the most Eurovision victories.The EBU reported that the contest had a television audience of 162 million viewers in 38 European markets, an increase of a million viewers from the previous edition. A total of 15.6 million viewers watched the contest online on YouTube and TikTok.
A year after Eurovision fans descended on Liverpool for a hugely successful event hosted on behalf of Ukraine, the annual song contest is heading to Sweden. Singer Olly Alexander will represent the UK with his song Dizzy, which was released on streaming services on Friday. Alexander will join BBC Radio 2's Zoe Ball later to officially launch the song and his Eurovision campaign. Here's everything you need to know about Eurovision ahead of the 2024 competition. The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual televised song writing competition which is organised by The European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 is set to be the 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It is scheduled to take place in Malmö, Sweden, following the country's victory at the 2023 contest with the song "Tattoo" by Loreen. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Sveriges Television (SVT), the contest will be held at the Malmö Arena, and will consist of two semi-finals on 7 and 9 May, and a grand final on 11 May 2024. The three live shows will be presented by Petra Mede and Malin Åkerman, with the former having previously taken on the role in 2013 and 2016.Thirty-seven countries will participate in the contest, with Luxembourg returning 31 years after its last participation in 1993, while Romania opted not to participate after doing so the previous year.
"Europapa" (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈøːroːˌpɑpaː]; lit. 'Eurodaddy') is a song by Dutch musician Joost Klein. Self-described as a "very Dutch" 1990s-style song, it was written by Klein along with six other songwriters. It was self-released on 29 February 2024 and is set to represent the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. The song has been described as an ode to Europe and a "letter" to his late father, who taught him that the world has "no borders". "Europapa" drew commercial success, peaking at number one on the singles charts of the Netherlands and Flanders.
Fifty-two countries have participated in the Eurovision Song Contest since it started in 1956. Winners of the contest have come from twenty-seven of those countries. The contest, organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), is held annually between members of the union. Broadcasters from different countries submit songs to the event and cast votes to determine the most popular in the competition.Participation in the contest is primarily open to all broadcasters with active EBU membership. To become an active member of the EBU, a broadcaster has to be from a country which is covered by the European Broadcasting Area or a member state of the Council of Europe. Eligibility to participate is not determined by geographic inclusion within the continent of Europe, despite the "Euro" in "Eurovision", nor does it have a direct connection with the European Union. Several countries geographically outside the boundaries of Europe have competed: Israel, Cyprus and Armenia, in Western Asia, since 1973, 1981 and 2006 respectively; Morocco, in North Africa, in the 1980 competition alone; and Australia making a debut in the 2015 contest. In addition, several transcontinental countries with only part of their territory in Europe have competed: Turkey, from 1975 to 2012; Russia, from 1994 to 2021; Georgia, since 2007; and Azerbaijan, which made its first appearance in the 2008 edition. Two of the countries that have previously sought to enter the competition, Lebanon and Tunisia, in Western Asia and North Africa respectively, are also outside of Europe. The Persian Gulf state of Qatar, in Western Asia, announced in 2009 its interest in joining the contest in time for the 2011 edition. However, this did not materialise, and there are no known plans for a future Qatari entry to the Eurovision Song Contest. Australia, where the contest has been broadcast since the 1970s, has participated every year since its debut in 2015.The number of countries participating each year has grown steadily, from seven in 1956 to over twenty in the late 1980s. A record 43 countries participated in 2008, 2011 and 2018. As the number of contestants has risen, preliminary competitions and relegation have been introduced, to ensure that as many countries as possible get the chance to compete. In 1993, a preliminary show, Kvalifikacija za Millstreet ("Qualification for Millstreet"), was held to select three Eastern European countries to compete for the first time in the main contest. After the 1993 contest, a relegation rule was introduced: the six lowest-placed countries in the contest would not compete in the following year. In 1996, a new system was introduced. Audiotapes of all twenty-nine entrants were submitted to national juries. The twenty-two highest-placed songs after the juries voted reached the contest. Norway, as the host country, directly qualified for the final. From 1997 to 2001, a system was used whereby the countries with the lowest average scores over the previous five years were relegated. Countries could not be relegated for more than one year at a time.The relegation system used in 1994 and 1995 was reused between 2001 and 2003. In 2004, a semi-final was introduced. The ten highest-placed countries in the previous year's contest qualified for the final, along with the "Big Four", the largest financial contributors to the EBU. All other countries entered the semi-final. Ten countries qualified from the semi, composing a final of twenty-four. Since 2008, two semi-finals are held with all countries, except the host country and the "Big Four" or "Big Five" (after Italy's return in 2011), participating in one of the semi-finals.Some countries, such as Germany, France, Belgium and the United Kingdom, have entered most years, while Morocco has only entered once. Two countries, Tunisia and Lebanon, have attempted to enter the contest but withdrew before making a debut.
70 songs written by 143 songwriters have won the Eurovision Song Contest, an international song competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union. The contest, which has been broadcast every year since its debut in 1956 (with the exception of 2020), is one of the longest-running television programmes in the world. The contest's winner has been determined using numerous voting techniques throughout its history; centre to these have been the awarding of points to countries by juries or televoters. The country awarded the most points is declared the winner. The first Eurovision Song Contest was not won on points, but by votes (two per country), and only the winner was announced.There have been 67 contests, with one winner each year except the tied 1969 contest, which had four. 27 countries have won the contest, with Switzerland winning the first contest in 1956. The countries with the highest number of wins are Ireland and Sweden with seven wins each. Two people have won more than once as a performer: Ireland's Johnny Logan, who performed "What's Another Year" in 1980 and "Hold Me Now" in 1987, and Sweden's Loreen, who performed "Euphoria" in 2012 and "Tattoo" in 2023. Logan is also one of seven songwriters to have written more than one winning entry ("Hold Me Now" in 1987 and "Why Me?" in 1992, performed by Linda Martin), and is the only person to have three Eurovision victories to their credit, as either singer, songwriter or both. The other six songwriters with more than one winning entry to their credit are Willy van Hemert (Netherlands, 1957 and 1959), Yves Dessca (Monaco, 1971 and Luxembourg, 1972), Rolf Løvland (Norway, 1985 and 1995), Brendan Graham (Ireland, 1994 and 1996), and Thomas G:son and Peter Boström (both for Sweden's entries in 2012 and 2023).Relatively few winners of the Eurovision Song Contest have gone on to achieve major success in the music industry. The most notable winners who have gone on to become international stars are ABBA, who won the 1974 contest for Sweden with their song "Waterloo", and Céline Dion, who won the 1988 contest for Switzerland with the song "Ne partez pas sans moi". More recently, Duncan Laurence, who won the 2019 contest for the Netherlands with "Arcade", experienced worldwide streaming success with the song as a sleeper hit throughout 2020 and 2021, while Måneskin, winners of the 2021 contest for Italy with "Zitti e buoni", subsequently achieved worldwide popularity in the months following their victory.Since 2008, the winner has been awarded an official winner's trophy of the Eurovision Song Contest. The trophy is a handmade piece of sandblasted glass in the shape of a 1950s microphone. The songwriters and composers of the winning entry receive smaller versions of the trophy. The original design was created by Kjell Engman of Kosta Boda, who specialises in glass art.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2022 was the 66th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Turin, Italy, following the country's victory at the 2021 contest with the song "Zitti e buoni" by Måneskin. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Radiotelevisione italiana (RAI), the contest was held at the PalaOlimpico, and consisted of two semi-finals on 10 and 12 May, and a final on 14 May 2022. The three live shows were presented by Italian television presenter Alessandro Cattelan, Italian singer Laura Pausini and Lebanese-born British-French singer Mika.Forty countries participated in the contest, with Armenia and Montenegro returning after their absence from the previous edition. Russia had originally planned to participate, but was excluded due to its invasion of Ukraine.The winner was Ukraine with the song "Stefania", performed by Kalush Orchestra and written by the group's members Ihor Didenchuk, Oleh Psiuk, Tymofii Muzychuk and Vitalii Duzhyk, along with Ivan Klymenko. The United Kingdom finished in second place for a record-extending sixteenth time, also achieving its best result since 1998. Spain, Sweden and Serbia rounded out the top five, with Spain achieving its best result since 1995. Ukraine won the televote with 439 points, the most received in the contest's history to date, and came fourth in the jury vote behind the United Kingdom, Sweden and Spain. "Stefania" is the first song sung entirely in Ukrainian and the first song with hip-hop elements to win the contest.The EBU reported that the contest had a television audience of 161 million viewers in 34 European markets, a decrease of 22 million viewers from the previous edition, however, it is noted that this is due to the exclusion of Russia and the lack of audience figures from Ukraine, with the overall figures up by 7 million viewers in a comparable market from 2021. An increase of three per cent in the 15–24 year old age range was also reported. A total of 18 million viewers watched the contest online on YouTube and TikTok.
The Eurovision Song Contest (French: Concours Eurovision de la chanson), often known simply as Eurovision or by its initialism ESC, is an international song competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union. Each participating country submits an original song to be performed live and transmitted to national broadcasters via the Eurovision and Euroradio networks, with competing countries then casting votes for the other countries' songs to determine a winner.The contest was inspired by and based on Italy's national Sanremo Music Festival, held in the Italian Riviera since 1951. Eurovision has been held annually since 1956 (apart from 2020), making it the longest-running international music competition on TV and one of the world's longest-running television programmes. Active members of the EBU and invited associate members are eligible to compete; as of 2023, 52 countries have participated at least once. Each participating broadcaster sends one original song of three minutes duration or less to be performed live by a singer or group of up to six people aged 16 or older. Each country awards 1–8, 10 and 12 points to their ten favourite songs, based on the views of an assembled group of music professionals and the country's viewing public, with the song receiving the most points declared the winner. Other performances feature alongside the competition, including a specially-commissioned opening and interval act and guest performances by musicians and other personalities, with past acts including Cirque du Soleil, Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Mika, Rita Ora and the first performance of Riverdance. Originally consisting of a single evening event, the contest has expanded as new countries joined (including countries outside of Europe, such as Israel and Australia), leading to the introduction of relegation procedures in the 1990s, before the creation of semi-finals in the 2000s. As of 2023, Germany has competed more times than any other country, having participated in all but one edition, while Ireland and Sweden both hold the record for the most victories, with seven wins each in total.Traditionally held in the country which won the preceding year's event, the contest provides an opportunity to promote the host country and city as a tourist destination. Thousands of spectators attend each year, along with journalists who cover all aspects of the contest, including rehearsals in venue, press conferences with the competing acts, in addition to other related events and performances in the host city. Alongside the generic Eurovision logo, a unique theme is typically developed for each event. The contest has aired in countries across all continents; it has been available online via the official Eurovision website since 2001. Eurovision ranks among the world's most watched non-sporting events every year, with hundreds of millions of viewers globally. Performing at the contest has often provided artists with a local career boost and in some cases long-lasting international success. Several of the best-selling music artists in the world have competed in past editions, including ABBA, Celine Dion, Julio Iglesias, Cliff Richard and Olivia Newton-John; some of the world's best-selling singles have received their first international performance on the Eurovision stage.While having gained popularity with the viewing public in both participating and non-participating countries, the contest has also been the subject of criticism for its artistic quality as well as a perceived political aspect to the event. Concerns have been raised regarding political friendships and rivalries between countries potentially having an impact on the results. Controversial moments have included participating countries withdrawing at a late stage, censorship of broadcast segments by broadcasters, as well as political events impacting participation. Likewise, the contest has also been criticised for an over-abundance of elaborate stage shows at the cost of artistic merit. Eurovision has, however, gained popularity for its kitsch appeal, its musical span of ethnic and international styles, as well as emergence as part of LGBT culture, resulting in a large, active fanbase and an influence on popular culture. The popularity of the contest has led to the creation of several similar events, either organised by the EBU or created by external organisations; several special events have been organised by the EBU to celebrate select anniversaries or as a replacement due to cancellation.
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