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I feel compelled to address the calls for boycotting the contest over Israel’s participation.
The suffering inflicted on Palestinians by the Israeli government is a humanitarian catastrophe, and I stand in full solidarity with those demanding justice, dignity, and self-determination for the Palestinian people. An end to suffering inflicted on so many people after a vile, unwarranted act of terrorism produced an unbalanced and indiscriminate wave of retribution.
I won’t support any boycott campaign. I respect those who feel otherwise but believe engagement and dialogue are more productive than disengagement and isolation. Eurovision, for all its flaws and limitations, represents an opportunity to bring people together through a shared love of music. It’s a chance to celebrate our common humanity, even as we work to address the grave injustices that divide us.
I understand the frustration with the EBU’s (predictable) inconsistency in handling entries from countries engaged in human rights violations. But I believe a boycott would further polarise an already intractable conflict. The most powerful rebuke to oppression is to reaffirm the values of unity and equality that Eurovision represents.
My heart breaks for all of the people caught up in this, but I want to use my (insignificant and teeny tiny) voice to celebrate the music and the way Eurovision, at its best, reminds us of our shared hopes and dreams as human beings. As a Contest, it’s brought me so much happiness in times that were dark.
This review is for the song and the singer.
The shame is that this song would be tipped for the top ten in any other year. Eden’s gloriously smoky delivery builds on a layered song that, whilst it isn’t going to win any awards for lyrical originality, more than does what it’s here to do.
The downbeat first verse feels like it’s going into a bigger chorus than it actually does, and the tempo lifts in the second half. However, it’s still not quite the epic powerhouse it could be – until the final half minute when everything breaks loose, and the song and singer nail it big style.
I heard a low-energy ‘Arcade’ that would be grabbing votes left, right, and centre—if it wasn’t for the all-too-painful elephant on the stage.
The views expressed in this review are based on the situation at the time of writing (two weeks ago). International relations are dynamic, and future developments could alter the public perception of the Eurovision Song Contest and its participants. We encourage readers to stay informed on these issues as they continue to evolve.
As the author of this piece, I have said all I wish to say at this point and won’t be responding to or encouraging comments, unless your comments relate directly to the song.
