EBU Dismisses Talk of Israeli Disqualification
A number of websites today took an unguarded personal opinion voiced by a member of the EBU Reference Group as a suggestion that the Israeli entry to the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest could face disqualification.
'Push the Button' by the group TeaPacks has been interpreted by some to be a statement on Iranian nuclear ambitions and the Islamic republic's fiery president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, although he is never mentioned in the song. Mr Ahmadinejad has called for an end to the Israeli state, though Iran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful.
Israeli news portal Haaretz, asked EBU Reference Group member Kjell Ekholm whether a song attacking Iranian nuclear policy would be allowed at Eurovision. He replied, "It's absolutely clear that this kind of message is not appropriate for the competition." These words were taken out of context and promptly (mis)interpreted to mean that the EBU was considering disqualification of the song.TeaPacks lead singer Kobi Oz speaking after their song was picked for Helsinki insisted that he saw it as his group's role to stir up controversy.
"The idea is to do something that crosses the accepted norms." He was doing so well, but then spoiled things by pretentiously adding, "True art stirs controversy.
"Eurovision Song Contest rules changed in 2006 with the addition of a clause specifically outlawing political content in songs. The move came after problems with the content of the Ukrainian entry in 2005. The current rule book states, "The lyrics and/or performance of the songs shall not bring the Shows or the ESC as such into disrepute.
No lyrics, speeches, gestures of a political or similar nature shall be permitted."Media buzz about the song began to spread quickly, with the story being picked up by major news agencies, which seemed to be having an otherwise quiet day.
The BBC called the entry controversial and A discussion on Belgian TV went so far as to suggest potential backlash from the Muslim world against the contest, its organisers and others taking part. Gulf news labelled the song 'inflammatory'.
'Push the Button' by the group TeaPacks has been interpreted by some to be a statement on Iranian nuclear ambitions and the Islamic republic's fiery president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, although he is never mentioned in the song. Mr Ahmadinejad has called for an end to the Israeli state, though Iran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful.
Israeli news portal Haaretz, asked EBU Reference Group member Kjell Ekholm whether a song attacking Iranian nuclear policy would be allowed at Eurovision. He replied, "It's absolutely clear that this kind of message is not appropriate for the competition." These words were taken out of context and promptly (mis)interpreted to mean that the EBU was considering disqualification of the song.TeaPacks lead singer Kobi Oz speaking after their song was picked for Helsinki insisted that he saw it as his group's role to stir up controversy.
"The idea is to do something that crosses the accepted norms." He was doing so well, but then spoiled things by pretentiously adding, "True art stirs controversy.
"Eurovision Song Contest rules changed in 2006 with the addition of a clause specifically outlawing political content in songs. The move came after problems with the content of the Ukrainian entry in 2005. The current rule book states, "The lyrics and/or performance of the songs shall not bring the Shows or the ESC as such into disrepute.
No lyrics, speeches, gestures of a political or similar nature shall be permitted."Media buzz about the song began to spread quickly, with the story being picked up by major news agencies, which seemed to be having an otherwise quiet day.
The BBC called the entry controversial and A discussion on Belgian TV went so far as to suggest potential backlash from the Muslim world against the contest, its organisers and others taking part. Gulf news labelled the song 'inflammatory'.
In 1982 the Finnish entry was a very political song solely about bombs, and nobody had a problem with that. Maybe because the bombs weren't Iranian, but American.
ReplyDeleteYet again Israel is singled out.
Enclosed is a link to the (very poorly translated) words to the Finnish entry back in 1982.
The song title literally means "Sleep while bombs are falling" ie to be unaware of imminent danger and/or oversleep.
http://www.diggiloo.net/?1982fi
And here's the hilariously inept video for the song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8HdS0ukSwk
good point made by the last person.
ReplyDelete