Forum Topic

Eurovision Song Contest

I see that Spain has decided to boycott the contest if Israel participates. I think we should exactly do the same. The decision by Spain was made on the same day the UN concluded that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza. As we can all see on our nightly bews programmes. Nick

Nicholas Evans ● 33d17 Comments

Au contraire, John. Not offended by your comments at all, just mildly surprised that one could be so factually incorrect about a subject one chose to opine publicly on.I am sorry you have misunderstood everything  I wrote about Israel and Palestine; there’s not much I can say that I haven’t said many times before.

Gerry Boyce ● 31d

Mr Boyce'Hmmm! Thought so.'As did I.I've never been to Eire yet you obviously are offended by comments I make about what is I assume your place of birth.And I assume you have never been to Israel yet slag it off as if it were the most evil and uncivilised country on earth.

John Hawkes ● 31d

Hmmm! Thought so.

Gerry Boyce ● 31d

Mr Boyce'How many times have you been to the Free State, John?'I would hazard a guess the same number of times you have been to Israel, but I stand to be corrected.

John Hawkes ● 31d

'...Eire and often referred to by many residing there as the “Free State,”.How many times have you been to the Free State, John?

Gerry Boyce ● 32d

Mr Ainsworth,Apparently Ireland (Eire ?) is also planning to boycott Eurovision.But then 'the south of Ireland, officially known as Eire and often referred to by many residing there as the “Free State,” declared its neutrality when World War II erupted suddenly in September 1939. The Irish would remain neutral throughout the war but were universally viewed as far more sympathetic and helpful to the Allies than the Axis'. And Spain ?'During World War II, the Spanish State under Francisco Franco espoused neutrality as its official wartime policy. This neutrality wavered at times, and "strict neutrality" gave way to "non-belligerence" after the Fall of France in June 1940. In fact, Franco seriously contemplated joining the Axis Powers in support of his allies Italy and Germany, who brought the Spanish Nationalists into power during the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939). On June 19th, he wrote to Adolf Hitler offering to join the war in exchange for help building Spain's colonial empire.[1] Later in the same year Franco met with Hitler in Hendaye to discuss Spain's possible accession to the Axis. The meeting was unsuccessful, but Franco did help the Italians and the Germans in various ways'.Fascists ?Certainly sympathetic to the Nazis and perhaps this is why both countries still show antipathy to Israel and the Jews today.Surely the reason cannot be founded on the fact that Catholicism plays a strong role in their governance and they are still blaming the Jews for the death of Christ ?

John Hawkes ● 32d

Mr Ixer'Surely, the dire standard of music in recent years is a good reason to boycott it?'I agree.It all seems to be rap music which I think is a genre that derives from the black ghettos in the US and in the UK is performed by Afro-Caribbeans.I understand that its ultimate expression is called drill.https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-51459553"These days if someone gets stabbed no-one really cares, unless it's the family. It's just another young person getting stabbed."Those chilling words come from a young boy in north London, no older than 14, in a new documentary about the links between knife crime and drill music.He's not alone. His classmates describe intimidating encounters with gangs in balaclavas, and the fear that "saying the wrong thing" will lead to violence.What they're less clear about is whether music, specifically the dark and gritty beats of drill, encourages criminal behaviour."In the songs, they talk about how they killed so much people and all that," observes one pupil".Will that win the UK more than nil points ?

John Hawkes ● 32d

Can we afford to win it??

Ed Robinson ● 32d

Surely, the dire standard of music in recent years is a good reason to boycott it?

Michael Ixer ● 32d

I think we should boycott it because it is now too political and we wouldn't get many points anyway.  Plus our songs have been rubbish for years.

Sue Hammond ● 32d

John mine was Waterloo by ABBA which started a whole different style of music.

Robert Wheeler ● 32d

Mr AinsworthI doubt if much sleep will be lost in Israel if it cannot participate alongside the likes of Spain whose PM is an obvious antisemite.I wonder what the performers from these self-righteous countries think of losing an opportunity for fame and fortune ?I expect they are really proud that they are doing it to support the downtrodden Palestinians.Am I right in thinking Hamas has entered and are the rumours correct that the climax of its performance will be the release of the Israeli captives it still holds and the corpses of those it murdered ?Glad your Wikipedia access has given you the opportunity to try to impress us with your knowledge of the 'music scene'.Personally I can't decide if the UK's best entry came from Sandi 'the pride of Dagenham' Shore or the Allisons our answer to the Everly Brothers or the saucy stripping of the girls in Bucks Fizz singing "Making Your Mind Up"or "Boom Bang-a-Bang" by Lulu or "Save Your Kisses for Me" by Brotherhood of Man and their deft choreography.Never thought much of "Love Shine a Light" by Katrina and the Waves though.So come on pop-picker: what was your favourite ?

John Hawkes ● 32d

David, Thanks, interesting update. I hope Israel gets banned like Belarus and Russia.. Nick

Nicholas Evans ● 33d

OK, if you wish.Apparently:-"Israel participates in the Eurovision Song Contest because its public broadcaster, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN), is a member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the event. The contest is not strictly limited to the European continent, but is open to all EBU members. The EBU is not a geographical organizationEuropean Broadcasting Area (EBA): The EBU's membership criteria are based on the European Broadcasting Area, a media zone defined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), not by geography.Broad geographical reach: This area extends beyond the physical borders of Europe to include countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Full EBU members come from as far east as Azerbaijan and as far south as Algeria.Other non-European participants: Because of this rule, countries like Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Australia (as an invited associate member) have also competed in Eurovision."-----------------------------"Some countries have been excluded or banned from the Eurovision Song Contest for various reasons, including political actions, inappropriate song lyrics, and breaches of membership obligations to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). RussiaThe most prominent recent exclusion is Russia, which was banned from the 2022 contest following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The EBU decided that allowing Russia to compete would bring the competition into "disrepute" and suspended the Russian broadcasters' membership. This suspension has been made effective indefinitely. BelarusBelarus was expelled from the contest in 2021 after it submitted a song with politically charged lyrics mocking the country's pro-democracy movement. The EBU determined the song and a replacement submission violated contest rules against politicization. The Belarusian broadcaster was later suspended from the EBU, indefinitely prohibiting its participation."

David Ainsworth ● 33d

Yes, Australia does compete in the Eurovision Song Contest. Why not, Canada is a member of the European Space Agency if my memory serves me correctly. 

Michael Ixer ● 33d

No, that would be truly awful. I’ve never understood why Israel is a member of Eurovision. They are a Middle Eastern Country. Does Australia compete?Nick

Nicholas Evans ● 33d

What about if Israel agreed to sing a medley of previous Eurovision winners? How about:-Puppet on a StringBoom Bang-a-BangAll Kinds of EverythingEin bißchen Frieden (A little bit of peace)Why Me?Running ScaredOnly Teardrops

David Ainsworth ● 33d