Israeli Singer Eden Golan Prevails Against Massive Anti-Israel Protest and Heads to Eurovision Grand Final
Under such intense pressure, Golan gave a performance of a lifetime during the semifinals.
Eurovision is an international song competition organized annually by the European Broadcasting Union in which each participating country submits an original song to be performed live and transmitted to national broadcasters. Citizens of competing countries then cast votes for the other countries’ songs to determine a winner.
In other words, its a European version of American Idol, but with more bling and drama. Typically, the contest doesn’t get noticed much in this country. I follow the competition, as I am a fan or world music.
However, this year, Israeli Singer Eden Golan’s has been at the center of an amazing saga that began with her song, “October Rain”. Here is a look at the song, with an accompanying review (which was highly positive).
It appears the Israeli entry created quite a stir:
“October Rain” alludes to the victims of the Hamas October 7 attacks on southern Israel. More than 1,000 people died, and Hamas fighters took around 250 hostages—including women and children.
The original lyrics to “October Rain” contained the following lyrics:
They were all good children, every one of them.
As a concession to the complaints the entry was too political, the title was changed to “Hurricane” and some of the lyrics modified. Yet the passion and emotion remained.
Subsequently, the song, the singer, and Israel, became the targets of a massive protest in the Malmo, Sweden (where the Eurovision contest is being held this year). The High Priestess of the Climate Cult, Greta Thunberg, was one of the demonstrators.
Swedish police estimated that between 10,000 and 12,000 people took part in Thursday night’s demonstrations.
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg joined thousands of pro-Palestine protests in Malmo against Israel competing in the Eurovision Song Contest on Thursday night, shortly before Israel was due to perform at the competition’s second semi final.
Thunberg joined the protests at the Stop Israel demonstration, between Stortorget Square and Molleplatsen Park in the centre of the Swedish capital.
The 21 year old activist was pictured wearing a keffiyeh, a scarf commonly associated as a symbol of Palestinian solidarity.
MALMO, SWEDEN
Thousands of anti-Israel protesters congregates in the Swedish city of Malmö, protesting against the participation of a 20-year-old Israeli singer in the Eurovision Song Contest.
It is reported singer Eden Golan required the protection of 100 police officers as… pic.twitter.com/TS8U1A7epB
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) May 9, 2024
Demonstrators disrupted rehearsals for the semifinals.
During Eden Golan’s rehearsals of her song Hurricane, which was reworked from an early track October Rain (thought to be a reference to the attack by Hamas), she was booed and there were reportedly shouts of ‘free Palestine’ on Wednesday.
One person wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: ‘The atmosphere inside the arena was horrible. You could feel the tension. Shouts of ‘free Palestine’ in the quiet parts. Booing audible in places. People arguing in the standing section.’
Another person, who posted a video of boos raining down on the singer, added: ‘The atmosphere was so uncomfortable.’
The people booing Eden Golan most likely bought their Eurovision Tickets just so they could express their hatred toward Israel.
It’s almost as if their entire identity and existence/purpose revolve around Israel and their hatred of Jews. 🟦pic.twitter.com/4si1Qjf24W
— Sami Alexis💃🏼 (@millennialwelll) May 10, 2024
At one point, Golan was ordered to stay in her hotel room by Israel’s national security agency. Eventually, a 100-car police escort was assembled to take her safely to the semifinals.
About 100 Swedish police officers and a helicopter escort Israeli singer Eden Golan to the stadium in Malmö to perform at the Eurovision Song Contest. pic.twitter.com/F5BIOHeYtr
— Vexwift (@vexwift) May 10, 2024
Under such pressure, Golan gave a performance of a lifetime.
An incredible performance! 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/NOB9PQ0VYb
— Michael Dickson (@michaeldickson) May 9, 2024
Clearly, the international audience was spellbound by her singing, as Israel jumped from #8 to #2 in the rankings and Golan is now heading to the Grand Final.
The Italian public broadcaster appeared to accidentally reveal live on air the results of its country’s televote, handing Israel a whopping 39% of the votes, way ahead of the second vote-getter, Netherlands, which got just 7%. The vote distribution in the semifinals is not meant to be released until after the final, and the percentages are not generally published. The EBU did not respond to a request for comment.
At a press conference for those who advanced to the finals, held shortly after the show, Golan said that she felt “overwhelmed with emotions — it’s truly such an honor to be here on stage, performing and showing our voice and representing us with pride and making it to the finals.”
I am looking forward to seeing the next round, and hope Golan continues safely and successfully in her career.
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Comments
I wonder how many people – normal every day people – agree with Israel and are afraid to say anything, either to their .govs or their neighbors, but feel free to vote for her as a silent vote of support to Israel. Just thinking here….
of course
the scotus wouldnt even look at the obvious 2020 fraud issues as the blmplo brigade let it be known that they know where you live and ( thanks chuckie schmuer)
that violence was right around the corner
Cowards
Churches don’t even speak to the carnage
Gives you chills to see such courage in the face of hatred. The production was not bad, either.
thunberg is the hemorrhoid of her universe
Her 15 minutes of fame are way, way done.
A hundred car police escort and a helicopter…
God, the world is Insane… everywhere… your children are under extreme duress
It’s time…
Everything like this has gone absolutely batshit.
Ireland apparently has a ‘queer witch’ competing who sings about how she touches herself thinking about Satan.
It was a pleasure to hear of the massive support Eden got in the public voting. It soared her into the lead for a while, though Switzerland’s support from both the public and the expert juries brought that country’s performer out on top.
These wacko’s keep forgetting they are in the vast minority supporting terrorism.
So Israel comes 5th over all at Eurovision, which kind of tells you something about who is in the wrong here.
I mean it’s either those protesting for Hamas OR those who voted for Israel?
If Israel was as detested and hated as the left wishes it was Israel wouldn’t have finished 5! TBH, was kinda hoping they’d win as that would have been a good middle finger to all the racists out there protesting that Jews aren’t dying fast enough.
Wow. These other jackholes are supposed to be good at propaganda, esp “actions” that generate a propaganda event, no? Guess these ones missed the memo to do that to the other guys, not yourselves.
— Single, young, Israeli woman surrounded by haters in the hundreds. Not exactly Oct 7, but it rhymes.
— Around 100 police to “keep her safe.” Who’s civilization here? Who’s violent to make a point? Who picks off the vulnerable?
— Booing and harassment while she rehearses. Forced changes to title and lyrics. Say “Can’t win the argument if the other side gets a say” without saying “Can’t win the argument…”
— That performance. All alone(*), such resolve, such composure. Such skill in the face of those pressures.Thank you at the end.
(*) There’s some scuttlebutt about the dancers in the performance being forbidden, as in having to be forbidden, from wearing “pro Palestine” messages during the performance. There she is, singing through choreography of being lifted by people wanted to do that. They coulda dropped her on her head, but it seems these folks don’t much like doing their righteous thing with their faces out.n You’d think performers would want the credit on their vita at least.
Jeebus H, followers of the new covenant get to read that one in, too … Somebody show me a clip of programmed grade school kids trained into, rhythmically chanting the praises of the one above them; I’m about to get enthralled by the power of music, performance, and moral stance in public. Bog spare me from getting hopeful.