Israel: “Fill your mouth with ice cubes and shut up” says Yizhar Cohen to Icelanders!

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Yizhar Cohen, the first Israeli winner of Eurovision, responds harshly to Icelanders who have previously called for Israel’s exclusion from Eurovision 2024 through protests and petitions to the Icelandic broadcaster.

So far, no EBU member has called for Israel’s exclusion from the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest, with Israel proceeding with its usual preparations to select the artist who will represent the country in Malmö in May. However, Israel’s participation in the competition remains a hot topic in Iceland.

We previously informed you of a protest by pro-Palestinian organizations in front of the headquarters of the Icelandic national television RÚV, in which protesters demand that the EBU excludes Israel from Eurovision 2024. They even gathered 9,500 signatures calling on RUV to leave Iceland in protest if Israel finally participates. Also, the association of composers and lyricists of the country, in an official announcement, calls on RUV to boycott Eurovision 2024 due to the Israeli participation.

The first Israeli winner in the Eurovision Song Contest, Yizhar Cohen, was asked to give his opinion on the protesters in Iceland. Yizhar Cohen was the winner of the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest with the now-classic “A Ba Ni Bi“, and his career has been on the rise ever since.

Invited to Channel 13, Cohen responded to Icelanders who express disapproval of Israel’s participation in a very firm manner by speaking in English so that he could be understood by all:

My dear fellow anti-Semitic “ice friends”. We know that you hate…sorry, that you dislike us. When the Eurovision took place in Tel Aviv, your group was hanging out with extremists Palestinians and supported terror against us. You know you are fighting for human rights for everybody in the globe, except for the human rights of Israelis and human rights of Jews, and that’s why you are anti-Semitic. So now you want to boycott us in Eurovision 2024. You are fed by so many lies and pro-Palestinian propaganda and you know completely nothing about us. You just shout, shout and shout. So I have an idea for you – maybe instead of bringing your political views in Eurovision, just bring a great song and win the contest? That’s the way that we’ll remember you. If not, you can continue keep barking as much as you want. I have a secret for you – we will stay here for another 50 thousand years, if you like it or not.

You have a lot of ice in Iceland, right? So, fill your mouths with ice cubes and shut up!

How do you judge the words of Izhar Cohen? Tell us in the comments below! Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all news!

Source: Euromix

Iceland: Protest against Israel’s participation at Eurovision 2024 outside the Public Broadcaster offices!

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Earlier today, protesters gathered in front of the offices of the Icelandic Public Broadcaster RUV, calling for the disqualification of Israel from Eurovision 2024 due to the Israel-Gaza conflict. Around 50 people assembled in Reykjavik,  in support of Gaza and with one of their main demands to Israel’s withdrawal from the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest which will be held in Malmö, Sweden.

Stefan Eiríksson, the director of Icelandic Public Radio, met with a delegation of protesters who handed him a petition with 9,500 signatures calling for withdrawal from the 68th Eurovision Song Contest if Israel takes part. They urged RUV to put pressure on both the EBU and other public broadcasters to prevent Israel’s participation in the competition.

Sama Arla, the spokesperson of the protesters, stated that if Israel participates in Eurovision 2024, then RUV should withdraw Iceland’s participation.

“Iceland, like all the other countries competing in the Eurovision Song Contest, has the power to demand that Israel’s participation is re-examined in light of the fact that Israel is committing genocide. We know that there is usually a lot of controversy about RÚV’s lack of action on the matter. We want to see more action from RÚV. Also in the case of Russia, it was initially not expelled from the competition until the Finns threatened to withdraw. Anyone can take that first step and we want Iceland to do so.”

When asked whether they will be any further action if RUV  does not boycott the contest the reply was:

“This is a Public Television Network that should listen to the voices of the people in the country. It will be unusual if the decision to boycott the competition is not accepted.”

A few days ago, RUV, through Stefan Eiríksson, announced that Iceland would participate in Eurovision 2024. He stated that Iceland would not ask for the disqualification of Israel from the contest, emphasizing that the event should remain separate from political matters.

So far, no EBU member has officially asked the disqualification of Israel from Eurovision 2024.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates!

Source: Euromix

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Iceland: The Association of Composers and Lyricists calls on RÚV to abstain from Eurovision 2024 because of Israel!

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The Association of Composers and Lyricists of Iceland opposes the country’s participation in Eurovision 2024 unless Israel is disqualified.

Last night, through its official Facebook account, the Association of Composers and Lyricists of Iceland, F.T.T. (Félag tónskálda og textahöfunda) announced that they have sent a request to the radio director and RÚV board stating the following:

The board of FTT tonight sent this request to the radio director and board of RUV:

Reykjavik 11 December 2023

The board of FTT, an association of composers and lyricists, calls on RÚV not to participate in Eurovision in 2024 unless Israel is denied participation in the competition on the same grounds as Russia in the last competition. We all have a duty to take a stand against war and the killing of civilians and innocent children. We always have the choice not to put our name to such things, whether we are individuals or state institutions. We owe it to the nations that act with military force to not share with them in an event that is always characterized by joy and optimism.

The board of FTT:

Bragi Valdimar Skúlason, chairman
Védís Hervör Árnadóttir, vice-chairman
Sóley Stefánsdóttir
Ragnhei ður Grondal
Andri Olafsson
Hallur Ingólfsson
Hildur Kristín Stefánsdóttir

It is not the first time that Iceland has expressed discomfort in issues concerning Israel, recalling that in 2019 there was opposition to hosting the competition in Jerusalem, but also the representatives of the country themselves that year took a political position during the announcement of the results on the night of the final. Any response from the country’s public broadcaster is awaited with interest.

Do you believe that the aforementioned request will have an impact on Iceland’s participation? Let us know your thought in the comments below.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the updates around the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest!

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Eurovision 2024: 37 countries will join the 68th contest in Malmö!

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The Eurovision season has officially started! Just moments ago, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced the participants’ list of Eurovision 2024 in Malmö. In total, 37 countries will participate in the 68th Eurovision Song Contest.

In detail, the following countries will take part in Malmö:

 Albania – RTSH

 Australia – SBS

 Armenia – AMPTV

 Austria – ORF

 Azerbaijan – İctimai

Belgium – RTBF

Croatia – HRT

 Cyprus – CyBC

Czech Republic – ČT

 Denmark – DR

 Estonia – ERR

 Finland – YLE

 France – FT

 Georgia – GPB

 Germany – ARD/NDR

 Greece – ERT

 Iceland – RÚV

 Ireland – RTÉ

 Israel – IPBC/Kan

Italy – RAI

 Latvia – LTV

 Lithuania – LRT

Luxembourg – RTL

 Malta – PBS

 Moldova – TRM

Netherlands – AVROTROS

 Norway – NRK

 Poland – TVP

 Portugal – RTP

 San Marino – SMRTV

 Serbia – RTS

 Slovenia – RTVSLO

 Spain – TVE

 Sweden – SVT

 Switzerland – SRG / SSR

 Ukraine – UA:PBC

 United Kingdom – BBC

Whilst Romania is currently not confirmed to compete next year, talks are continuing with TVR on their potential participation as well. That means we might have 38 nations competing in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest.

Luxembourg, one of the founding members of Eurovision as well as successful, having won the contest five times, will return after three decades long absence. In fact, Luxembourg’s return was known to public since May and it was even announced during the Grand Final of Eurovision 2023.

North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Montenegro still remain out, claiming financial reasons.

The 68th Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Malmö, Sweden during 7-11 of May 2024, following Loreen’s second win in Liverpool.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, in Malmö!

Daði Freyr: Iceland is winning Eurovision 2024!

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With a post on X (formerly Twitter), Iceland‘s representative at Eurovision 2020 and 2021, Daði Freyr, created excitement for the participation of the Land of Ice and Fire in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest.

He was quick to clarify, in response to comments, that he does not intend to return to Eurovision 2024 himself.

As we have informed you in a previous article, Iceland’s broadcaster RÚV will once again select its entry through Söngvakeppnin, with the grand final taking place on 2 March 2024.

RÚV received 118 entries for Söngvakeppnin 2024. The final list of participants will be announced on 27 January in Lögin i Söngvakeppninni.

Daði’s words imply that within the entries submitted to RÚV there is a very good song or even a well-known artist with great ambitions for the island nation, which, although it has been participating in the competition since 1986, has not yet won the first place.

Daði Freyr may not have been able to compete at Eurovision 2020 with his viral hit Think About Things, but he returned the following year with 10 Years and won 4th place, scoring 378 points!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSMhu-PrLME&t=6s

Do you think Iceland can win Eurovsion 2024? Write us in the comments!

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Iceland: Söngvakeppnin 2024 Final on March 2!

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Iceland has already confirmed its participation in Eurovision 2024 and will select its representative on 2 March with the grand final of Söngvakeppnin 2024.

RÚV, Iceland’s national broadcaster, has announced the timetable of the national final. The competition will consist of three shows: the first semi-final on 17 February, the second semi-final on 24 February and the final on 2 March. The winner of the competition will receive the golden ticket to represent the Land of Fire and Ice at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö, Sweden.

Each semi-final will consist of five entries competing live. The two songs from each show with the most votes from the TV audience will qualify for the grand final. The show’s producers also have the option of adding a fifth finalist as a wildcard from the other contestants. The show will again be presented by Ragnhildur Steinunn Jónsdóttir, Sigurður Þorri Gunnarsson and Unnsteinn Manuel Stefánsson.

RÚV received 118 entries for Söngvakeppnin 2024. The final list of participants will be announced on 27 January in RÚV’s Lögin i Söngvakeppninni.

Artistic direction for Söngvakeppnin 2024 will be provided by Högni Egilsson, Selma Björnsdóttir, Samúel Bjarki Pétursson and Gunnar Páll Ólafsson. Selma is the well-known Eurostar, former Eurovision representative of Iceland, taking second place in 1999 in Jerusalem with the song “All Out of Luck“, but failing to qualify in 2005 in Kiev with the song “If I Had Your Love“.

Diljá represented Iceland in this year’s competition with the song “Power“, finishing 11th in the second semi-final with 44 points, failing to advance to the final.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzlTcA0OC5s

Source: ruv.is

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Eurovision 2024 Iceland: Submissions for Söngvakeppnin 2024 open today!

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Eurovision 2024 hopeful candidates are now able to submit their songs for the Icelandic National Final.Applicants can submit their entries until the 10th September.The songs will be assessed by experienced music professionals by FTT, FÍH και RÚV.

The 10 songs participating in Söngvakeppnin 2024 will be revealed in January. The shows are scheduled to take place in February and March 2024.
Iceland in Eurovision
Iceland debuted in 1986 and has yet to win the contest,achieving an all-time high 2nd place in 1999 and 2009.This year’s representative was Dilja with her song “Power” which did not manage to proceed in the Grand Final,achieving an 11th place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzlTcA0OC5s

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source:RUV

Iceland: Participation at Eurovision 2024 confirmed!

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Iceland is going to be present at Eurovision 2024 in Sweden.

The national broadcaster of Iceland, RÚV, confirmed the participation of the nordic island nation in the next Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Sweden, as the submission process for the Söngvakeppnin 2024 commences on the 15th of  June. This is the first time that the songs submission window opens so early.

The confirmation of participation came alongside with the reveal of the viewing figures of the Contest. An average 60% of the viewers watched the Grand Final with a peak of 73%.

The Manager of Söngvakeppnin, Rúnar Freyr Gíslason, commented:

“We are incredibly happy and proud of Diljá and the Icelandic scene. She is a young singer who is taking her first steps in the business and it is quite clear that she has a future ahead of her,”

“Our preliminary competition here at home, the Söngvakeppnin , has grown and prospered every year and Eurovision is getting bigger and bigger. Music streaming has increased tremendously and serious authors and singers all over Europe are starting to look at participating in the competition as a preferred option to let the world hear their music,”

Diljá represented Iceland in 2023 Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Power” and finished 11th in the Second Semi-Final with 44 points, and thus did not advanced to the Grand Final.

https://youtu.be/lzlTcA0OC5s

Source: Eurovoix

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Iceland: Daði Freyr against the pre-recorded vocals!

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Iceland’s Eurovision 2021 representative, Daði Freyr, is quite active on social media.

This time through his personal Twitter account he posted about the use of pre-recorded vocals. Specifically, he is in favor of reinstating the previous regulation, where their use was not prescribed.

Daði Freyr together with his band Daði og Gagnamagnið represented Iceland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 finishing in 4th place of the scoreboard with 378 points.

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Eurovision 2023: See the results of Press Poll just before the grand final!

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As we informed you, Press Poll 2023 has begun. After all countries have had all technical rehearsals, it is now time for the accredited to vote for the country that believes she will be the winner of the 67th Eurovision Song Contest.

Below are the results of the final of today’s 13/5 at 21:45:

In the vote for the winner, Finland leads, Sweden is second, and Spain is third!

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Source: Ogae International