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Eurovision 2025: The Boycott that never happened and Europe’s dynamic return to the musical stage

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The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 is already shaping up to be one of the most dynamic editions in recent decades. Early official announcements confirm that at least 38 countries have expressed their intention to participate, surpassing the number of entries in Malmö last year, as Montenegro joins the list of returning nations. However, what truly stands out is the complete collapse of the anticipated boycott that many had predicted following the events of 2024.

The Boycott: A Story That Remained in Theory

Following last year’s contest in Sweden, several voices — including politicians, artists, and fans from various countries — called for a boycott of the competition. The protests mainly focused on Israel’s continued participation due to geopolitical tensions, along with claims that Eurovision was straying from its original purpose as a cultural and musical platform of unity.

Despite these calls, predictions of mass withdrawals fell flat. Not only did no country exit the competition, but Montenegro’s return adds to the participant count, making the 2025 contest even larger than in 2024. This highlights Eurovision’s enduring resilience as a cultural institution, capable of withstanding political controversies and challenges.

The Growing Momentum of Eurovision 2025

The announcement of 38 confirmed participants sends a clear message: the contest is not only intact but continues to unite nations and people through music. Discussions of a boycott now seem irrelevant, as the number of participating countries has increased. Furthermore, the official list from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) may hold even more surprises, potentially welcoming additional returning nations.

The fact that predictions of Eurovision’s disintegration proved baseless underscores the deep-rooted significance of the event. Eurovision is more than just a music competition — it is a platform for cultural diplomacy. Even in the face of challenging geopolitical circumstances, music remains the prevailing force.

Basel Prepares for a Historic Event

With 38 countries already confirmed, Basel, Switzerland, is gearing up to host a contest that already carries the hallmarks of success. Montenegro’s return, along with the potential for additional nations to join, not only reinforces Eurovision’s significance but also disproves exaggerated claims about the contest’s decline.

Eurovision 2025 promises to be much more than a competition: it will serve as a symbol of unity and resilience in the face of challenges. It will leave behind the political disputes and reaffirm that music is a universal bridge.

The voices of a vocal minority predicting the contest’s collapse and the mass withdrawal of nations due to last year’s controversies — including Israel’s continued participation — have been proven to be mere wishful thinking. Public broadcasters, as EBU members, ultimately had a very different perspective, choosing to uphold the spirit of the contest.

With May just around the corner, all indications point to Eurovision 2025 being the most dazzling answer to those who doubted the strength and importance of this beloved event for Europe.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates!

Israel: With the composers of Unicorn or Toy, Eden at Eurovision 2024?

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According to Israeli media reports today, KAN rejected one of Eden Golan’s top three candidate songs for Eurovision 2024 because of its lyrics, which contained political overtones. Two songs remain in contention, with major composers signing both.

The delay in announcing the song with which Eden Golan will represent Israel at Eurovision 2024 is due to the fact that KAN rejected one of the top three candidate songs. The verse, YNET reports today, contained political messages and was therefore against the competition’s regulations.

The decision on the song that will be chosen is expected perhaps at the end of the week, as long as the EBU first approves the lyrics of the two remaining songs. A committee will make the final selection and if there is no issue, the song announcement will take place in the next few days.

It is worth noting that the control of the lyrics was done after a request addressed by the Israeli public television to the EBU, something that has happened several times in the past.

The two songs are signed by very important composers, who have great successes to their credit both in Eurovision and outside of it. One is composed by Eden Golan herself and produced by Yanon Yahel and Mai Sepadia (composer of Unicorn) and the other is composed again by Eden Golan, in collaboration with Keren Peles, Avi Ohayon and Stu Bager (composer of Toy ).

All of the above is happening at a time when more than 400 celebrities from the entertainment industry support Israel’s participation in Eurovision and at a time when, once again, the EBU confirms that Israel will participate normally in the competition, separating its case from that of Russia a few years ago.

With the minimum of appearances as you read in our previous article, Israel is expected to participate normally in Malmo, in a very special year for the country and while the war conflict in Gaza continues.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments!

Source: YNET

Finland: Teemu Keisteri asks for time to decide whether to participate in Eurovision 2024!

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Teemu Keisteri is the winner of UMK 2024. As Windows95man together with Henri Piispanen and the song No Rules overturned the predictions and will be the ones to represent Finland at Eurovision 2024. But in an interview Teemu Keisteri asks for time to decide if he will participate in the contest after all.

Israel’s participation is the deterrent for Teemu Keisteri to happily participate in the upcoming singing competition. Although he recognizes that it is a decision he will make together with Henri Piispanen, he asks for time to calmly think about his final decision.

I’m not alone in this, I’m with Henri. We started all this to spread joy. This is what we want to do at Eurovision. Everyone involved in this should feel good. We want to take some quiet time to decide on this.

Teemu is asking all this year’s participants to sign a petition asking the EBU to ban Israel from Eurovision 2024.

We would be happy to promote such a thing!

Finland will compete in the second half of the first semi-final of Eurovision 2024 on 7 May.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: Helsingin

Norway: Gåte does not agree with the participation of Israel in Eurovision 2024!

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The group Gåte, despite not making much of a sensation at first, after their appearance in the semi-final of Melodi Grand Prix 2024, Norway’s national final, is now the big favorite of fans and betting companies to represent the country at Eurovision 2024!

A while ago, the group, in an interview, mentioned that their participation in Eurovision is not certain, in case they win the MGP, since they do not agree with the participation of Israel. Specifically, the band’s singer, Gunnhild Sundli, states:

“The extreme and unbearable situation in Gaza must end as soon as possible. We all agree in the group that Israel’s participation is somewhat problematic with this whole situation. We’ll need some time to discuss it.”

Gåte also specifically mentioned the possibility of their victory in the Norwegian national final:

“If we win on Saturday, it’s something we’ll have to decide. But we’ll need some time to decide what’s best.”

At the same time, the betting’s second favourites, KEiiNO, spoke about Eurovision and Israel:

“We all agree that what is happening in Gaza is terrible. As things stand now, it will be difficult for Israel to participate in the Competition in May.“

Finally, Gunnhild Sundli added:

“We are a band that believes that music is something that unites. War never led to peace. We have to see what other countries have to say. I think there will be a need for dialogue with people higher up. It is not an easy decision. We must believe in peace and dialogue and understanding for each nation. And the most important war, the war against war.”

Despite what is happening in Norway, both the EBU and NRK, the public broadcaster, have long stated that they are not going to boycott Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2024.

The Grand Final of Norway’s national final is scheduled to take place tomorrow, Saturday, February 3, where the country’s representative for Eurovision will be decided.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates regarding Norway’s participation in Eurovision 2024, in Malmö!

Source: NRK

EBU: Israel can normally participate in Eurovision 2024!

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With its statement to Aftonbladet, the EBU confirms and clarifies without any doubt that Israel will normally participate in Eurovision 2024, since the country’s public television meets all the conditions.

The EBU’s statement comes after a series of similar statements from various public broadcasters. It is emphasized that the members of the EBU consider that the Israeli public television KAN meets all the conditions for participation in the upcoming contest.

The Eurovision Song Contest is a competition between public broadcasters from across Europe and the Middle East that are members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). It’s a competition for broadcasters – not governments – and the Israeli broadcaster has been participating for 50 years. Eurovision is an apolitical event that unites audiences around the world through music.

What the EBU follows in essence is what happens in all major events, sporting and non-sporting, where Israeli representatives normally participate.

The above not only confirms everything we know about Israel’s certain participation in Eurovision 2024, but also leaves no doubt about it. Any calls for a boycott are meaningless.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: Aftonbladet

Ireland: The head of delegation does not support the boycott of Israel in Eurovision 2024!

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After the statements of the public broadcasters of Norway and Denmark, now also the Irish head of delegation, expresses his opposition to the boycott of Israel in Eurovision 2024.

Speaking on the Eurotrippodcast, Michael Kealy who is the head of Ireland’s Eurovision delegation, agreed with the EBU’s decision and against any boycott of Israel in the contest.

This is not competition between governments – it is competition between public broadcasters. The public broadcaster in Israel is an independent broadcaster like RTÉ. It is independent of the government – it is not Netanyahu’s mouthpiece.

Michael Kealy is also opposed to Ireland withdrawing from the contest because of Israel’s participation in it.

There are many calls to withdraw from Eurovision because Israel is participating in it. This would set a very dangerous precedent if we do this at RTÉ because we are not a political organisation, we are a public broadcaster. I’m not in favor of that.

Ireland make their national selection during a special edition of The Late Late Show on 26 January.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: Eurotrippodcast