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Norway: Palestinian activists protested outside NRK against Israel!

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Palestinian activists on Saturday used powerful measures in the fight against Israel‘s participation in Eurovision. 30 men sat bare-chested, blindfolded and hands stripped outside NRK. Activist and initiator Rami Samandar says to VG:

“We are here to highlight Israel’s violations of international law. What we see in Gaza is absolutely horrific.”

The protesters staged an incident on Saturday that occurred in Beit Lahiya in the Gaza Strip on December 7. Then over a hundred Palestinian men and boys were captured by Israeli soldiers. They were ordered to undress and kneel in the street and were accused of belonging to Hamas or being terrorists. Samandar continues:

“But it’s too cold for all 30 people to sit outside NRK at the same time, so we have divided them into groups of ten who each take a dare in front of NRK.”

It was around zero degrees outside NRK Saturday morning and Samandar says that there was great interest in taking part in this action.

“We received so many inquiries that in the end we had to say no.”

In groups of ten, a total of 30 men walked up and down between the parking lot below NRK and the main entrance.

There have been calls to ban Israel from Eurovision 2024, like 1000 Swedish musicians that signed today a petition to the EBU against Israel outside NRK right during the first two weeks of MGP. In Iceland, more than 500 artists signed a petition asking RÚV to withdraw from the contest, while Silvia Night signed an open letter to the EBU asking to ban Israel. In Finland, 1300 artists signed a petition asking for Israel to be removed. The British representative Olly Alexander has also shared in public his opinion against Israel. Also just recently Montaigne signed an open letter to the EBU asking the ban of Israel from the contest and Ben Dolic joined her by doing the same.

Source: VG
Photo: VG

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Sweden: Around 1000 artists want Israel banned from Eurovision!

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Around 1,000 Swedish artists are demanding that Israel be banned from the Eurovision Song Contest, according to a petition that Expressen has taken part of. The document, which is currently being prepared to be handed over to the EBU writes:

“Put down the double standards, exclude Israel from the Eurovision Song Contest. For more than 100 days, we have witnessed the Israeli army committing what leading human rights organizations describe as grave war crimes.”

Among the artists who seem to have signed are musicians well-known in Sweden such as Alba August, Hoffmaestro, Jonathan Johansson, Malena Ernman, Markus Krunegård and Titiyo.

The EBU has previously excluded Russia and Belarus

The European Broadcasting Union announced in connection with Iceland‘s and Finland‘s appeal that Israel will not be excluded. Their position is that the Eurovision Song Contest is a contest between public service broadcasters rather than states.

However, the EBU has previously excluded countries from competing. In 2022, Russia was excluded due to the war against Ukraine. In 2021, Belarus was not allowed to participate in the competition after the EBU expelled the Belarusian public broadcaster BTRC for violating the EBU‘s press freedom rules.

There have been calls to ban Israel from Eurovision 2024, like outside NRK right before the first and second semi-finals of MGP. In Iceland, more than 500 artists signed a petition asking RÚV to withdraw from the contest, while Silvia Night signed an open letter to the EBU asking to ban Israel. In Finland, 1300 artists signed a petition asking for Israel to be removed. The British representative Olly Alexander has also shared in public his opinion against Israel. Also just recently Montaigne signed an open letter to the EBU asking the ban of Israel from the contest and Ben Dolic joined her by doing the same.

Source: Expressen
Photo: Jessica Gow / TT News Agency

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Denmark: Malmöhagen Party to be launched on May 4 in Copenhagen!

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Each year Eurovision Pre-Parties take place in 8 cities with capacities of between 1.000 to 7.000 guests as part of the promotion tour. Now it is time to put Copenhagen on the map given its proximity to Eurovision host city, Malmö who host the two Semi-Finals and Grand Final on May 7, 9 & 11. With 1.4M population, Copenhagen is a 12 minutes 1 train stop ride away from Malmö Arena and it’s 700000 population.

The hosts

Our Pre-Party Festival Show is co-hosted by James Barr from the UK who hosts the Hits Radio UK Radio Breakfast Show with Fleur East. This will be the 5th time that James has hosted our Pre-Party events from previous successful private ones in London cinemas and during the pandemic to a worldwide audience under the name “Coronavision“.

Annie Rection joins James as co-host from Denmark. She is a well-known drag queen comedian, ensuring an evening of entertainment and interaction that is second to none as the UK handovers to Scandinavia at the centre of our entertainment show. She produces and hosts “Just Another Drag Show” and “Absalon Drag Race” among other accolades, TV appearances and podcasts.

The experience

Taking place on the Saturday night before the Malmö Opening Ceremony on Sunday May 5 with a live Audience Vote and International Jury Panel to close out the Eurovision 2024 Concerts in Barcelona, Madrid, London, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Oslo & Tel Aviv. We have the honor to close the tour and be the opening party for Eurovision Live Events Week.

Unique from the existing Euroclubs and Pre-Party Concerts, YOU will ALSO be the audience and voters in your own 2024 Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final! This event is a 10 hour party with after party Euroclub included. We won’t ask you to leave after the concert, show and vote!

The lineup

We will host an immersive Grand Final with celebrity judges, show stopping “Drag-A-Vision Contest” and our 15+ live performers from Sweden, Iceland, UK, Denmark, Turkey and of course Copenhagen:

  1. Emmelie De Forest – Musician & Eurovision Winner 2013- House of Denmark
  2. Hera Björk – Musician & Eurovision 2010, 2009 Backing Vocalist & Runner-Up Danish MGP 2009- House of Iceland
  3. Paul Rey – 2020s Melodifestivalen National Final Artist- House of Sweden
  4. Sander Sanchez – 2020 Dansk Melodi Grand Prix Final Runner-Up Artist-House of Denmark
  5. James Barr – Co-Host MalmöHagen 2024- UK Hits Radio Breakfast Show Host with Fleur East. Award winning UK breakfast show. Winner, Best LGBTQ UK Podcast: Gay &A Non Gay & Comedian- House of UK
  6. Annie Rection – Co-Host MalmöHagen 2024- Denmark Absalon Drag Race Host, Not Just Another Drag Race Producer, Host, Drag Queen, Comedian & Dragtastic member- House of Denmark
  7. Oz – Eurovision YouTube Creator, Song Producer & Performing Artist- House of Turkey & UK
  8. DJ Ohrmeister – Eurovision Euroclub DJ- House of Germany
  9. Philipina – 2023 Danish Rainbow Award Nominee &; Denmark Absalon Drag Race Winner, Series 3 &; Dragtastic member – House of Denmark &; Philippines
  10. Sascha Holiday – 2024 Denmark Absalon Drag Race Contestant, Series 4, 2023 Denmark Queen of The Night Winner, 2019 Danish Showgirl of the Year, Eurovision Superfan & Dragtastic member- House of Denmark
  11. Diana Diamond – 2023 Danish Rainbow Awards Best Drag Performer &; Denmark Absalon Drag Race Winner, Series 1- House of Denmark
  12. Chloe Angel – 2023 Denmark Reality TV Series Contestant & Scandinavian Songbook DJ-House of Denmark
  13. Jonathan Jaynes – Singer, Songwriter & Producer- House of Malmö, Sweden
  14. Danica Dimefox – 2024 Absalon Drag Race Contestant, Live Singer and Ballroom Icon-House of Copenhagen

More acts to be confirmed soon. Tickets available on billetto.Dk in advance. Limited same day entry to keep queues short.

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Sweden: Hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in a geopolitically-unstable time!

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Sweden is hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in a geopolitically-unstable time.

In Finland, more than 1300 people from the music industry have signed a petition calling for Finland to boycott the contest in Malmö if Israel participates. Similar demands have been made in Iceland in the past.

And recently, demonstrators gathered outside the NRK headquarters in Oslo, demanding the exclusion of Israel from Eurovision because of the war in Gaza.

Ben Robertson, who covers Eurovision for ESCInsight, comments on the Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Malmö this May that it could be the most politically sensitive in Eurovision‘s history:

“It will be very tough to organise the Eurovision Song Contest this year. It demands a lot from Malmö and SVT. It’s not just about Israel. It’s about Sweden too, about the high terrorist threat.”

Ben also notes that this will be another season of Eurovision in the shadow of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. Ukraine is participating in this year’s competition. So does Armenia, which came into focus last autumn due to the conflict with Azerbaijan and also says he will neither be surprised if artists and songwriters choose to address political issues this year nor will he be surprised if fans demand that artists who travel to Malmö take a stand in the Israel – Hamas conflict.

The Eurovision Song Contest is organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The EBU‘s members are public service broadcasters in various countries, especially in Europe. But countries such as Israel, Morocco and Lebanon are also members of the EBU.

In recent years, two countries have been excluded from the EBU and banned from the Eurovision Song Contest. Belarus was expelled because the country violated the rules of the competition and refused to change a song lyric with too political a message. Russia was expelled after the attack on Ukraine, reflecting a concern that, in light of the unprecedented crisis in Ukraine, the inclusion of a Russian entry would bring the competition into disrepute.

Now voices are being raised that Israel should also be expelled. But Paul Jordan, who comments on Eurovision for British media, believes Israel will participate this year. He says the situation is different than when Russia was excluded.

“When Russia was excluded, it had been banned from other international events. The EBU watched the World Cup and others who didn’t want Russia there, and then it would have looked very strange if Russia had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest.”

The idea behind Eurovision is that countries should be able to put aside conflicts and bad relations for one night. In the UK, Olly Alexander, who will represent the country in Malmö, has made headlines with his criticism of Israel.

Paul says that there is a risk that Israel, even if it is not excluded, feels that it is not welcome to participate in Malmö.

“If the war is still going on, and we see these horrific images from Gaza, it can also be perceived as distasteful to participate in Eurovision while people are dying.”

At the same time, Eurovision is an important platform for Israel, which has participated in the contest for 45 years.

Karin Karlsson is the project manager for the Eurovision Song Contest, employed by the City of Malmö. She had the same role in 2013.

She notes that many things are different today. The target group of the competition has become younger. Social media plays a very different role than in 2013. The Eurovision Song Contest doesn’t just mean televised stage performances at Malmö Arena. There will also be a week’s festival in different places in the city. At the same time, Sweden has a high terrorist threat. Karin comments on that:

“And it’s much more complicated in terms of security, this year. We work with safety all the time, every day.”

Source: Svenska Dagbladet

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Sweden: No Auto-Tune in Melodifestivalen, says producer Karin Gunnarsson!

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The organizers of the Norwegian equivalent to Melodifestivalen, Melodi Grand Prix, have decided to allow Auto-Tune to enhance the singing voices in this year’s competition.

Now SVT is responding to the neighboring country’s decision. Karin Gunnarsson, competition producer of Melodifestivalen spoke to Sveriges Radio Kulturnytt and said that SVT follows the guidelines of Eurovision Song Contest and hence it would be challenging to use Auto-Tune in the Swedish national selection process:

“This means that there would be a version of a song that must be revamped to suit Eurovision. And that’s just a good thing.”

Auto-Tune can be explained as an effect used to correct and manipulate the pitch of a voice. Among, other things, to avoid false notes. It is widely used in both live productions and recordings. And sometimes it is used, says Karin Gunnarsson, as a personal artistic choice:

“Some use it as an artistic and unique selling proposition to make their music or song stand out. But it will be hard to get that expression into Melodifestivalen as it is now. Those artists are not relevant, so to speak. Furthermore, there is no need or pressure from the industry artists that they want Auto-Tune.”

And Mårten Tomassen, who is chairman of the Norwegian Eurovision fan club, spoke to Sveriges Radio and expressed his belief that allowing Auto-Tune would be a step in the wrong direction.

“I don’t like it, one of the dubious aspects of Melodifestivalen is that the artist sings with the voice they are known with. Sometimes it’s an amazing vocal experience, other times not so good.” 

Do you think that Auto-Tune should be introduced at Melodifestivalen or any other Eurovision national selection processes? Let us know in the comments section below!

Source: Sveriges Radio / Kulturnytt / Helena Stinkvist Sörlin & Gustav Ingerhage

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EBU: The union’s take on Auto-Tune! | There is an exception to the rule!

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While the EBU requires Eurovision participants to sing live with their raw vocals at the song contest, NRK has allowed so-called Auto-Tune in the Norwegian Melodi Grand Prix. The Eurovision organizer had always been cautious about commenting on the topic, but now clearly outlines the rules for Auto-Tune to TV 2. EBU‘s communications department outlines:

“Live vocals are very important in our format and in the tradition of the competition. The quality of the main vocals is a large part of the overall assessment of the performance, both for the jury and the audience at home. That performance should happen live, and without manipulation.”

Auto-Tune is a digital music tool that corrects the pitch of the voice, even in real-time, so singers always hit the tone precisely. The technology became particularly famous in 1998 through the song “Believe” by Cher.

This is the exception

Despite the seemingly categorical ban, the EBU acknowledges that there does not exist a total Auto-Tune ban on the Eurovision stage.

“Auto-Tune can be used as a sound effect on parts of a song, but we don’t allow it to correct the tone of the lead singer or backing vocals throughout the song.”

This means that the controversial technology can be used in a registered song, but no more extensive form than as an effect grip. President Morten Thomassen of the Norwegian Eurovision club says about the new information:

“I think it is the first time they clarify these rules so much. It’s good that they’re still against Auto-Tune on paper, but the way I interpret the rules, it can be applied to the vocally difficult parts of the song and that’s probably where it’s needed most I would think.”

“Unfortunately, Auto-Tune is here to stay”

Thomassen is not satisfied with the fact that Auto-Tune is freely allowed in the NRK competition of MGP, which is the stage where Norway‘s Eurovision entry is to be selected from, expressing his clear dissatisfaction when he spoke to TV 2 on Tuesday.

He thought Auto-Tune in a contest like Eurovision is like “putting too much makeup on the bride”, and already last year asked NRK to reverse the choice of the sometimes reviled technology.

Do you agree with the use of Auto-Tune at the Eurovision Song Contest? Let us know in the comments section below!

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Source: TV 2

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Eurovision 2024: First look at next year’s stage!

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SVT, host broadcaster for the 68th Eurovision Song Contest, has unveiled the impressive stage our 37 artists will be performing on in Malmö next May.

https://twitter.com/Eurovision/status/1737103178682761461?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Movable LED cubes, LED floors, light, video and stage technology will combine to create some spectacular variations in the arena, while the stage is placed right in the middle of the audience, shaped like a cross, creating a unique 360-degree experience that the audience and viewers will get to experience in May.

The names behind the concept are Florian Wieder, Production Designer, and Fredrik Stormby, Light and Screen Content Designer.

According to the Executive Producer, Ebba Adielsson:

It is with great pride that we present our vision of the stage and lighting design for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. We have not seen anything like this before at Eurovision and the concept gives us endless opportunities to create unique spaces and expressions for both the competing artists and the opening and interval acts. Florian and Fredrik’s creation is simply fantastic and it will be so much fun to see the end result!

One of the stage creators, Fredrik Stormby adds:

We believe that together we have created what is an unexpected and updated concept for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 and are looking forward to showing it off for real! I am honoured to have been commissioned to design the light and video in collaboration with the team from our studio, and the production team that SVT has put into place for the project. 

We’ve developed a strong concept together, and I’m really looking forward to the continued collaboration in production, the creative process with the delegations, and eventually getting my teeth into the show and doing the broadcasts!

The Eurovision 2024 stage is unique. It is the first time that the stage is placed centrally, while the audience surrounds it. Moreover, there will be an installation of video and light, centered above the stage, where the lighting design has been crafted to truly embrace the artists and their performances, hence there will be led screens everywhere.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 is organized in collaboration with the city of Malmö and will be broadcast from Malmö Arena on Tuesday 7 May (semi-final 1), Thursday 9 May (semi-final 2) and Saturday 11 May (final) after Loreen won for a second time in Liverpool with the song “Tattoo“.

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Source: eurovision.tv

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Sweden: New music festival, tribute to Eurovision and Mello in Stockholm next May!

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Despite the fact that Eurovision and schlager are among the most popular music in Sweden, this type of music has been conspicuous by its absence in Sweden festival scene.

As Tobbe Ek and Aftonbladet reported, there will be a new one-day festival at Stockholm Olympic Stadium with around 20 of the biggest schlager and Eurovision artists, next May!

Entertainment and event manager Navid Kabiri has teamed up with Anders Boström, who co-founded Summerburst, and nightclub organizer Samin Adjoudani, and together they are behind Drömmen, which will take place on Saturday, May 25 in Stockholm. On stage there will be, among others, Carola, Charlotte Perrelli, Linda Bengtzing, Méndez, Jessica Andersson Kate Ryan and Army of Lovers who have already confirmed their participation at the festival.

Some of the Melodifestivalen and Eurovision artists are known for a handful of songs, but will they all do full concerts? Or how will the arrangement be? Navid Kabiri comments:

“We’re focused on the hits, these artists know the audience wants to hear them. This is Drömmen, it should be dreamy and not sleepy, but we also talk to the artists about what they want to do. It should be a tribute to them and to this music. Some will want to do a couple of songs and others will come with bands and do longer gigs. We will release more names as they become available.”

The Drömmen festival will take place at Stockholm Stadion on Saturday, May 25, 2024 and tickets go on sale on Tuesday, December 12.

Source: Aftonbladet

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Sweden: First betting odds for Melodifestivalen 2024 | Danny Saucedo is the hot favourite!

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It has been only a few hours since the announcement of the participants at Melodifestival 2024, but the first betting odds have already begun, depsite the fact that the participating songs release of the first semi-final will have to wait for two more months.

The big favourite for the victory is Danny Saucedo, who aims a dynamic come-back in the music industry of Sweden through his participation in Melodifestivalen 2024. This is going to be his fifth participation in this particular music festival.

His entry “Happy That You Found Me” was composed by Kristoffer Fogelmark, John Martin and Michel Zitron. The latter was involved in the production of two global music hits, “Don’t you owrry child” and “Save the world” of Swedish House Mafia and has also collaborated with artists like Avicii and Alesso. 

In the second place of the betting odds are the Norwegian twins Marcus & Martinus Gunnarsen who took part in Melodifestivalen 2023 and finished in the second place.

In the third place we see Liamoo, in fourth place the popoular among the eurofans Dotter while the first top five ends with a tie between Maria Sur and Smash Into Pieces.

At this point it should be mentioned that the betting odds are currently based only on the names of the particpants. Comparing the current face of the betting odds with the respondent one of previous years, we can see that the betting odds were confirmed only in 2014, 2015 and 2023.

The schedule for the six shows of the Melodifestivalen 2024 tour

  • Heat 1: Saturday 3 February 2024, Malmö Arena, Malmö
  • Heat 2: Saturday 10 February 2024, Scandinavium, Göteborg
  • Heat 3: Saturday 17 February 2024, Vida Arena, Växjö
  • Heat 4: Saturday 24 February 2024, Stiga Sports Arena, Eskiltuna
  • Heat 5: Saturday 2 March 2024, Löfbergs Arena, Karlstad
  • Final: Saturday 9 March 2024, Friends Arena, Stockholm – Solna

The winner of Melodifestivalen 2023 and subsequently the Swedish representative in the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest was Loreen with her entry “Tattoo”. Loreen did not only achieved a second victory in Melodifestival, but also a second victory at the Eurovision Song Contest, raising the number of Swedish victories to 7, equalizing the number of victories of the intertemporal queen of Eurovision, Ireland.

https://youtu.be/BE2Fj0W4jP4

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Source: eurovisionworld

Eurovision 2024: Mass calls for boycott of Eurovision!

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The final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 is just under six months away. After Loreen‘s victory with the song “Tattoo” last May, the competition will take place in Malmö.

Israel as part of Eurovision Song Contest

Israel has been a part of Eurovision since 1973 and has won the contest four times. They are not the only non-European country participating. Australia and Armenia are examples of recurring non-European participants. Countries such as Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan also have the opportunity to compete but have chosen not to do so. Non-European countries have the opportunity to participate due to their membership of the EBU.

Despite the fact that Belarus and Russia are located in Europe, they cannot participate in Eurovision today as they are excluded from the EBU.

Activists call for a boycott of Eurovision

Now, several campaigns are underway on social media calling for a boycott of Eurovision, due to the participation of Israel. Ida Helene Benonisen is a Norwegian activist who fights for the rights of the Sámi and LGBTQ people.

“I think there is a double standard in excluding Russia while allowing Israel to continue to participate in the competition, despite the fact that they are violating international law – something even the UN has pointed out. Europe should show that we do not support their actions.”

In a post that has received a quarter of a million views on Tiktok, she explains how member states can be urged to refrain from sending entries to the competition if Israel participates:

“During my time at the Norwegian MGP in the before Eurovision 2022, I realised that the member states’ threat not to participate if Russia was involved, played a crucial role in the decision to exclude Russia from the competition”

Controversies surrounding Israel’s participation in Eurovision

The last time Malmö hosted the music competition, in 2013, the chairman of the Left Party in Malmö wanted to ban Israel from participating. At the same time, the Israeli embassy appealed to the city of Malmö to increase security after the violent riots that occurred in 2009 in reaction to the tennis match between Israel and Sweden in Malmö. After the music competition, the Israeli delegates reported that they were subjected to anti-Semitic threats. In 2016, the Palestinian flag was banned from the music competition. In 2019, the Icelandic entry was fined after displaying a Palestinian banner during the competition in Tel Aviv, Israel.

What will happen in Malmö next May?

The EBU has still not given a final decision on which countries will participate in Malmö next year, but the plan right now is for Israel to participate as usual.

Karin Karlsson is the City of Malmö‘s overall project manager for the Eurovision Song Contest. She had the same role in 2013.

“In 2013, we took safety into account. But in 2024, it’s a much more complex security situation. It’s an issue we work on every day.”

Karin Karlsson emphasizes that it is not the City of Malmö that decides who can compete, but that all countries that compete are welcome to Malmö. At the same time, there should be room for democratic protests, if desired.

“There are many forces that want to create a nice folk festival here in Malmö. At the same time, we are a democracy and it is important to show that.”

The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 is organized in collaboration with the city of Malmö and will be broadcast from Malmö Arena on Tuesday 7 May (semi-final 1), Thursday 9 May (semi-final 2) and Saturday 11 May (final).

Source: Helsingborgs Dagblad

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