Eurovision 2024: “You did” for Marina Satti, but everything is a matter of politics

It is clear that this year again – not for the first time – politics has “entered” this year’s Song Contest Eurovisionwith several of the finalists referencing ongoing global controversies.

The Latvian Dons, whose song “Hollow” refers to insecurity, he was the first to use social media to shed light on the turbulent geopolitical landscape.

Appearing at a press conference after the qualification of the countries that got the coveted ticket to the final, he answered a question from his country’s media about what message he wants to send with this particular song. And he himself answered: “Today was a special day in my life. I have never been so proud to be a member of the Latvian nation.

Latvia is the only country in the world that has the shape of a butterfly. Butterflies symbolize hope and freedom, because to be a butterfly you must fly and be free. Every country in the world deserves to be free”. He received a standing ovation in the hall.

Eurovision – which is the biggest music competition in the world – is being held against the backdrop of two wars, with ongoing fighting both in Ukraine following Russia’s 2022 invasion and in Gaza due to the Israel-Hamas war.

Russia has been banned from the competition for the past two years, with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) saying it was removed from the competition after repeatedly using its broadcasting channels as a political propaganda tool.

This year, there was a lot of tension and controversy, with people calling for Israel to be banned from the competition because of its actions in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

However, the EBU said that, unlike Russia, Israel had not broken any broadcasting rules and so would remain on the show. Opera and it happened…

Pro-Palestine groups staged large-scale protests in Malmö, Sweden, the host city of the competition. Security measures around Malmö were tight and, according to international media, extra police were brought in from neighboring Denmark and Norway.

It is characteristic of the prevailing climate that the Eden Golan representing Israel, asked by Polish radio whether she believed she was causing a safety risk to other participants by being at the event, was interrupted by moderator and Swedish presenter Jovan Radomir. Addressing Eden Golan, he told her that she was not obliged to answer if she did not wish to.

However, the 20-year-old singer responded, saying: “I think we’re all here for one reason only. And the EBU is taking all the security measures to make this a safe and united place for everyone. And so, I think it’s safe for everybody, or we wouldn’t be here.” Her answer was also met with applause. After Israel qualified for the final stage, their betting odds have soared, placing them in second place to win.

Golan was also asked what was the most difficult part of her performance and she replied: “I wouldn’t say any point is difficult. I like to play. I feel like I was born for this and I was given a gift by God to share and make people feel something and touch people’s souls. And that’s exactly what I’m doing.

Of course, there is anxiety and nerves and excitement and many, many things around me and thoughts. But at the end of the day, I’m very focused and I go on stage and try to forget everything around me and give it my all. This is just the beginning.”

Motto also became a question, which they addressed to Dutchman Joost Klein: “Do you think your song can unite us all through music?” The 26-year-old artist answered without a second thought: “That’s a good question for the EBU.”

His song “Europapa” figures in the bookmakers’ top spots, but let’s wait until Saturday.

Marina Satti’s answer to a Turkish journalist

Marina Satti won the impressions and the applause at the press conference that followed Greece’s qualification to the Eurovision final. A Turkish journalist asked the Greek performer: “Tonight you represented not only Greece, but the Balkans and Turkey. Tonight the music really brought us together. What do you think about that?’.

With Marina Satti answering him: “We really love Turkey and I want to repeat here tonight something I have said before. I had a music teacher who taught me scales (scales) from the eastern Mediterranean. So, we listened to songs from Turkey, Greece, Iran, Azerbaijan. I was trying to figure out how they have so much in common and what their differences are.

My teacher told me something that I will never forget. How the age of the culture and traditions of this region of the world is much older than the age of the borders between these countries. Undeniably, then, we share a lot. We love you and thank you very much.”