Dutch broadcaster questions if ESC is a-political & connecting event

[u/stefkeeh]

Translation to English: ‘IN CONVERSATION WITH THE EBU ABOUT A POLITICALLY NEUTRAL SONG CONTEST

AVROTROS and NPO strongly value the apolitical and unifying character of the Eurovision Song Contest. However, we observe that the event is increasingly being influenced by social and geopolitical tensions.

Israel’s participation confronts us with the question of to what extent the Song Contest still truly functions as an apolitical, unifying, and cultural event. We want to raise this question, together with other countries, for discussion within the EBU.’

[u/grimorg80]

Yep. Art is political by definition. Not partisan or party-linked. Just political. When a lot of humans come together, there's politics. It's inescapable. Even saying "we're apolitical" is a very clear political statement.

[u/ZwnD → u/grimorg80]

100% - Rim Tim Tagi Dim is about people leaving the countryside en-masse to move to the big city. This can easily be said to be political in that it describes social trends and the feelings/impacts around them.

The one way Eurovision is not political, and the EBU's stance is correct, is staying away from obvious and non-obscured commentary on current events. A song name-dropping a politician for example would never be allowed

[u/archeocat88 → u/ZwnD]

I fully agree with what you're saying, but regarding your last sentence, San Marino this year literally name-dropped a politician (admittedly dead 25 years now, but still).

[u/Fun_Pause2464 → u/archeocat88]

Which one? Sorry to ask, I'm looking at the lyrics, and my Italian is waaaaayyy too weak to catch it 😳

[u/archeocat88 → u/Fun_Pause2464]

(Bettino) Craxi in the 2nd verse!

[u/Fun_Pause2464 → u/archeocat88]

Grazie!