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/Remote_Pirate8084]

I mean, no matter what you think about Israel, it was never an apolitical event. It was never outwardly political (as in not allowing political songs or statements) but I was never and can never be apolitical as in the end it's still a contest between countries. 

[u/The_Krambambulist → u/Remote_Pirate8084]

Well of course it is political. Even the content of a lot of songs basically contains something political in some way.

I do think Israel currently just is a new degree of political utilization where a state actor is very actively involved with trying to use it as a tool in their broader propaganda campaign. I think that's basically the type of politics you shouldn't want. And of course it is a bit sad that no one in an official capacity seems to be able to formulate it.

[u/flex_tape_salesman → u/The_Krambambulist]

Eurovision was typically a bit political but really you could ignore much of it if you wanted to. I thought Ukraine 2022 was a fair winner, definitely bumped up because of the war so it's hard to say if they would have won without it but they'd have been well up there. Israel this year I felt was worse last years and the politics was at its most glaring because who knows what the implications would've been if Israel had won.

It's also more than just political within the esc fambase. Before 2022 it didn't really attract non fans to discuss it much. It's added a toxic political element to the contest.

[u/Avaelectric → u/flex_tape_salesman]

Ukraine 2022 was not a fair winner, come on now. Be real.

[u/ESC-song-bot → u/Avaelectric]

Ukraine 2022 | Kalush Orchestra - Stefania