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This year Eurovision song contest is increasingly overshadowed by protests against Israel’s involvement in the ongoing war in Gaza. But controversy often follows the international singing competition. Here are some notable previous Eurovision lines.
Stage Invader interrupts SuRie
In 2018, a man burst onto the stage in Lisbon during a performance of SuRie’s British track Storm and shouted: “UK media Nazis, we want freedom.” He was later identified as the man who had previously tried to disrupt the broadcast of the National Awards TV and The Voice. SuRie was offered a chance to perform the song again at the end of the finale, but declined.
Ukraine cannot come together
In 2019 Ukraine withdrew from the contest after the artist chosen to represent him, Maruv, refused to sign an agreement requiring her not to tour Russia as part of accepting the nomination. With relations between the two countries strained following Russia’s unilateral annexation of Crimea in 2014, two potential replacement acts also rejected the agreement and Ukraine withdrew.
Ukraine’s song Dancing Lasha Tumbai makes a splash, 2007
Ukraine’s 2007 entry, Dancing Lasha Tumbai by Verka Serduchka, caused controversy for the way the nonsensical lyrics “Lasha Tumbai” sounded like “Russia goodbye” when sung in the chorus.
Entry to Georgia denied for mentioning Vladimir Putin, 2009
Eurovision organizers refused to accept Georgia’s entry in 2009 when the country attempted to submit a song called I Don’t Wanna Put In by Stephane and 3G. This was considered a humiliating attitude towards the President of Russia.
Israel renounces its own song, 2000
Israel’s 2000 Eurovision entry, Same’ach from Ping-Pong, was refused by the Israel Broadcasting Authority after the group unfurled Syrian flags during a performance of their song, which was about an Israeli woman from a kibbutz having an affair with a man from Damascus.
Greece drops out in protest against Turkey invited, 1975
In the 1970s, Greece and Turkey staged back-to-back boycotts. Greece dropped out in 1975, apparently in protest at Turkey making its debut less than a year after invading Cyprus. Turkey did not return in 1976, when the Greek entry appeared to specifically mention the conflict.
Portugal’s song used to provoke a military coup, 1974
Nineteen days after competing in the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton, Portugal’s entry, E Depois Do Adeus by Paulo de Carvalho, was used as a secret signal to warn rebel captains and soldiers to begin the military coup known as the Revolution of the cloves.
Rumors of General Franco’s vote rigging swirl, 1968
In 1968, Cliff Richard came second to Spain’s entry, La La La by Massiel, a result that was dogged by rumors of vote-rigging by General Franco. In 2008, after a Spanish documentary produced more evidence of the pressure being exerted at the highest level, Richard said that 40 years later it would still be nice if someone contacted him and said: “Cliff, you won the damn thing after all.”
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