EUROPE – Over the past years Eurovision Song Contest has allowed and also disqualified songs with political messages. This year Jamala is presented all over the international press as a song against Russia as the lyrics speak about the Tatar deportation from Crimea in 1944. Will the Reference Group make a fuzz for this song on the final meeting in March? We will see. In the meantime let’s see which political messages were allowed or disqualified from the Eurovision Song Contest.
The European Broadcasting Union was actually forced by Vladimir Putin to disqualify the magnificent and totally amazing Georgian entry in 2009 which mocked the Russian President after the invasion in Georgia. Georgia didn’t participate that year.
Although allowed to participate, last year Armenian entry was forced to change title as “Don’t Deny” was referred to the Armenian genocide anniversary. No to mention the Greek entry in 1976 which was talking about the Turkish invasion in Cyprus. We still cannot forget the 2011 Portuguese entry about the Economic Crisis. Ukrainian entry in 2005 Eurovision edition was clearly speaking about the Orange Revilution as well.
Though songs like Ukraine 2007 mocking Russia in a word game with the lyrics, Israel 2007 referring to the Iranian nuclear program and Israeli entry of 2000 about Israel and Palestine friendship were allowed. Last but not least French entry in 2015 was also allowed, a song which referred to the First World War.
Not to forget though that EBU, who is totally supportive to the Gay Rights and fights for entries like Finland 2013 in which two girls kissed on stage during the performance, in 2003 threatened Russia with penalties and back up broadcast of their dress rehearsal if t.A.T.u were kissed on stage!
It gets weird and weird every year!
