Israel asks Eurovision front-runner to change controversial lyrics

Israel says it will make “necessary adjustments” to its song for Eurovision after it was barred by organisers for breaking rules.

Israel has revised one of the songs being considered as the country’s entry at the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest because its lyrics reference the October Hamas attacks.

Eurovision rules dictate songs should have political neutrality and no overt political content in lyrics.

One of the songs in contention for the contest is called October Rain and contained the lyric “They were all good children, every one of them.”

The song ends with the line “There is no air left to breathe, There is no place for me.”

Israeli public broadcaster KAN said in a statement that President Isaac Herzog had asked the songwriters of the track to make “necessary adjustments” to make sure the country could compete as the country could be disqualified if organisers rejected the song.

Israeli Russian artist Eden Golan will be representing Israel in Eurovision.

October Rain is one of two songs in the running to be performed by Israeli Russian artist Eden Golan; the other is called Dance Forever. KAN will confirm the song entry on March 10.

The Israeli broadcaster “contacted the lyricists of the two selected songs, October Rain, which was chosen in first place, and Dance Forever, which came in second place, and asked them to readapt the texts, while preserving their artistic freedom”, the statement said.

“Among the new texts that will be proposed, Kan will choose the song that will be sent to the Eurovision supervisory committee, so that it approves Israel’s participation in the competition.”

AUSTRALIA’S EUROVISION 2024 ARTIST TO BE REVEALED

Dannii Minogue is out and so is Dami Im as Australian Eurovision fans countdown to the big reveal of the artist who will represent us at the 2024 contest in Sweden.

A representative for Im, who was runner-up at the 2016 contest in Sweden with Sound of Silence, denied she is having a second tilt at the title in May after a quiz of the Kyle and Jackie O show last week hinted at her involvement.

“I can confirm that Dami has not been approached for Eurovision this year. Dami is focused on writing for her new album and preparing for upcoming Korean book release,” her manager told fan site AussieVision.

Im was also forced to warn her fans she is not part of a global Eurovision On Tour 2024 line-up featuring past contestants, which claims to be scheduled at venues in Madrid, London, Paris and Stockholm, as well as Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne in November.

Dami Im representing Australia performing Sound of Silence during the Eurovision grand final in 2016. Picture: EPA/MAJA SUSLIN SWEDEN OUT

“Just saw that this tour got announced with my name on it, letting you know I won’t be a part of it,” she posted on the tour announce.

Eurovision diehards lost it in December when a cryptic post by Minogue prompted a frenzy of speculation she would be competing for Australia in Malmo, Sweden.

Dami Im dismisses Eurovision On Tour claim.

Eurovision on Tour line-up poster

Minogue had shared a post of this year’s stage design with the caption “The stage is set … and the countdown has begun!”

But she poured cold water on the hype during a radio interview.

“I don’t know that I would have the strength to get through it. I saw Dami do it, Kate did it bending around on this pole. Like guys, I am 52, I am not a J-Lo at the Superbowl,” she said. “It’s not there for me in my future.”

Dannii Minogue has ruled herself out of representing Austraila at Eurovision. Picture: Mark Stewart

Casey Donovan who could be among the contenders.

Ahead of the contest kick-off in Malmo in May, fans remain hopeful that ABBA may have some involvement in the contest in recognition of the 50th anniversary of them winning with Waterloo in 1974 and launching their global pop conquest.

While Abba’s Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson have ruled out a reunion of the Swedish Fab Four to perform or share the stage at the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, there will no doubt be a tribute to the occasion and perhaps an appearance of at least one of the members.

SBS will announce the Australian artist to compete in Sweden in May on March 6.

Fans are throwing many names into the ring, some plucked from the line-ups of the Australia Decides contests in 2019 and 2020in light of Voyager being chosen to compete last year.

Among those contenders are Casey Donovan but the queen of the big gigs is starring in the musical & Juliet in Sydney throughout May.

Singer Darren Hayes. Picture James Reese

Australian singer-songwriter Jaguar Jonze. Picture: Richard Dobson

A poll by AussieVision last year about which artists fans wanted to see represent us at the world’s biggest singing contest included former Australia Decides singers Mitch Tambo, Electric Fields, Sheppard, Jaguar Jonze and Vanessa Amorosi.

Other big name pop stars which continue to pop up on fan wishlists include Darren Hayes, The Veronicas, Ricki-Lee Coulter and of course, Kylie Minogue.

Another Australian artist has already been announced for Eurovision 2024. For the second year running, Cyprus has chosen an Aussie singer to represent them at the event.

Silia Kapsis, a 17-year-old singer from Sydney, will represent the nation in Malmo with her song Liar, following in the footsteps of Andrew Lambrou who came 12th last year in Liverpool with Break A Broken Heart.

Originally published as Israel asks Eurovision front-runner to change controversial lyrics