Graham Norton had his work cut out keeping this one light. There were breakdowns, blood rites, curses, drug busts, infidelities aplenty and great howls of existential anguish, and that's just the songs. Draw the camera back from its tight crop on the gritted-teeth performances and Eurovision 2024 arrives under the darkest shadow of the contest's entire history.
When organisers disqualified Russia over opaque rule-breaking and “the violation of public service values” in 2022, allowing for widespread displays of solidarity with Ukraine from both public and voting panels, they painted Eurovision and its anti-political ethos into a corner. Now this year’s ceremony arrives at a precise moment in history when it becomes the last chance for high-profile global protest. As the tanks threaten to roll into Rafah, where 1.4 million starving Palestinian civilians have been kettled, Eden Golan strides onto the Eurovision stage to represent Israel with a stirring and angelic battle ballad “Hurricane” that’s plenty good enough to win. But the fallout has effectively torn the Eurovision spirit to shreds.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 12, 2024 من The Independent.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 12, 2024 من The Independent.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Besieged Sweeney fights on in face of growing rebellion
As the RFU chief executive’s future hangs in the balance, it is time for radical reform of English rugby’s governing body
'I still love doing stunts. But I've grown older, and wiser'
Michelle Yeoh, star of Everything Everywhere All at Once’ and Wicked’, talks to Louis Chilton about her new Star Trek spin-off Section 31’ and the dangers of playing action heroes
Israeli troops to remain in Lebanon beyond deadline
Benjamin Netanyahu extends target date to leave tomorrow, putting ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah under pressure
Ukraine launches massive drone attack across Russia
Moscow warns risk of major nuclear’ clash is growing
A Washington visit would help PM win over Trump
In public, Downing Street insists Keir Starmer has a good relationship with Donald Trump.
Fresh blow to Chagos deal as UK faces legal challenge
A group of indigenous Chagossian people have instructed lawyers to challenge the controversial Chagos Islands deal, in yet another blow to the government’s beleaguered agreement.
City's January spend is not enough to spark renaissance
Pep Guardiola has three new players by his side and a long four months ahead of him.
Judges in Sara Sharif case will be revealed next week
Court of Appeal bows to media pressure with its ruling
Vandals daub Captain Cook statue before celebrations
A statue of British explorer Captain James Cook in a suburb of Sydney has been vandalised ahead of Australia Day tomorrow, the second such incident in as many years. New South Wales Police said they were investigating.
Power goes out as Britain is battered by 100mph winds
‘Once in a generation’ Storm Eowyn causes travel chaos
