Israel’s Eurovision Controversy: Eden Golan Performs «October Rain»

The controversy surrounding Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2024 continues to grab headlines. Over the weekend, Israeli representative Eden Golan made a public appearance to debut «October Rain,» the song originally submitted for the competition but rejected by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) due to its political undertones.

The issue arose when Israel’s public broadcaster, KAN, put forward «October Rain» as their entry for Eurovision 2024. The song advocated for the release of hostages following a surprise attack by Hamas on October 7th in southern Israel. Despite Israeli Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar arguing that the lyrics were non-political and merely reflected the sentiments of the populace, the EBU decided to reject it. Subsequently, the song underwent minor alterations and was resubmitted as «Hurricane,» which was accepted and ultimately placed fifth in the festival.

A Poignant Performance in Hostages Square

One week after the controversial final, Eden Golan took to the stage in a public square to perform «October Rain» for the first time. The emotional rendition served as a prayer for the safe return of each hostage. Golan expressed her determination to amplify their voices both in Israel and around the world until everyone is safely reunited with their loved ones.

The original version of «October Rain,» whose lyrics were made public by KAN in February as a form of pressure on the EBU for its acceptance, bears striking similarities to «Hurricane,» the revised version that ultimately made it to Eurovision’s stage. While «Hurricane» retained much of the original song’s melody and message, there were minor differences in select verses and the chorus.

Golan’s heartfelt performance reignited discussions about the EBU’s decision-making process and the political nature of Eurovision, despite its self-proclaimed apolitical stance. The singer’s unwavering commitment to advocating for change was evident as she belted out the poignant lyrics, ensuring that the voices of the hostages and their families would not go unheard.

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