Anthology for Listening Vol. II – The Last Eurovision
The Last Eurovision
Tjelle Esrom Raunkjær
Introduction:
In the spring 2024, I did my graduation project for my master education in Fine Art Artistic Research at Malmö Art Academy. A project exploring how to deal with the broken hope of a defeated revolution while continuing the fight for a more humane and egalitarian world. The project was centered around research on the Spanish Revolution in 1936 and the Portuguese Carnation Revolution in 1974. While I was doing the project, Israel was bombing Gaza and globally people were protesting in solidarity with the Palestinian people. A call for a boycott of Israel was made. In May 2024 the Eurovision Song Contest was hosted in Malmö and Israel was participating. Around two weeks before my exam project was shown, while the song contest was going on, the streets of Malmö were full of thousands of protesters calling for a cease fire and for the end of occupation of Palestine. A free Palestine from the river to the sea.
Part one: Portugal’s participation in Eurovision
1.
During Eurovision in Copenhagen in 1964, a man from the audience managed to get on the stage and showed a banner carrying the text: Boycott Franco & Salazar. This was the first year Portugal was participating in Eurovision. At that time Salazar was the leader of the fascist military dictatorship in Portugal and leader of the Portuguese colonial empire (while Franco was the fascist dictator of Spain). The participation of both Spain and Portugal was criticized, and before the show, a leftist youth group, Gruppe 61, had sent a bombing threat: If Portugal was allowed to participate, Tivoli Concert hall, where the show was taking place, would be blown up. That did not happen.
2.
In 1974 Portugal participated in Eurovision with the song E depois do adeus (And After the Farewell). The song got last in the competition. Later that year, at 10:55 pm, April 24, 1974, the song was played on Portuguese radio. That was the first secret signal that started what became the Carnation Revolution. The end of over 40 years of fascist military dictatorship.
3.
Portugal has only won the Eurovision Song Contest one time. In 2017 where Salvador Sobral participated with the song Amar pelos dois (To Love for the Both of Us). Portugal lost when they first participated in 1964, and lost again in 1997. Their song from 1997 was called Antes do adeus (Before the goodbye).
Part two: The History of Eurovision
4.
The first Eurovision was in 1956. That year it was the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg and Italy who participated. It was an experiment in live and transnational television broadcasting.
5.
The Eurovision Song Contest was invented by the European Broadcast Union – EBU. In 1954 the Eurovision Network was established with the purpose of providing television material for use across different European national broadcasters. The biggest success of the network became the Eurovision Song Contest
6.
Since the beginning, the Eurovision Song Contest has grown in numbers of participating countries. In 2024, 37 countries were participating. Historically most of the countries have been European countries or countries partly located in Europe. But Morocco participated one year in 1980 and since 2015 Australia has participated nine times. Israel has participated most of the years since 1973.
Part three: The Eurovision Song Contest 2024
7.
The criticism of Israel’s participation in Eurovision did not start with the 2024 song contest. The BDS movement (Boycott, Divestment, Sanction) working against Israel’s occupation of Palestine, have for many years called for a cultural boycott of Israel in international events like the Eurovision Song Contest.
8.
This year there were national and international calls for people to come to Malmö to protest while the competition was going on. For several days, thousands of protesters were taking up the streets of Malmö. While the official slogan for Eurovision is United Around Music, the protesting people had made posters and stickers careering the text Eurovision – United Around Genocide.
While people were shouting outside in the streets, inside, during the show, people were showing dissatisfaction with Israel’s participation as well. People from the audience were booing during Israel’s contribution. But because the broadcasters who were making the show had put a curtain of sound above the regular sound, it was not possible to hear the booing when watching the show on TV.
10.
The people united will never be defeated! It was one of the many chants you could hear in Malmö during those days. The chant is the translation of El pueblo unido jamás será vencido. A chant often associated with the Chilean fight for, first socialism, and later against the US-supported military dictatorship. A song starting with the chant was written by Sergio Ortega Alvarado in 1973. Both the chant and song have been spread all over the world, translated into many languages.
Endnote:
While Eurovision is a contraction of the words Europe and television, it also can be read as a European vision where vision means not only what we see, but also what we imagine could be – a dream. One could then ask: What is the dream of the European Song Contest when Israel is allowed to participate while doing a genocidal war on the Palestinian people? Is it just a cultural expression of what is simply European imperialism? The same Europe who sends ships out in the Mediterranean Sea to prevent refugees from entering. The same Europe that arms the state of Israel. Who sings, who shouts and who listens, when the Eurovision Song Contest is going on? E depois do adeus got zero points in the contest. A few months later, workers took over factories and peasants were collectivizing land in Portugal. We have to choose what dreams we listen to.
The Eurovision Song Contest 1956 – 2024.
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Statement from the European Broadcasting Union Regarding the Future of the Eurovision Song Contest
Date: 23th of January 2025
(Performed by Tjelle Esrom Raunkjær the 23rd of January at the first live-version of the anthology)
Following the conclusion of Eurovision 2024, we, the European Broadcasting Union , announce with heavy hearts that there will be no Eurovision Song Contest this year. Last year marked the final Eurovision Song Contest. An era has come to an end.
After nearly seven decades of uniting people through music, we have made the difficult decision to end the Eurovision Song Contest. There will be no more Eurovision in the future.
This decision reflects the evolving challenges the contest has faced in today’s complex world. While Eurovision has always celebrated unity and cultural exchange, we recognize that it is time to close this chapter, honoring the incredible legacy it leaves behind. We also acknowledge that, as the European Broadcasting Union, we have fallen short of meeting the moral and ethical standards expected of us, and for this, we deeply apologize.
Looking back at last year’s contest, we recognize the public discourse and demonstrations in Malmö, where many voiced concerns about the inclusion of Israel in the competition. While our decision to include Israel aimed to promote diversity, it was perceived by many as a double standard, especially in light of the exclusion of Russia. We sincerely apologize for the distress this caused and want to assure our audience that we have listened to their concerns.
Furthermore, we regret the use of artificial applause to mask the boos directed at Israel during the live shows. While this decision was made to preserve broadcast integrity, it was perceived as an attempt to silence dissent. For this, we apologize unreservedly.
These moral misjudgments are the reason why we have decided to end Eurovision.
As we bid farewell to Eurovision, we do so with immense gratitude to everyone who has been part of its incredible journey. The memories, music, and moments of unity will remain in our hearts forever.
Thank you for your understanding and for being part of this extraordinary adventure.
The European Broadcasting Union