IT’S the singing competition known for being less about the music and more
about political allies voting for each other.
But this year the Eurovision song contest surpassed itself in what is being
dubbed as the most controversial year yet.
In an extraordinary twist Ukraine
defeated Russia – with a controversial song about the Crimean annexation
and in a further shock the ballad knocked Australia off the top spot thanks
to the new voting system.
Jamala, 32, belted out her track 1944, which was rather controversially about
Crimea, Stalin and claims of ethnic cleansing.
It began with the powerful lyrics: “When strangers are coming, they come to
your house; they kill you all inside [and say] ‘We’re not guilty, not
guilty’.”
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Dedicating it to her great grandmother it referenced Soviet dictator Joseph
Stalin deporting 240,000 Tatars during World War 2 – something which her
grandmother experienced.
While the track was expected to finish in the top three, viewers were shocked
when it overtook Russia – which annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and had
taken offence to the song.
Speaking after her win, Jamala – who is the first ever Crimean Tatar to
perform in the contest – said: “I know that you sing songs about peace and
love but actually, I really want peace and love to everyone. Thank you
Europe.”
Furious Russian MP, Elena Drapeko said Russia’s defeat was down to an “information
war” and “general demonisation” of the country.
And there have been calls for the results to be reviewed by Russia’s
Komsomol.Pravda website due to the political nature of Ukraine’s song in
what is supposed to be an ‘unpolitical’ song contest.
Those watching the show took to Twitter to discuss its inclusion in the
competition.
One person wrote: “#Eurovision bends their rules to allow a political somewhat
anti #Russia song, and it wins.”
While another added: “No lyrics with political content are allowed.”
—> unless they’re about Russia, of course. #eurovision #hypocrisy.”
And someone else tweeted: “Russia deserved to win, but that would make the
Eurovision a show about music and not political agenda. GG.”
“Most political Eurovision ever? Ukraine trounces Russia’s song,” wrote
another.
Others weren’t so concerned about the so called hypocrisy, with one person
tweeting: “Rather good to see song with such honest intensity win. And it’s
very political. Fact she beat Russia which was the favourite too
#Eurovision.”
Adding to the drama of the evening was the new and very confusing voting
system.
Previously each country awarded a set of points from one to eight, ten and 12
to its favourite song — with the result split 50/50 between a professional
jury and public votes.
But now the juries and televoters from each country award a separate set of
points, meaning there were DOUBLE as many on offer.
And in another big change, the results of the public vote were announced at
the end of the show.
The changes however ended up leaving viewers completely baffled as they
struggled to get to grips with it.
Other controversy’s during this year’s show included Graham Norton slamming
Australia’s involvement, the
secret fetish porn past of the Russian entry Sergey Lazarev and the
homophobic attack Israel’s singer suffered during a Eurovision trip to
Russia.