Israel unveils revised Eurovision song after lyrics controversy
- Organisers asked Israel to change lyrics because the original words were deemed too political
- The 2024 Eurovision Song Contest will take place from May 7 to 11 in Malmo, Sweden
Israel unveiled its revised submission for the Eurovision song contest on Sunday, after organisers took issue with the original entry’s reference to the October 7 Hamas onslaught.
Israel agreed to change the original song “October Rain” when organisers said they would disqualify contestants who did not maintain the non-political spirit of the event.
The ballad performed on Sunday night by female soloist Eden Golan was called “Hurricane” and appeared to have more personal lyrics, including the lines: “Every day I’m loosing my mind” and “I’m still broken from this hurricane.”
“I think the message is clear,” Golan told Israeli national broadcaster Kan just before the performance. “It’s about a woman who is going through a personal crisis - a hurricane.”
Kan said it had asked the writers to revise the lyrics, while also preserving their artistic freedom.
Kan said it agreed to make the changes following a request from the country’s president, Isaac Herzog.