Hours before the final, Dutch competitor Joost Klein was dramatically ejected by organizers due to a backstage incident. He had failed to perform in two dress rehearsals on Friday, and the European Broadcasting Union, the contest organiser, said it was investigating an “incident”. Photo Credit: Jessica Gow

For many it’s time to wear sequins and spangles for Saturday’s 68th final – and for others it’s time to raise protest banners and Palestinian flags. Eurovision Song Contest,

Competition The event pitting countries against each other for pop music glory is reaching its conclusion in the Swedish city of Malmö, with Croatia and Switzerland also among those taking home the trophy, and Israel at the center of political storm,

Hours before the final, Dutch competitor Joost Klein was dramatically ejected by organizers due to a backstage incident. He had failed to perform in two dress rehearsals on Friday, and the European Broadcasting Union, the contest organiser, said it was investigating an “incident”.

Members of the media wait for Joost Klein, representing the Netherlands, on the day of the Grand Final of the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, outside a hotel in Malmö, Sweden, on May 11, 2024. Photo credit: Leonhard Foeger

The EBU said that Swedish police were investigating “a complaint made by a female member of the production crew” and that it would not be appropriate for Klein to participate while the legal process was ongoing.

Although there were rumors that the incident was connected to Israel’s delegation, organizers said that the incident “did not involve any other artist or member of the delegation.”

Although the competition’s motto is “United by Music”, this year’s event has attracted major protests From Palestinians and their supporters, who say Israel should be excluded because of its conduct war against hamas,

Thousands of people are expected to march for the second time this week through Sweden’s third-largest city, which has a large Muslim population, to demand a boycott of Israel and a ceasefire in the seven-month war. In Finland, a group of about 40 protesters stormed the headquarters of public broadcaster YLE on Saturday morning and demanded its withdrawal from the song contest due to Israel’s involvement.

Several miles (kilometres) from central Malmö, at the Malmö Arena, 25 acts – narrowed down from 37 entrants by two semi-final runoffs – are scheduled to perform three-minute songs in front of a live audience of thousands and an estimated 180 million. Audience around the world.

It all leads to a chaotic climax to an event that attracts both praise and derision with its charming, quirky ethos and obsession with pop.

Dean Vuletic, an expert on the history of the contest, says that despite this year’s divisions, “there is no other cultural event that brings Europeans together like Eurovision.”

“In this moment when everyone is watching the same television show, being broadcast live to 37 countries – it’s very special.”

This year’s entries range from the emotional to the whimsical. They include the goofy 1990s memories of Finland’s Windows95man, who hatches from a giant egg on stage wearing very little clothing. Ireland’s Bambi Thug summoned witch spirits to the stage and brought a screaming coach to Malmö, while spain nebulosa In “Zorra” the word used as an insult to women is boldly repeated.

Windows95man, representing Finland, leaves the hotel for the dress rehearsal before the final of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 68th edition in Malmo, Sweden on May 11, 2024. Photo Credit: Jessica Gou/TT

Favorites include Swiss singer Nemo – who will be the first non-binary Eurovision winner if his operatic song “The Code” tops the voting – and Croatia’s Baby Lasagna. Their song “Rim Tim Tagi Dim” is a funky rock number that raises the issue of young Croatians leaving the country in search of a better life.

Vuletic says that despite the contest’s reputation for disposable bubblegum pop, Eurovision often tackles “political and social issues like feminism, European integration, gender identity”.

“And I think they’re very interesting songs to look at, especially because they’re ranked highest by the bookmakers,” he said.

However, sometimes songs violate the contest’s ban on overtly “political” statements. Eurovision organizers asked Israel to change the original title of their song, “October Rain” – an apparent reference to the October 7 Hamas attack that killed nearly 1,200 Israelis and triggered the Gaza War.

The stakes have increased after Israeli singer Eden Golan performed a power ballad, now titled “Hurricane”, in Thursday’s semi-final. Golan faced some criticism in the dress rehearsal, but was voted into the final by viewers around the world.

Israel’s Eden Golan performs the song ‘Hurricane’ during the dress rehearsal for the final of the Eurovision Song Contest on Friday, May 10, 2024 in Malmo, Sweden. Photo Credit: Martin Meissner

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised 20-year-old Golan for performing despite “battling an ugly wave of anti-Semitism”.

Protesters argue that Israel should not be allowed to take part in a war that has killed about 35,000 Palestinians.

“I don’t think they should be part of this because they are committing crimes against humanity,” said Lorenzo Mayor, a local resident who attended a demonstration on Thursday.

Competing musicians are feeling the pressure, bombarded with messages and abuse on social media and unable to speak out due to competition rules. Italy’s contestant, Angelina Mango, made a statement on Friday by walking into the Eurovision media center and performing John Lennon’s “Imagine” while dozens of journalists gathered around her.

Swedish singer LorraineLast year’s Eurovision champion – and one of only two artists to win the contest twice – urged people not to turn off the “community of love” that is Eurovision.

“What’s happening in the world today and in different places is distorting and traumatizing all of us,” he told The Associated Press.

“What heals trauma…. Does trauma heal trauma? Does negativity cure negativity? It doesn’t work that way. The only thing that truly heals trauma – that’s science – is love.