Performers representing countries across Europe and beyond took the stage in the first of two Eurovision semifinals in the Swedish city of Malmo, against a backdrop of both parties and protests.
Baby Lasagna of Croatia performs the song Rim Tim Tagi Dim during the first semi-final at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, on Tuesday.Baby Lasagna of Croatia performs the song Rim Tim Tagi Dim during the first semi-final at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, on Tuesday.MALMO, Sweden — Competition in the 68th Eurovision Song Contest kicked off Tuesday in Sweden, with the war in Gaza casting a shadow over the sequin-spangled pop extravaganza.
Other bookmakers' favorites who will perform Thursday include nonbinary Swiss singer Nemo, Italian TikTok star Angelina Mango and the Netherlands' Joost Klein with his playful pop-rap song"Europapa."Bambie Thug of Ireland performs the song Doomsday Blue during the first semi-final at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, on Tuesday.
Jean Philip De Tender, deputy director-general of Eurovision organizer the European Broadcasting Union, told Sky News that banning Israel"would have been a political decision, and as such which we cannot take." Eurovision's motto is"United by Music," but national rifts and political divisions often cloud the contest despite organizers' efforts to keep politics out.
Afterwards, organizers said in a statement that"we regret that Eric Saade chose to compromise the non-political nature of the event." "We are meeting up to make music, and when we start shutting people out categorically, there will be fewer and fewer of us," he said."At some point there won't be an event anymore."ISAAK of Germany performs the song Always on the Run during the first semi-final at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, on Tuesday.ISAAK of Germany performs the song Always on the Run during the first semi-final at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, on Tuesday.
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