Eurovision 2025

The Elephant in the Room 

I was not going to say anything until I had more information and in spite of everything there is a certain topic that is going to make many live very uncomfortable moments, there will be no way to escape this matter and much less with the information that has come to light regarding a special delegation, which in spite of everything that has happened is going to return.

When a situation as complex as the one we are currently experiencing at an international level affects a singing competition, we must act carefully and although it is true that we should not live in the past, the events that occurred throughout the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, left many, including myself, in a state of fear for the future of the contest and confusion, because of the information that came out by journalists and people who were on stage. Today we are at a crossroads, and the delegation involved (which I refuse to mention by name), knows that they can use this opportunity to transform it into a double-edged sword that they will not hesitate to use throughout the Eurovision season. 

Once again we find ourselves in an extraordinarily political situation, where politics will take the main stage that belong to the art and the music. The problem goes beyond the fact that the delegation in question is present or the fact that the representative is one of the released hostages, the issue is the content of the selected song, if the recently released information is true, I fear that we are facing a new hurricane of controversy, which seems to have no end. I am glad that the hostage is back with her family and I think it is good that she is in conditions to be able to continue with her life. The problem is that I cannot affirm the same when the delegation involved does not do the same to return the people it exchanges. As is apparent, and as I have just illustrated, it is difficult to separate one thing from the other. If we have learned anything from last year, it is the importance of keeping the safety of all involved intact and creating a safe environment for artistic demonstrations that should enact the coming together of people regardless of where they come from.

Just to make one thing clear, Yuval Raphael has an extraordinary voice and a talent that spills out everywhere you look. The delegation she represents is in a very compromising situation where they are going to have to protect her. Outside motives could put Yuval Raphael in a situation that, let's be honest, she doesn't deserve, just for representing the delegation she belongs to. I honestly worry that her voice and talent will be overlooked for a situation completely external to her, time will tell if her musical talent can save the song she is asked to sing.

One thing is for certain, this season has started giving a lot to talk about and while it looks promising so far, we will have to keep alert and support each other, because nowadays it seems that we the fans are the ones who try more than the institution itself, to make this music contest look trouble free.