Eurovision's second semi-final: Controversy meets talent in Malmö
The second semi-final of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest, held on Thursday, 9th May, showcased diverse performances. Notably, Austria and Latvia secured their places in the grand finale. Despite facing controversy and a less-than-warm reception, Israel's entry made it through to compete for the top prize, even amidst audible booing during Eden Golan's performance.
The Eurovision Song Contest this year spanned three days of concerts, with the semi-finals on the 7th and 9th of May and the finale scheduled for Saturday, 11th May. These events occurred at the Malmö Arena in Sweden, organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
Second semi-final excites and controversies abound
The spotlight of the second semi-final was mainly on Israel due to significant objections from activists regarding its participation. The controversy centred around Eden Golan's "October Rain," which made references to a Hamas attack on Israel on 7th October last year, both in title and lyrics. The organizers pointed out this breach of Eurovision's political neutrality rules. Consequently, the song, retitled "Hurricane," still faced a chilly reception from the audience, with Golan experiencing booing even during dress rehearsals.
The evening's performances began with Sarah Bonnici from Malta delivering a dynamic "Loop" performance, followed by Besa from Albania with the more dramatic "Titan." The show continued with Marina Satti from Greece, Nemo from Switzerland, and Aiko representing the Czech Republic, each bringing their unique sounds and styles to the stage.
As voted by viewers, Latvia, Austria, the Netherlands, Norway, Israel, Greece, Estonia, Switzerland, Georgia, and Armenia are the countries advancing to the final.
