It was a Eurovision like no other, with controversy over Ogham writing, Eden Golan representing Israel, Joost Klein’s Dutch disqualification and noisy demonstrations on the streets of the host city.
Last Saturday night, Bambie Thug took to the stage in the Malmö Arena for the 68th Eurovision final with their song ‘Doomsday Blue’.
Watched by 666,000 Irish TV viewers and millions of others across the globe, their performance on stage was dramatic but it was the drama off stage that has made Eurovision 2024 so memorable.
1. Bambie Thug
From the start there were headlines.
Raised in Macroom in Cork, 31-year-old Bambie Thug was Ireland’s first non-binary representative in the Eurovision Song Contest.
They were also the first person from Macroom to make it to the Eurovision stage, with local sweetshop owner Evelyn McSweeny telling RTÉ News that “it was unbelievable that somebody from Macroom has qualified for the Eurovision”.
We need your consent to load this comcast-player contentWe use comcast-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
The headlines continued.
From revealing on semi-final day that the EBU made them “remove [Ogham] messages in solidarity with Palestine”, to their warning on Saturday that they would not perform on the stage for the final unless “urgent matters raised with the EBU were sorted”, there was a new twist to the Eurovision story at every turn.
The idea that Ireland might not make it to the stage on Saturday night caused shockwaves amongst ‘the Coven’ (Bambie’s fans) and journalists on a deadline.
In the end, although matters with the EBU were not fully resolved, there was relief all around when Bambie finally took to the stage for the final and performed.
2. Israel’s participation
Israel was represented by 20-year-old singer Eden Golan with the song ‘Hurricane’.
The was a rewritten version of their original entry ‘October Rain’ which had been criticised for referencing 7 October Hamas attacks.
Despite loud calls, petitions and demonstrations from protestors over Israel’s participation amid the war in Gaza, the EBU permitted them into the competition, saying that “broadcasters are the members of the EBU…not governments”.
Director General of the EBU Noel Curran explained that in the case of Kan, the Israeli public service broadcaster, “we found that they had not breached any rules, and therefore our governing bodies decided that they could continue in the Eurovision Song Contest”.
While there was some booing during Israel’s performance inside the arena during the semi-final on Thursday night, organisers would have been very relieved that the final live TV event went off calmly on Saturday though.
In the end, Eden Golan came 5th.
3. The EBU
The European Broadcasting Union is an alliance of public service media.
Eurovision 2024 was produced in the midst of controversy over Israel’s participation in the event.
The EBU maintains that the competition is apolitical and that it is an event about music and indeed their message “united by music” was plastered all over the backdrops of the Malmö arena.
However, can the organisers still maintain it is not a political event when TV cameras beamed images of the tension on the streets of Malmö to viewers across the globe?
RTÉ News spoke to the Deputy Director General of the EBU Jean Philipe du Tender on Thursday evening after the main protest in Malmö city and asked him if it was “naïve” to make this “apolitical” claim now.
He reiterated the EBU stance and said that they had created a safe bubble for the performers, asking audiences to listen and engage with the songs and to cease booing.
Bambie also said that they missed a dress rehearsal and flag ceremony practice on Saturday afternoon due to a “situation” they felt required “urgent attention” from the EBU.
The organisation meanwhile confirmed that it “spoke to a number of delegations during the event regarding various issues…the EBU’s governing bodies will review the events to move forward in a positive way and to ensure the values of the event are respected by everyone”.
The EBU added: “Individual cases will be discussed by the event’s governing body.”
Speaking to Swedish Broadcaster SVT EBU DG Noel Curran said: “I’m not going to pretend this has been a completely normal Eurovision.”
3. Netherlands’ disqualification
The Dutch act, Joost Klein with his song Europapa, was kicked out from the final due to an “incident” involving a female member of the production crew.
The EBU’s decision to expel him from the contest caused shockwaves.
For the EBU’s part, it said that the decision was taken over an “incident” where the artist was alleged to have made verbal threats to a female production worker.
The decision was strongly criticised by Avrotros, the Dutch national broadcaster who called the penalty, “very heavy and disproportionate”, adding that the singer merely made a “threatening move” towards a camera operator but had not touched her.
The EBU didn’t back down though, saying that the version of events portrayed by the Dutch side “does not correspond with statements shared by staff and witnesses”.
Fans were frustrated and during the final, the high-profile Eurovision Executive Producer Martin Österdahl was audibly booed inside the arena when he appeared on screen.
4. Bambie Thug off stage
The question that I have asked most since coming home is “what is Bambie Thug really like?”
I only met them in interview situations and always found them courteous, engaged and such a gentle speaker at times that I had to boost the radio recording levels on my machine.
The Eurovision fans clearly took Bambie to their hearts and spoke to me in Malmö about their respect and affection for Bambie, with shouts of “crown the witch” ringing in my ears all week.
We need your consent to load this comcast-player contentWe use comcast-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
For a newcomer to the biggest European stage, I think now that they are a charismatic and intriguing performer, and their handling of their own PR was fascinating.
An advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community and a personal Pro-Palestinian supporter, they managed to get their message across in a powerful and eye-catching way.
Whether you are a fan of the song or not, Bambie in one short week, made sure you paid attention to them.
With 25 countries vying for the spotlight, that was impressive.
5. Marty Whelan
25th anniversary of unflinching Eurovision commentary. Lines such as “you have been warned, there is talk of a digeridoo next” was a classic during Australis’s performance.
6. Finally, Ireland
A success for Ireland after a drought.
Bambie Thug came 6th overall and garnered 278 points from the combined jury and public vote which is the best Eurovision result for Ireland in 24 years.
So a week later, where are we?
Joy we got to the final.
Only 660 more memories of Eurovision 2024 to go.
Roll on next year in Switzerland.
