STEPPING INTO EDEN
Who is Eden Golan? Meet Israel’s Eurovision 2024 ‘Hurricane’ act met by Malmo protests and booing
Israel's singer Eden was booed on stage during rehearsals
DESPITE facing a backlash, Israel's Eurovision singer Eden Golan has wowed to make her country "proud".
The talented star is now getting ready to impress the jury in the famous Song Contest's grand final.
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Who is Israel's Eurovision 2024 act, Eden Golan?
Israel will be represented in Eurovision 2024 by singer-songwriter Eden Golan who'll be performing her song Hurricane.
Starting at the age of nine-years-old, the young singer is known for competing in talent shows.
Eden was even a finalist in The Voice Kids in 2018, in her native country.
The talented star was also a member of a girl group The Cosmo Girls, before going solo.
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She describes her musical style as "pop, soul and R&B".
Israel has taken part in the Eurovision Song Contest every year since 1973.
While the country may not be geographically in Europe they have certainly put up some great acts to take part in Eurovision over the years.
But viewers may wonder why Israel is allowed to take part, even though they are in a different continent, Asia.
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They are allowed to enter Eurovision because the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) is part of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), meaning they can compete.
As of 2024, Israel has compete 45 times, and has won Eurovision on four of those occasions, and that was in 1978, 1979, 1998 and 2018.
Israeli singer Eden Golan shrugs off Eurovision protests after being told to stay in hotel room and delivers powerful semi-final performance
Where is Eden Golan from?
Eden was born on October 5, 2003 in Kafa Saba in Israel.
However, she has dual citizenship with Russia as she moved to Moscow with her family when she was six-years-old.
Both her parents were born in the Soviet Union to families of Jewish heritage.
In 2015, Eden represented Russia in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest and finished in fifth place.
Eurovision Song Contest entries 2024
Here are all of the acts taking part in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Finalists:
- United Kingdom: Olly Alexander - Dizzy
- Sweden: Marcus & Martinus - Unforgettable (2023 winning country)
- France: Slimane - Mon amour
- Germany: ISAAK - Always On The Run
- Italy: Angelina Mango - La Noia
- Spain: Nebulossa - ZORRA
- Serbia: TEYA DORA - RAMONDA
- Portugal: iolanda - Grito
- Slovenia: Raiven - Veronika
- Lithuania: Silvester Belt - Luktelk
- Ireland: Bambie Thug - Doomsday Blue
- Ukraine: alyona alyona & Jerry Heil - Teresa & Maria
- Luxembourg: TALI - Fighter
- Finland: Windows95man - No Rules!
- Croatia: Baby Lasagna - Rim Tim Tagi Dim
- Cyprus: Silia Kapsis - Liar
- Armenia: LADANIVA - Jako
- Austria: Kaleen - We Will Rave
- Estonia: 5MIINUST x Puuluup - (nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi
- Georgia: Nutsa Buzaladze - Firefighter
- Greece: Marina Satti - ZARI
- Israel: Eden Golan - Hurricane
- Latvia: Dons - Hollow
- Norway: Gåte - Ulveham
- Netherlands: Joost Klein - Europapa
- Switzerland: Nemo - The Code
Out:
- Poland: LUNA - The Tower
- Iceland: Hera Björk - Scared of Heights
- Moldova: Natalia Barbu - In The Middle
- Azerbaijan: FAHREE feat. Ilkin Dovlatov - Özünlə Apar
- Australia: Electric Fields - One Milkali (One Blood)
- Malta: Sarah Bonnici - Loop
- Albania : BESA - TITAN
- Czechia: Aiko - Pedestal
- Denmark: SABA - SAND
- San Marino: MEGARA - 11:11
- Belgium: Mustii - Before The Party's Over
What happened when Israel's Eurovision act, Eden Golan performed Hurricane?
Despite making it through to the Eurovision final, singer Eden was booed as she rehearsed her song.
It came as she got ready for the semi-finals on May 9, 2024.
But she has vowed that "nothing will deter" after her performance was interrupted by protesters chanting "Free Palestine".
Eden responded to the backlash by saying said she was "proud" to represent her country.
Israel's involvement in the competition has been met with fierce criticism due to the country's ongoing war against Hamas inside the Gaza Strip.
However, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises the event, has dismissed calls for Israel to be excluded.
There have been some safety concerns surrounding her performance in the grand final on May 11, 2024.
It comes after she was ordered to stay in her hotel room after thousands of pro-Palestine protesters gathered in Malmo in Sweden, where Eurovision is being held.
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What is Eden Golan's Hurricane song about?
According to Eden and her songwriters, the song is inspired by an Israeli perspective of the Hamas-led attack on Israel in 2023.
It was written by Avi Ohayon, Keren Peles, and Stav Beger.
The song drew heavy scrutiny for its original title October Rain, as the lyrics were viewed as a political message alluding to the Israel–Hamas war in support of Israel and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
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As a result, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) requested a rewrite of the song in late February 2024.
After multiple submissions and rewrites, a final revised version, titled "Hurricane", was approved by the EBU on March 7, 2024.
Everything you need to know about Eurovision
Here's your complete guide to all things Eurovision:
- Who was Marcel Bezençon, when did he come up with the Eurovision Song Contest and what’s the EBU?
- How to host a Eurovision party – from drinking games to decorations and costumes
- How many times has the UK received ‘nil points’ at Eurovision and been bottom of the leaderboard?
- Why is Australia in Eurovision and what would happen if they won?
- How much is Graham Norton paid and what’s his net worth?
- Eurovision winners: where are they now? From working in Tesco to global stardom
- When has Eurovision not been hosted by the winning country?
- How do I vote in Eurovision and when will results be revealed?