Even Without Zelensky’s Speech Eurovision Doesn’t Forget Ukraine

The Eurovision organization rejected the request of Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, to participate through a live message in the final of the contest.

The European Broadcasting Union justified this decision with the fact that one of the principles of Eurovision is the non-politicization of the competition. However, the message of some of the songs reveals some of this politicization.

“One of the pillars of the competition is the non-political nature of the event. This principle prohibits political or similar statements during the competition”, justified the European Broadcasting Union, organizer of Eurovision.

The 67th edition of Eurovision will open with a performance by the Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra, which won Eurovision last year, with the song Stephanie.

Croatia music, Mother SC, criticizes Vladimir Putin and “human stupidity”. The band Let 3 starts the performance in soldier clothes and fake mustaches before stripping down. Swiss music, Watergunincludes the lyrics “I don′t wanna be a soldier, soldier. I don”t wanna have to play with real blood”.

This year, Ukraine competes with the song Heart of Steel by the band Tvorchi, which was inspired by the siege of the Azovstal factory, in Mariupol, and which warns of the nuclear threat. Ukraine hopes to win solidarity votes and be the first country since Ireland in 1994 to win in two consecutive years.

Ukrainian vocalist Jeffrey Kenny said if they win they will consider auctioning off the statue to raise money to buy neonatal incubators. Last year the Kalush Orchestra auctioned off the Eurovision prize to raise money for the Ukrainian army.

Throughout the show and before each performance, images of landmarks from Ukraine, the UK and all competing countries will be shown. During the polls, singer Duncan Laurence from the Netherlands will perform the song You”ll Never Walk Alonewhich has become an anthem for Liverpool Football Club, and live footage of Ukrainians singing in Kiev will be broadcast.

Eurovision expert Adrian Bradley considers that this is the most politicized Eurovision in recent years and that the producers are taking the political issue as far as they can and that they are doing a good job of it.

Having won last year, Ukraine should have received the competition, but the Russian invasion did not allow the country to have the conditions to do so. The grand final will take place in Liverpool, UK.