Hello Joe & Mike, I’m leaving this message for you to enjoy with your coffee as you prepare for Eurovision 2024.

Here’s a recap of this year’s event:

  • Controversial Atmosphere: Eurovision 2024 was marked by significant controversy, causing some fans to reconsider their support for the event.

  • Incidents During the Semi-finals:

    • Audience Reaction: During the second semi-final, the Israeli artist’s performance received audible cheers on TV, which were actually fake. Contrarily, stadium audiences were booing, and this was recorded and shared by attendees.

    • Fake Applause: Organizers used sound effects to suppress the boos and enhance the broadcast with fake applause, altering the true audience response.

  • Political Tensions:

    • Sponsorship and Participation: Despite opposition from several countries, Israel participated in the contest, sponsored by an Israeli company.

    • Censorship: Similar to the audience, artists were reportedly restricted from expressing their views about Israel’s participation.

    • Protests: There were numerous protests against Israel’s involvement in Eurovision.

  • Consequences for Dissenters:

    • Disqualification of Dutch Singer: A Dutch singer was disqualified following a press conference where they spoke out against the Israeli participant.

  • Reactions from Participants and Fans:

    • Accusations of Harassment: Some participants complained that Israeli journalists and delegates harassed those who expressed pro-Palestine sentiments, but the organizers did not intervene.

    • Voting Influences: Reports surfaced that Israeli embassies in Europe urged their citizens to vote for Israel, employing targeted ads on platforms like YouTube. Additionally, certain extreme left-wing parties in Europe also encouraged their followers to support Israel.

  • Fan Discontent: The actions and decisions of the organizers led to widespread dissatisfaction among fans, who felt these actions betrayed Eurovision's values of unity and freedom of expression.

    Despite the bitterness of this year’s event, I hope you’ll enjoy watching the Eurovision 2024 videos. Reacting to the top 10 performances instead of just the top 5 could be an exciting change.

    Enjoy your viewing, and see you in the next YouTube live.

    Have a great coffee!