Israel 2024: Eden Golan with 'Hurricane'
After much lyrical back and forth, Israel's entry for Malmo has been released.
First things first, agree with their participation or not: reality exists. Israel are, for now and probably for good, on the entrants list and so will be covered. I’m also not interested in debating this ‘editorial decision’ so if you have clicked in here just to have a go - don't waste your time.
With that disclaimer out the way what we have here is a song with quite a good melody but a dated feel and production. That is actually a surprise given that is typically one of Israel’s strong points. This is quite a non descript blank canvas as it stands and lyrics aside this lacks the power to stir much emotion in studio form - something which again does not feel like the intention of this. ‘Hurricane’ is less a force of nature and more a gentle breeze, almost asking to go under the radar.
Eden is a good singer and performer but I’ve not seen the charisma needed to really elevate this, under normal circumstances, whilst I doubt the delegation will be given much freedom visually either.
Returning to the unavoidable politics, I would seriously advise fans who are so opposed to Israel to just let this be and take the high road/ignore it approach. Don’t boo, don’t spend the next two months harassing Eden, don’t waste time posting incessantly for this to be thrown out, don’t wish for or celebrate any harm or misfortune to befall them. There is no anti-vote so that is futile and merely has the effect of stimulating any sympathy vote further. There is less of a motivation to support this because of what has happened over the past months than there would be if Eden were to receive poor treatment in the weeks of the contest.
Because this is 2024 when subtlety is in short supply and partisanship at all time highs, I expect that warning to be ignored making this a hard one to predict. Qualification looks very likely and it would be dangerous to oppose the semi win given that potential for escalation. For now, I would assume something more like 4th/5th. In the final, this stands little chance of winning as the jury vote can, and likely will in many places, rank this very low, whilst it feels bottom half on merit anyway despite any live elevation. The televote may be around 10th given my assumptions but will rise the worse the ‘victimisation’ experienced becomes. The assumption is KAN are here mainly at the bequest of some very high powers within Israel and discounting how the narrative could turn and be mobilised would be dangerous.
Israel are a complication and distraction in this years contest to traders; the volatility in their price has already been shown countless times this season and there will be lots more twists and turns to come. If any predicted range is not to be set in stone it is this one.
Personal Rating: 5/10
Competetive Rating: 7/10
Early Prediction: Semi 2 4th-7th, 11th-15th in the final.