The Contest has been broadcasted every year since its inauguration in 1956, and is one of the longest-running television programs in the world. It is also one of the most-watched non-sporting events in the world, with audience figures having been quoted in recent years as anything between 100 million and 600 million internationally. 42 countries have entered the competition this year, including Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania and even Moldova! Check out http://www.eurovision.tv/ for complete listings and current standings.

Onto the point now. Israel has entered the competition with a song titled 'Push the Button' by Teapacks.  The song, which will be performed at the contest in Helsinki in May, overwhelmingly won Israel's Eurovision selection competition in February. Organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest originally considered banning Israel's entry, because of what they called its "inappropriate" political message.  Sung in English, French and Hebrew, "Push the Button" seems to hint at Iran's nuclear ambitions and its hard-line leader, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who called for annihilation of Israel, ooh, just a couple of times. 

Now, I understand that every competition has rules (I am all for rules, frankly) and read the clause on ...no lyrics, speeches, gestures of a political or similar nature shall be permitted during the ESC... blah-blah-blah.”  But don’t tell me that songs titled “Stay Alive” or “Let’s Save the World” at least sound a bit political? Or that our world is better represented by three “lolita-meets-goths” girls singing lyrics like “I’ll make it easy honey; I’ll take your money honey, so just come here, honey”? 

Now, thoughts that come to my mind are “Is Israel just too controversial of a state to be allowed to even hint at any kind of politics before everyone is yelling “Karaul?”  And if the answer is yes, what does it mean for Israeli cultural arts and literature?
 
It appears that the organizers were just trying not to aggravate anyone and keep things traditional - half-naked girls and pretty boys sing songs whose music madly reminds you of other songs.  Didn’t work out this time – the “Push the Button” song was allowed to enter the competition.  What does the future hold? Well I guess now it’s up to the Eurovision voters, and that, like it or not, is democracy.