New rules will be put in place during the next European song contest next May. We will hear France from the semi-finals of the competition.
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Fans of the Eurovision Song Contest, you will notice some changes during this 2024 edition, organized from May 7 to 11 in Malmö, Sweden. The organizers announced new rules on Tuesday March 12, which concern both the participants and the voters of the competition. Last year, it attracted 162 million people to their post.
France will advance to the semi-finals
Until now, the Eurovision contest consisted of the evening of the final for France. Member of the “big five” – the biggest financial contributors to the competition with Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy – it did not make it through to the semi-final box. For the first time, all the artists will be there, to practice in front of the public and make themselves known. For Slimane, who represents France this year with his song “Mon Amour”, this passage through the semi-finals is scheduled for May 9.
The other new feature will take place on the evening of the final (May 11). Viewers will be able to vote from the first performance, no need to wait until everyone has finished. A system already tested during the 2010 and 2011 editions before being abandoned.
Israel had to change the text of its song
While Russia was excluded from the competition in 2022, after the invasion of Ukraine, this year it is Israel’s participation which is the subject of debate. Several countries, mainly Nordic, requested its exclusion, because of its offensive on Gaza. The organizers refused it, arguing that the singing competition does not involve itself in politics. On the other hand, they demanded that the Israeli candidate modify the lyrics of her song, which referred to the October 7 massacres. October rain then became Dancing forever, before being rebutted once again. The new validated title is entitled Hurricane [ouragan, en français].
The organizers also validated the text, now deemed apolitical, despite several reservations from other countries. Israel will therefore be able to compete in Malmö. The singer Eden Golan is in seventh place of the forecast ranking established by the bookmakers. A ranking which places Slimane in ninth place and sees the coronation of Croatia.