How did Eurovision go from sequins and flares to geopolitical slugfest?

A song contest intended to promote European harmony and cultural exchange morphs into a battle over human rights. A boycott dominates headlines and polarises opinion. Performers with big hair proclaim art over politics.

But the year was 1969, and the dispute centred on Austria’s decision to shun the host, Spain, because it was a dictatorship – a boycott echoed half a century later by five countries who are shunning this week’s contest in Vienna because of Israel’s participation. As Abba put it in 1974 when they won with Waterloo : The history book on the shelf / Is always repeating itself. However, the scale and bitterness of this year’s mutiny appears to mark a departure from previous controversies and blares like a klaxon over Saturday night’s final. “People love to mock Eurovision, saying it’s irrelevant, it’s camp, but this backlash proves otherwise,” said William Lee Adams, an author and commentator who runs an independent Eurovision website and YouTube channel . “This is the biggest boycott that Eurovision has ever seen, and that goes a long way to dent its image. Eurovision is meant to bring countries together, and if countries no longer want to participate that undermines the entire enterprise.” The world’s most watched non-sporting cultural event is marking its 70th anniversary in the Austrian capital without Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia and Iceland, which quit in protest at Israel’s inclusion while attacks continue in Gaza. “In the face of illegal war and also genocide, silence is not an option,” Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s prime minister, said on Friday. “We will not be in Vienna, but we will do so with the conviction that we are on the right side of history.” Instead of ballads at the Wiener Stadthalle arena, Spain’s state broadcaster TVE will air an alternative music show, Slovenia’s RTV will show documentaries on Gaza, and Ireland’s national broadcaster, RTÉ, will air a 1996 episode of the Father Ted sitcom in which Catholic priests sing My Lovely Horse at a European contest and earn nul points . The news site Extra.ie called the move “genius trolling” under the headline My Lovely Boycott. Few in Vienna will be laughing. The Eurovision motto is “united by music”, but police have ramped up security amid a febrile mood. Israel and its supporters say antisemitism drives the boycott, while supporters of the protest accuse the contest of art-washing atrocities against Palestinians.

Key points

• But the year was 1969, and the dispute centred on Austria’s decision to shun the host, Spain, because it was a dictatorship – a boycott echoed half a century later by five countries who are shunnin…
• As Abba put it in 1974 when they won with Waterloo : The history book on the shelf / Is always repeating itself.
• However, the scale and bitterness of this year’s mutiny appears to mark a departure from previous controversies and blares like a klaxon over Saturday night’s final.
• “People love to mock Eurovision, saying it’s irrelevant, it’s camp, but this backlash proves otherwise,” said William Lee Adams, an author and commentator who runs an independent Eurovision website…
• “This is the biggest boycott that Eurovision has ever seen, and that goes a long way to dent its image.