Coolassprov MC
02-03-07, 15:14
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article2318713.ece
Israeli 'terror' song faces Eurovision ban
By Donald Macintyre in Jerusalem
Published: 02 March 2007
Eurovision is threatening to ban Israel's entry for its annual song contest in because of its "inappropriate" political message. "Push the Button", the song from one of Israel's most experienced and popular bands, Teapacks, has lyrics that go to the heart of the country's most prevalent security fears, but in tones tinged with irony.
The words of the song - in English, French and Hebrew, - have already been interpreted as addressing fears of a strike by Iran as well as attacks by Palestinian militants. In one verse the band sing: "The world is full of terror/ If someone makes an error/ He's gonna blow us up to biddy biddy kingdom come/ There are some crazy rulers they hide and try to fool us/ With demonic, technologic willingness to harm."
Kjell Ekholm, an organiser of the contest, said: "It's absolutely clear that this kind of message is not appropriate for the competition." But the threat may say as much about Eurovision's dogged preference for the bland at all costs as about the song itself.
The band's lead singer Kobi Oz, who is of Tunisian extraction, and is known for his witty and enigmatic lyrics, comes from Sderot, which has born the brunt of Qassam rockets from Gaza, and as a member of a Jewish family from an Arab country is a leading exponent of "Mizrahi cool".
Another verse says: "Messages are exploding on me/ Rockets are flying and landing on me." But the song also takes a swipe at the country's own politics as well as security threats, saying Israelis are caught between "political tricks and kidnapping".
The song also deliberately projects itself as a counterpoint to the anodyne lyrics of previous Eurovision entries, from Israel as well as other countries. In one section, the band sing: "Here we are in the pre-finals with a song that isn't about salaam [Arabic for peace], red is not just a colour, it's more like blood."
Oz said that the song, an occasionally Queen-like musical blend of rap, rock and more oriental sound, was "multicultural", adding for good measure: "We are not working to make nice to everyone. Real art provokes responses and provokes people into arguing." At one point the band sing, in what could be construed as a reference to Israel's own nuclear arsenal: "If it continues to be frightening, then only then I will say I'm gonna push the button, push the button, push the button, push the button."
Yoav Ginai, the head of the Israel Broadcasting Authority's judging committee, has described Oz as "one of the most unique and original composers in the country".
Mr Ginai speaks with authority as the man who write the lyrics for the song "Diva", which won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1998 in Birmingham for Israel. The song also generated headlines across the world because it was sung by Dana, a transsexual.
The offending lyrics
The world is full of terror
If someone makes an error
He's gonna blow us up to biddy biddy kingdom come
There are some crazy rulers they hide and try to fool us
With demonic, technologic willingness to harm
They're gonna push the button
push the button push the bu, push the bu, push the button
Everybody's suffering
The streets are filled with violence
How lucky we are
To have got this far
Without even getting injured
As this regime, so fanatical
Gets even more tactical
It's so tragic my eyes fill with tears
And I don't want to die
I want to see the flowers bloom
Don't want a go capoot ka boom
And I don't want to cry
I wanna have a lot of fun
Just sitting in the sun
Messages are exploding on me
Rockets are flying and landing on me
Police and thieves are chasing me
Jumping on me and pestering me
Woe is me, woe is me, answer me oh living God
This nightmare is too long
When I am barely living and everyone is aiming at me it is too early, perhaps, to sing that I have given you my life
Wha, Wha the police
Weeoo, weeoo a rescue team
Here it is in the semi-finals without salaam
Red is not only a colour, it's more like blood.
Israeli 'terror' song faces Eurovision ban
By Donald Macintyre in Jerusalem
Published: 02 March 2007
Eurovision is threatening to ban Israel's entry for its annual song contest in because of its "inappropriate" political message. "Push the Button", the song from one of Israel's most experienced and popular bands, Teapacks, has lyrics that go to the heart of the country's most prevalent security fears, but in tones tinged with irony.
The words of the song - in English, French and Hebrew, - have already been interpreted as addressing fears of a strike by Iran as well as attacks by Palestinian militants. In one verse the band sing: "The world is full of terror/ If someone makes an error/ He's gonna blow us up to biddy biddy kingdom come/ There are some crazy rulers they hide and try to fool us/ With demonic, technologic willingness to harm."
Kjell Ekholm, an organiser of the contest, said: "It's absolutely clear that this kind of message is not appropriate for the competition." But the threat may say as much about Eurovision's dogged preference for the bland at all costs as about the song itself.
The band's lead singer Kobi Oz, who is of Tunisian extraction, and is known for his witty and enigmatic lyrics, comes from Sderot, which has born the brunt of Qassam rockets from Gaza, and as a member of a Jewish family from an Arab country is a leading exponent of "Mizrahi cool".
Another verse says: "Messages are exploding on me/ Rockets are flying and landing on me." But the song also takes a swipe at the country's own politics as well as security threats, saying Israelis are caught between "political tricks and kidnapping".
The song also deliberately projects itself as a counterpoint to the anodyne lyrics of previous Eurovision entries, from Israel as well as other countries. In one section, the band sing: "Here we are in the pre-finals with a song that isn't about salaam [Arabic for peace], red is not just a colour, it's more like blood."
Oz said that the song, an occasionally Queen-like musical blend of rap, rock and more oriental sound, was "multicultural", adding for good measure: "We are not working to make nice to everyone. Real art provokes responses and provokes people into arguing." At one point the band sing, in what could be construed as a reference to Israel's own nuclear arsenal: "If it continues to be frightening, then only then I will say I'm gonna push the button, push the button, push the button, push the button."
Yoav Ginai, the head of the Israel Broadcasting Authority's judging committee, has described Oz as "one of the most unique and original composers in the country".
Mr Ginai speaks with authority as the man who write the lyrics for the song "Diva", which won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1998 in Birmingham for Israel. The song also generated headlines across the world because it was sung by Dana, a transsexual.
The offending lyrics
The world is full of terror
If someone makes an error
He's gonna blow us up to biddy biddy kingdom come
There are some crazy rulers they hide and try to fool us
With demonic, technologic willingness to harm
They're gonna push the button
push the button push the bu, push the bu, push the button
Everybody's suffering
The streets are filled with violence
How lucky we are
To have got this far
Without even getting injured
As this regime, so fanatical
Gets even more tactical
It's so tragic my eyes fill with tears
And I don't want to die
I want to see the flowers bloom
Don't want a go capoot ka boom
And I don't want to cry
I wanna have a lot of fun
Just sitting in the sun
Messages are exploding on me
Rockets are flying and landing on me
Police and thieves are chasing me
Jumping on me and pestering me
Woe is me, woe is me, answer me oh living God
This nightmare is too long
When I am barely living and everyone is aiming at me it is too early, perhaps, to sing that I have given you my life
Wha, Wha the police
Weeoo, weeoo a rescue team
Here it is in the semi-finals without salaam
Red is not only a colour, it's more like blood.