Boy George: Israel has advanced to the final of the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Michelle,” performed by 28-year-old Noam Bettan. The performance at Tuesday’s semi-final received a mixed reaction from the audience, including boos and chants, as well as supportive cheers. The contest has been marked by controversy in recent years due to Israel’s military actions in Gaza, leading to boycotts by five countries, including Ireland.
Mixed Reception for Israel’s Eurovision Entry
Noam Bettan faced a divided audience during the semi-final held at Vienna’s Wiener Stadhalle. Some attendees booed and shouted anti-Israeli slogans, while others chanted his name in support. The Austrian broadcaster ORF, which is hosting the event, chose not to censor any protests or negative reactions during the live broadcast. According to a statement from ORF and Eurovision organisers the EBU, a disruptive audience member was removed by security after loudly expressing their views near a microphone. Three additional people were also removed for disruptive behaviour.
Despite the mixed reception, Israel’s entry qualified for the grand final, joining nine other countries. The Finnish duo Pete Parkonnen and Linda Lampenius, performing the song “Liekinheitin” (Flamethrower), are currently considered favourites to win the contest.
Boy George and Other Eliminations
British singer Boy George, known for his work with Culture Club, appeared as a guest performer on San Marino’s entry. However, San Marino did not qualify for the final, resulting in Boy George’s elimination from the competition. Other countries eliminated in the semi-final include Estonia, Georgia, Montenegro, and Portugal. Notably, several returning Eurovision acts such as Estonia’s Vanilla Ninja, San Marino’s Senhit, and Georgian trio Bzikebi were also eliminated.
The semi-final featured a variety of performances, including a tribute to Eurovision’s 70th anniversary, which highlighted famous past winners and ended with a touching finale involving Austrian singer Vicky Leandros. Other notable performances included Moldova’s energetic party anthem “Viva, Moldova!,” Sweden’s masked dance track “My System,” and Croatia’s powerful folkloric song “Andromeda.”
Greece’s entry “Ferto” combined ambitious staging with themes addressing social media materialism and the country’s financial crisis. Italy’s Sal Da Vinci performed a disco track dedicated to his wife, while Lithuania’s Lion Ceccah presented a man-versus-machine anthem with striking silver body paint. The night concluded with a metal performance by Serbian band Lavina.
This year’s Eurovision voting process was updated to address previous irregularities. Viewers can now vote a maximum of 10 times, down from 20, and must provide credit card details for online voting to ensure votes originate from the country submitted.
The second semi-final is scheduled for Thursday and will feature acts from Denmark and France, as well as the debut of Australian pop star Delta Goodrem and the British entry Look Mum No Computer.
