Below, you can choose to watch or read our statement on the Belarusian participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.
Belarus at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021
Yesterday, the EBU announced an entry and an act to perform under the Belarusian flag at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.
Upon reading the lyrics of the entry, and learning the foundations upon which this group are based, it is clear to us – the whole team at ESCXTRA.com – that the Belarusian entry breaks the Rules of the Eurovision Song Contest, as published by the EBU:
Rule 2.7 – Respect for ESC and EBU values
The Rules of the Eurovision Song Contest, published by the European Broadcast Union.
“No lyrics, speeches, gestures of a political, commercial or similar nature shall be permitted during the Eurovision Song Contest. No swearing or other unacceptable language shall be allowed in the lyrics or in the performances of the songs.”
As the lyrics of the entry submitted by the Belarusian broadcaster BTRC contain idiomatic lyrics which refer to the ongoing and well documented political crisis, protests and fraudulent election results from autumn 2020.
We believe that the EBU should disqualify the Belarusian entry from the Eurovision Song Contest 2021, in the same way that Georgia was disqualified in 2009.
& Nick van Lith
Editor-in-Chief & Deputy Editor-in-Chief | ESCXTRA.com
UPDATE – 11/03, 15:45 CET: The EBU has now rejected the Belarusian entry and asked the broadcaster to make modifications or face disqualification.
If the song had appropriate lyrics it would be in my top 10, that\’s kinda sad…
No one will ban song by idiomatic lyrics. There are not any straight political comments. Dont be naive, this song is absolutely allright.
I\’m from Belarus and want to say Thank you! This song should be DSQ. Absolutely agree with you and we didn\’t vote for this band. The current song despises freedom and our choice for moving to democracy. Long Life Belarus!
Right. But Jamala\’s 1944 was not political at all. Oh that omnipresent European hypocrisy.