Comments on: Kaput-Kaboom

Kaput-Kaboom

blahblahblah — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 20:55:33 -0800

The Eurovision song contest season has just begun, and already there is controversy. The Israeli entrant, the Teapacks' "Push the Button" [warnings: Windows Media video, strange-looking accordian player], has English, French, and Hebrew lyrics that talk about certain "crazy rulers" who are "gonna blow us up to kingdom come" concluding that "I don't wanna die, I wanna see the flowers bloom, don't wanna go kaput-kaboom." These lyrics are apparently too political for Eurovision, which is likely to ban the song.

By: phrontist

phrontist — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 21:04:35 -0800

Huh? Eurovision has non-european entrants?!

By: bugmuncher

bugmuncher — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 21:19:20 -0800

... Sounds like there's not much love to go 'round...

By: dhruva

dhruva — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 21:20:50 -0800

Teapacks is also known as a very funny group, with crazy lyrics, and great in concert. But this song seemed too out of place for Eurovision, given that most eurovision songs are treacly pop.

By: donovan

donovan — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 21:21:32 -0800

While you can't suss it out from the absolutely atrocious Eurovision website, countries are eligible if they are part of the European Broadcast Union. The EBU isn't Europe so much as EMEA--it includes the Middle East and parts of Africa. Israel made it's Eurovision debut in 1973.

By: Afreemind2007

Afreemind2007 — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 21:32:01 -0800

Although I left Israel 10 years ago, I still remember this group. They were always famous and a little controversial. their name is actually TIPPEX.

By: RobbieFal

RobbieFal — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 21:43:19 -0800

I think the Blue Meanie is the Accordion player. As for the lyrics, the phrase is "gonna blow us up to bitty-bitty kingdom come"... can someone provide French and Hebrew translations?

By: Dizzy

Dizzy — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 22:05:10 -0800

Dang-- I get "Invalid Format" and am promptly kevorked. Is it Safari? Bad Karma? Cortex?

By: blahblahblah

blahblahblah — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 22:07:34 -0800

Youtube version here.

By: TheNewWazoo

TheNewWazoo — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 22:08:29 -0800

Hah. What does it say about me that I immediately thought the song was about Dubya?

By: Steven C. Den Beste

Steven C. Den Beste — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 22:11:44 -0800

I gather that the Eurovision Song Contest is always a real freak show anyway. The Manolo always has fun with it, in his inimitable fashion.

By: Dizzy

Dizzy — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 22:13:30 -0800

A mitzvah, bbb. Thanks!

By: tighttrousers

tighttrousers — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 22:46:04 -0800

I for one welcome our new Eurovision overlords.

By: owhydididoit

owhydididoit — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 22:57:25 -0800

Hah. What does it say about me that I immediately thought the song was about Dubya? Maybe that you live in the USA? I thought the same exact thing at first.

By: muckster

muckster — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 22:59:46 -0800

More Eurovision on Metafilter.... Amberglow's original link is broken, but you can still watch France Gall.

By: Schlimmbesserung

Schlimmbesserung — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 23:01:02 -0800

Considering that Lordi got it last time, these guys seem like a shoo-in. Plus, it's a pretty catchy song. It reminds me of a less metallic System of a Down (and no, not just because they're from the Middle East).

By: goingonit

goingonit — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 23:45:15 -0800

It immediately made me think of Gogol Bordello. Maybe the accordion?

By: three blind mice

three blind mice — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 00:06:13 -0800

Huh? Eurovision has non-european entrants?! Israel has participated in the contest since 1973. Israel is in the same time zone as most of Europe, its original population (as the Iranian president never tires of pointing out) came largely from Europe, and a lot of Europeans consider Israel as a European country in a cultural sense. (Although it is a huge stretch to use the word "culture" in the same sentence as the Eurovision song contest.)

By: skepticX

skepticX — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 01:09:07 -0800

Toto Cutugno's song was also extremely political. But it wasn't banned. In fact, it won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1990. Lyrics with English translation.

By: biffa

biffa — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 02:00:58 -0800

Eligibility for Eurovision is dependent not on being in Europe (either physically or culturally) but on a nation being a member of the European Broadcasting Union. There are quite a few EBU members outside Europe, mostly in North Africa, who could take part but choose not to. These include Libya and Algeria. Syria is apparently an associate member and could apply for full membership.

By: leebree

leebree — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 02:26:28 -0800

Israeli won in 1998. They were represented by a transexual of Yemenite orgin, Dana International.

By: antifuse

antifuse — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 02:37:39 -0800

I had never heard of Eurovision until last year. It's a fascinating contest, and the voting just really confuses the hell out of me. But it's great fun to watch at the bar when you're hammered.

By: Civil_Disobedient

Civil_Disobedient — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 05:01:07 -0800

the voting just really confuses the hell out of me Actually the voting is pretty straight-forward, initially. Representatives are allowed to vote only for other countries' performers. Tally up the votes and you have your winner. It's when there's a tie... that's when it gets all convoluted.

By: limon

limon — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 05:38:02 -0800

it's the incomparable triumph of israeli propaganda that the most militarized country in the region can export itself as a flower-child pacifist to a large number of people. a more accurate portrait is the sticker song.

By: ninebelow

ninebelow — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 06:07:23 -0800

Eurovision has non-european entrants?! See also the Union of European Football Associations. On Eurovision, it is a shame Morrisey pulled out of the running to be the UK's entrant. Still Justin Hawkins will be entertaining.

By: micayetoca

micayetoca — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 06:26:57 -0800

warning: strange-looking accordian player Strange-looking accordion player? What? did you miss the vocalist? the mandolin player? the guitarist?

By: jonp72

jonp72 — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 06:45:54 -0800

Israeli won in 1998. They were represented by a transsexual of Yemenite orgin, Dana International. I heard from some Israelis that this even became a minor poltical issue in Israel, because Dana International's victory gave the ultra-Orthodox apopleptic fits while giving Israeli secularists a nonstop source of amusement.

By: zoogleplex

zoogleplex — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 10:54:48 -0800

Until they let Zlad in, I'm boycotting this contest. LONG LIVE MOLVANIA!!!

By: TheDonF

TheDonF — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 13:31:02 -0800

This year's Eurovision entry for the UK could possibly be Justin Hawkins (MP3), ex lead singer of the execrable The Darkness, who have now thankfully split. I'd say that this was utterly sad and desperate, but Morrissey and Jarvis Cocker have also been linked with itl although I have almost no time for Morrissey, even he doesn't need to stoop as low as this. The best thing about Eurovision in the UK is Terry Wogan's withering commentary.