Music
Switzerland’s Nemo Wins 68th Eurovision Song Contest After Event Roiled By Protests Over War In Gaza
Malmö, Sweden – Nemo, a Swiss singer, won the 68th Eurovision Song Contest early Sunday with “The Code,” an operatic pop-rap hymn to her quest to embrace a nongender identity.
Switzerland’s contender defeated Croatian musician Baby Lasagna for the title by receiving the most points from national juries and fans worldwide. Nemo, 24, is the first nonbinary winner of the tournament, which has long been regarded as a safe haven for the LGBT community. Nemo is also the first Swiss winner since Celine Dion, a Canadian singer who competed under the Swiss flag in 1988.
“Thank you so much,” Nemo remarked shortly after midnight when the results of Saturday’s final were announced. I hope this contest can live up to its promise and continue to stand for peace and dignity for every person.”
AP – VOR News Image
Switzerland’s Nemo Wins 68th Eurovision Song Contest After Event Roiled By Protests Over War In Gaza
At a post-victory press conference, Nemo stated his satisfaction in accepting the medal for “people who are daring to be themselves and people who need to be heard and understood.” “We need more compassion and empathy.”
Nemo’s victory in the Swedish city of Malmo came after a traumatic year for the pan-continental pop contest, which witnessed significant street protests against Israel’s participation, turning the feelgood musical festival into a chaotic pressure cooker overshadowed by the conflict in Gaza.
Hours before the final, Dutch contestant Joost Klein was kicked out of the competition after a backstage brawl that authorities were investigating.
Nemo — full name Nemo Mettler — defeated finalists from 24 other countries, all performing in front of thousands of live audience members and an estimated 180 million viewers worldwide. Each contestant had three minutes to combine popular tunes and eye-popping splendor into performances that would win the hearts of spectators. Musical styles included rock, disco, techno, rap, and mashups of other genres.
Eden Golan, an Israeli singer who spent Eurovision week in Malmo under strict security, ascended the stage to a wall of sound – boos and applause — to perform the power ballad “Hurricane.” Despite the protests, Golan climbed the odds table throughout the week and finished fifth, trailing only Nemo, Baby Lasagna, Ukrainian combo alyona alyona & Jerry Heil, and French artist Slimane.
Eurovision officials forced a change to the song’s original title, “October Rain” – an apparent reference to the Oct. 7 Hamas strike that killed over 1,200 people in Israel and sparked the Gaza conflict.
The show was typical Eurovision fare, with Estonia’s 5Miinust x Puuluup performing a pop-zombie folk hybrid, Greece’s Marina Satti and Armenia’s Ladaniva performing folk-inflected power pop, and Finland’s Windows95man performing goofy 1990s nostalgia, emerging from a giant onstage egg wearing very little clothing.
AP – VOR News Image
Switzerland’s Nemo Wins 68th Eurovision Song Contest After Event Roiled By Protests Over War In Gaza
Britain’s Olly Alexander performed the peppy dance single “Dizzy,” Ireland’s gothic Bambie Thug summoned a demon onstage and brought a screaming coach to Malmo, and Spain’s Nebulossa bravely reclaimed a term used as a slur on women in “Zorra.”
On Saturday, thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through Sweden’s third-largest city, which has a large Muslim population, demanding a boycott of Israel and a cease-fire in the seven-month Gaza war, which has killed nearly 35,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.
Several hundred people gathered outside the Malmo Arena before the final, some shouting “shame” at arriving music fans and clashing with police who were obstructing their path. Climate campaigner Greta Thunberg was one among those led away by police.
Klein, the Dutch artist, was removed from the competition after a female production crew member filed a complaint, according to the European Broadcasting Union, the competition’s organizer. The 26-year-old Dutch musician and rapper’s song “Europapa” has been a hit with bookmakers and fans.
Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS, one of dozens of public broadcasters that collectively sponsor and broadcast the tournament, said Klein was filmed without authorization as he exited the stage following Thursday’s semifinal and made a “threatening movement” toward the camera.
AP – VOR News Image
Switzerland’s Nemo Wins 68th Eurovision Song Contest After Event Roiled By Protests Over War In Gaza
Tensions were obvious in the hours preceding the final. At the start of the final dress rehearsal, several artists were missing from the Olympic-style artists’ entry; however, they all appeared in the final.
Several competitors mentioned peace or love at the end of their performances, including France’s Slimane, who stated: “United by music for love and peace.”
Nemo described the Eurovision experience as “really intense and not just pleasant all the way.”
SOURCE – (AP)
Celebrity
American Who Made Social Media Threats Against Taylor Swift Detained Ahead Of German Concert
BERLIN — An American man who made threats against Taylor Swift on social media was seized before her first concert in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, and will be held in custody until her gigs there end, authorities said Thursday.
swift | AP news Image
American Who Made Social Media Threats Against Taylor Swift Detained Ahead Of German Concert
According to police, the accused stalker, a 34-year-old whose name has not been disclosed, had a ticket to Taylor’s concert at Gelsenkirchen’s Veltins-Arena on Wednesday. They stated that he was detained at event admission checks because an early assessment could not completely rule out a risk.
According to police, the man threatened Taylor and her partner on social media. They say he was detained after receiving tips from the event’s organizers.
The American superstar will perform in Gelsenkirchen on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday as part of her Eras tour. According to authorities, a local court has ordered that the suspected stalker be detained until Saturday.
They went on to say that Swift and the audience were always safe. The event drew approximately 60,000 people on Wednesday evening and went off without incident.
American Who Made Social Media Threats Against Taylor Swift Detained Ahead Of German Concert
Before the concerts, Gelsenkirchen temporarily renamed the town “Swiftkirchen” and honored the singer on a “Walk of Fame” dedicated to local luminaries.
Taylor has plans to perform in two more German cities after Gelsenkirchen: Hamburg and Munich.
SOURCE | AP
Nobody puts Britney Spears in a corner.
The singer was highlighted on a recent episode of “The Osbournes Podcast,” in which Ozzy Osbourne stated that he was “fed up with seeing poor old Britney Spears dancing on social media.”
“You know, it’s sad,” the renowned rocker admitted. “Very, very sad.”
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)/ozzy-osbourne-brittany-spears--063-07172024-1b9201fbbfc3446397693fca68a8a430.jpg "Britney Spears Has A Message For Ozzy Osbourne After He Called Her Dancing ‘Sad’")
Britney Spears | People Image
Britney Spears Has A Message For Ozzy Osbourne After He Called Her Dancing ‘Sad’
His family agreed, including his wife Sharon and older children Kelly and Jack Osbourne.
Britney, who routinely posts videos of herself dancing on social media, noticed and responded with a lengthy comment.
She began her essay by mentioning Kate Beckinsale’s 2001 film Serendipity and stating that “incredibly cruel people were talking about [Beckinsale] needs more age-appropriate content.” Beckinsale, who is in her fifties (as Britney also highlighted), has been known to confront social media bullies.
Britney then reacted to the Osbournes’ complaints. She stated that she rarely dances and responded to Sharon Osbourne’s description of her as “a poor little thing” by saying, “I’m not poor at all!!!”
Britney Spears Has A Message For Ozzy Osbourne After He Called Her Dancing ‘Sad’
“I taught dance lessons to a few adolescents last week… Spears wrote, “A lot of the kids were too thin, and some were too big.” “I know what it’s like to be judged, so it’s a ridiculous and stupid subject initially, but I think it’s important to HELP EACH OTHER and invite each other to places that help our souls to grow!!!”
Spears closed her email to the Osbournes, whom she described as “the most boring family known to mankind,” by ordering them to “kindly f**k off.”
SOURCE | CNN
Tenacious D, the comedic rock duo comprised of Jack Black and Kyle Gass, has postponed the remainder of their tour following Gass’ remarks about the murder attempt on Donald Trump.
On Sunday, while onstage at a concert in Sydney, Black presented Gass with a birthday cake and urged him to “make a wish”. Gass responded, “Don’t miss Trump next time,” an apparent reference to the previous day’s rally shooting, which left the former president with a damaged ear. The footage of Gass was widely shared on social media.
Jack Black Ends Tenacious D Tour After Bandmate’s Trump Shooting Comment
“What was mentioned during the broadcast on Sunday caught me off guard. “I would never condone hate speech or encourage political violence in any way,” Black wrote in an Instagram post on Tuesday. “After much thought, I no longer believe it is right to continue the Tenacious D tour, and any future creative plans are paused. I appreciate the fans’ support and understanding.”
Following Black’s statement, Gass apologized on Instagram.
“The line I improvised Sunday night in Sydney was highly inappropriate, dangerous and a terrible mistake,” the comedian wrote Tuesday. “I condemn all forms of violence against anyone. What happened was a tragedy, and I sincerely apologize for my lack of judgment.”
The band recently finished touring in the United States and Europe. Their “Spicy Meatball Tour” is set to resume Tuesday night in Newcastle. This month, they will visit most major cities in Australia and New Zealand before returning to the United States for a few chosen dates in October.
Jack Black Ends Tenacious D Tour After Bandmate’s Trump Shooting Comment
“Frontier Touring regret to advise that Tenacious D’s concert tonight at Newcastle Entertainment Centre has been postponed,” their touring firm stated on Instagram Tuesday. “Ticket holders are asked to hold onto their tickets until further information is available.”
A band representative referred the Associated Press to Black’s remark when approached for further comment. Details about reimbursements for the remaining tour dates were not immediately available.
SOURC | AP
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