Djamila
Bosnjakinja
For those who aren't aware, the Eurovision Song Contest is the oldest and largest song contest in the world.
Every year, countries from across Europe (and those in North Africa or the Middle East whose public broadcasters are part of the European Broadcasting Union) submit an entry. Voters from every participating country televote their favorites, each country presents its points in the grand finale show, and a winner is chosen. The following year, the Eurovision Song Contest is hosted in the capital of the country that won the year before.
In 1998 Israel won the contest and so the 1999 Eurovision Song Contest was held in Jerusalem.
This is where it gets interesting. Politically, many countries made unusual decisions. Germany sent a song about Jerusalem, sung by a band that was almost too afraid to open their mouths. Croatia (which was brutally pro-Nazi during WWII) sent a religious, Christian singer. Turkey and Bosnia, the only Muslim countries participating, both sent artists not exactly known for waving Israeli flags.
In the end, many of these countries achieved one of their best final results ever in the competition. With the exception of Turkey's entry wearing a Palestinian-flag dress to a press conference, Croatia's entry denying the extent of the Holocaust, and Bosnia's entry being caught smoking marejuana - all went well.
Here's a little look at these controversial entries. I just find it so interesting, politics and religion and all that. It's so strange to imagine what it would've been like sitting in this stadium as an Israeli citizen and watching these crack-heads. lol
Turkey 1999
Bosnia 1999
Croatia 1999
Germany 1999
Every year, countries from across Europe (and those in North Africa or the Middle East whose public broadcasters are part of the European Broadcasting Union) submit an entry. Voters from every participating country televote their favorites, each country presents its points in the grand finale show, and a winner is chosen. The following year, the Eurovision Song Contest is hosted in the capital of the country that won the year before.
In 1998 Israel won the contest and so the 1999 Eurovision Song Contest was held in Jerusalem.
This is where it gets interesting. Politically, many countries made unusual decisions. Germany sent a song about Jerusalem, sung by a band that was almost too afraid to open their mouths. Croatia (which was brutally pro-Nazi during WWII) sent a religious, Christian singer. Turkey and Bosnia, the only Muslim countries participating, both sent artists not exactly known for waving Israeli flags.
In the end, many of these countries achieved one of their best final results ever in the competition. With the exception of Turkey's entry wearing a Palestinian-flag dress to a press conference, Croatia's entry denying the extent of the Holocaust, and Bosnia's entry being caught smoking marejuana - all went well.
Here's a little look at these controversial entries. I just find it so interesting, politics and religion and all that. It's so strange to imagine what it would've been like sitting in this stadium as an Israeli citizen and watching these crack-heads. lol
Turkey 1999
Bosnia 1999
Croatia 1999
Germany 1999