A song called “October Rain” might just be a ballad about dreary fall weather. But in the charged atmosphere following the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, the headline could also signal a lament for that tragedy or a rallying call to stand firm against terrorism.
This week, the meaning of “October Rain” – a song very few people have heard – became a moot question when newspapers in Israel reported that a song of that name had been chosen to represent the country in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest .
Although the initial reports gave few details about the song, it caused a stir on social media. Some Eurovision fans complained that the track clearly referred to October 7 and should not have been allowed in the non-political event where pop stars, representing countries, compete against each other every May.
Since Eurovision’s inception in 1956, the European Broadcasting Union, which organizes the contest, has banned songs that make political statements, insisting that the competition should unite, not divide. Each year, union vets have suggested lyrics to ensure they don’t undermine that principle. Although Israel is not in Europe, its broadcaster is a member of the European Broadcasting Union and therefore the country is eligible to compete in Eurovision.
On Wednesday, the news department of Kan, Israel’s public broadcaster, which oversees the country’s participation in Eurovision, said the broadcaster had begun discussions with the European Broadcasting Union over the suitability of “October Rain”. If the association refused to approve the piece, the report speculated, Israel would not submit an alternative and would then be excluded from the competition.
Miki Zohar, the country’s culture minister, said in a post on X on Wednesday that it would be “scandalous” if the song was not allowed to compete.
In a letter sent to the European Broadcasting Union on Thursday, seen by The New York Times, Zohar made the case for “October Rain.” It was “an emotional song, discussing rebirth and rebirth,” he wrote. And while it reflects “the current public sentiment in Israel these days,” he said, that doesn’t make it a “political song.” (A spokesman for the minister said Zohar had not heard the “confidential” song, but had seen “a large portion” of its lyrics.)
A spokeswoman for the European Broadcasting Union said in an email Thursday that it is “currently in the process of reviewing the lyrics,” as it does for all proposed Eurovision songs. “If a song is deemed unacceptable for any reason, then broadcasters are given the opportunity to submit a new song or new lyrics,” the spokeswoman added.
Even before this week’s uproar, Israel’s participation in this year’s Eurovision, which will be held in Malmo, Sweden, had cast a shadow over the event. As the death toll from Israel’s military offensive on Gaza has risen, hundreds of musicians in countries including Sweden, Denmark and Iceland have signed petitions calling on European Broadcasting to ban Israel, following a similar decision in 2022 to ban the Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.
European Broadcasting has repeatedly rejected the comparison between Israel and Russia. “We understand the concerns and deeply held views about the current conflict in the Middle East,” the association said in a statement this month, but Eurovision was “not a contest between governments.”
At this year’s Eurovision, Israel will be represented by Eden Golan, a 20-year-old pop singer who was chosen earlier this month when he won a TV talent show called ‘Rising Star’, singing a cover of Aerosmith. During the finale of that show, Golan referred to the approximately 130 hostages Israel believes Hamas is holding in Gaza. “We won’t really be well until everyone comes home,” he said.
Which song Golan sings at Eurovision, however, doesn’t just depend on her. Kan has been evaluating potential tracks, and although he submitted “October Rain” for approval, the broadcaster is not scheduled to officially announce Israel’s song until March 10, leaving time to change if necessary.
Throughout Eurovision’s history, the European Broadcasting Union has occasionally intervened when it detected political overtones in proposed entries, said Chris West, the author of a history of Eurovision. In 2009, he said, Georgia pulled out of the contest because organizers objected to a song called “We Don’t Wanna Put In.” The song was seen as a statement against President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, West said.
And in 2015, Armenia changed the title of its entry to “Don’t Deny” because it was widely interpreted as a reference to Turkey’s denial of the Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman Empire. The song was renamed “Face the Shadow,” West said.
“October Rain” seemed political from its title, West said, but Israel can claim it has nothing to do with last year’s attacks or even that the country has the right to sing about the impact of Hamas atrocities.
“Eurovision organizers have a really difficult job of deciding where the line is,” West said.
