As I listened to this interview, it struck me how resilient and determined Hady is amidst the turmoil of her war-torn homeland. Her unwavering spirit, as she sings on “autopilot” despite the deafening boos, speaks volumes about her strength and dedication. The fact that she finished second in Eurovision, a competition watched by millions worldwide, is nothing short of astounding.
Eden Golan never envisioned becoming a symbol of hatred, but that’s what transpired when she was selected to represent Israel in the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, held in May in Malmö, Sweden, during the atrocities of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Despite petitions for Israel’s exclusion from the event, the organizers permitted Golan to perform for her country – under the condition that her song submission be devoid of any political connotations, with all mentions of the October 7 massacre, which claimed the lives of 1,200 Israelis and ignited the war, being removed.
Everywhere she went, she encountered massive groups of disapproving protesters; was ridiculed and belittled by her competition peers; and had to perform in an arena filled with such deafening boos that she couldn’t even hear herself singing. Remaining poised amidst it all, Golan – who celebrated her 21st birthday only four days earlier – managed to advance to the finals, finishing second in audience voting and fifth overall. She has recently unveiled a new single called “Older,” and she spoke to The Hollywood Reporter from Israel, still recovering from a week spent in New York City where she helped commemorate the solemn Oct. 7 anniversary.
Hello, Eden! I hope this message finds you well. From what I understand, you had a show in New York that included a performance at the United Nations. Given the UN’s critical stance towards Israel and several representatives leaving during Netanyahu’s speech, I’m curious about how your audience there reacted to you.
I had an exceptional visit. It wasn’t just about aimlessly wandering or making casual acquaintances. I was there on a mission. I fulfilled my responsibilities. I gave a performance, and I was warmly received. In essence, I have no more to add.
Sounds like it was a positive experience overall, even though it was a somber anniversary.
It’s illogical because we’re experiencing tough times. Things seemed to go well, yet they were emotionally challenging.
It appears that your profession has become associated with this particular style over time. When you initially embarked on your musical journey, I’m guessing you merely wished to sing, create uplifting art, and enjoy the process. Then, unexpectedly, these responsibilities were placed upon you. I’m curious as to how you manage such a shift?
I manage to cope with it, and let me tell you, it’s not a walk in the park. It impacts every facet of my life and even music. It transformed everything. Moreover, it significantly affected my career as well. On one hand, things are escalating rapidly – I participated in Eurovision, for instance. However, this success came with an overwhelming amount of both hatred and love. The situation is quite ironic. I hope that things will improve, and as they do, the music will evolve too. In the end, my main goal is to bring healing.
Let’s go back to Eurovision if you don’t mind. How were you chosen as Israel’s representative?
In Israel, I had applied for “HaKokhav HaBa,” or “The Next Star,” a popular TV talent show, prior to October 7th. However, the future of the competition remained uncertain following October 7th. Fortunately, it went ahead, and I was grateful for that opportunity. It felt rewarding to provide some respite to people during those challenging times. As a result, I was chosen as Israel’s representative at Eurovision. We only had five days to compose our song and submit it to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The following weeks were chaotic as the EBU rejected our original song, “October Rain,” due to perceived political content. Consequently, we had to rewrite the lyrics and change its title to “Hurricane.
So, what was their objection? The song was a tribute to the victims?
I’m not sure if I would call it a tribute to the victims, but “October Rain” was a reflection of our emotions at the time. In my view, “Hurricane” expresses similar sentiments. That’s how we were feeling. However, people can interpret the song in various ways. People often experience internal storms within themselves, such as during breakups or other difficult times. So, people can find their own meanings in it. But for me, it was inspired by October 7.
Regarding hurricanes, might I ask for your thoughts on the extraordinary nature of attending Eurovision this year?
It seemed as if I were starring in a film, such an exhilarating experience! The security aspect of this journey was nothing short of extraordinary. Even now, I’m struggling to comprehend certain aspects, like the sight of helicopters overhead and snipers stationed on rooftops. Add to that the necessity of hiding my identity and wearing a wig whenever stepping outside.
Could you see all the protestors and people screaming your name and all the hate coming at you?
I saw the hate, of course. It’s something like you can’t really fully block out, but they knew how to keep me away from it. Everything was closed. I tried to stay away from news and television.
Were you told that Greta Thunberg, the climate activist, was outside?
It’s clear that event transpired. Despite my knowledge of all the unfolding happenings, they consistently prevented me from being involved in them.
I remember seeing a video of you getting a call from Gal Gadot.
Just moments before the finals, oh my! It was absolutely wild. I couldn’t believe it when Gal Gadot herself reached out to me, offering words of encouragement. Incredible doesn’t even begin to describe it.
She was telling you to try to tune out all the hate, right?
Absolutely, our conversation was quite intimate, it was between the ladies. She expressed a tremendous amount of affection and encouragement for me to continue my path. Indeed, she was wonderful. Not much time passed before we met in person in Los Angeles.
It seems that the boos during your act at the stadium were much more intense compared to what was shown on television.
Absolutely! The venue features a unique sound system that silences jeers and converts them into cheers instead. Honestly, it was quite an electrifying experience – so much so that your applause drowned out my singing entirely. In fact, if you search for videos of me performing on YouTube, you’ll notice that my voice is barely audible due to the overwhelming crowd response. Before I took the stage, I was confident I wouldn’t hear any boos, but boy, was I wrong! All I could hear were the boos. As a result, I found myself singing instinctively, letting an inner passion ignite within me. If given the chance to experience being booed a million times more, I would gladly take it. Some audience members might have been driven up the wall by my performance, but their jeers failed to dampen my spirits.
The audience voting landed you near the top.
Second place.
That was an astounding moment for me.
People seem subdued. It feels as though they’re apprehensive. Yet, they had an opportunity to express their backing, their affection, all while remaining unidentified. And it appears that the televote spoke volumes without uttering a word. It simply instilled so much optimism. Even in me, it sparked hope that there are individuals who comprehend the situation, who grasp the truth, and who are on our side.
In some instances, a few of your rivals didn’t quite embody good sportsmanship. I recall one competitor from Greece who seemed to roll her eyes during the press conference, and another from Ireland who shed tears on the red carpet and displayed somewhat immature behavior regarding your position. How would you respond to these competitors?
Wishing you success on your journey! May all your aspirations materialize. I send positive vibes your way. I hope for the best, that you live well and find happiness.
Is it permissible for you to enjoy yourself? Could you compose a lively, joyful tune? Or do you need to distance yourself more from the conflict?
I can do whatever I want, but when I get into the studio, I cannot disconnect from what we’re going through. It’s still what I’m feeling, what I’m going through, what I’m seeing every day, and what I’m hearing. I have loved ones, friends, up north, literally in Lebanon. You can’t disconnect from it. I don’t feel like it’s right. I don’t want to write something fun right now. It is just not something that comes out of me. So I write what I feel. I’m truly hoping and praying for better days and praying as we go on things get better, and our hostages come back home as soon as possible because it’s been way too damn long. I’m praying for peace and for better days. And as things hopefully get better, the music will change as well.
Have you ever met Netta who won Eurovision in 2018?
Oh, of course. So she’s lovely. She’s such an amazing human being. So inspiring.
Her song was such a great, fun song. It was literally called “Toy.” And now everything’s so dark.
Once more, we’ll share joy and sway to the rhythm. My latest track, “Older,” is not solely a ballad; it carries an undeniable vibe of resilience, as if we’re still getting back up, still ready to dance. There’s a rhythm, a pulse that echoes our determination to live, to find hope, love, and all the good things life has to offer. Yet, there remains a wound, a hurt deep within us that will take time to mend. But make no mistake, we shall dance again. We are a strong, compassionate people, united, and we’ll overcome this together. All we ask is for the return of our missing ones, and things will improve.
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2024-10-09 21:55