The Galasy ZMesta group, chosen to represent Belarus at Eurovision 2021. -

Screenshot

  • On Tuesday, Belarus formalized the candidacy of the Galasy ZMesta group for Eurovision 2021.

  • Many Internet users reacted

    immediately

    to the song 

    Ya Nauchu Tebya (I'll Teach You)

    by underlining its political subtext.

  • This Thursday, the EBU, which oversees the competition, confirms that this song is "not eligible" for Eurovision "in its current form".

Belarus to be disqualified from Eurovision 2021?

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which oversees the competition, informed the delegation of that country that the song it submitted this year is "not eligible" for the competition "in its current form" because it violates the policy prohibiting all political messages.

The song in question, entitled 

Ya Tebya Nauchu (I'll Teach You)

( "I'll teach you"), performed by the group Galasy ZMesta was revealed on Tuesday via the website and the YouTube channel of Eurovision [it has since been deleted from both media] and immediately aroused strong reactions on social networks, including the launch of several petitions demanding the exclusion of this candidacy.

"You just have to obey me"

Many Internet users have pointed to the political message broadcast in the subtext of this song.

"Look ahead, forget the past [...], erase the growths of history [...] Without the past, everything will be simple, you just have to obey me", for example the group sings in the first chorus. (translated here approximately from an English translation).

These words take on a very special meaning in the Belarusian context.

Since August, this former Soviet republic has been the scene of a substantial mass protest following the re-election of Alexander Lukashenko with 80% of the votes.

The European Union refused to recognize the results of this presidential election which it considers "rigged".

The issue of non-respect for human rights on the spot is also worrying.

In November, the UN accused the Belarusian authorities in particular of arbitrary detention and torture against demonstrators and opponents.

Also, since October, the EU has imposed sanctions on the president of the authoritarian regime, his son, as well as ministers, senior officials, business leaders and companies supporting the violent repression of demonstrations. people against electoral fraud.

At the end of last month, it extended until February 2022 these sanctions targeting exactly 88 people and consisting of an asset freeze and a travel ban in the twenty-seven member countries of the European Union.

A questioning of the "non-political nature" of Eurovision

These geopolitical tensions could not be more serious therefore find a resonance in the a priori anecdotal framework that is the Eurovision Song Contest.

published on Thursday the EBU said it had "closely scrutinized the song of Belarus" and concluded that it "called into question the non-political nature" of the event.

She added that the "latest reactions" risked damaging the reputation of the competition.

The organization thus requested that the Belarusian broadcaster BTRC, in charge of the candidacy for Eurovision, "submit a modified version or a new song" in accordance with the regulations.

Otherwise, the country will be “disqualified” from this edition.

The Galasy ZMesta group was not selected by chance.

“The chosen candidate shocked everyone.

Once again, we have proof that being "loyal" is more important than having talent and making quality music, "the duo VAL reacted on Wednesday on his Instagram account.

This duo, who had been nominated to represent Belarus at Eurovision 2020, were not renewed this year because the BRTC ruled that they had "no conscience" after they publicly supported the anti- protests. Lukashenko.

Their example is one among others of the consequences suffered by several Belarusian artists who took a stand against the power in place.

Precedents

This is not the first time that a song has been problematic on Eurovision Song Contest because of its political nature, real or supposed.

In 2009, Georgia withdrew from the contest, organized in Russia, after the song

We Don't Wanna Put In

(hear "We don't wanna Putin", "We don't want Poutine") was retorted. by the EBU.

In 2015, the year of the commemoration of the hundred years of the Armenian genocide, the Genealogy group, made up of artists from the Armenian diaspora, had to change the title of their song. 

Don't Deny

- which could be seen as an address to deniers - was renamed 

Face The Shadow

.

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