Now It Is Time To Meet Iceland's BDSM Synth-Punk Band
The Eurovision Song Contest is an event of contrasts. On one level, it's the global equivalent of an office Christmas karaoke party, showcasing a modern unified Europe in which the only remaining kings and queens worth bowing to are all in ABBA. But on another level, it's a fragile web of ancient political ties where if Belgium doesn't give the Netherlands at least dix points, they'll be rebuilding ordnance-resistant star forts in Antwerp before the harvest season is over. Of course, that tension is all kept well below the surface ... until now, as a leather-clad group of anti-capitalists and their gimp are threatening to blow the pageantry wide open.
The biggest rule of Eurovision, aside from the mandatory sequins budget, is that all singers are forbidden from being overtly political in their performances. After all, nobody wants the last news broadcast before the nuclear apocalypse to be "Following the events at Eurovision ..." That is proving to be a big ask this year, as the contest is taking place in Israel, a country that's been hitting every political hot button lately and wants to use the singalong as a way to improve its reputation.
"Not so fast," bellowed a zipped-up gimp mask. Iceland, whose schmaltzy, heartfelt ballad in last year's Eurovision got them the reward of coming dead last, has chosen a BDSM-inspired synth-wave punk group named Hatari (or "Hater" in English) to represent them with the very political song "Hate Will Prevail."
Hatari, which consists of two anti-capitalist cousins and their drummer gimp, has made it no secret that they're only competing in Eurovision specifically for the chance to challenge Israel on its human rights record. Their act has been described as "a fascist-inspired dystopia of blood-splattered whippings" in front of gears that ever so slightly resemble a grenade, and their song (whose video features a cheeky cameo by the chairman of Iceland's official BDSM society) addresses the worrying rise of fascism in Europe and beyond.
The band has also threatened to trouser-grip-wrestle Benjamin Netanyahu, and promised that if they win, they'll use their incredible power to erect the first BDSM enclave inside Israeli territory. All in all, their open defiance will surely harm both Israel and Eurovision's reputation and/or make this the most successful Eurovision ever.
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