ISRAEL / JERUSALEM: Israeli band 'TeaPacks says Eurovision can "take it as it is or not" - they're not changing controversial song contest entry

Record ID: 396629

  • Title: ISRAEL / JERUSALEM: Israeli band 'TeaPacks says Eurovision can "take it as it is or not" - they're not changing controversial song contest entry
  • Date: 7th March 2007
  • Summary: TEL AVIV, ISRAELI (MARCH 2, 2007) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) GAL PEREMEN, BASSIST AND VOCALIST IN TEAPACKS, SAYING: "They'll take it as it is, or not. We're not going to change anything."
  • Embargoed: 22nd March 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA16ZC11HRSI428STE782LNXMQA
  • Story Text: The band "TeaPacks," Israel's entry to the Eurovision Song Contest, has landed in a bit of hot water. The band's song "Push the Button," is brewing controversy with some contest organisers.
    The dust-up is all about the lyrics:
    "The world is full of terror
    If someone makes an error
    He's gonna blow us up to tiddy biddy kingdom come
    There are some crazy rulers they hide and try to fool us
    With demonic, thechnologic willingness to harm
    They're gonna push the button
    Push the button push the bu push the bu push the button"
    The words have some organisers raising questions about what they say is the political nature of the song, and if it's appropriate for the contest.
    But the band's singer, Kobi Oz says that the song- a blend of klezmer, ska, rap, and rock, sung in three different languages - is just a celebration of life.
    "We are singing about our desire to live quietly, without terror, without threats, and it's an all-European song because terror is everywhere and crazy leaders are everywhere. And everybody can push the button and interrupt life, so this song is a celebration of life," Oz told Reuters at a Tel Aviv children's playground.
    Some media reports say the song is inspired by Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who has called for Israel to be "wiped from the map," but the band says that no one world leader was the focus of the song.
    "There are no names mentioned in the song. The song is in general, about every possible world leader, and not about someone in specific. So we think it's important that know that we didn't talk about anyone specific. The song is about the love of life, and the will to live and not about anyone in specific," Dani Aberjel, the band's guitarist said.
    Oz shot back at critics of the song saying he was confident the band would be successful in Finland. TeaPacks's "Push the Button" won the Israeli qualifier with 60 percent of the call-in vote to the televised contest.
    "Maybe the people that are against this are living in a bubble. They want only songs about love, and strawberries, and whipped cream - like sweet songs, but the world is going to another direction. It has violence, and funny feeling to it. So this song is going to kick ass in Finland - and they are afraid of us," Oz said.
    The band said that they have not heard from contest organisers about any concerns over their entry. Kjell Ekholm, an organiser of the contest, has been quoted in reports saying the song was "inappropriate" and would be reviewed by organisers in coming days.
    But the band said that if asked, they will refuse to change the song.
    "They'll take it as it is, or not. We're not going to change anything," Gal Peremen, bassist for the band, said.
    Israel is no stranger to controversy when it comes to the Eurovision Song Contest. In 1998 singer Dana International won the competition, but raised eyebrows because she was born as a male, and had a sex-change operation.
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