Switzerland clinched victory at Eurovision 2024, held in the Swedish city of Malmo, surpassing runner-up Croatia in a competition where bookmakers had consistently placed them among the top contenders. The event, traditionally a celebration of European cultural diversity, took a politically charged turn due to calls for Israel's exclusion, stemming from its military response in Gaza triggered by a deadly attack by Hamas on October 7.

Swiss rapper and singer Nemo, aged 24, took home the trophy with "The Code," an eclectic mix of drum-and-bass, opera, rap, and rock that narrates Nemo's journey as a non-binary individual. Nemo's victory was heavily influenced by professional votes from 37 countries, who appeared to opt for a politically neutral choice, given the song's middling position at 35 on the European Charts. Conversely, Eden Golan from Israel, whose song "Hurricane" subtly references the October 7 attacks, was a hit on Euro iTunes/Apple Music charts at number 10 and emerged as a fan favorite, even winning the public vote significantly across Europe.

Here it is — Eden Golan’s Eurovision performance from the finale show pic.twitter.com/4XvDWBeigg

— Marina Medvin 🇺🇸 (@MarinaMedvin) May 11, 2024

Golan won the public vote, with European countries coming in overwhelmingly for her, which confirms the popularity of the song in Europe and on their radio. Incidentally, a campaign on social media led by Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in America and Australia among others also led to Golan winning the votes from those countries - many votes coming from people who voted before the start of the Final contest. 

This thing on the left won Eurovision because it was voted for by corrupt “juries” from each country. The beautiful lady on the right would have beat “it” if it was left to the public . The public voted for Eden Golan 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/EIyDL1UbUV

— Tommy Robinson 🇬🇧 (@TRobinsonNewEra) May 12, 2024

Croatia's entrant, Marko Purisic, performing under the stage name Baby Lasagna, secured second place with "Rim Tim Tagi Dim," a narrative of a young man's aspirations to transition from rural life to urban opportunities. Despite facing calls for a boycott and a mix of boos and applause during her performance, Israel's Eden Golan, aged 20, finished fifth. This achievement came after her strong showing in the qualifiers, signaling her popularity despite the political backdrop.

🚨EMERGENCY APPEAL TO THE JEWISH DIASPORA🚨

Israel needs your help to win #Eurovision. Eden Golan is being bullied and heckled, but we can win this year. You can vote #06 up to 20 times from ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

Vote 🇮🇱 NOW to stand up to hate. https://t.co/g7d3JHs2fk pic.twitter.com/SwPkizDyPR

— Eylon Levy (@EylonALevy) May 11, 2024

The event also witnessed controversies beyond the performances. Dutch contestant Joost Klein was expelled from the contest following an incident deemed inappropriate by the production crew, leading to his disqualification from the final, which reduced the number of contestants from 26 to 25.

The contest, marked by demonstrations, saw an estimated 8,000 people protesting. The Israeli jury's points presentation was also met with booing, highlighting the intense emotions surrounding Israel's participation. Despite these challenges, Eden Golan's compelling performance underscored her resilience and the complex interplay of politics and culture at Eurovision 2024.